Teenage runaway 2. del

He picked up my suitcase and slowly carried it to the dorm. I followed him. I didn't like that building anymore. I almost felt sorry for even coming here. It's a bad start. And that's what I was afraid of. The past fears that I had were nothing compared to what keeps happening here. By the time I was thinking I didn't realize I was standing in the middle of the same hallway, not moving. Just staring at the wall, the past events flicking through my memory. I was scared and exhausted.

''Are you coming or not?'' – Harry interrupted my thoughts.

I shook my head and nooded. ''Yeah, sorry I was just thinking.''

We entered the dorm. I expected to see a very messy and unorganised place with a lot of unplesent smells. But it was the complete opposite. The dorm was unlike all the others. It had two huge beds, about 20 inches apart from each other. The only light in the room was the light from about 20 candles lid around the nightstands. I also noticed a small light in the top corner of the ceiling, giving the room a great atmosphere. The candles smelled like vanilla. It was my favourite smell ever. Everything was so tidy and neat.

''Don't let that bother you.'' – Harry said strictly and blew the candles. He turned on the light. I already knew he didn't want me to like the place. He didn't want me to get all impressed with the way he lid the candles and kept that dorm cozy.

''Those candles are rubbish anyway. I don't even know why I have them.'' He said harshly and turned away from me. He walked towards my suitcase and brought it closer to me. He put it down on the floor, making it slam. It made me jump.

''You scared me.'' I said quietly.

He turned away, and went towards his bed. ''You, unpack your bags and don't be too loud, I wanna get some sleep. And don't touch anything that's not yours, do you understand?'' He said in a very strict tone.

I nooded. ''Goodnight'' I said very quietly and politely.

He was facing the wall, so I could only see his back. His sheets were covering his legs. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt to bed. I found it weirdly attractive. I shook those thoughts out of my head immediately.

''Yah.'' He mumbled from the corner of the room. I don't know if he was sleeping, or just pretending. Eitherway I shouldn't be staring at him. I put my suitcase just next to my bed. I didn't wanna wake him up in case he really was sleeping, so I didn't unpack everything. I had another day off, so I could just do it in the morning. I took my toothbrush, towel, a shower gel, and all of those goodies with me to the bathroom.

I walked in, and noticed a huge bath in the corner. It was almost like a jacuzzi. It had really nice furniture overall. I stepped over to the mirror. I looked tired. I needed to remove all of my makeup. I tied my hair in a messy bun. As I stepped into the shower, I turned on the water expecting a nice hot stream to relax my tense skin and muscles. But instead, extremely cold water streamed down my spine, making me let out a short squeak. I turned off the water and covered my mouth. I didn't want to wake him up. I heard him moving over the bed, fixing his sheets. Then everything was quiet. I didn't wake him up.

Hot water felt great on my body after a long day. There was so many crazy things going on that day, it was surreal. Without realizing I stood in the shower for like 30 minutes thinking about what's gonna happen next, how am I gonna live with Harry, who annoys the crap out of me, and the other way around. He didn't like me. At all.

I put on my baggy Iron Maiden T-shirt and loose shorts. Some tinted eye cream felt really cooling and refreshing under my eyes.

I opened the bathroom door, and the steam from the shower was following me into the bedroom. I turned off all of the lights and stumbled into the bed. I could smell that the sheets were freshly washed. Despite everything that's happened, I still felt reliefed. Safe. Even if he scared me, I felt comforted.

I remember drifting off to sleep immediately.

The next day I woke up like it was a completely normal day. I was a bit confused when I opened my eyes, change of the enviorment and stuff. The sun was peeking out from behind the curtains. I looked over to Harry's bed. He wasn't there anymore. He was two years above me, so he probably had classes in the morning. I had another day off.

As I was getting ready, I couldn't help but notice a small framed picture on Harry's nightstand. I know he said I shouldn't touch anything, but it's not my fault he keeps it in a visible area. So I might as well take a quick look. I didn't know if I saw that right. It was a Picture of Vicky.

I shouldn't be suprised; He's just as punk as her, a little less rude, but still rude.

Not only, do I live with someone who strongly dislikes me, he's also apperantly in a relationship with a girl who messed up my first day of college and made me feel like the biggest loser. Great.

I sat on his bed, ignoring the fact that he told me not to and took a deep breath. I was even more annoyed. Not jealous, but annoyed. I didn't even think of forming a friendship with Harry, he hasn't been showing any interest to even comunicate with me. Yes, he did technically save me from that drunk pervert, but that was the only time that he was actually nice. And I can't be living like this for the whole semester. Trying our best to ignore each other.

I was sitting on his bed for the next 15 minutes, just sitting there, staring at the ceiling, almost a bit afraid of what's gonna happen to me next. So I made a deal with myself. I can either sit there and think about what's going wrong and what could go wrong, OR I can get up and get some fresh air, hopefully meet some nice people here.

So I chose the second option.
 
I got up, quickly took my purse and I was out.

When I walked into the hallway, I got shivers all over my body. I didn't feel comfortable there. At all. I felt like someone was behind me all the time so I was constantly looking over my shoulder expecting to see the jerk from last night. But I was alone. Reliefed. I started walking a bit faster. Even if there was no one there at that moment, someone could just show up and do…something as disgusting as that guy did. Walking felt like ages.

As I was at the end of the hallway, I took a quick look behind my back again, just to make sure no one's following me. A bit of OCD thing going on. There was no one behind me, so I stepped forward, my eyes still not focusing to my front. I bumped into somebody. I automatically let out a squeak. But no need to. It was Michael.

''Geez, sorry I didn't mean to scare you, haha.''

-''Erm, it's fine I just gotta get used to everything here.'' – I laughed slightly. Although I didn't know Michael well enough, I felt calm when I realised it was him. He seemed like a genuenly nice person, and I almost felt like meeting an old friend after all that drama with other people here that I've experianced in my one day living here.

''Jenny, right?''

-''yepp. And you're Michael if I'm not mistaken?''

-''Just Mikey. Michael just seems too proper to me.''

I smirked.

''So are you pleased with your roommate? I hope you got to live with a girl. It's a bit silly that we have to share dorms, don't you think?'' His voice was really soft. He seemed a bit more comunicative and happy when we spoke this time.

-''Actually, I'm stuck with a guy. I'm thinking of changing the dorm, I just really hope that's possible. He just really seems to be a bit fussy about me being his roommate.''

Michael replied: ''Oh. And who is the guy, if you don't mind me asking?''

I looked to the floor and said quietly, just in case anybody heard us: ''His name is Harry, I didn't really get a chance to ask for his last name.''

-''What the heck I thought he was gonna own a dorm himself..'' Michael said with wide eyes.

-''Do you know him?''

Michael's eyes looked away from me, him saying: ''We used to be best buddies.''

-''Used to?'' I was in a bit of a shock. Harry and Michael were both pretty punk, but they seemed different to me.

He was silent for a couple of seconds. I could see his eyes staring at the floor.

''I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just asked that. It's okay if you don't feel comfortable with telling me.''

-''It's fine, it's not your fault. We just kinda went two seperate ways, it happens. Just different interests  and all. I focused on different things than him and we just stopped hanging out. He was more and more distant. Not just from me but from everyone. And I think the reason for this is partly having some personal struggles but he never tells anyone about it. I just worry about him sometimes''

I looked to the ground, and I felt so fucking sorry. I shouldn't have disliked him immediately and he most certainly has a reason for his behaviour.

''That changes things…'' I said quietly.

-''You'll get used to him. He's a nice guy, I just hope that's not all lost now. Still, be careful.''

''Thanks for clearing things up a bit.'' I said and smiled to him.

''It's okay. Hey, I'm heading out a bit, wanna come? I could show you around, it's not that bad here.''

-''That would be great.'' – I smiled, and we started walking down the stairs to the lobby.

As we were walking we kept quiet. It was a bit awkward, not gonna lie. I was in shock from hearing stuff about Harry, Michael was in shock because Harry is my roommate. So many things were going through my mind, I didn't even know how to respond or what to say. As we came into the lobby, I saw Vicky with her group. I wanted to look away, but our eyes already met. I didn't say a Word, she obviously didn't want to speak to me. But as Michael and I were near the door, they were right behind us.

''Well, well aren't you two cute. What came over you, Mikey boo?'' Vicky said. I wanted to puke.

-''Just grow up Vicky.'' Michael replied.

Vicky started laughing. She stared at Michael for about 10 seconds, with a smirk on her face. ''I'll catch ya later, honey.''

I felt sick to my stomach. Her words were just so cheesy and vile and the same time.

Michael didn't say a Word. He put his hand on my back, gently leading me through the door; ''Don't worry about her she's just….''

I interrupted him: ''We already spoke one time. I got her drift. Don't worry.''

-''She's mean to mostly everybody. We had a thing once but it didn't work out, obviously. I don't know why she was all in my face now.''

-''So you've known her before?'' I asked with a voice full of curiousity.

-''I mean, yeah. We dated. But I couldn't keep up.''

-''Oh.'' I said, and later on realised that I sounded a bit dissapointed.  I shook the thoughts out of my head, and tried to just chill a little. Maybe I'm just taking things too seriously.

We were finally outside. I couldn't wait to feel the fresh air fill my lungs, I took a deep breath. It felt so good. It almost made me forget about everything.

I started thinking again. Why do I even care so much about what others think? And why did I feel the jealousy when Michael told me they were dating? And..how am I gonna cope with Harry for the whole year, and maybe the year after that? Michael interrupted my thoughts;

''Have you eaten yet, Jenny?''

I slowly said with hesitation: ''No, I actually haven't…'' I was a bit confused.

-''Do you wanna grab a quick breakfast? I know a pub just across the street.''

He was so nice. He cared. Him and Niall were the only people that I got on with here so far. I obviously wanted to be polite now.

''That would be lovely, but please don't spend money on me, we could go to my dorm and I'd make us breakfast.''

-''Look, I believe you're a great cook, but I'd rather take you on a breakfast now, we're here. Don't be so modest. Why was I even asking. I'm taking you on a breakfast. End of story.''

We both laughed and I thanked him. He was one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Besides Niall, he was so helpful and lovely when I didn't know where to go. And even if Harry was all grumpy and that, he did save me… somehow.

Michael and I sat down in a really nice pub. It was kinda vintage. It had those nice wooden chairs and tables. And it was so nice and peaceful. Michael sat in front of me. He didn't say anything, we just sat there and looked at each other for a moment. He smiled. I felt something that I don't think I've ever felt before. The light was glancing through his eyes. And for a moment I stopped, and thought. Again. What is happening to me? I can't be in love with him. I've known him for what, a day? He's still a nice guy, so I might as well go with the flow.

''See, it's not that bad here.'' Michael said with a smirk on his face.

-''It's nice. I'm suprised.'' I laughed slightly. I relaxed a bit and sipped my cup of coffee. At least I thought I was relaxed, untill I saw a certain someone stepping into the pub.

I dug my fingernails into my palm. It was Harry.