At the first day of sunshine blasted through my eyelids and forced me awake, I knew that today was going to be a very boring one. Now, I'm just speculating, but that's what usually happens. A normal, boring old day.
I sat up slowly with a yawn, rubbing my eyes tiredly as I slid from the comforter. Standing up with a stretch, and fiddling with the uncomfortable tightness that had gathered around my waistband from sleeping in jeans, it was an even bigger sign that today was going to suck. Big time.
I dared to steal a glance at my sleeping roommate, passed out cold and snoring against his mutilated bed. I sneered.
"What a slob." I huffed with the roll of my eyes.
I traveled into the bathroom with a new outfit to complete my morning activities, only leaving the bathroom to grab my bag. I wouldn't dare change in front of my heathen of a dorm mate.
Slinging my bag over my shoulder after packing it full of my days books, I grabbed the dorm key on my dresser and left through the door. I trotted down the hall to the elevators where I returned to the first level and left the building. Thankfully, my first class was close- so I didn't have to walk long.
I'll spare the details of how my classes went. Other than the occasional question asked by a confused student- 90% of the day was focused on note taking. As always.
*****
I ran a slender hand through my bleach blonde hair on my way back to my dorm- avoiding every case of bad news along the way. I realized I'd made a mistake right when I opened the door.
My dorm was filled to the very brim with smoke.
I thought that it was on fire, and just before I could freak out, I noticed the people inside, and narrowed my gaze. It wasn't fire smoke, it was marijuana smoke.
I pushed my way in through the crowded entrance where most of the people were hanging out. Somehow, a dorm small enough to fit 5 people somewhat comfortably, had managed to fill 30 people inside. I had so many questions.
Who are these people? Why are they in my room? We're they invited? Why is there so much smoke? Why is the music so loud? Why does it stink so bad? Are there smoke detectors anywhere in this building? What is going on!?
That's when it hit me. My roommate. I practically screamed out with irritation as I searched the crowd for the laid back, asshole. I spotted him on his bed, leaning against the frame with a creamy smirk on his face, a cigarette between his fingers. I stormed over, gathering up as much courage as I could to speak up.
"What is going on here!?" I yelled over the music.
The boy looked up at me as if I was a stranger, then chuckled.
"It's a party, dumbass. Enjoy it while it lasts, the last time we threw one it was shut down in ten minutes. It's been 15, and I'm impressed."
"Who do you think you are! You can't just throw a huge party in our dorm!" I balled my fists.
"Our dorm, right. You know, I already forgot that you lived with me. Funny right? Funny that I'd think you don't exist?" He laughed, blowing a cloud of smoke into my face.
My blood boiled through a muster cough at the foul stench.
I couldn't stop myself from the next thing I did. It just sort of happened. I knew he was high- and that's what made me even more angry. I wound my hand up, holding it out flat before...
SLAP
And his laughter fell silent. A series of 'ooo's ran through the room as the boy just stared at me, an unfamiliar gaze piercing through my own, as if he had never been stood up to before. The eyes on us never seemed to falter, and that's what made me break.
The fear settled in, and I ran for it. Out the door and down the hall as fast as I could. Fast enough to miss the chance at looking back at his stupid, confused face again. When the elevator doors closed, relief spread through me, and the adrenaline that had coursed through my veins finally ceased. My heart rate slowed back to normal as I groaned.
The humiliation, the agony of having to return before curfew, the annoyance of even doing what I did in the first place. It was all coming back to me in a rush of pain filled throbbing near my chest. What a bother.
I left the building in a flustered hurry, anxious at the feeling of the eyes still staring at me from our dorm window. I finally felt safe again once I had rounded the corner to Cassidy's place. Only a few moments later, and I was knocking on her door. She opened it, then smiled.
"Hey Cal, what's up?" She leaned against the frame to her door.
"U-Uh.. N-Nothing.. Just bored.." I mumbled nervously. I wasn't going to tell her, not about him. Not about what I just did. She'd laugh in my face.
"Well, it isn't very fun around here anyway so I guess we could say that you've come to the wrong place." She chuckled at my expense, but when she saw that I wasn't laughing, she quieted herself.
"Did something happen?" She asked quizzically, crossing her arms. When Cassidy crosses her arms, she means business.
"No, I'm fine." Lies. "I've just had a bad day."
"Did somebody bully you? I can grab my bat, just tell me who-"
"I'm fine, Cassidy." I finally gave off a heaved laugh, which visibly made her relax.
"Always on my dresser if I need it, the seasons about to start, going to crack some balls!" She swung her arms as if she were holding a baseball bat. "I'll crack some baseballs along the way too." She smirked.
I couldn't help but laugh. Good old Cassidy.
She stepped aside to let me in, and our normal activities of Netflix with root beer and mint chocolate chip ice cream began. We watched three movies to pass the time with the occasional break in between to refill our snacks. Other than that, it was a good night. A great night. So great in fact, that I didn't want to leave.
"You better hit the road cowboy, or they'll lock you out of your dorm."
The very mention of my dorm made my head pound with frustration.
"Right.." I let out a sigh and rose to my feet, gathering my shoes and my bag which I hadn't had time, or wouldn't dare to drop in my dorm when I had the chance.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She cocked a brow.
"I'm alright Cass, I guess I was just feeling lonely." I hate to say that I had to tilt my head in the slightest to look into her eyes when I said that. Curse my height.
"If you say so.. You can always come see me if you're having any problems alright? A hug, a bowl of ice cream.. A baseball bat.." She grinned, and I returned it with a sad smile.
She wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace, so lovable and kind.. Bone crushing too..
"Okay- Okay- Get off before you suffocate me." I pried myself from her grip as she laughed. "You hold me like your baseball bat." I inhaled to regain my breath.
"I actually have to hold the bat loose, gives the ball a better angled crack. You're how I would hold around a bullies neck." She winked.
I rolled my eyes. "You know, that cockiness is going to get you nailed one day." I headed to the door.
"And that attitude is going to get your ass pinned to a wall one day." She hissed playfully.
Heat rose to my face at the thought. Ouch.
"Classy." I lifted my head arrogantly and left the room.
On my way back to my own dorm, the streetlamps had began to flick on as night fell almost entirely. I hoped and prayed that everybody had left our dorm, but I couldn't be sure. After all, I could still hear faint music behind the door once I'd pushed my key in.
I stepped inside slowly, the marijuana smoke had filtered out somewhat, while the crowd of 30 had all gone. Trash, wasted snacks and discarded clothing scattered the floor. I looked up to my roommate who was busy passed out in bed, along with three more people in the room who had fallen asleep. One on the floor, one on the kitchen table, and one on my bed. Wait a minute, my bed? Somebody had fallen asleep on MY bed? Oh no, not today.
I stormed over to my bed and shook the males shoulder.
"Hey-"
There was no response, so I repeated the action three more times with the same outcome. I finally gave up with a groan, then dropped my things at the base of my dresser and headed into the bathroom. I closed the door and grabbed the white fur mat on the tiled floor in front of the sink and rolled it up into a fuzzy burrito, tossing it into the bathtub. I unhooked the shower curtain carefully and slid into the tub, pulling the fabric over me while I laid my head on the mat. I stared aimlessly at the side of the tub, then closed my eyes in hopes of getting at least ten minutes of sleep.
I sighed. This was going to be a long night..
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