Forgot to say this before: I own nothing, and am in no way associated with Joan of Arcadia.
Chapter 3
Grace looked at the housing application her resident advisor had given her. Grace couldn't believe she had to fill out another one. She had filled in the exact same form to get freshman housing. Why do it again just because she was going to be a sophomore in a few months? It's not like she'd changed that much in the last year.
Grace realized what a lie that was when she got to question four.
"4. What is your attitude toward alcohol consumption?
…. I don't want a roommate who drinks.
…. I don't care if my roommate drinks."
Grace didn't know what to mark. Last year she had marked the first line without a second thought; years of living with an alcoholic made it an easy choice. Now, she wasn't so sure.
Grace had only touched alcohol once since her return to college. She had meant to avoid it altogether, she really had, but one night some pervert with too much money saw Grace walking down the street and decided that the "angry, pretty girl" needed a drink. Grace had decided that one night with a random imbecile wouldn't hurt. With—Jake, was it? no… wait, yes, it was Jake—Grace had enjoyed a night filled with Long Island ice teas and absolutely no memories or pain.
Grace didn't plan to repeat that night often, but—only every once in a while—the peace she found in beer would be nice to have. Grace reasoned it would be easier to get a night or two free of her mind if her roommate had liquor stashed in their room.
But Grace was scared. She couldn't take up drinking. In biology they had learned the addictions are partly hereditary, and Grace recognized she was likely to become an addict if she allowed herself too many nights of peace. Grace put a thick X next to the first choice. She didn't want a roommate who drinks.
Really, how many drunks can one ten-by-twelve foot room hold?
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Author's note: reviews would be greatly appreciated. And it doesn't have to be positive. Be mean to me; I can't fix whatever's wrong if I don't know it's wrong. Also, I'm wondering if anyone thinks I'm insane for writing Grace as an alcoholic. Both biology and psychology says kids take after their parents, though, so even some like Grace who knows better could start drinking. Let me know if you think I'm crazy and am underestimating Grace's strength. And finally, sorry this chapter's so short; expect a nice long one (and a relatively happy one) any day now.