"Hurry up, Bam!"

I was hurrying as quickly as I could toward my older brother, Jess. It was his first year of university, and he was insistent on getting to his dorm room on time. April, my mother, had suggested he live at home while in university, but he wanted to move out anyway. Considering it was his first day in, and our parents had to work, he enlisted the help of myself and his friend Brandon to help him move all his stuff, which was a tough job.

"I can't believe you're making me do this," I mumbled.

"Actually," he countered, "Mom's making you do this."

I rolled my eyes. I didn't care who was making me do it, the point is that I was being forced on a late August afternoon to do something I didn't want to do. Don't get me wrong, I adore my brother and I love to help him out, moving just isn't my deal. I repositioned the box in my arms so that it was easier to carry, and attempted to speed up behind my brother.

"So do you know who your roommate is?"

"Dunn."

"Ryan Dunn, from high school? The guy who's always hanging around the house? That's awesome, Jess. You'll have to invite me over sometimes."

"If mom says so, you can come."

"I'm almost seventeen. I should be allowed to do whatever I want."

Jess laughed, "You try convincing her of that."

Not long afterward, we reached room 230, which was to be Jess and Ryan's room. Jess turned the knob and pushed the door open, noticing that Ryan was already inside. The man didn't even notice us, until Jess smacked a heavy box down on the nearest bed to the door, saying, "This one's mine!"

Ryan turned around, smiling, "Jess! Bam!"

I waved, and Jess was about to speak when Brandon came in behind us, carrying the last and heaviest box of them all. Noticing him, Ryan smiled more. "Dico!"

"Man, I wish I could have you all as my roommates," Ryan told us.

I smirked, "Too bad I'm still stuck in fucking high school."

"Yeah, and it's too bad there's only two per room," Brandon added.

I sat down on Jess' bed, and began to open up the box sitting there. Part of the duties April gave me today was not only helping Jess move in, but also helping him unpack. Brandon did the same, with another box, as Jess tossed the third box toward Ryan. Of course Jess wouldn't unpack his own things, there was nothing forcing him to. He would probably live in filth if we not too lazy to even toss a box toward his friend.

"So Dico," Ryan began, "Who's your roommate?"

"Some Valo guy. I haven't been to my room yet, so I haven't seen him. Hell, I haven't even heard of him!"

"Valo...isn't he hat quiet guy in your year? The one who always sits in the back, never speaking...the one who you never see outside of class?"

"Oh yeah...I think I remember him..."

Laughing, Ryan added, "Might be time to throw some parties. Get that guy out of whatever misery keeps him quiet!"

I had no idea what to say. This guy sounded strange, but at the same time, I was interested. I wanted to know why he was so quiet, why no one every saw him. "Hey Brand," I spoke up, "Can I help you move in?"

Smiling, he motioned me toward the door, "Sure, buddy. Come on."

As I followed Brandon out of the room, I grabbed my handheld camera from my bag. It was brand new and expensive, barely been used yet, and I figured walking through a crowded college would be a perfect time to use it. My best friend Raab would be interested in seeing this tape. Perhaps I could even get film of Brandon's roommate, the guy I was eager to meet.

Brandon's room was a floor up from Jess', in room 341. We had gone outside to his car first in order to grab his one and only box, which he carried as he noticed I was filming. Just to play around with me, Brandon made himself fall down the stairs on the way down to the parking lot. Although he was Jess' friend, I loved hanging around him, and the feeling was mutual.

As he pushed open the door, I caught a glimpse of another man on the first bed. He heard the door, and in an instant, spun around with wide eyes. His eyes were of an emerald green, and I instantly locked with them. He didn't pay any attention to Brandon, but to me, as I filmed his silence. Brandon walked right past, toward the far bed, and I slowly stepped toward the other man.

"Hi," I began, "I'm Bam."

He didn't speak to me, so Brandon stepped up and said, "I'm your roommate."

Again, he said nothing. He even looked away from me, and went back to writing something in a notebook. "Alright, then, I think I'll get going," I said, waving off to Brandon.

"Okay, kid. Tell your brother I'll be back soon."

I nodded, and left the room. I was unsure as to what it was, but when I was in that room, it felt as if something was drawing me closer. The eyes of the Valo guy were hypnotic to me, and I didn't want to look away when I was there. For the first time, I felt like I wanted to just be there with him. I never wanted to "just be there" with anybody, let alone someone I didn't know.