I shuffled slowly by. They know what happened. They're watching me... judging me... I can feel it. Pity. I can feel it radiating off of them. I hate it! I can't stand it...
        'I deserve it,' I tell myself, 'I deserve this pain. I know it...' I walk by silently into the college building. I plopped myself down on my bed, sinking in to it. My heart felt black and heavy, my head was clouded and I wasn't sure if I was even alive. I looked at the bandage on my arm. I sighed and lifted myself up. I swung the door open wide and walked out, wobbling slightly. I felt my arm bump into someone, but no part of my brain was ready to care at this moment. I walked into the classroom, slamming the door open and into the wall. Everyone looked up at me and I wobbled to my seat. It was the first day of college and I think my 'first impression' was less than acceptable.
        "Umm... Mrs. (Y/n).. don't you think you should be in your do-" The professor began, but I interrupted.
        "With all do respect, professor Washington, it's the first damn day of school. I'm gonna be here." My voice was gruff, and I knew I probably sounded as tired as I looked. Professor Washington sighed and began the lesson. Halfway through, I noticed that someone was staring at me. I turned and saw short, straight haired man with dark brown eyes and a greenm vest. He turned his attention back to the lesson when he noticed me looking at him.

        After class was finally over, I grabbed my stuff and took it back to my dorm room. My next class didn't start for a couple minutes so I took that as my chance to relax. Sighing I quietly opened the door to my room. I was going to enter when I heard a voice from next to me.
        "Hello? Is this your dorm area?" I turned and looked to the side. The man standing there was slightly taller than me. He was bald, and he wore a seryotypical "preppy college kid" outfit. I nodded gently. Everything was still hazy and I could barely even think about a response.
        "Well, I'm the RA for this section! My name is Aaron Burr, but you can just call me Aaron if you'd like. If you ever need anything just, uh.. let me know!" He smiled, walking away. I finally entered my dorm room, feeling the cool air brush against what little skin I had exposed. I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My sweatshirt and sweatpants hung loosely around my body. My sleeve was rolled up where the bandage was. I didn't want the fabric on the wound. My hair was pulled into an extremely messy bun and the dark circles under my eyes made me look like a raccoon. I walked out of the bathroom. I was about to finally start getting some of my stuff unpacked when I heard noise from the room next to me.
        "Alexander! Come back here!" Shouted a young man's voice.
        "I still can't believe you named a turtle after me..." Another man spoke. Alexander, I presumed.
        "You better believe it." Another voice laughed, followed by the laugh of a man who had a clear thick French accent.
        "Hey, guys," Someone else had started talking. I recognized his voice to be Aaron's.
        "What is it, Burr?" The man with the thick French accent responded, seeming slightly agitated.
        "Someone moved in to the dorm next door. Just thought you might want to gre-" Aaron was going to finish, but he was interrupted by the noisy footsteps of the other men. I gulped, my heart rate quickened slightly. I wasn't ready for so much interaction, not yet...
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
I sighed heavily and opened the door a crack only to have the four men topple over into my room, all of them crushing me. One by one they got up. They looked down upon me and I could sense the confusion in their eyes. Except one of them... he had mid-length black hair and brown eyes. He looked at me in a way that was different from everyone else; understanding. It was subtle and I was certain I'd misread his expression, but that's what it looked like. The four men began to introduce themselves.
        "So, what's your name, mon ami?" Lafayette asked, looking almost like he was sizing me up.
        "(Y/n). (Y/n) (L/n)." I answered gruffly, my voice still harsh and raw from all those sleepless nights. I saw that same look appear on Alexander's face. I had only been with them for a couple minutes before I made the excuse of classes. I couldn't be bothered with human interaction. People were currently the least of my worries. All I want to do is get to class so I can learn and hit a bar after so I can forget everything. The sheer thought gave me a small glint of reason to go throughout my day.

        Several hours passed. School drudged on and on endlessly. Every single one of my professors refused to look away from me during lessons. Everyone looked at me with pity, just like everyone else did. Finally, though, the day ended. I saw Hercules and Lafayette hanging out in the hall. They stopped me to try and talk, but I wasn't much for conversation so they left me alone. I ducked quietly out of the building to the nearest bar.
        "Two shots, please. I'll grab more later, but two's a good start." I huffed, pulling my hood down.
        "Wanting to drown yer sorrows, eh? I get that feeling. Ey, since her new here an' ya clearly need some drinks, everything is on the house." The bartender smiled warmly as he wiped out a beer mug.
        "You sure you wanna do that? I'm gonna drink a lot..." I told him. He simply shook his head.
        "Kid, ya look like ya need a lot of alcohol. Look at ya, that's the most broken look I've e'er seen on anyone that's walked into this dump." He chuckled. I stifled a laugh as I downed the shots he'd just placed in front of me. The smooth burn of the liquid eased my raw throat. A few rounds later and my speech was straight and I couldn't think slurred. I laughed at every stupid joke, every little thing that happened around me. In fact, I drank so much that I forgot why I was there. I tipped the bar tender heartily and began walking back to the dorm, stumbling on the way. The man had sent me along with a bottle of beer "to go" so I was drinking that on the way back. When I finally arrived at the dorms I saw Aaron standing outside, his foot tapping nervously. He finally saw me and ran the short distance between us.
        "Oh my god, I was so worried!" Burr exclaimed running over to me.
        "Puutt I sock in itt BURRple!" I slurred, laughing at the stupid, nonsensical pun.
        "What happened to you? A-are you?" He sniffed the air around me and then pulled back in disgust.
        "Are you drunk!?"
        "Ye, what'sss it to ya? Burrr face!" I shoved him aside, wobbling in. I had almost reached my dorm room when I heard John from behind me shouting. John, Alexander, Hercules and Lafayette were all running towards me.
        "(Y/n)? W-what have you done to yourself?" John whispered, trying to hold my swaying body still. He led me to my bed (LET HER LEGS SPREAD... sorry... I'll shut up now..) and layed me down gently. I tried to sit up again but he refused to let me. I saw Alexander's face. He was wearing that same look. Why? What's with him? Why does he always look so understanding? I know I shouldn't, and I can't, I won't get attached to anyone, but... friends... friends can't be so bad... right?