pte

days were hell because they were on a school field trip, and I had an allergic reaction to a bee sting. I spent most o

trong and stay on campus for as long as I could without freaking out and running home. I'm sure that's exactly what my parents were ho

Maybe they were a bit overprotective of me, and at times it drove me nuts, but it helped shape w

t more than a little lost. The dorm room I had been assigned felt cold and impersonal. The walls were white, the furniture sparse, and the fluorescent lights buzzed in a way that m

judgments about him. I mean, there are things I noticed about him. Like, he styles his hair in this way that looks like it takes effort but is so effortlessly cool. His teeth are straight and wh

ughed easily, and every time he spoke, it was like he had to fill the space with energy. His voice had a kind of vibrancy to it that I couldn't quite

dom, like they threw a dart at a list of names and picked whichever one it landed on. I thought about asking him, but I didn't w

thing in anytime soon. He mentioned that yesterday, and I couldn't help but wonder how someone could stand living like that. The idea of leaving all my stuff in boxes

power around here. He carried himself with a kind of confidence that made me think he could get away with just about anything. He seemed to know everyone, and they all seemed to like him. I had no idea what kind of person

room, but now he stopped and leaned against the wall, giving me a slightly mis

there was an edge of gen

Everyone back home already knew my deal. I had my family, my friends, my routine. But now, here I

ou sum yourself up in a few sentences? "I guess I'm... kind of shy? I mean, I don't usu

expecting that. His expression w

all. You seem like you're just... taking everything in. I

sn't used to people reading me so easily. Maybe he

if that was something I wanted to share with him. "I like th

things in order too, but I'm more of a 'it'll get done when it gets done' kin

e gesture. It felt strange, though. The last thing I wanted was to se

to steer the conversation away

, I love to have fun. I'm not too big on rules, honestly, but I can make them work when I need to. An

ribing. So far, he hadn't seemed too extreme, but I could tell ther

han I meant it to be. "I like being quiet, reading, and studying.

, holding up a hand in mock surrender.

't so different after all. Sure, we had different ways of approaching life, but mayb

ack in his chair and giving me a playful look. "I

ince I got here, I felt like maybe

magined. Maybe I could be okay on my own. Maybe I could make it wor