OPEN Writing Contest: Wattpad Prep

1: Roommates ~ Barist

I heave out a heavy sigh as I roll my suitcase towards the dorm rooms of my new prep school. 'A fresh start,' I remind myself. 'No one here will know what you did.' 

I suck in a deep breath, approaching the entranceway that I was told led to my room. 302. The first thing I note is that there's no lock on the door. Which sucks. I can't lock myself in so people don't---

I stop myself. 'This is a new beginning. You don't have to be such a loner here...' I just pull open the door and walk in. 

No one's there. I take a cautious step inside, out of habit. I'm so used to avoiding people to avoid interrogations... I suck in a breath of stuffy inside air, and walk into my dorm. 

The first thing I do is open a window. I've never experienced a room quite this small before. Even my bedroom was bigger then this, and it served me alone.

I drop my suitcase and flop down onto the bed. It was a long drive to get here, and I want to do nothing more then relax and delve into a book or something. 

But my peace and quiet really doesn't last as long as I would've liked. Ten mercilessly short minutes pass, and then there's a quick knock and someone enters. 

I avert my eyes from my book, looking at the door.

An eccentric-looking boy enters the room, staring at me with an aloof smile on his face.

I decide that he's non-hostile, at least based on appearance. He's wearing a bright superhero shirt, and seems excited... Sort of, to be here. I sigh, laying down my book, and rising to my feet. I straighten out my school uniform, wondering blankly why he's not in his.

'Don't let him know what you've done,' I remind myself. 'Don't give yourself away.'

He suddenly extends a hand, and I finally take a good look at him. 

A red, The Flash t-shirt. A pair of simple jeans and casual running shoes. Seems like an average kid. But I'm still wary. I've been isolated so long I've nearly forgotten anything else.

I, not wanting to appear suspicious, shake his hand normally. "Pleased to, uh, meet you."

He shuts the door behind him. 

"Same to you. I'm Charlie." He pauses. "But my friends in my head call me Batman."

I smirk, slightly amused. But then I put up the wall I've done to others for months now. 

"Nothing special going on here. I already, kinda claimed this side." I'm making a subtle hint that he's not to mess with my stuff. I don't want him finding it. 

I'm the only one who knows what IT is. And I intend to keep it that way.

He shrugs it off. "I'm not particular..."

'I am..' I think privately. 'I like him, but I'm not going to trust him. Or anyone. Not yet.'

I lay back down, and decide to test him a little. Find out what he's like. 

"So... Batman wearing a Flash shirt."

"Multitalented." He snickers. "First year too?" 

I answer ambiguously. "Yeah. Things weren't...-" I pause, carefully selecting my words. "-going my way. Tennis and grades got me in."

He sends a polite compliment back my way, but I've already zoned way out. 'I don't like this... I was hoping to have my own room. He's nice and all... But he's a liability...'

"Anything important I should know?" I ask gently, hoping to maybe find out something I can use. As awful as it sounds, I'm not above blackmail, at this point, to hide my dirty little secret. 

"I make miscellaneous sci-fi references. And talk alot. You've been warned. But you probably already gathered that."

I nod. He asks me about myself, and my heart jumps. 

I deflect his question, and calm myself down. 'He's just your roommate. He'll never know.'

I lay back down, closing my eyes, hoping for sleep. Sleep that I know full well avoids me, taunting me with what I've done. 

When will it end?