13/07/2007
Dear Grim Reaper,
You didn't answer my last letter and I wanted to ask, Are you okay? Maybe you're just busy. A few nights ago I dreamt that a man with stars in his hair wanted me to follow him through a stone gate. I don't know if it was just a dream but I wanted to tell you just in case. You told me that I might have strange dreams or nightmares but can you tell me why? Is it because I talk to you? I don't mind if it's because I talk to you but could you answer me please? Sorry if I'm annoying you. See you next month.
Lot's of life,
Hailer.
*Hailey's POV
I stared at the phone in my hand, my foot tapping an irregular beat on the concrete beneath my feet. Mom walked out the house, locking the door behind her "stop tapping" dad grumbled from next to me and I stuck my tongue out at him, going back to looking at my phone.
Mom gave me a quick side hug and ran around into the passengers side "baby. Come on. We need to go. You guys are gonna stay in contact anyway" mom called from the driver sides open door "but. They said they'd be here" I called back, feeling a sort of hole in my stomach. They promised they'd give me one last, good luck hug.
I looked out at the entrance of the estate and finally got into the car slowly when dad told me to get in or they'd leave without me and take the courses instead of me. So I got in, closed the door and kept staring out the back window, hoping I'd have a reason to tell mom and dad to stop the car so I could just, you know, get a boost of confidence.
When it was confirmed that they really weren't showing up I finally sat facing forward, staring at the back of dads seat, tapping my foot again. After a few minutes of driving we drove past the city center and dad finally asked me to stop tapping my foot again. I stuck my headphones over my ears and read, played angry birds, candy crush and bad piggies during the whole 4 hour ride from King City to Ebrius.
When we got there I had quickly stepped onto the campus and rushed to the building before mom could hug me to death again. Dad had to pull her off me just a few moments ago so she wouldn't get my shirt wet with her tears then use it as an excuse to drag me back to King City. I was gonna miss them but honestly mom, this is too much.
The reception lady was a grumpy 700 year old who just looked done with her life. She had tossed me my dorm keys, slammed the paper with my info onto the counter then had gone back to her magazine about knitting. Who is she, Dumbledore? I read the paper as I walked out the building. I looked at the back of the piece of paper where there was a map of the campus.
There was the school, then on either side there was two building named 'building A', and 'building B'. From here they looked a lot like skyscrapers. I'm guessing those are the dorms. I turned the paper over to find my name 'Walter, Hailey' then my dorm building, my floor, the room number. There was also the names of the teachers of each classes and all the way at the bottom, the names of my dorm mates.
Tyler Acacia, Darren Costan. Hmm, boys huh? Although Tyler can be a girl name right?
I got to Building B, took a deep breath and walked in "Hate stress" I muttered. I felt my bag getting heavier on my back but I guess that's just the panic of not knowing anyone. I took the stairs since apparently the elevator wasn't working. I got the 4th floor and all I've seen so far is guys. At first I just saw a few who were looking at me weirdly but I figured there was maybe just something wrong with my hair or something but the further I walked, the more I felt like I had just entered a man cave. There wasn't a single girl anywhere.
That's a lie. This wasn't like a man cave. I've seen man-caves. I've slept and lived in man caves. This is nothing like that. It's still very female free though... I started panicking I was in the wrong building the closer I got to door 23. I slid the key into the lock, turned it and click, the door opened. It's the right dorm room in the wrong dorm building. That's funny.
I pushed it open and was met with a blaring radio and a male voice singing along to it. Damn. Do those doors have soundproofing along with it? I walked in, took my shoes off and placed my bag near the entrance. The entrance was directly connected to the living room and a little ahead on the right there was a doorless doorway from which the singing was coming from.
I walked in to find a kitchen, a guy standing in front of the stove with his back to me, singing and dancing to a song I didn't know. He turned around, screamed when he saw me and quickly turned off the music. He stared at me, looked down at his shirtless self then looked back at me, breathing heavily from the surprise of seeing me.
He finally regained his breath to say something with a frown "you're meant to be dead" he said. I frowned and stepped forward "excuse me?". He looked at me weirdly "I said. What are you doing in here?" huh.....How did I not hear that first? I raised an eyebrow "this is my dorm" I gave looked at him like he was an idiot "umm, no it's not" he replied.
I gave him a blank look "I think I would know where I'm going to be living for the next few years" I said matter-of-factly. He shook his head "girls are in building A. This is building B. You're in the wrong dorm" he repeated. I shook my head back at him "Nope. Building B, 4th floor, 23rd room, Roommates are Tyler Acacia and Darren.....Co something" "Costan" the guy sighed.
I grinned "see. Right dorm. Must have been a mix-up but I don't mind living with guys. I'm a lesbian anyway" I brought my hands behind my back innocently and rocked back on my heels. The guy looked at me in surprise then laughed "funny girl. But that would mean that your name is Walter Hailey. Walter sure sounds like a guy name" he chuckled.
My eyes widened in realization and I shook my head with a laugh "that's where the mix-up happened. I'm not Walter Hailey. I'm Hailey Walter" I brought my open palm to my forehead, not believing this "Gimme a second" I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called dad. He answered after one ring "yes. What's wrong? Were you embarrassed by someone? Are you lost? Are kids being mean to you?" mom asked frantically.
I rolled my eyes with a light laugh "Hi mom. Why am I staying in the boys dorm?" I asked "WHAT!?!?!" dad roared in horror while mom laughed at his response "She's a lesbian honey" mom said to dad "well because I don't want you to have any funky time so I made sure you were in the boys dorms since then you won't have any 'fun'. Also because then you can make guy friends easily" I could imagine her smiling at herself proudly. No one says funky.
"Yay. Great. Thanks mom. I have to go. Love you" "wait ho-" "bye" I hung up quickly before she could go on a rant about how much she loves me and misses me and how many kisses she's currently sending my way. I looked at the guy and he looked pretty amused "well then. Welcome to building B. I'm Tyler Acacia and it seems we will be sharing a bathroom" he chuckled.
I paused as I put my phone away "wait? What?" I looked at him with an amused weirded out expression....if that makes sense. He scratched the back of his head then walked out the kitchen, motioning for me to follow him. I did and we went into a hallway connected to the living room "there are two bathrooms and three bedrooms. That's Daren's room. He got to pick first since he got here first. By the way be careful, He's a little of a fuckboy so don't get offended by what he says please" Tyler pointed at a single door on the right. I shrugged at what he said. Sure, whatever.
He pointed at the other two doors on the left "the first one is my room, the second is yours" he walked over to my room and walked in "that door. That's the bathroom. Open it" he grinned and I did. I walked over, pulled the door open and found a big bathroom with two sinks, a toilet and a bath/shower and another door across from this one "that's another way to my room. We're sharing a bathroom" he smiled apologetically.
I faked a disgusted look to mess with him then shrugged and nodded "alright. Hey look, more proof this is my room, check it out, dad placed my figurine on my bed" remember the figurine of the grim reaper? Dad placed it on my bed, staring at the entrance door. I picked it up and passed it to him "under it, it says 'Happy Birthday Hailer'. Enough proof for ya?" I smirked and he nodded with a chuckle after checking underneath it "yup. perfect evidence" he passed me the figurine.
"I was making pasta, you want some?" he asked. I nodded quickly "yes please. I am starving" I ran out the door and back into the kitchen. He walked in after me, and checked the pasta to make sure the water hadn't caught fire (happened to Jared once). He stirred it a little "I couldn't be bothered to make sauce. You don't mind them with just salt and butter right?" he asked. I shrugged "sure. No biggy" I looked at all the cupboards.
Tyler pointed at the furthest one "plates are there, forks and such are in the drawer next to you and there is a pasta scooper thingy in the drawer under that" he explained, going to another cupboard and pulling out the salt. I got the plates, the forks and the scoopy thingy out.
A few minutes later and we were sitting at the island, eating our very naked pasta :( now I wish dad had given me his pasta sauce recipe. We were silent, just eating until finally Tyler spoke "So. What you wanna be?" he asked, looking up from his plate "english teacher. You?" "police officer" he smiled. I frowned "aren't there like special schools or whatever?" I asked. He shrugged "If police officer fails I want something to fall back on" he took another mouthful of spaghetti after giving me a grin.
I nodded "fair point" I got up and went over to a random cupboard. Jackpot, glasses "I'm getting water. Want some?" I asked. He nodded and swallowed "yes please" he grinned. I took out two glasses and poured some water, passing him his and sitting down again "I'll be right back. I have to get something from my room" he got up and rushed out the kitchen.
I looked at the kitchen entrance for a second then turned back to my plate, pulling out my phone as I ate to scroll through my msgs, checking if any of the guys had texted me. I jumped when the front door swung open and slammed closed loudly. There was the loud sound of a pair of shoes hitting the wooden floor then heavy footsteps approaching the kitchen entrance.
I turned around in my chair and stared at the doorway as some guy walked in, looked up from his phone in time to spot me and freeze. He stared at me, looked behind him at the living room (I think he was making sure he was in the right dorm) then turned back to me quickly, still looking surprised to see me.
I waved once then tilted my head, waiting for him to say something and break the awkward, stunned silence between us. He leaned back so his head was poking out the doorway "TYLER!!" he shouted. It was quiet for a moment until footsteps ran down the hall and into the kitchen "what? Huh?" Tyler looked around frantically for a moment then grinned, pulling a shirt over his head "hey. You're back. Waddup?" Tyler held his hand out for those handshake thing guys do.
The guy looked at him weirdly "no. Not waddup. Why is there a girl in our dorm? We swore there would be no chicks in our dorm...Why is there a chick in our dorm?" he still looked annoyed and I went back to my pasta. What? It's not like he's talking to me.
"Well. Darren. This is our roommate, Hailey Walter" Tyler laughed awkwardly "no. Our roommate is Walter Hailey. Hey girl" he turned to me and I held my hand up, telling him to give me a second. I swallowed my bite and turned to him "yes?" I asked sweetly, one leg over the other and my hands intertwined on my knee, looking like some sort of CEO.
He frowned, looking at me weirdly then shook his head "what are you doing here? Get out of my dorm" he pointed at the door and I kept my smile "nah. I'm good thank you" I turned back around to my pasta and he walked over, slamming his hands down onto the table.
He glared at me "Listen here princess. You're going to stop acting like a smart-ass and get the hell out" "first off my name isn't "girl" or "princess", It's Hailey, second off you should probably trust your roommate a little more. I'm Hailey Walter, your second roommate" I gave him a blank look, waiting for him to say something.
"Yeah right. There can't be girls in building B" he scoffed "mother placed me in here. Said since I'm a lesbian I'd have more "fun" in the girls dorm so I was put in the boys just so I wouldn't. Nice to meet you Darren Costan, I'm Hailey Walter, I hope we can get along" I gave him a smirk, holding my hand out for a hand shake.
He glared at my hand for a second but finally took it. I shook it strongly and he walked out the kitchen with another glare in my direction "Hey Ty?" I turned to him with a sweet smile masking my face again "yep?" he sat down in front of me and started eating again "What's his favorite flavor of ice-cream?" I asked, taking a sip of my water "pistachio" he chuckled. I gave him a surprised look and laughed lightly "very well then. I'll keep that in mind. What's yours?" I asked.
He looked like he was thinking about it for a second "Neapolitan" he nodded as he said it, as if he was sure of his choice "that vanilla, chocolate, strawberry one?" I asked.
"Yup. That's the one" he said, placing his finished plate in the washing machine "what about you?" he asked, putting his empty glass in as well. I got up to put my plate too "lemon sorbet or caramel" I said, going to the sink to wash my hands "Hmm, never tried caramel before" I heard him say from behind me. I dried my hands as I turned around "oh yeah? It's great. You should totally try it" I smiled as I stretched my arms.
I waved at him, told him I'd see him later and went to my room. Walking in I closed the door, yawned and looked around my room. I walked over to one of the two boxes that dad had brought here which were still unpacked. I opened one titled "#1" and dug through a bunch of stuff, finally pulling out a blue plushie the guys had gotten me for one of my birthdays. I put it in the corner of the bed where I normally had it and closed the curtains.
I lay on the bed and closed my eyes to rest a little since I was completely wrecked. 4 hour car rides will do that to you. Shutting my eyes I saw a flash of green behind my eyelids before everything went dark and I was asleep in seconds, which never happened.
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