I walked out of my room this morning, freshly showered and wearing a pair of jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. I stopped in the living room and stared at the empty dorm room across from mine. I got a letter two days ago saying I had just received a roommate, and she'd be moving in sometime today. I sighed. I just hoped it wasn't someone who was too mean or judgemental. Or too talkative. I didn't want a complete stranger prying into my business. Heck, I didn't even pry into my business. I just left it alone and tried not to think about it too often.

      I pouted. I was getting kinda used to having the whole place to myself. I walked over to the fridge and took out the container of ice-cream. Today was an ice-cream day. Vanilla. I poured some of the creamy goodness into a cup and flopped down onto the couch. Today was the day my privacy would be obliterated and some random stranger would live, and breathe, and sleep in the same airspace as me. Today warranted some ice-cream solace.

I pulled out a book and curled up sideways on the corner of the couch, resting my head against the back.

This was perfect.

      Just when I got comfortable and the couch was getting warm enough to sit comfortably, I heard a knock on the door. I clicked my tongue. Tch. You came too quickly. I'm not done with my ice-cream yet. Sighing, I put my book aside and got up from the couch, sticking my spoon upside-down in my mouth. I'd carry the cup with me. I needed my ice-cream.

I opened the door to see Clara awkwardly standing in front of me, a nervous smile on her face as if she was preparing to get shot. She looked up at me. "Uh, hi there. I'm..."

That's when it clicked for her. A huge grin spread across her face.

"Wait. Zeenath!" Her smile became wider, if that was even possible. "I'm...I'm your.. you're my roommate!"

She laughed. "If I knew that, I wouldn't have spent so long stressing over anything," she said, taking a deep breath and visibly relaxing.

I did the only thing I could think of. I removed the spoon from my mouth and held out my cup. "Ice-cream?"

She blinked, staring at me for a second and laughed again. "Sure. Just, let me get my stuff inside and I'll join you."

I stuck the spoon back in my mouth and nodded, moving away from the door so she could enter.

I watched her bring in a suitcase and silently went over to the door to the empty bedroom, holding it open for her, the spoon still in my mouth, my cup of precious ice-cream forgotten. I allowed myself a small smile. At least she's not a complete stranger.

      Putting away my cup, I walked over to the outside door and helped her bring her belongings into the bedroom. She was standing in the middle of the bedroom when I walked in with a box of God-knows-what-heavy thing inside. She saw me and quickly rushed over and helped me put the box down.

"You don't have to worry about helping me. Since it's you, do you mind me calling the others over to help?"

I shook my head.

"Great! I feel kinda bad intruding on you like this. I really hope you don't mind," She said, taking out her phone.

I shook my head, smiling around my spoon. It's fine. I made a dismissing motion with my hands, and walked out into the living room to let her make her call in peace.

I turned towards the kitchen and looked at it. I forgot to put away the ice-cream container. It might melt...

Just as I walked forward, I felt a pair of hands grab me by the shoulders, pressing down on them. "HEYYY ZEENATH!"

      I screamed, my spoon dropping from my mouth and clattering onto the kitchen floor. I whipped around to see Lucas laughing, Madison and Damian standing behind him, holding back smiles. Well, Madison was anyway. Damian didn't seem to have facial expressions. He just sort of stared at me.

"Well, hello there. It's nice to see you again," I said, nodding to Madison and Damian. Madison grinned and Damian nodded back. Figures.

I narrowed my eyes at Lucas. "Though I probably won't be seeing much of anything again if I die before that. You nearly gave me a heartattack," I told him, looking down to locate my poor spoon again.

I picked it up in time to see Lucas walking back from the table, eating my ice-cream. I pouted. "Thanks Lucas,"

He paused and grinned at me. "Do you have chocolate? It tastes better."

I shook my head. "Nope. Vanilla rules. If you're gonna eat my ice-cream, you don't really have a choice in the flavor."

He chuckled and shrugged. "Vanilla's fine with me."

I bit back a smile and looked over at Madison. "Clara's inside, I think. She was just going to call you."

Madison laughed. "She did. But we were already following her anyway, just to see where her dorm was, so the call was more like an invitation to come inside."

I smiled, shaking my head again. "You people..."

Clara walked out of her bedroom and greeted the intruders with a wave of her hand. "Hello peeps. I'mma need you to help me move in." She came over and put both hands on my shoulders from behind. "Meet my roommate."

All of us stared at her, but she didn't seem to care.

"Meet Zeenath. Zeenath, meet Madison, Luke, and Damian."

I looked back toward the others and pursed my lips, fidgeting. "Uh...hai? I think."

Clara giggled. "God, you're awkward."

I looked back at her, indignant. "You're awkward. What the heck is that?"

She huffed. "Wave."

I frowned at her.

"Wave."

I watched her for a second before reluctantly turning back to face the others. I waved once, before curling my fingers and dropping my hand and letting it hang by my side.

Luke laughed. "I see she's making you listen too." He put his hand forward, taking mine and shaking it. "Nice to meet you. Don't worry, we're all used to her awkward crap."

I relaxed and smiled at him. "Thanks."

Clara frowned at him, and he stuck his tongue out at her. "Take that. She likes me better than you," he said.

Clara laughed. "I'm still her roommate."

I rolled my eyes. "This is so important. I'll have you know, I hate you all equally."

Madison's eyes widened. "Zeenath hates us!" she said, cracking up.

"She said she hates you." Damian looked at her.

"And you." Luke laughed.

Damian looked surprised, and looked at me for a second before looking away.

Clara huffed. "I hope y'all remember the reason you're actually here. Help me." She walked back to the pile of things outside the door.

Damian silently walked over and picked up a box. He glanced at Clara as he walked to her room. "What do you have in here? A dead man?"

Clara grinned. "It's just things I bought to make my room...personal."

      We spent the next half-hour bringing in things and letting Clara tell us where to put them. Luke started opening boxes and played with the things inside. I couldn't help but laugh, thinking of Nick and Noel. They would've been like triplets, those three. Then everyone left and I retreated back inside my room to let Clara have her privacy. I guess it's not gonna be too bad, having someone around. At the very least, I'll be distracted from wallowing too deep into my own loneliness. I'm starting to get used to them.

They remind me of home.

~Zeenath.

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I hope you enjoyed it! This was a bit more lighthearted than the others, I didn't want to drown you. ;) We'll be getting back to the Letters next chapter. There's only a letter to Nick that's missing now! *gasps* Wonder what she's going to say? ;)

This chapter is dedicated to @kario12. She's the sweetest person ever and I'm so happy I got to know her. Go check her out! (She's AWESOME) *winks*

~October