Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 03:15:19 -0800 (PST) From: Lira Feliciano Subject: stay by my side ch.2 I was shocked, its almost a month and they're giving me a room mate just now, when I almost conditioned myself being alone in the room. But at the same time somewhere deep in my heart, I'm glad that I have someone to be with me during lonely nights. "Ah, ok" I replied "That's good then, Stephanie could you come here, I'd like to introduce you to your new room mate" Stephanie didn't seem to hear Mr. Richards "Stephanie...Stephanie..." then she looked "There you go, come here" Stephanie is a thin girl but she's a very cute one, she has strong features but when you tend to look at her longer those strong features seemed to disappear when you look deeply into her eyes. "This is Noriko James, she will be your new room mate, you have to consider a bit since your room is the smallest in Berkley, sorry for the inconvenience" I stood up "Hi, its nice to meet you" I smiled and offered her my hand for a shake but she returned it with a nod, so I was forced to keep my hand for myself. "So, Noriko would you show Stephanie to your room" "Certainly" I step outside the office and Stephanie followed me clutching her bag with her two hands, its kind of awkward having someone so reserve to be a room mate, or maybe she doesn't like me at all. Finally we came to our room. "I like the bed by the window" she said "But I already occupied that side" I never would have thought that there is going to be a problem at the first time we entered our room "So you're not giving it to me" she said with her eyes straight towards the bed "No" I said strongly "Do I have to plead?" with this question I started to think twice "Ok, on one condition, let's start again" I held out my hand "I'm Noriko James, nice to meet you" I smiled "Stephanie Cross, same here" she took my hand and shakes it "So can I have it?" she said "Yes" I somehow felt weird, these things don't happen to everyone, so I willingly remove my things on the bed and take the bed beside the wall. When I think about it, Stephanie can already manipulate me and do whatever she wants. "Did you eat dinner?" I asked her "I'm not hungry" "I'm going to meet up some friends and we'll eat at the cafeteria, is there anything you like? I can bring it for you" "Nothing" she said bluntly "Ok, so I'll leave you now so you can have some rest" I closed the door and head to the cafeteria where Kyla and Frances are waiting. What are the odds, I wished for a room mate but this is what I get, I don't even know if we can get along well. She seems so distant and I cant get through her, its like she's covering a lot of things so that I couldn't see it. "Can you go a little bit faster! Im starving!" Kyla shouted, Frances tugging her shirt to refrain her from shouting "Coming!" so I started to walk faster "Geez, what did the leader tell you that took you so long?" I don't want to keep it to Kyla any longer so I burst out "I have a room mate!" the two looked at me shocked, they also didn't expect it "What?! Really? What does she look like, why didn't you even bring her here" "That's the part I wanted to tell you, but shall we order first?" so we ordered our food and find a place, its been already a month and although not everybody is looking but still there are some people who cant help but stare to Frances "This is somewhat getting annoying" I told them "What?" asked Kyla "All the staring" I said almost a whisper "Tell me about it!" said Kyla really pissed but Frances just laughs every time Kyla got angry because of this. "Enough of that, tell us what she's like Nori" said Frances excitedly "Alright, she's very reserve, doesn't talk a lot, its like we are playing a punishment game that only answers yes or no, she's also kind of mysterious, even though she looks a little strong, I know deep inside she just wants to hide the real her" "Nice assessment" said Frances "Oh, she wants my bed you know" Kyla almost throw up and then the food stuck to her throat which cause her to cough "What did you do? I wish it didn't cause you some misunderstanding, anyway she came last so its you who has the right to choose first" Kyla said "Actually I gave up my bed" Kyla is getting hype now, she couldn't believe what I did "Why did you do that?" "I don't know, maybe its her charm" I said while shrugging my shoulders "Charm? What are you talking about?" "Did you know, when I told her no, she told me if she have to plead just to get it" Frances laughed when I told them this "Why are you laughing?" Kyla asked her "Nori, I didn't know that you could easily be manipulated being that smart and all" im lost, I don't know what she's talking about "What?" "Nori, your smart, talented and focused, you know what to do in a situation like that, but for a moment there you end up being manipulated, it seems like you found your match" "Mhmm, I thought so, which means I'm like you Frances coz you too found your match" then Frances and I both laugh leaving Kyla clueless. We finished eating so we returned to our room, I told them that I had to get back coz Stephanie could be asleep by now. I went upstairs thinking what would happen next, how can we get along well or somehow she'll change through the next few years. I came to my room and saw Stephanie sleeping in my bed and then I remember its not my bed anymore, I laugh at myself just thinking about it, so I went to my bed and fall asleep. I woke up with the sun rays on my face coming from the window, I never experience this before since I'm beside the window but now this is going to be my wake up call. I look outside from my bed but still the rays are blocking my view, when my eyes adjusted to the light I saw Stephanie's form. I start to get out of bed and take a bath, when I finished Stephanie is still on the bed sleeping, I wonder what time her class is, so I went to her and starts to wake her up. "Stephanie wake up" I whispered "Wake up..." her body began to move "Stephanie, what time is your class?" she opened her eyes and stared at me, I looked into it and I felt my heart almost sink, its like she's angry at me but she's just looking "I'm sorry to bother you, I'll go ahead, if you need anything just send message, my number is on your table, ok... bye..." I pick up my things and went to class. I cant concentrate and I barely understand my professor, why is she like that, I cant talk to her, its like she's going to eat me alive. I'm terrified of her, for now that is all I know when I see her. "Nori... Nori... Hey!" Kyla said without me noticing her, so I just smiled to apologize "What is going on with you, it's like your in outer space" "I'm just thinking about something" "Is that girl bothering you?" I want to tell Kyla but I hold back "Not really, I'm just tired" "Tired from what?" but lying this way makes my burden even more bigger but I don't want to destroy Stephanie's image to Kyla "Ok... I'm afraid of Stephanie" Kyla looked puzzled "She's only been here overnight what can made you afraid of her?" "When I woke her earlier, she stared at me, and its like she's going to eat me alive" Kyla laughed "What are you saying? Its so early in the morning! She's not a vampire, is she?' "Stop it, I don't want to talk about it, all I know is im afraid of her" "Ok, just be careful" After our classes, Kyla, Frances and me meet up to eat lunch at the school cafeteria. We found Frances waiting for us at the front door and so we head on our way. "So how's your roomie?" Frances asked "Fran don't ask her, because she's living a nightmare" Kyla intercept "What are you talking about?" "She's been blacking out thinking about her room mate and how many ways she would be eaten" Frances laugh, and she cant stop until we get to cafeteria. We were lined up taking our orders when my phone vibrates, and its Stephanie The message says: Noriko, I want to see you.