From the way the entire population of the gym yells out in protest, I’m beginning to think that this horde of angry students will pose a greater security risk than a little darkness.
Groaning to myself, I reach for my phone and hover over the messaging app. For a second, I contemplate texting Ian and asking him if I can sleep at his apartment, even if it’s just for tonight.
Then I wipe that intrusive thought right out of my brain.
It’s almost ten, and he might be asleep. There’s no way I’m doing that.
Instead, I grab my jacket, the same one Ian gave me, and wrap it around my head to block the light out.
As for the noise, it doesn’t do much. I can’t have everything. I’m used to it.
The next morning, I wake up with heavy eyelids and a coil of sleep-deprived frustration brewing in my gut. My phone says it’s already nine, so I scrub a hand across my face and swing my legs over the side of the cot, untangling my jacket and putting it on. There are a couple of texts on my phone, so I answer them, hoping that using my brain will wake me up.
Laura Pierre
Yo
I heard the school made you guys sleep in the gym?
Yeah. Rough night
Damn
You’re welcome to crash at me and Sabrina’s place
Is this…a thing? Do people here really open their houses to someone they’ve met twice?
Ian offered for me to stay at his but I didn’t want to intrude
Omg Callum
You’re too nice
He says it’s hyper independence
And he’s right. Are you going to keep living in the gym?
Admin is gonna announce living arrangements today
At least that’s what they say
That’s good at least
Then I switch to Ian.
Ian Scott
Hey man how’d you sleep?
Bad
They couldn’t turn the lights off
Wtf
Are they at least feeding you?
I glance off to the side and see some tired residence employees unpack a box of sandwich ingredients. And then another box, full of the same thing.
