Folding my arms across my chest, I huff at Cammie as her shock morphs into laughter. “I’m not proud of it, but I didn’t know we were getting a new roommate. Why didn’t you guys tell me? Or, hell, why didn’t the school tell me?”
Okay, I’m being a little pouty about it. It shouldn’t be a big deal that I have to live with someone new, but honestly, everything in my life is such a shit storm of craziness right now; this whole new roomie situation feels like it’s going to be the straw that breaks my back.
Smoothing a piece of hair out of my eyes, Cammie smiles warmly as she tries to bite back the last of her laughter. “Oh, Mel, we did tell you. I texted you a few times about it, but you never got back to me. The school sent us all letters, but maybe with everything that was going on over break, it got lost in the shuffle.”
She’s probably right. I’ve never been one to pay attention to regular mail anyway. I shrug my shoulders at her because, at this point, it doesn’t matter – Peyton’s here and Maddy’s not. It’s just that simple.
“It’s okay.” Shaking my head and sighing, I feel ashamed for how disconnected I’ve been from everyone for the last month. “Sorry about not texting you back. I guess I was just distracted while I was home.” It’s a lame cover up for what was really going on. But telling Cammie, or anyone for that matter, about spending my vacation drinking and partying and my all-too-dark secret of cheating on Bryan, well, that’s just not an option.
Cammie’s nosiness gets the best of her as she launches herself up from my bed and starts picking through the items sitting atop Peyton’s desk. There’s nothing all that telling on display – a few family pictures, some of her favorite books, a few simple cosmetics.
“She’s cute,” Cammie says as she hold a picture of Peyton and her parents in her hands. “Is she nice?” she asks as she replaces the frame.
“Yeah, especially considering I caused her physical harm on her first day here. She’s really nice, actually.” At this point, I decide that I should get out of bed and quit wasting my day. It’s nearly two in the afternoon, anyway. Depression is not a mood that suits me and I’d like to kick this funk before Bryan gets back tonight. You can’t pretend to be perfect when you’re moping around all day.
Pulling my hair into a loose knot on top of my head, I’m startled when I hear another voice chime in from the door. “Hey, roomies.” Peyton slides past Cammie and extends her small hand.
I know better than that. Cammie will not stand for formality. If you live with her, you will hug her. That’s final. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what she does. Eyeing Peyton’s hand as if it is disease infested or something, Cammie wraps her arms around Peyton’s shoulders and hugs her instead.
Peyton is facing me and all I can do is laugh at the caught-off-guard look that’s plastered to her face. I can’t think of anything to say, so I just shrug my shoulders and try my best to convey an “I told you so” face.
When Cammie finally releases her, Peyton says, “So you must be Cammie. Melanie told me all about your predilection to hugging. Well, she warned me actually, but I didn’t believe her.” Peyton’s lips quirk up into a dorky smile and she rolls her eyes at me.
We may not have gotten off to the best start, but after a marathon
“Can I get some help out here?” Lia’s words carry into our room from the front door. She’s pissed about something.
When we get to the door, I can tell why she’s pissed. She’s carrying in what looks like a month’s worth of groceries all by herself. Narrowing her eyes on Cammie, she says rather sarcastically, “So much for grabbing Mel and coming down to help me, huh?”
“Here, let me.” Peyton rushes over to Lia, who looks as if she’s being swallowed alive by the reusable canvas shopping bags.
“Damn these are heavy,” Peyton grunts as she hefts the weight of three bags in her right arm. “Who the hell loaded them up like this?”
Cue the death stare and snarky words, yet again. “That one over there,” Lia tips her chin at Cammie, “likes to fill them to the brim because she hates making too many trips from the car.”
Cammie moves to help Lia, and as she does, she holds her hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry, Lia. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.” Cammie takes a few bags from Lia. At least now it looks like Lia isn’t going to be squished under the weight of the bags.
“Who is she?” Lia asks, rather abruptly. I guess Lia didn’t pay too much attention to who was helping her. She eyes Peyton up and down, and as if she can feel Lia’s intense stare penetrating her, Peyton turns around from the counter and braces herself for yet another introduction.
“I’m Peyton, your new roommate.” Her words are cheerful, but superficially so. I feel bad for her, having to defend herself just because she’s the new girl. Lia’s nice and all, but she can be a bit bitchy when she wants to be. Apparently, right now, Lia The Bitch is in charge.
Lia looks Peyton up and down once more and says, “Great, then you owe forty bucks for your share in the food.” Cammie slaps Lia on the arm, but Lia barely flinches.
“Would you cut the shit, Lia? Be nice. Just because you’re pissed at me, doesn’t mean you get to take it out on her.” Cammie’s chiding voice snaps through the room.
Turning to Peyton, Cammie tries to clear the air. “You’ll have to excuse my cousin here. Lia can be a bit of a diva when she wants to be.” Lia moves in interrupt Cammie, but I chime in before she can say a word.
“Before you even try to defend yourself, close your mouth. You are most definitely a diva and you know it. Now be nice to Peyton and go take a nap or do something that will help bring back the real Lia. We know she’s in there somewhere.” That earns me an eye roll and a “whatever”, but I feel the need to stand up for Peyton, especially after what I did to her.
Lia huffs out an exasperated sigh as she stalks out of the room. “Wow, is she always like that?” Peyton asks cautiously.
“Nah, she’s usually great, actually. I’m sure once she naps and showers, she’ll be back to normal.” I try to explain Lia’s antics, but she’s such a firecracker that you never know what to expect. I look to Cammie for some kind of help in explaining what the freak just happened, but all she can do is shrug her shoulders.
Peyton begins rifling through her pocket. “Okay, then about the food. I only have a twenty, and I won’t get paid from the tutoring center for another week or so.” Before she can finish explaining, Cammie is cramming Peyton’s money back in to her hands.
“Don’t worry about it. This week is on me.” Seriously, is there anyone out there nicer than Cammie? Well, if there is, I haven’t met her yet.
After Lia calms her sorry-ass down, she comes back out to the living room where Cammie, Peyton and I are eating lunch and getting to know each other a bit more. Laughing and joking around with the girls is so easy. It helps me forget all of the confusion over Bryan – whether we’re even together or not, what I’ll tell him, if anything, about that text, about my cheating. I don’t have to be perfect when I’m with them. The easy-going nature of being back at school, well, at least just being here with my friends, helps me to forget my need for perfection. I try to forget my real life for a while, so when Cammie suggests that we go to Jack’s tonight for a welcome back party, I agree all too willingly to go. Hopefully Lia will be in better spirits and we can all actually enjoy ourselves later.
After we’ve all showered and dolled ourselves up, we’re ready to head to Jack’s at around nine. I just have to do one last thing before we leave. Bryan is supposed to be back on campus today, but of course, he hasn’t gotten in touch with me. I text him, because even though it hurts that he seems to be ignoring me, I have to check in with him.
Me:
I’ve come not to expect an immediate response, so when my phone buzzes in my hand, it takes me by surprise.
I’m really shocked to see that he’s calling and not texting. My hands are shaking as I slide the icon at the bottom of the screen to answer the call. Now, after a month of barely saying more than a few words to me, he wants to talk.
