001 Clerical Error

“I really need to learn how to pack better.” I groaned as I poured all my things straight on my bed. But there wasn’t actually a lot because I’d failed to fold my clothes properly so they took up a lot of space and I was severely under packed.

I pushed the clothes aside and plopped down on my bed. I sighed.

This would be my fresh start. I didn’t have to be the freak anymore. I would just be Nora.

Highschool had been hell with everyone picking on me because of my… condition. I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t say anything when I got to college. I hated to pity and the sad glances like I could drop dead at any minute.

I closed my eyes already feeling like a new woman in my space when suddenly, I heard the door open. I didn’t think much of it. I assumed it was my new roommate who had finally arrived.

I sat up already practicing my introduction for when she knocked on my door but the knock never came. Eventually I decided to go to her but I froze the minute I heard a voice.

A male voice.

First one, then two, then three and more till I couldn’t keep track of just how many guys were outside just beyond my door.

I pressed my head to the door already wondering what kind of crazy roommate I’d gotten. How could she bring several guys into our shared space? And what were they doing?

I heard them laughing and cheering wildly and then I started to pick up bits of their conversation.

“Damn Kane, at this rate you’ll have the scouts fighting themselves to get you.” One person said.

The rest agreed before someone who I assume to be Kane spoke too.

“Well, may the best man win then.” They laughed again.

Now I was quietly turning my door handle to get a peek. I could see at least 6 guys from where I was. Some were dressed in varsity jerseys and uniform like they belonged to a sports team. I kept cracking my neck to see if there really was a girl among them since I’d yet to hear a female voice.

Just then I stumbled, knocking over the books I’d stacked on the shelf right next to the door.

The boys stopped talking. I froze for just a second before I quickly and quietly shot the door hoping they’d ignore the noise and keep making their own.

“You didn’t mention your roommate has gotten in.” Someone said.

I recognized Kane’ voice when he spoke. “I wasn’t aware he had.”

It was in that moment it dawned on me that I was the intruder, not them. How did I end up assigned to this room?

I paced the room as my heart beat quickened. This couldn’t be happening. Oh God please don’t let them come in here.

“I guess I should go say hi.” Kane said and I heard feet shuffling outside. I can say for certain that my soul left my body at that exact moment.

No no no.

He couldn’t come in.

I couldn’t let him see me.

I looked around the room and my eyes fell on the window. We were on the first floor if I jumped off I surely wouldn’t die… right?

I heard his footstep right outside my door. My eyes darted between the door and my window and without thinking, I ran for the open window.

But I’d grossly overestimated myself because I froze as soon as I stood on the ledge. The ground suddenly seemed too far and I was only wearing a pair of shorts and a baggy tee, an outfit that was no match for the evening winter air.

I heard Kane enter my room.

“Hello? Anybody in here?”

I stayed quiet.

I heard him leave and gathered my strength to climb back in. I leaned back on the wall and heaved a sigh of relief.

“What are you doing here?”

I jumped and my hand flew to my chest.

There he was standing by the door like he knew already and he’d been waiting to catch me.

“I… I—“

“Who are you and why are you in my room?”

I wished the ground would just swallow me.

He grabbed my hand and he looked really really mad.

“This had better not be another crazy fan girl episode.”

Fan girl ?

“What?”

“I could have you expelled for this.”

“No, wait. This is a misunderstanding… I was assigned to this room.”

He let go of my hand with an eye roll, probably dismissing me as a threat.

“Of course you were. Leave before I call campus security and report you for intrusion.”

I rushed to the bed, pulling out my dorm slip from my bag and I showed it to him.

“See? That’s my name, right there in this dorm and this room. Also, I don’t know you.”

He stared at it for a moment.

“Your name is Noah Campbell…” He stared at me like I was insane.

“No, it’s Nora, but yes that is my legal name.”

“And you wonder why you got assigned to male dorm.”

Oh… that made sense.

I ran my hand through my hair.

“What am I supposed to do. I don’t have anywhere to go tonight and I’m sure the admissions offices will be closed by now.”

“Well you’re not staying here. I don’t host fangirls, figure your shit out away from here.”

He turned to leave but I followed him, grabbed his arm and flipped him back to face me.

“I told you already, I have no idea who you are and I am not sleeping out on the street. So quit being a dick.”

“What did you just call me?”

“Why? I wasn’t loud enough?”

He grabbed me by the shoulders and pinned me to the wall next to the door.

“I’d advise you to watch your tongue around me princess.” The last word felt like mockery

We were in each others faces glaring. Both clearly annoyed by the other.

I was about to give him a piece of my mind when I heard one of the guys outside call his name.

“They can’t know I’m here.” I whispered.

Then came a knock on the door.

“Yo Kane, you good man?”

In a split second, Kane’s hand covered my mouth as he motioned for me to be quiet.

My heart hammered in my chest as the door knob turned.

This was not the fresh start I’d imagined.