My loafers echoed against the smooth tiled floor, as I hugged my notebook tight to my chest. I was wearing my favorite knitted red and white sweater, for good luck. I would need it, the crowd of students was suffocating, their voices all melting into one loud orchestra of discord. Shying away from the clusters of people, I hesitantly walked up to the front desk,
"Hi, I'm Al." I handed her my student I.D. "How do I find out my dorm room?"
"Aww, isn't your accent the sweetest!" She looked over her glasses, revealing bright green eyes, "You must be a foreign student."
I stifled a blush as faces turned towards me. Wonderful. How's this for a great first impression. "I'm just from Canada."
"Oh." Her tone suddenly grew uninterested, "Well, Mr. Al, you're in room C314." She haphazardly chucked the card back to me, "Have a great day."
I fumbled as I tried to return a grip on the card, but ended up dropping it on the ground. Augh, now I'm gonna be called The Clumsy Canadian Kid. It's not like Canada is that far away or anything, it's just across a lake…
Before I could bend down to scoop it up, a pale hand swept under mine and grabbed it quickly.
"Oh! Cool! Drama!" The girl's short green shoulder length hair bobbed as she inspected the card, "I'm in drama too." She dramatically threw her arm into the air, "Someday everyone will know the name Gumi Megapoid!"
"Umm…That's cool…and all, but I kindof need my Stu-" I forced.
"You have an accent!" She adjusted her goggles, "Are you French?"
"No. I'm Canadian." I adjusted my collar under my sweater, "Now if you would please-"
"Canada is an awesome country! Why would you come to boring old New York?" She pursed her lips.
"I would not call New York boring!" I argued, snatching my card back and stuffing it in my pocket.
"Agress-ive!" She mocked in a sing song voice." "See you around guy from Canada." She turned away, her paint splattered outfit swishing from side to side as she walked towards the door. I guess she's not in this dorm? Why else would she leave the-
"Oops!" Gumi walked straight into the door before realizing she was going the wrong way, pivoting on her left foot, she skipped towards the stairs. "This way…"
Should I take the stairs? Nah, it would seem a bit stalkerish. I slowly made my way towards the elevators and hesitantly pushed the up button. I could hear the gears whirring as the doors revealed the small, compact room. I squished my way into a corner and awkwardly smiled, "Umm…Floor 3 please?"
"Sure! " A boy in a loose gray sweatshirt flashed me a smile as the floor marked three lit up in its full LED glory.
"Thanks." At least one guy didn't question my accent. The moment passed by in silence as the elevator finally came to a stop.
"Bye!"
"Umm… bye!" I waved at the hooded person and exited the elevator, gripping my backpack so hard that my knuckles turned white. Gosh why am I so nervous?
I fingered the walls as I carefully walked through the narrow hall. The students' names and home address were labeled on the doors, each label decorated with tiny penguins. "It's like it's just for me." I whispered to myself, smiling.
My hand found its way to the handle of room of C314. I gulped a large breath of air and forced it down my throat, as I clenched the silver bar. Twisting it, I pushed the door open cautiously, aware of every creak. I took a step in, the gray carpet a slightly darker shade than the lightly painted walls, the room was bare, no, that's not right. The room was halfway bare. One side, was, completely conquered. Is this the right dorm, I mean, this doesn't really seem like a boy's… On the small desk designated for my roommate, I presume, was a clear vase with a single rose, next to a small vanilla scented candle. The rest of the desk was minimalistic. Too minimalistic. There were no books, just a few magazines that I did not dare look into. The bed was halfheartedly done, the light pink sheets were covered with a lace embroidered blanket and pillow, and a murder mystery lay lopsided on the covers. Just as I threw my backpack on my bed, a boy with longish blond hair and sea-green eyes strolled in. His purple shirt was halfway unbuttoned, giving a clear view of his chest. Grinning, he walked towards me, "Leon, at your service."
"Hi! I'm um Al." I raised my hand up in the air, "I guess I'm your roommate!"
"Oh! You have an accent…" He leaned closer, "Tell me about it."
I gently pushed the slightly shorter boy away, "Canada."
"Exotic."
I wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not.
Falling back on his chair, he crossed his legs and rested his index finger on his lips, "So tell me about you Al."
"Well, I want to be an actor…" I started.
"Wonderful! I want to be an artist…if you will." He plucked the rose from the vase and intertwined the stem in his fingers. After a few seconds he looked up, "Don't you want to know about that?"
"Don't those thorns hurt?" I pointed out.
Leon giggled and patted his thigh. He giggles…I didn't know boys could do that… "You get used to it."
Why would he even want to- I yawned, "I'm sorry, but I'm tired." Zipping open my backpack I began to unpack, "Excuse for a second while I-"
"That's all you have!" Leon clasped his hand over his mouth, genuinely shocked, "How-How do you even live with just that!"
I winked, "This bag can hold more than one would originally think." I smoothed my unruly lock of brown hair back with the others, "It has more than enough."
"There's no way, you expect me to believe that has enough stuff for you to last the entire term."
"This is New York. I'll just go buy something from somewhere." I responded in a matter of fact tone.
"No. NO NO. This is New York. Things are overpriced." He wagged his finger in my face and sighed, "You can borrow some of my stuff, if you really need to." He pulled a tinted tube out of his pocket and pulled of the cap.
"What are you-"
"Reapplying my lip gloss. Can't have these," he puckered his lips, "not being at their best."
"Isn't lip gloss for girls?"
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" He declared before returning to his gloss.
I wonder if wears other makeup too…even with the little I know about him, he probably does…
"Oh gosh." I pulled out the complimentary folder that all new college students received, "Ann Institute of the Arts, why did you have to be so far from home?" I softly said to myself. It's not that far, I assured myself, you yourself said that earlier, but why does it feel like a whole different planet? It's only been half a day and- and- I glanced over at Leon, it already feels so, off.
~A/N~
I first wrote this kind of as a joke. I mean, Big Al's from Canada? But, wait, what if he goes to college and Leon is there and so I just wrote this. :/
Oh well. If you want me to continue this story, just leave a review or a follow or a fav! Those are always welcome so, yup.
