Home > Fake Roommate(9)

Fake Roommate(9)
Author: Rebel Hart

“Okay, when do I get my advice?” I asked, taking a sip of the smoothie I’d purchased at the hidden smoothie shop Devon showed me behind the Student Union.

Devon had a smoothie of his own and a sandwich, as he’d not yet had lunch. “Okay, tell me a bit about you guys again.”

“We’ve known each other since he first moved here. He always seemed to be really friendly toward me, even though I was kind of a quiet, nerdy girl in school.”

“I can’t imagine you being quiet,” Devon replied.

“Pipe down,” I responded. “He would eat lunch with me and wait for me after classes and stuff. I don’t know. We just hung out a lot. We get along really well.”

“It sounds like he likes you already,” Devon replied.

“Really?” I asked.

“Maybe.” He took the final bite of his sandwich and then brushed his hands free of crumbs. “Maybe he wants you to play hard to get or something.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Like how?”

“You know, he likes the hunt, so instead of always being ready and willing to talk to him and spend time with him, you need to act sort of aloof.”

“Do guys really like that?” I asked.

“Some guys. You know, make it like it’s a sport. They like feeling like they accomplished something if they get the girl to like them back. So if he feels like you already like him, he won’t go for it because it doesn’t feel like he accomplished anything.”

“Okay.” I shook my head. That seemed unreasonably convoluted. “So, what do I do? I do already like him, so you’re saying I need to act like I don’t like him?”

“Pretty much. I mean, just talk about seeing other guys and act less interested in some of the stuff he says to you. Just thin it out a bit.”

I scoffed. “That’s stupid. Wouldn’t that make him feel bad?”

“Yeah, but that’s the point. You make him feel bad now so that when you stop making him feel bad, it’s a big payoff.”

It was like he was talking about gambling at a casino, not trying to start a relationship with someone I actually liked and respected. “If guys are really like this, I understand why they struggle with relationships.”

“First of all,” Devon responded. “Not all guys are like that, just the one you chose. That’s on you, not me. Second of all, this is the advice you asked for. I’m telling you it’s going to work, but if you don’t want to hear what I have to say, then lesson one is over.”

He sounded irritated, and I felt bad. He really was just trying to help. “Sorry for the attitude,” I grumbled, and Devon looked at me, shocked. “What?”

He shook his head. “I have never once met a woman who apologized for her attitude. You truly are a rare bird.” I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or an insult, so I let it go. “Apology accepted. Really, it’s easier for cute girls because they don’t have to try so hard, so just relax.”

I kind of wanted to ask for clarification on that last sentence. Was he saying I was cute? He’d made a comment about me being beautiful the day before, but were those just statements of fact, or something he actually believed? Either way, the thought of asking made me feel like I was going to combust, so I didn’t.

We finished our walk around campus, and then Devon showed me a short cut back to our dorm. He hung out on the elevator when it stopped on the fourth floor, saying he was headed up for now but that he would be back down before count. I climbed off the elevator and waved, watching the doors close, and grinned.

Devon wasn’t a bad guy, thank god. It’d suck if I had to have this weird arrangement with someone awful. My smile remained as I made my way back to my dorm, passing Monica, who had a curious look on her face. Between the excitement for my first set of classes and my anticipation to use the advice that Devon had given me, the first day of school couldn’t come soon enough.

 

 

5

 

 

Nina

 

 

Presper’s early move-in option meant that most of the freshmen for the new year were living on the campus about a week before the first day of class. It was the school’s way of giving the new students all of the time they needed to get settled and comfortable before the campus was overrun by all of the upperclassmen and before the rush of school began. Any upperclassmen who wanted to move in early could, as well, but they were encouraged to wait until the weekend before the first day of classes to give the incoming freshmen some breathing room. Henry and Devon ended up moving in early because of Henry and Sydney’s arrangement, and other upperclassmen like Monica were moved in early to take up their positions as RAs.

All in all, my first handful of days at Presper had been pretty low-key, room-switching antics notwithstanding, but when I woke up on Friday morning, the campus had entirely new energy to it. The upperclassmen were starting to arrive. Classes were finally about to start.

Devon had been sleeping in my room for six nights, and we were getting to know each other enough that it didn’t make me totally uncomfortable to sleep in the room anymore. We started our mornings with me slapping him awake so that he didn’t sleep until noon, and then we’d go and meet Henry and Sydney over at the dining hall in the Student Union for breakfast. I still wasn’t really talking to Sydney, apart from the passing comment here or there, so after breakfast every day, she’d follow me back to our dorm room. Devon would return to his room, giving Sydney the space she needed to try to get me to forgive her for abandoning me.

“Reason number eight,” Sydney said, continuing a long list of reasons she’d contrived why I should forgive her. “I convinced you to dye your hair purple at the tips, and I think we can both agree that it looks really good.”

“I could take or leave it,” I grumbled back as we walked down the hallway toward our room, but it wasn’t true at all. I loved the electric purple dip.

“Reason number nine,” she continued, ignoring my quip.

“Good morning, Nina, Sydney.” We turned down the hallway toward our dorm room, and Monica was standing directly in front of our door. My heart panged for a second, worried that maybe she’d seen Devon and me slip out that morning, but she went on to say, “I didn’t see you guys leave this morning. I wanted to check in.”

“Everything’s good,” I responded quickly. “Ready for school to start.”

“I bet! It’s exciting stuff. I’ve seen you around, doing some studying. Remember, my door is always open if you need some help,” she said.

“Thanks,” I replied, though I highly doubted I would ever exercise that option.

“As for you, Sydney,” Monica continued, her voice getting a little more bass to it. “I haven’t seen you around much. Or at all. Except for count, that is.”

“I’ve been around,” Sydney responded. “I know a few other people in this dorm, though, so I spend a lot of time on other floors.”

“Oh? Who do you know?”

I crossed my arms. “Uh, that’s not really your business.” I’d had just about enough of Monica’s nosy attitude.

Monica put up her hands in defense. “No need to get testy. I was just curious.”

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