Chapter 3: My Roommate
Clarissa
Looking around my new dorm, I focus on my side of the room, and take a deep breath. I have been supplied with a twin bed, desk, a small bookshelf, and a wooden armoire. The room is not that small, there is a little bit of distance from my side of the room and Kitty's. I try not to think of how ridiculous that nickname is. I must focus on getting my stuff unpacked. Taking the clothes out of the bags I had skillfully placed them in, I left the hangers on them, so I could just transfer them straight to the armoire. No wrinkles. At the bottom of the wardrobe, I unfold a couple collapsible cubes and place them inside for my personals. Panties in one cube and socks in the other. I have only a few beige bras and I hang those up. Pulling out my laptop, I place it on the desk along with the six notebooks I brought, each color coated according to class. I place a tin cup on the side and drop sharpened number 2 pencils into it along with a few black pens, and a pink, blue, and yellow highlighter.
I sigh when I realize that only some of the books I brought will fit on the bookshelf. I end up lining some of them on top of the armoire, against the back of the desk, and along the flat surface of my headboard. The rest of them I stack in piles under my bed. Letting out a breath, the only thing really left to do is put a sheet and blanket on the mattress. I pull out the mattress protector I had brought with me, no way was I sleeping on a mattress that had probably been used by hundreds of girls before me, without a mattress protector. The image of my roommate with that guy on top of her flash before my eyes and I cringe, yeah, no way. I quickly put the protector on the bed and then pull out the plain white fitted sheet, the flat sheet, and then throw over my white duvet. I brought my own pillow from home and toss it at the head. I sit on the edge of the newly made bed and let out a breath. I look around my side of the room, then compare it to the other side and wince at how plain and boring mine looks.
That was me though, I was plain and boring in general, and my side reflected it. I went over to my desk and flipped open the laptop, going to my notes. I had made a checklist before coming and so far, I had already done everything, and it was only Friday. I had the whole weekend before the actual semester started Monday. I looked around my room and decided to make a new list of things that I needed for my room still. A minifridge, microwave, trash can, desk lamp, and another bookshelf. I had a lot of money saved from birthdays, holidays, and the allowance I got weekly from my mother. Every time I brought home an A on a test; I was rewarded with cash. A messed-up system but I always brought home an A. My Mother would not allow me to get an actual part time job, she was worried it would distract me from my studies. The motto in our house was, "As long as I excelled in school, I would never have to get a job, she would pay for everything I needed." And she was true to her word.
I did not want for anything, my mother had always taken care of everything, working herself to the bone to provide for me. It always made me feel guilty deep down, so I made it a point to never ask her for anything. Even the clothes I wore, she picked out for me, I just wanted to make her proud of me, so I did not complain. I had no right to whine about anything to the woman who supported me and wanted nothing but the best from me in return. Looking at my phone I realize that it is only 6pm, but I have no idea with what to do with myself. I should probably take a tour of the campus and scout out all my classes, so I do not get lost on Monday morning. I bite my lower lip. I have all weekend to do that though, so I pull the newest book I had been reading, and crawl into my bed. I am comforted by the familiar scent of laundry detergent. Opening my book to the page where I had my marker, I smile softly, and begin where I left off.
I must have dozed off, because I find myself jerking at the sound of the door swinging open, as my roommate stumbles in.
I look at her and she looks at me, clearly, she is surprised that I am there by her confused expression, then like she suddenly remembers she smiles brightly. "Rissssa!" she exaggerates, and she jumps on my bed.
I am thrown off, but I am trying to start over, right? Maybe it is time to figure out what kind of person I want to be. I give her my best fake smile, "Hey Kitty." I mumble lowly.
She looks at me for a long moment and I start to feel more uncomfortable by the second. "You have the strangest look about you." She finally says trying to concentrate on the words.
"I get that a lot." I agree.
"Do you want to go to a party tonight?" she asks suddenly, changing the subject, and pretty much giving me whiplash.
"Definitely not." I shake my head. A party? Me? Me and party do not even belong in the same sentence.
"Pooper." She pouts and then smiles again, "We should hang out tomorrow, maybe do a little shopping?" she looks me up and down suggestively.
I blush a little. I know my clothes are horrible, they are out of date and fashion, if they were even in fashion to begin with. "Maybe." I say looking away from her. I did want to be on my own for a reason, so I could start making my own decisions, maybe I should find some time to figure out what kind of styles I like. I have never picked out my own clothes though, I would not even know where to begin. I know for a fact though that a belly shirt and too short of shorts is definitely not my style.
"I like your…" Kitty looks around at my side of the room and squints, "Um…books." She finally lands on something to compliment.
I have the strange urge to laugh. Social interactions are not my strong suit, but I want to be different, to take this college life experience, and really give myself the opportunity to live. "Thank you, do you need help finding your bed?" I ask nicely.
"Oh," she stretches out on my bed, basically on top of me, "Nah, I'm fine here." And before I can say anything else, I hear her snoring loudly.
What the actual heck?
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