Luci

Chapter One - Roomates

Waiting last minute to get a college dorm wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had. They
pretty much just stick you with whoever and hope that the two of you get along. It gets even more complicated when a third person gets added, but even then they typically give you a bigger room. At least, that's what happened at my college.
I had just moved to Martinsville just a few weeks before applying. I hadn't planned on attending college that year, but the application people reached out to me and offered me an academic scholarship so I'm not complaining. I had gotten straight A's pretty much my whole life, and my parents always told me how I would excel at being a doctor or a lawyer. They're a lot nicer about it than my grandparents were when they discovered I'd be going to college to study graphic design. My grandparents told me that I was "wasting my potential," whatever that's supposed to mean. At least my parents had my back, they may not like my choice of major, but they weren't going to try and change my mind. It was probably because they knew they couldn't, I'm the most stubborn kid to have ever existed after all.
Anyways, I wasn't too worried about who I would be rooming with, I mean, I've never had a problem getting along with anyone before. Even if my roommate turned out to be a total dickhead, I could just ignore them, I've mastered that over the years. So there I was, standing outside of what could either be an amazing dorm or a torturous one. I feel like this should have excited me more, or make me feel some sort of way. But I guess I got all of that out of my system along with my hopes and dreams. See, my parents didn't care where I went, as long as it was in-state. Me and a group of friends all planned on attending a college together and rooming. That was before my parents decided to move us half way across the country.
The school I wanted to go to had an awesome tech program, and I was looking forward to it. But now I'm stuck here, at a college I've never even heard of. The good news is that it could have been a lot worse. I mean, the other college sure wasn't gonna give me a scholarship, and I guess I could see this as a new opportunity.
As I open the door, I'm hit with the immediate smell of burnt..something? It wasn't a bad smell, but I couldn't put a pin on what it was. I sat my luggage down by the door and peeked into the narrow hallway where , towards the end, I saw a door slightly open. I could tell that is where the smell is coming from, because as I walked closer, the smell got stronger. I lightly knocked on the door and a tall, scrawny looking dude opened it.
"Hey! You must be my roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sam, what's yours?" I was taken aback by his extrovertedness. I mean yeah, I'm an extrovert, but he was the first college student I've seen who didn't have bags under his eyes, or the most monotone voice in all existence. He seemed really hyper, total golden retriever energy. But there was this slight confidence about him that didn't just seem like confidence, there was something more to it. I'd call it cockyness but he came across as modest. After realizing I was just standing here the past few seconds staring blankly at him I finally decided to answer.
"I uhm- I'm Skylar! Skylar Cohen." I extended my hand for a handshake and he stared at it.
After a second, which felt like a decade, he grabbed my hand, closed it, and gave me a fist bump.
"Handshakes are so formal, not that there's anything wrong with that, but you're my roommate, not my future father-in-law," I chuckled at his remark and he invited me into his room. I scanned my surroundings and realized that me and this dude and I have a lot more in common than I thought! He explains that he just finished decorating his room and I couldn't help but compliment the decor. I mean, I knew pretty much every video game reference, poster, and plush he had, and it was pretty cool. I look over to a small nightstand where I see incense burning steadily. That must have been what that smell was, but I'm not complaining. It was refreshing to have a roommate that cares about what his surroundings look and smelt like, unlike my disgusting brothers who don't even know what a Clorox wipe is. I look at his bed where a pile of stuffed animals lay. One thing I couldn't stop staring at was the stuffed plush he had of Kuchi Kopi from Bob's Burgers, which was my favorite show at the time. He seemed to notice my interest in his plush collection, he walked over to the bed and picked up a few, giving them a light squeeze.
"I know it's a little childish to have so many, but they're all super special to me" He said with a sort of nostalgic face.
"Oh! Don't worry, I own a lot as well. I was more interested in your Kuchi Kopi! I've never seen one around before." I'm glad I could spark up a conversation, it would've been extremely awkward if I hadn't.
"Yeah, it's pretty awesome. To be quite honest, I don't know where it came from. I found it on the floor of a goodwill a couple years back, I've had it ever since." I gave him a sort of shocked look.
"Damn, I knew Goodwill had some cool stuff, but I must've totally underestimated that place!" I said in awe. He looked down at the plush, smiled, then handed it off to me.
"You can have it if you want, I mean, you are my roomie now!" his smile was radiant and contagious. I smiled and grabbed the plush, I couldn't hide the excitment from my voice. "Really?? Are you sure that it's alright if I take it?" I must have sounded like a kid being handed 100 dollars.
He chuckled and his smile grew larger "Of course! I wouldn't offer if I wasn't okay with it". After a second of silence it looked like a light bulb went off in his head, at least, that's what his facial expression told me.
"I just realized, I haven't shown you around the dorm!" he grabbed me by the wrist and gently pulled me back towards the door. "Let's start here! This is the front door..obviously haha" he looked embarrassed for a second but quickly snapped out of it. "The kitchen and dining area is to the left, the living area is over there, and the balcony is just out that sliding glass door." He seemed really excited to show me around, and I couldn't help but point it out.
"You seem pretty into this whole rooming with someone thing, is this your first year here as well?" he looked back at me and smirked. In a sort of 'matter of fact' tone, he explains "Actually, this is my third year! This is the first year I opted for a roommate, and I'm super glad I did. Sure, it was cool having a dorm area to myself, but it gets boring real easily". I couldn't believe it was his third year here! He didn't look much older than me, could even really pass as the same age.
"What are you studying?" I questioned. "I'm studying to become a therapist, so I have about four more years to go. This school offers almost all courses, but they specialize in medical and psychology." he explained. "What about you?" he raised an eyebrow to his question.
"Just graphic design" a bit more before finishing up the tour. "Past the living area is mine and your room. Yours is that door on the right, the bathroom is across from your room, there is a small broom closet over by my door, and you've seen my room already." He opens the door to my room, yelling "Ta-Daaaaaa!". It's a normal room with nothing really out of the ordinary. The window was nailed shut to keep kids from accessing the roof, since we were on the top floor. There was an empty mattress and bed frame in the middle of the room and a desk off to the side. I'm glad I brought everything from my old room, because I couldn't stand to have a room this boring. The U-Haul with my things in it wasn't going to be here til the next day, so I brought a sleeping bag with me, that I planned to sleep on my bed with. He walks around inspecting the room, as do I. "This place is pretty sweet" he exclaims. As he opened the closet door I had to refrain myself from making a coming out joke. "Woah, your closet is bigger than mine! I knew I should've chosen this room, haha." he walks into the closet and then right back out.
"My things won't get here til tomorrow, but if you have any decorating tips, please let me know. I had to get my brother to decorate my room at my last house. It looked epic, but it always just looks so awkward whenever I do it." I chuckled to myself. "No problemo! I've got plenty of tips, and the motivation to help you have the coolest room in this building!" he landed his hand on my shoulder before leaving the door. Before he shut the door, he looked back to me. "I'll go get your things and you can finish settling in. We can discuss my personal dorm rules once I get back." he left to grab my bags and I was left there alone with nothing by my thoughts. "What did he mean by 'personal dorm rules' ?".