Roommates

Lara-Jean's POV

"I've got this." I said to my mum for the sixth time already.

You'd think finally going to Uni would get me some independence. But here she was, fussing over me through the hallways all the way up to my room. It didn't help that I was starting a whole week late and would be resuming after most of the school.

I internally sighed as I saw my room number appear in sight.

Room 69.

I smirked at the number, I heard my mum sigh in distaste around me as she pushed open the door and began dragging my boxes into the room.

There were two beds, one on either corner and closets next to each other at the other side of the room. Nothing too fancy. Typical college dorm.

The scattered state of the other bed immediately reminded me that I would be living with someone. A roommate. And all of a sudden, my palms became sweaty. I heaved some of my bags into the room, trying desperately to take my mind off the fact I would have to live with a roommate. There was a faint scent of soap in the air, it smelt nice.

"Seems like your roommate is a slob," my mum commented. It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. So what her bed was a little disarranged? This is college, she probably woke up late rushing for her class and didn't have time to make her bed. I could see the judgement seeping off my mother's face. But I didn't say anything. Just like always.

My mum went over to my closet and began arranging stuff into them, saying things all the while. I sat on my bed and let her do her thing. I was exhausted, I had been on an airplane for the past few hours. I had not slept a blink and had to move into college.

At that point the room door flew open and a group of boys walked in, talking at the top of their voices. They noticed me gaping at them along with the shocked look on my mums face and they hurriedly made their way out...all except one boy-actually, a girl.

She had short dark hair that fell into her dark green eyes, tattoos literally crawling in sleeves down her arms and was dressed in a sweat-shirt and pants. She was beautiful. And staring straight at me with a look I couldn't quite decipher.

"There's no way I am letting you be roommates with a boy! Especially a thug at that!" my mum suddenly yelled and I felt myself shiver in embarrassment.

The beautiful girl didn't look offended at all-rather, amused..?

"Firstly, I'm actually a girl," her voice was strong when she spoke, "and I'd be sure to keep my 'thug-life' far away from your innocent little princess over here."

Innocent? What makes her think I'm innocent- and the way she said 'princess', in a condescending way. She was no longer staring at me, but instead her eyes were fixated on my mum and they seemed to be having a mental war.

"Anyways...I'm Covey, I'm a Sophomore, and I'm guessing you'd be my new roommate for the rest of the year." Her attention was back to me and her arm was outstretched.

I knew the right thing to do was to shake it, but I just sat there staring at her lean arms like an idiot.

"She's Lara-Jean," my mum replied curtly. She came in front of me, crossed her arms in front of her chest and began eyeballing Covey who took her outstretched arm back and rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'd let you two get back to it."

She rolled her eyes some more and walked out of the room, making sure to slam the door behind her. I felt my heart drop a little.

"What a badly behaved child," my mum said in disgust,"did you see how she slammed the door! And her appearance...I'm sure she's a dirty homosexual."

A felt a deep pain in my chest, but again I said nothing. Just sat there and pretended to be occupied with unpacking. For the next few hours Covey didn't appear. My mum finally had to leave to catch her flight back home as we lived in a completely different state.

Putting my braids into a shower cap, I walked into the bathroom connected to our dorm and took a really hot shower. All the while my head was filled with thoughts: college, the life I had left behind at home and last but not least, Covey. My roommate.

It was around 1am that night when I finally saw the room door creak open and a figure came in. Covey went straight into the bathroom and I immediately heard the shower begin to run. Closing my eyes, I went to sleep.

I was seated in the second row in the lecture theatre as students began filing in. I had woken up early, Covey was still sleeping by the time I left the dorm. Luckily for me, I had taken a virtual tour around the campus so things were a bit familiar to me.

"Hi there."

A guy plopped down next to me, he had on huge glasses and was attractive in an odd way.

"I'm Cameron," he said, extending his hand to me.

I shook it and smiled back, I couldn't help thinking of Covey and how I didn't shake her hand. I suddenly felt bad.

"Lara-Jean," I replied just as the lecturer walked into the room.

My first week was hectic, I had a lot of catching up to do and spent most of my time in the library. I came back to my dorm late at night every night-but clearly not late enough as Covey was not present most nights, sometimes she was already asleep by the time I got back. It was weird. I felt relief as it meant I didn't have to face her, but at the same time I felt a feeling of wistfulness-wanting to hear her voice again and her eyes on me.

Friday rolled by and as I only had one class that day, I finished school pretty early and walked back into my room. Only to be faced by Covey: awake and alert and her eyes fixated on mine as I walked in.

"Hey stranger," she said with a smirk. She was wearing a camisole, leaving her toned tattooed arms exposed and I had to remind myself not to stare.

"Hi." I squeaked in reply. Pathetic.

She seemed to find it amusing as her smirk deepened.

"We need to go grocery shopping, we're all out," she said curtly, picking up keys from the table and motioning for me to follow her. I didn't say anything but trailed after her. I usually ate in the cafeteria so I wasn't aware of the groceries being finished.

Walking out into the car park, Covey led me to her car. A black Jeep.

"Here you go princess," Covey said opening the car door for me and I felt myself heat up. I got into the car and waited for Covey to get in and start driving.

"Lara-Jean." I said quietly but with as much aggressiveness as I could muster.

"What?" Covey asked, not taking her eyes off the road.

"My name..." I said a bit louder, "it's Lara-Jean, not Princess."

Covey took her eyes off the road and scanned me up and down for a second. She looked amused. Was everything I did amusing to her?

"I know. You just remind me of a Princess. You know, the way you just sit there looking pretty whilst your mum tells you what to do and speaks on your behalf."

She didn't.

My body was on fire. Both from embarrassment and anger. I just sat there the rest of the ride not saying anything. Covey didn't say anything either. She seemed to be thinking hard.

When we got to the grocery store I unlocked my door and stomped out. There was no way I was going to let her open it for me. It'd just reinforce the whole 'princess' agenda.

"Hey slow down Princ- Lara-Jean," Covey yelled from behind me.

It was a start.

I did slow down. The anger that was previously inside of me had evaporated and now I just walked quietly beside Covey.

"There's a party tonight, you should come", Covey said, suddenly breaking the silence.

I turned my head to look up at her, she was tall, almost reaching 6 feet and I was only 5"6.

"What?"

"I mean, it would be a good way for you to meet people and get the actual college experience. You've been cooped up in that room all week. Either that or studying...you should go through college, don't let it go through you."

Okay..what ?

By now we were in the store throwing foodstuffs into our shopping cart. It surprised me how much Covey seemed to know about what I was doing, she seemed concerned. But she couldn't be. She barely even knew me.

"Okay." I said.

"Really?" Covey's eyes seemed to somehow light up and I just nodded my head as nonchalantly as I could.

I was not a party girl. Had never even gone to one. My mum hated them. But I wasn't going to let Covey know that. So instead, I walked over to her taking the cart from her and pushing it towards the checkout.

I could feel her eyes burning into my skull as we walked over to pay.