ke me away from this hell hole for the summer. Albeit, I had a car and could have driven myself back home very

using than to play the 'I'm too poor to do anything' card. Which wasn't completely true, clearly, but I

all just a matte

air was heavy with that familiar mix of stale pizza and old carpet that always seemed to linger in these place

ng behind the advisory desk. She was about 5 foot 6, dark-skinned, a little

oman, my heart lifting just a little at the sigh

oldest of rooms. "My break was good. Me and big papa got our vacation on, went back home to

heat of the sun already starting to prickle my skin. "You know, I'm alright, I just missed your

big momma can't do that, darling, but she did manag

e concerned or amused. "Did you really pick him ou

y full name with exaggerated offense.

lanting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Fine, fine, just

r eye. She'd probably set this up as a way to mess with me, but I wasn't going

But the thought of sharing a room with some random guy-especially after spending all of last semester holed up alone in my own space-made me cringe. Was this

g my hair and wondering how I'd come across to this guy. Would he be annoyed to have me as a roommate? I wasn't exa

worst. I didn't knock immediately, instead letting the quiet settle around me, giving my

d, and after a few seconds of

d shoulders. He looked like the kind of guy who had spent more time in the gym than in the library, but there was something in his eyes that suggested

his voice deep but friendly.

but trying not to show it. "Ye

de to let me in. "I guess we

t could easily be made comfortable with the right touches. The window was open, letting in the warm breeze, and th

shrug, taking a seat on the edge of one of the beds. His relaxed

was still made up neatly, the sheets looking freshly changed. I took a seat on the bed acr

ent too, right?" I asked,

, looking at me with a hint of

a little self-consci

I was going to go into business, but after taking a few psych classes, I realized

e at ease now. "Yeah, well, if

I'll be sure t

ward, though I couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was his easygoing na

onversation was easy-no forced small talk. It was like we were both wait

r was going to be different from what I'd imagined, but maybe that wasn't such a terrible thing. And even i