Not What You Need

Veronica

Her eyes soften, almost hesitant. "I take it you didn't have an enjoyable start to the year."

I concede with a sigh, rubbing one hand over my temples. "Well, I got mauled into a kiss first, followed by a string of accusations of how I was the one to be blamed. Not the best start, I'd say."

"I'm sorry." Her apology seems genuine. "People usually aren't like this in our school, but then again we've rarely ever had a commoner join." She smacks her mouth with one hand. "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to demean you like that."

Despite the superficial front she presents herself with, Sophia seems to be the first of her kind with a backbone.

"That's okay. To be honest, I'm not that surprised. Hadn't expected anything less from a bunch of brats who've taken everything for granted." I deride with a scowl.

"It's not the best crowd, but it's not the worst either. At least we're not a bunch of criminals." She giggles, attempting at humor. 

"Debatable."  I cryptically mutter to myself.

"It might take some time, but you'll feel belonged soon enough." Sophia assures with a warm smile. I don't tell her that it's not validation I need or seek. I may not even be needed for the entire year, depending on the goal I've come here with. Foregoing the complexities of my situation, I simply smile back. "Thank you. It truly was nice meeting you, Sophia."

"Likewise, Veronica." She beams. "I'll let you unpack and relax. I've got my boyfriend coming in about an hour, so I've got to get ready for him." She turns giddy. "Feel free to knock if you need anything."

With that, Sophia skips into her room, incessantly typing on her phone as she does. She may be dainty, perhaps a little delusional to swoon over a man; that too one belonging to a school like Crescent High, but at least she understands my predicament. I grimace at the ray of hope that emerges, and stub it with the heel of my foot. The sooner I get out of here, the better it'll be.

—-------

I stack my suitcase in one corner of the bedroom and heave a deep sigh. Unpacking does not take too long; given the empty shelf in my double door cupboard and even emptier walls. My clothes were limited, shoes consisting mainly of trainers. The 'makeup kit' provided to me prior to my enrollment weighed particularly heavy with items I'd hardly ever used and so I shoved it in the back of my cupboard.

I scan the bare walls, hoping to find even the slightest blemish that would at least make this place look real. There isn't, and the clear coat of paint suddenly seems too perfect. I don't have a collection of pictures I could hang on the walls to personalize my room. I wasn't bothered to bring in fairy lights to brighten up the space. All I had were my devices, which I scattered surreptitiously around the room; in desk drawers, in the bathroom cabinet, and the important ones locked in the small gray safe in my cupboard. If someone were to rummage through my room in suspicion, I'd be relieved knowing it would take them long enough for me to call for help.

Around a half hour past four in the evening, I eye the bathroom for a nice, long bath, just as the front door echoes with a knock. I give it a few seconds for my roommate to answer it, but when the knocks persist I have no other option but to postpone my plans of complete solitude by a few minutes. Dropping my gray towel on the bed, I stroll out my room and whisk open the door.

Only to cough ferociously at the strong stench shrouding me.

Because there he stands, my newly transformed nemesis, with a cigarette dangling between his lips. My face twists with disgust and I wave my hand to diffuse the smell in the air, while he stands unaffected, an amused smirk plastered on his face as he exhales a deliberately long line of smoke on my face.