Ty, Rocky and Dina sat in silence for the rest of the journey up to Boston. Ty was focused on the road, Rocky looking out of the window and Dina was scrolling through her music.
The final five hours of the journey went past really quick. Dina watched a movie and Rocky finished her book and woke up in the last five minutes.
"We're finally here!" Ty told the girls. They all high-fived. Ty pulled up outside the main building. He had a parking space that he had paid for before. They three of them all got out of the car and stretched their legs.
"We have to get to our rooms then we have to meet in the main lecture hall." Ty instructed.
"Ok, see you guys later then," Rocky called. They all went their separate ways, happy that they were finally out of the car.
When Rocky entered her flat, she was met by a room with a sofa, an interjoining kitchen and six doors leading from the main room. On the sofa was a cute boy with black spiky hair. He was wearing baggy shorts and a Vans T-shirt and he was reading from a historical book. He looked up when Rocky entered the room and smiled.
"Hey, I'm Oscar. Are you Rocky?" he said in his Scottish accent. Rocky returned his grin.
"Yeah, Rocky Blue. How'd you know?"
"Well, I could make up a non-creepy story about how seeing as Ingrid, the only other girl in the flat, is already here, you had to be Rocky. But the truth is I internet stalked all of my roomies." Oscar grinned.
"Don't worry, I internet stalked all my room mates too!" Rocky laughed. "Looks like we have something in common!"
"Yup!" He agreed. "So, what are you studying here?"
"I'm doing a degree in psychology" Rocky explained. "And you're doing history, right?"
"Yeah. I guess you went further than I when you stalked us!"
"Apparently so," Rocky smiled. "But I don't suppose you found out anything about Gunther?"
"Nope" Oscar sighed. "But Ingrid is really cool, I think you'll like her. And you'll never guess what I found on the internet about her family! Come on, sit down and I'll show you" he took out his phone and gestured to the space next to him. Rocky sat down next to him just as one of the doors opened.
A tall blonde boy wearing a black beanie and a leather jacket stood there glowering.
"Who's she?" he snarled. Rocky shrank back in her seat. But Oscar didn't even look up from his phone.
"Hey Gunther, this is Rocky." He said. "She's the other girl who's sharing this flat"
"I didn't know about her!" Gunther challenged.
"She only applied a few hours ago." Oscar explained. "But she got a perfect score in her SATS so she got accepted right away."
"Fine" Gunther said. He strode over to the sofa and offered his hand to Rocky. She slowly raised her own to shake it but Gunther pulled her up into a mighty bear hug. She gasped as he squeezed the air from her lungs.
"Sorry about that," He said letting her go. "I'm not usually that grouchy,"
"Believe me he is. I spent 6 and a half hours on a plane with him" Oscar scoffed.
"I just like knowing who I'm living with" Gunther finished, ignoring Oscar's comment.
"That's OK" Rocky accepted. "So, you both flew in from Scotland?"
"Yeah, I live there and Gunther said he was taking a gap year there" Oscar explained.
"That's cool" Rocky said. "So, since we're all here can I meet Ingrid as well?"
"Oh yeah, I'll go get her" Oscar said rising to his feet. He went up to one of the doors and knocked gently.
"Yo, Ingrid. Come meet out last roomie Rocky." He called into the wood.
"I'll be out in a jiffy." Ingrid replied from inside the room.
"That means she'll be out in about five minutes" Gunther sighed. "She says she likes to be presentable when meeting new people."
"Why don't you show her to her room" Oscar suggested. "We'll be here for a while"
"Ok. This way Rocky." Gunther said showing Rocky to the door closest to the kitchen. He opened the door and Rocky walked in.
It was larger than she had expected. In one corner, there was large window with a perfect view of Boston University Observatory. Underneath, was a double bed with a table by the head. There were two sockets to the right of the table and the was a bookcase at the foot of the bed. In the other corner, there was an ensuite bathroom and across from it was a desk with shelves above it. And, burrowed in the wall, there was a small cupboard for all her clothes.
"Wow" Rocky breathed. "This is really cool"
"You got the best room" Gunther admitted. Rocky turned to him.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because of what happed between you and that son of a bitch Logan" Gunther growled.
"What?" Rocky spluttered. "How do you know about that?"
"It was all over the news." Gunther said sounding confused. "Logan got arrested for physical abuse of Rocky Blue. That is you, right?"
"Yeah" Rocky whispered. "How come I didn't know about this?" She asked herself.
"Because you spent fifteen hours in a car and the article only came out this morning?" Gunther offered.
"That would make more sense." Rocky admitted. "But I don't want the best room because of something that happened in my past. I came here to move on. I don't want you guys to treat me this way!" She flopped onto the bed and started crying. Gunther stood in the doorway not sure what to do. Eventually, he sat down next to her and rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Don't cry, Rocky" he soothed. "It's only a room. If you don't want us to treat you any different, that can be arranged. We just thought that after all you've been through, you may need some help and support."
"Logan wasn't a bad guy" Rocky told him. "Well, he was. But he changed. I saw it. And to top it off he threw himself in front of a car and saved my life. He didn't deserve to go to prison for that!"
"He did?" Gunther asked shocked. "That wasn't mentioned in the papers."
"I doubt it would have been" Rocky replied. "But it's the truth."
"I guess you do need support then. Just not the type we thought"
"Yeah, I guess" Rocky murmured.
"I'm so sorry Rocky. Why don't you unpack your stuff? I'll tell the others.
"No, it's ok" Rocky said. "I'll unpack after we get back from the main lecture hall."
Gunther led her out of her room and back into the living room. Oscar was leaning against the far wall and a beautiful girl was sitting on the sofa. She had chocolate brown skin and was wearing a long, pink skirt with a blue blouse. Her hair was a shade lighter than Oscar's and it was tied up in a simple ponytail.
"This is Ingrid" Oscar introduced. Rocky went over and they shook hands.
"Hi" she said. Ingrid grinned.
"What up, chick-dude?" she asked. Rocky was taken aback.
"Don't be deceived by her looks" Gunther warned with a chuckle "Ingrid is as hard as nails and got the attitude of a stubborn cat!"
"A stubborn cat?" Oscar raised an eyebrow. Gunther sighed and ignored him.
"Rocky, have you been crying?" Ingrid asked softly. Oscar turned from Gunther and looked at Rocky, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Rocky?" he asked in concern.
"Only a bit" she said quietly. Oscar spun back to Gunther with a snarl.
"What did you do?" he spat.
"Nothing!" Gunther cried, raising his hands in defence.
"It wasn't his fault" Rocky agreed stepping in between the two boys.
"Are you sure?" Oscar asked, lowering his voice. Rocky nodded and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sure" She told him.
"Alright." He glared at Gunther but backed off.
"What time do we have to be in the lecture hall?" Ingrid asked Oscar. He looked down his watched.
"In about twenty-five minutes" he said. "But it's about a ten-minute walk from here to there" Ingrid nodded.
"You want any help unpacking ya stuff?" she asked Rocky.
"I was going to do it later but since we have time now, sure" Rocky smiled. The two girls went back into Rocky's room while the boys carried in her bags.
"Thanks for helping me out guys" Rocky said.
"It's no probs dude!" Ingrid replied.
"Yeah, you're one of us now" Oscar agreed. Gunther nodded.
"Ditto" he muttered. He was still a little shocked from Oscar's out-break. He thought he was the boss round here.
So, Rocky has met her roomates and they are already friends! And I know how unrealistic this is, and I am really sorry about that...