A Roommate From Hell
1103 Words
Lena 💝
I recovered from my shock faster than I expected. Maybe it was because Axel looked just as stunned as I was.
Or maybe it was because the first thing he did was snatch the towel hanging beside him and wrap it securely around his waist before glaring at me like I had committed a crime.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?" he demanded.
His voice echoed through the spacious honours dorm, making the silence that followed even heavier.
I blinked.
"Your room?"
"Yes, my room" he replied.
He took another step towards me, still drying his damp hair with another towel.
I frowned.
"No, this is my room" I corrected.
His eyebrows knitted together.
"What?"
I held up the key card still clutched in my hand.
"This is room 407, so that makes this my room" I said.
He stared at me for a second before shaking his head like he was talking to stupid person.
"You've clearly walked into the wrong room" he said.
"I haven't" I argued.
"Oh, for the love of—"
I marched over to the door, swung it open and pointed dramatically at the silver numbers screwed onto the wood.
"Read it."
Axel folded his muscular arms across his broad, wet chest.
"I know it's 407. But it still doesn't make sense. This room was assigned to me weeks ago" he said.
"I got mine last night" I said.
He looked genuinely irritated now.
"Then Student Affairs made a mistake."
"Looks like it" I replied.
I stepped inside and placed my suitcase near the bed closest to the window.
"So, I guess one of us needs to leave" I said.
His eyes narrowed.
"It's obviously you" he said.
I laughed then folded my arms.
"Nice try. This room belongs to me" I said..
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
"You aren't staying here" he argued.
"You can't throw me out" I said.
His expression darkened.
"You'll request another room" he instructed.
"I'll do no such thing" I refused.
"You don't have a choice" he said as he stepped closer.
I let out an incredulous laugh.
"You've got some nerve" I said then rolled my eyes.
"I have common sense" he replied.
"I think you're confusing that with an oversized ego" I shot at him.
His eyes flashed.
"You think this is funny?"
"Nobody's joking here" I replied.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"I am not sharing my room" he said.
"And I'm not giving up mine" I replied stubbornly.
We stood there, staring each other down, neither of us willing to budge. Finally, Axel broke the silence.
"You have five minutes to pack your s**t out of here" he ordered.
I laughed so hard my suitcase nearly tipped over.
"Oh, you're serious. You really think you can kick me out?" I challenged.
"I know I can" he replied.
I stepped closer.
"Really? And exactly how do you plan on doing that?" I asked.
Before he could answer, the bathroom door opened and steam drifted into the bedroom.
A girl wearing leggings and an oversized Moonfang hoodie stepped out while drying her hair with a towel.
She froze and her eyes bounced from Axel to me.
"Am I interrupting something?" I asked.
I stared at her then slowly turned to Axel.
"You've got to be kidding me" I said.
"This is none of your concern" he replied.
"So while you're busy trying to throw me out of a room that belongs to both of us, you've already got girls hanging out in here?"
His expression hardened.
"Don't start."
"Oh, I'm just getting started" I replied.
The girl looked between us helplessly.
"I... think I should go."
"Please do," I muttered.
She grabbed her backpack in record time and hurried towards the door.
"See you later, Axel" she said.
The door clicked shut behind her then silence returned.
I shook my head.
"Unbelievable."
He pointed his finger angrily at me.
"Lena, I'm done playing. If you—"
"No, you don't get to tell me what to do" I cut him off. "You've spent months making my life miserable and now you're trying to throw me out of my own room?"
I grabbed my suitcase.
"You've got something coming to you" I said.
Without waiting for another word, I spun around and stormed out of the room.
The walk to Student Affairs felt twice as long as it had earlier. Every step only made me angrier.
By the time I reached the office, I was practically fuming. The receptionist recognised me immediately.
"Miss Hart, you're back?"
"I need to see the Dean. It's urgent" she said.
She must have seen something in my face because she immediately picked up the phone and a minute later, I was sitting opposite Dean Matthews.
He adjusted his glasses.
"What seems to be the problem?" He asked.
"There has been a mistake" I said.
"What sort of mistake?" He inquired.
"You assigned me Room 407 and you also assigned Axel Conri to the same room" he answered.
He nodded.
"Also correct."
I blinked.
"What? There isn't a mistake?" I asked.
"There... isn't" he replied.
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
"You're telling me you intentionally assigned me to share a room with the one person on campus who can't stand me?" I asked.
He folded his hands.
"Due to limited accommodation in the honours dorm, athletes are sharing suites this semester" he explained.
"I specifically requested a single room, then why wasn't I given one?" I demanded.
"They're all occupied" he replied.
I leaned forward.
"Change my room. There has to be another room or I'll move into another dorm" I pleaded.
He shook his head.
"The honours athletes are required to stay in this residence" he said.
I threw my hands into the air.
"This is ridiculous! You can't expect me to live with him" I said, my voice rising.
Before the dean could answer, the office doors swung open and both of us turned. A tall man walked inside with calm, measured steps.
He wore an impeccably tailored dark suit that somehow made the entire room feel smaller. His presence demanded attention.
The dean immediately rose from his chair.
"Sir."
The stranger's gaze settled on me.
"Would you excuse us for a moment, Dean?"
"Of course."
Without a single question, the dean gathered his files and quietly left the office, closing the door behind him.
I looked from the closed door back to the mysterious man and my heart began to pound.
Who was he and why had the dean obeyed him without hesitation?
- Writer
