Chapter Two

Days continued to pass and my eyes continually seemed to be on the lookout for that beautiful boy. I guess I was being silly for have already taken such an interest in him, but I couldn't help myself. No matter how many times I told myself not to scan the crowded cafeteria for his messy honey brown hair, my eyes did it anyways. It didn't matter though because every time was a failed attempt in locating him. Maybe he was a commuting student, which lowered my chances of seeing him again.1

When my mind wasn't focused on stalkerish thoughts, I was attempting to fit into college. It was easy enough, I picked a table in the cafeteria and quietly sat back, listening to their conversations. Not everyone wanted someone who was lively and entertaining, some people just wanted a person who would listen to what they had to say, I intended on being that person. I found myself a very entertaining group of friends, they were always busy trying to find something to amuse themselves. Probably a bit too mischievous for my liking but all that mattered was that they accepted me.2

After about a month on campus, my group of friends were dying to be set free. To them, the campus was a cage and they were aching to expand their confined wings. David, who was usually the mastermind behind their most stupidest and legendary expeditions, was plotting a night off campus. Everyone gathered around the cafeteria table, their eyes wide with anticipation. David stood tall with one foot on the chair as he told his tale.3

"I hear the top of Mount Greylock is haunted. That someone got lost hiking up the mountain and died on one of its trails. It was a college kid - and they say he still wanders around lost looking for help."4

Some of us gasped and others just giggled at David's tale. I just rolled my eyes. His ghost stories were obviously fake, people just like to be scared. After everyone talked amongst the group, it was decided that we would make it our mission to go to the top of Mount Greylock. I quickly denied the invitation.5

David swung his body in my direction and leaned in closely, whispering, "Are you scared?". I laughed at him.6

"No, I don't think he's real. But I do think you'll get us lost and we'll die up there - forced to wander the mountains for all eternity." I replied. 7

"Oh come on Darcie! Live a little!" David demanded, but it sounded more like a plea. Those simple words, live a little, were what caught me in his trap. That was the promise I had made to myself before coming to College, to live. I groaned and gave in, accepting his invitation. He jumped with glee and started immediately planning things. I grabbed my plate of food and left the table, not wanting to hear anymore of this deathly plan I was to be involved in.8

I returned back to my dorm room to hide away from everyone. Though I was never completely alone, my roommate spent all of her time that she was not in class, in our dorm room so there was hardly a time when I was by myself. Not that she was very bothersome; I just missed the wonderful feeling of being completely alone. The four walls that caged us in seemed to be coming closer and closer together, suffocating me. I dropped my bag on the floor beside my bed before dropping myself onto the hard mattress. My roommate was nestled up in her bed, like usual, and quietly played her television. I listened along to her mystery cop show until I heard a light tapping in our doorway. I lifted my head in the direction and was astonished by who was standing there.9

My roommate made an audible gasp as she looked over the beautiful boy standing there. He was tall, sculpted lean body, bright blonde hair that swept across his forehead above a pair of bright blue eyes. A large smile was spread naturally on top of his gorgeous face. He looked nothing like the other boy I had seen on campus, but his beauty almost equaled his, but no where near surpassed it. 10

"I hope I'm not interrupting," The boy began, "I'm Tristian." My roommate laughed louder than necessary at this.11

"Interrupting? No! It's so boring around here." She replied while pushing down the blanket that had moments ago covered her.12

"I'm Darcie," I said, pushing myself up into a sitting position. My roommate quickly followed suit by introducing herself. Tristian continued to smile at us, his eyes squinting when something amused him. 13

"Would you like to come in?" I asked when he continued to just stand there, staring into our room.14

"Oh, I am very sorry but I don't really have the time to stay long," Tristian replied, "I just wanted to introduce myself since I am your neighbor. I had been so busy lately that I had not gotten the chance to do so earlier. I apologize. It was nice meeting you lovely ladies." Tristian winked before disappearing. My roommate chuckled to herself and I sat there in amazement. Tristian talked so differently, as if he was from another time or straight out of an old film. 15

Meeting him solved the great mystery of my neighbors. I knew to the left of our room, lived two girls. A pair of twin sisters who were quite the party animals. They were usually found outside though, chain smoking together. The room to the right of ours always had the door closed. I had never seen anyone enter or leave the room. I would have thought it was vacant if not for the two name tags on the door. "Tristian" and "Jacob". 16

My heart fluttered a bit, to think that I was living adjacent from a boy like Tristian. Maybe at some point I would have the opportunity to talk with him more. I wondered who his roommate was though, if he even compared slightly to Tristian's demeanor or appearance. There was a quiet click in the hallway, from the door snapping into place with the doorway. I couldn't help but be curious what was on the other side of that door and who might my mystery neighbor be. All thoughts disappeared though as my eyes drooped closed and I drifted off to sleep.