“It feels a little shady to me. Look at that guy, over there—I’m getting bad vibes.”
She shifts to get a better view, pressing her arm into mine, her fingers clasping the window a breath away from my hand. I should scoot over, but I’m frozen to the spot.
“The guy sitting on the bench by himself? Eating a salad?”
“Textbook psycho behavior—what kind of dude eats salad on a bench?” I ask. “A pervert, that’s who.”
“Oh, please! The light here is great—plus, there’s a bus stop right there.”
I don’t know who she’s trying to convince, but I’m not buying what she’s selling. I hate this place. It’s small, it’s ugly, and it reeks of cheap perfume. Lois glances over my shoulder, so close I could kiss her without even leaning in.
“And the other girls seem nice.” She eyes up their things. “See—one of them has a swimsuit! We could hit the pool together.”
Just as I’m about to roll my eyes, she glares at me.
“Quit the attitude. Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for since August?”
No.
“Yeah.”
She carries on staring at me, and I step toward her just as she moves to the side, sitting herself down on the mattress, bouncing up and down, trying it out for size. She flicks on the ugliest bedside lamp I’ve ever seen and pulls open the closet.
“A bed and a closet,” she sighs happily. “Everything I ever dreamed of.”
“The toilet is in the shower,” I continue. “And I mean that literally.”
“What’s with the snobby rich-kid attitude? Most students live in dorms, you know.” She puts on a fancy accent. “Not everyone has your pedigree.”
She shuts the closet, and somehow the RA’s back already.
“So,” he starts, “you like it?”
“Yes!”
“No.”
We reply at exactly the same time, and Lois shoots me a look.
“I like it,” she insists. “And anyway, it’s not like I have options. So, now what?”
“Come on down to my office and I’ll give you the paperwork and checklist. You’ll need to sign a housing contract, too—I needeverything by tomorrow. Just bring your stuff with you, and we’ll get you all moved in on the same day.”
“Amazing.”
We traipse down to the first floor, and while Lois heads into the office, I wait in the car. I need time to think. So—she could be moving in tomorrow? Fuck. They don’t waste time, huh? I thought I’d have the weekend to get used to the idea. I drape my arms over the steering wheel and rest my head against the leather, breathing in the comforting smell and swallowing back on the knot that’s tightening in my throat. Lois is leaving, but that doesn’t change a thing. Does it? We’re friends, we can still hang out on campus—I could even come by and pick her up every morning. Nothing’s going to change between us. Plus, it might help me shake off some of the urges I’ve been having. A fresh start! The only reason I’ve been weirdly into her lately is the fact that she’s in my face every day. And that she’s obsessed with her stupid ex. Her moving out could change all that.
A door slams, and I jerk my head up. Lois trots over to the car and slides into her seat.
“Thanks for waiting.”
“No problem.”
“I don’t want you to miss class, you know. Just drop me off at campus and I’ll walk home.”
“No, I’m gonna head back with you.”
“Are you okay?” She frowns. “You look weird.”
