“Okay, so we’re a lot alike. But maybe it’s not your personality she finds lacking... Maybe it’s just you.”
“Ouch.” I feign offense.
“Oh, shut up. You know I’m kidding.” She loops her arm through mine.
The walk back to my dorm feels a lot longer than the ten minutes it takes us to reach my building. By the time we step inside the cool foyer, sweat is dripping down my back, making my tank stick to my damp skin.
“Thank God.” Char holds out her arms, letting the airconditioning cool her. “Why is it so freaking hot out today?”
“Try practicing in this heat,” I tell her. “It’s brutal.”
“Damn, I forgot you’ve already started conditioning for the season.”
“Thankfully, it’s only three days a week right now. Hopefully, it won’t be as hot when we start full-on practicing.”
“So, which way are you?” Char gestures around the narrow space that leads nowhere except straight into a large set of stairs.
“First floor.” I point at the steps.
“Aren’t we on the first floor?” She wrinkles her forehead.
“We’re on the ground floor, and the only thing down here is what you see.”
“Finally got a first-floor unit and you still have to climb stairs.” She looks like she just tasted something bitter.
“At least it’s only one set this time.” I remind her of last year when we lived on the third floor of a building with an elevator only used for handicapped students and maintenance.
“I guess that’s true,” she agrees, following me up the wide staircase onto the first-floor landing.
“I’m just this way.” I lead her to the second door on the right, having to resist the urge to knock to let my hateful roommate know I’m here before pushing my way inside.
Her big brown eyes find mine over the top of her book as she watches in annoyance as Char and I enter the room.
“Great, now there are two of you,” she mutters under her breath, loud enough for us to hear.
“You must be Maisie’s roommate.” Char plasters on abright smile, crossing the small space between the door and my roommate’s desk.
The room is similar to the one I lived in last year, only the building is newer, so it’s a bit nicer. Plus, we have a small kitchenette, which I’ve never had before, and an en suite bathroom rather than having to share with another room, which is honestly my favorite part. If it weren’t for the fact that my roommate hates me, I think I’d rather like living here.
“Lana,” she offers, a permanent sneer on her lips.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lana. I’m Charlotte.”
“I know who you are.” She practically groans in annoyance.
“Oh?” Char quirks a brow.
“We had American Sign Language together last year.”
“We did?” Charlotte studies her for a long moment.
Lana has big brown eyes and shoulder-length hair nearly the same shade. She’s more petite, like Lyric, but a little curvier, though you can hardly tell through the oversized tees she seems to live in. Or at least, that’s all I’ve seen her in thus far. Big shirts, small shorts, clunky high-top shoes. Not my style, but to each their own. She has a small hoop on the right side of her nose and always wears colored eyeliner. Today she’s wearing blue, which looks a hell of a lot better on her than it would on me. I’d look like a clown if I tried to wear something like that.
I’d go as far as to call her pretty, if it weren’t for the scowl that seems permanently attached to her face.
“Oh, yeah. I remember,” Char announces after a long moment. “You sat up front next to... Eric? Is that his name?”
“Surprised you know that.” She lowers her book into her lap, her expression softening the tiniest bit.
