"No, you don't understand," Lauren Lewis said, looking to her counselor with clear agitation, "the room only has one bed."
The curly red head before her was not an elderly woman, but one maybe in her thirties based off of the lack of wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled back at the student. It was a faux simper, one that she probably used on every first year that walked into her office with what she deemed a mild complaint. Her round glasses slid down her long nose as she stared over the rims, looking Lauren over once before adjusting them. "Ms. Lewis, the room that you have been approved for was sent in your paperwork."
"Yes, I understand that, but it didn't say anything about another person staying with me."
"Ah," the counselor said, sounding more and more like a lawyer with each passing minute, "but in the fine print it does state that first years do not get solitary accommodations whilst on campus grounds. You will also see that any room assigned to a student is subject to change at any time before the semester begins. Seeing as these changes were made one week ago, nothing can be done. Unless, of course, you wish to forfeit your room..."
Lauren looked up at the ceiling in her nervous tick, putting up her hand as if to dismiss the notion. "No, no, it's fine. I'm sure my roommate won't have a problem with only one bed either."
The plaque in front of the redhead read: Susan Beezle and Lauren was having quite a bit of fun rhyming the unfortunate last name. As she got up from her seat, grabbing her suitcase and coat, Susan happily said her goodbyes before going back to her paperwork. Lauren wasn't above cursing the woman within the confines of her mind, but she continued smiling absently whenever she made awkward eye contact with someone. She didn't understand how a school like the Marquis University could be so lax with student issues, and as she got outside and into the brisk air of fall she took a languid breath to calm herself.
The university was one of the most prestigious around, causing an amalgamation of many different cultures, and the wealth the place had did not go unnoticed. Everything about the school was practically screaming fortune and if the new looking marble floors didn't give it away, it was definitely the obvious renovated quad and living areas. When Lauren had stepped foot into the room for the first time, she almost ran out screaming, thinking she must have been accepted into the wrong school. There was no possible way she could have gotten a full scholarship to a place that gave her a room her first year, whilst also handing her a room that had never been lived in. Well that's what she thought, anyways, when she walked into her room that was even bigger than a masters in a normal apartment. It was like she was living in a proper house with the size of the room, and she was sure three people at least could live comfortably there. She didn't expect that she would have to be sharing a bed with one as well, however, nor did she understand with all that space why they had only given the room one large king sized bed.
The first year trudged her way through the quad, the last minute sorority houses and clubs screaming out their proposals to join, as well as showing off what that specific place could do. The gymnastics team caught her eye, but it was more so due to their flexibility than what they were trying to sell. She smirked as she passed them, fending them off just barely, before passing a chess club. That would have been more up her alley as she enjoyed playing a game or two when it was for fun, but the look on the faces of every boy that eyed her wasn't appealing in the least. Lauren hadn't joined any clubs for her first year, attempting instead to focus on studies so she did not lose her scholarship. A part of her wished she had joined, but she was sure the workload she would give herself would be efficient enough and keep her busy throughout the afternoons.
After making it through the quad without being mauled by the remaining houses, Lauren found herself at building B13. It was a large building, like everything else on the campus, and on her second time walking inside it was still as pristine as it was the first time she had entered. Marble flooring coated this building too, and the walls were unscathed of multiple wear and tears that naturally occurred over the years. When the doors were closed it was eerily silent even with giggling and screaming matches from the girls inside the rooms, making Lauren think they were possibly sound proofed for easier living. She hadn't checked the shower area yet, as her bedroom had its own toilet set up behind a reinforced wooden door, but she was sure it would be equally impressive.
Reaching the door at the very end of the first hall, the first year sighed and placed her luggage next to her as she rummaged in her pocket for the keys. Along with every room being soundproofed, they all had individual locks on them as well, making this one of the most secure campuses she had seen when applying for colleges. Her heart almost stopped as the door suddenly opened, causing a gust of air to lift small strands away from Lauren's face, as she came face to, well, chest with whoever was inside. She replaced her keys in her pocket as she looked up, realizing the woman in front of her was not actually that much taller than she, but began to blush when she saw the expression on the others face. Her perfectly manicured brow was raised, a smirk graced her features, and her light blonde hair was pulled back tight into a bun.
"See something you like?"
If it was possible Lauren blushed even harder, trying to stammer out that she was naturally looking downward to unlock the door, but failing miserably. She didn't have time for her words to catch up to her brain before the taller woman was pushing past her, walking down the long hallway and out of the building. She wore an appropriate green leather jacket matched with skinny jeans and boots, and it took Lauren a moment to realize she might have just met her new roommate.
"Good one, Lo," she whispered to herself before coming to another realization. She awkwardly handled her luggage into the room before closing the door behind her. Displeasure and irritation ripped at her heartstrings as she saw that all around her the roommate had completely taken over the room. Where once was pristine white walls now hung Valhalla and Metallica posters, as well as most of the space being filled with clothes and accessories. Lauren was not amused at a blue vibrator being left on the stand next to the bed, suspiciously eyeing the sheets as she did a once over of the room. Granted she had not brought much with her, but she also didn't expect her entire room to be filled with heavy grunge and the belongings of another.
Lauren took one more moment to let her predicament sink in before going about uncovering her own artwork that had been too large to carry to the counselors office. She had two paintings depicting the woman's body as well as a simple puzzle looking metal box. Begrudgingly she placed one painting on the wall closer to the bed, and the other smack in the middle of the two band posters before removing the roommates strewn clothes from the dresser to place the box. She was only away for thirty minutes, and yet this woman had managed to accomplish completely decimating the room! Lauren wondered if she could at least trade rooms with another student while she began organizing everything around her. A nervous habit of hers, one of the better ones, she rather hoped the woman wouldn't mind seeing as she had left them everywhere to begin with.
By the time the light blonde came back to the room, approximately twenty-nine minutes later Lauren was sure to account after looking at a clock, the first year had folded half of the room filled with clothes as well as neatly placing valuables in order of what she perceived to be importance. When she heard the door open, she practically jumped, swiftly turning around and folding her hands behind her back. The expression on the lighter blonde's face didn't seem too impressed with Lauren's hard work, but instead she looked rather pissed.
"I guess we're stuck with each other," she said nonchalantly.
"Beg pardon?"
Almost transparent green orbs hit brown ones as the woman folded her arms. "You know I kinda respect that you already went to Susan B. Antho-twat before I did. If I was stuck in this lame room with one bed with someone I didn't know, I would do the same. Oh wait." Her smirk went from ear to ear and she seemed rather pleased with herself.
It didn't take a rocket scientist, or Lauren to figure out the woman had left to try to get the room to herself. Not that Lauren could be mad about it since she had tried to do the exact same thing moments before. She didn't expect to be praised for it either, but their mutual disdain for their counselor might just be a common ground they could share. It made her slightly giddy at the opportunity of becoming friends, or at most being able to set a common ground so the room could stay slightly... cleaned.
That thought didn't last long.
"Tamsin," she said simply before jumping onto the bed and flipping onto her back. She placed her hands behind her head, watching Lauren intently before barking, "If you touch my clothes again, I'll feed you that hand, k."
Even Lauren knew that was in no ways a question, but she smiled right back and shrugged her shoulders at the newly named blonde. "Well maybe then we can set some ground rules."
"See this is the part where I say something like 'eat a sack of tits' or something equally witty to make you back off. We'll fight for a little while before you inevitably give in to your new life here, and realize that little mound was a perfect sleeping spot you ruined for yourself."
Lauren balked, looking at the small corner next to the dresser where the clothes had been predominantly piled in. "You cannot be suggesting I sleep on the floor!"
"Oh I'm not just suggesting it, hotpants." Tamsin closed her eyes, making herself snug in the large bed as if the conversation was over.
It took her a moment, but the dirty blonde moved to the end of the bed, going to slap Tamsin's boots but thinking against it. Instead she kept her arms down at her sides in the least threatening position possible. "Okay... I think we got off on the wrong foot."
"So you didn't mean to start this off by looking at my rack? What a shame."
Closing her eyes and counting to ten, Lauren tried again, "It's a large enough bed for both of us. We could just... share."
That, at least, caused an eye to open before Tamsin's gaze fell on her. "I don't share."
"Then learn!"
Tamsin raised up, swinging her body so that she was on her knees and hands, inside of Lauren's very personal space. "I think this is going to be the start of a hellish relationship."
Without breaking eye contact, Lauren replied, "Now that is something even I can agree on."
"Then let it begin..."