Dorm Room 210 [Original]

EXTRA: Nicole's POV

Noah waves his hand. "It's fine."

I roll my eyes. "Come on. What is it that you want? Pastry? Coke? One of those berry flavoured juices?"

"Really," he presses. "I'm keen for a pizza, actually, and maybe one of their milkshakes that they make."

My shoulders sag. "You sure?"

"Yeah," he says. "Go on, enjoy yourself. We'll see you back at the campus."

I hug him quickly, not wanting to stay long enough to develop anymore sweat than I already own. Noah kisses the side of my forehead and then leaves with the others.

Noah is too good. He's too nice. He's unrealistic actually. 

The Seven-Eleven worker can go fuck himself.

Who kicks someone out for using their freezer for comfort anyway? People who want to keep their jobs with no humanity left in them. If I were a server, I'd promote customers to become ice blocks. If I ever get a job.  

"Can I still get that free sample?" 

The worker named Gwen stares at me with silent judgement, but hands over the small shot of jelly. 

"Um, actually, can I get three more? I've got some friends who..."

"One or none," Gwen-the-worker says.

I glare at him. "You have seven more batches in the staff only freezer. I know, I saw them. Three more isn't gonna hurt anyone."

He points to the camera. "Do I need to call security?"

"Why? I'm not stealing anything."

"You take one or leave without one."

I pinch the cup and swallow the jelly like a shot. Gwen-Gwen catches the cup I toss at him. "It's not that great anyway." It's so cold and perfect actually. I leave with a dramatic push at the doors.

The heat sinks into my skin the moment I step out and head back to the campus. I wish I was at home, soaking up my air-conditioner, eating a tub of macadamia ice-cream from the tub, while writing my latest novel. Maybe watch re-runs of Pride and Prejudice and pretend I'm married to Keira Knightley and feel content as I once was after my high school graduation.

Instead of looking miserable, like that blonde freaking out by herself in the chairs.

It hits me. Great. The Guides were already here. I could've been in my room right now. Thankfully the reception is empty, and the air-con blowing down my back eases my mind, body and soul.

The blonde looks at me and I at her as I sit down next to her. She's got a cute face, and there're pimple scars on her chin, but other than that, she looks stressed out. Maybe she wishes she were at home instead.

I nod at her. "You missed your group-number." 

She nods and fidgets with her phone. "You—you missed yours?"

I shrug. It's not like I care. Benefits with being friends with someone like Noah is that his aunt priorities him out.

My leg begins jiggling. "Where are you guys?"

The girl shifts. "Waiting on friends?"

"Yeah," I say. "Those fuckers should've been here ten minutes ago." 

"Is that why you missed it?" 

"Something like that. We got a rule that we follow: bitch or ditch."

No we don't, but my mind is recuperating words and I can't, for the life of me, say something that's remotely true or interesting.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No."

The gang arrives a couple of seconds later. 

"Where have you guys been? We missed the Guides taking us to our rooms." I cross my arms.

"Chill my little darling sister," Jesse says and tosses a packet of Doritos at me. "We got off the phone with Tracy; she's gonna text us our room numbers."

Thank god! "Great! We'll see you guys later then. Come on, Rach."

Her skin is too warm to touch, but I hold onto her hand as we grab our luggage. Rachel tells me where her dorm room is and where mine is. Two different buildings. That's okay! 

"Hey, who was that girl you were talking to?"

I'm a melting ice cream. The sun is too hot. "I don't know, but she's nervous as hell. You recon they'll tell her where her dorm room is soon?"

"Maybe? Oh, my gosh, you should've been there when Jesse slipped. Highlight of my day."