3. Dixie
DIXIE
In accordance with university policy, room assignments are made randomly. It's common knowledge that at OMU, it's impossible to change housing. Under the pretext of social diversity, they force us into cohabitation that isn't always ideal, something I'm currently paying the price for.
While Pia and I live on the same floor, in fact right next to each other, she's not the one I share my bedroom with.
.. unfortunately for me. My new roommate, Keri, is a rather reserved young woman.
At least, that was my first impression, but when I enter our room after a late night walk , I find her sprawled on her bed, three quarters naked with a guy I've never seen before.
The couple doesn't react to my arrival, and the sound of their heavy foreplay turns my stomach. Even though I'm dying to go to bed, it's clear that the two overly hormonal lovers have no intention of moving.
I let out a sigh. "Please, don't mind me..."
I leave my room without either of them pausing for a moment, and head back to the floor’s shared living room.
The floor is silent, with all the bedroom doors closed. I check my phone screen, it's past one in the morning. I figure Pia is already asleep, and even though we get along well, I don't want to disturb her.
I end up settling on the living room couch. Immersed in darkness, the only light entering the room comes from outside.
The stress and excitement of the day are wearing off a bit, but my thoughts are racing in every direction.
I can't wait to start classes, and I'm debating joining several clubs that particularly interest me.
There are various extracurricular activities available on campus, but I'm aware that I shouldn't spread myself too thin: my priority remains passing my semesters.
My phone screen lights up when I receive a message.
brADLEY
You sleeping, Dixie Dix? How was your day?
I smile reading the nickname my brother gives me and tap a response.
DIXIE
Yes, I'm sleeping, so stop talking to me!
Immediately, my phone rings. I answer quickly while glancing at the nearest door, hoping I’m not disturbing anyone when my brother says in my ear, "So? How was it?"
I put on a falsely disappointed voice. "Lame."
A silence passes on the other end of the line, then, "Your humor is still terrible, you know that?"
I laugh quietly. "That's why I didn't choose the 'circus clown' major."
"Getting worse and worse… ," but I can hear a chuckle that contradicts his words.
"And you? How's it going? Where are you anyway?" I press him.
"It has its ups and downs, Dixie Dix. I'm in Tampa. "
A certain weariness comes through in my brother's deep voice.
"You know you can talk to me, Bradley? I'm here if you need to confide in someone."
"It's late, and I didn't think you'd answer," he admits. "Don't put too much stock in what I say in the middle of the night. Sometimes things seem worse than they really are, but in the light of day everything goes back to normal."
I think about my memorable encounter with my new neighbor, Player. I have a feeling that in the light of day, nothing will be better where he's concerned.
"So? Are you going to tell me about your arrival at college?" my brother continues.
A sigh escapes me. "It was good."
"That's it?" he exclaims. "I don't believe you. You've been waiting for this moment for years. Do you regret it?"
"Do you?"
A silence stretches between us. My brother enlisted in the army a year ago and is stationed far from home. I spent the last twelve months with only our parents, and Bradley's absence was sorely missed.
"Will we see each other at home for Thanksgiving?" I ask him hopefully.
"I don't know yet if I'll get leave."
I hear a hint of sadness in his voice, and my heart tightens.
"You'll at least come visit me on campus, right?" I insist.
"Of course, Dixie Dix, as soon as possible."
He can't see it, but I nod. I wish so much he could be here.
If he had made a different choice for his life, we could have ended up on the same campus.
Bradley was always top of his class, the doors to the most prestigious universities in the country were wide open to him.
But for a reason I still can't explain, he decided to enlist. I admire him for his choice almost as much as I resent him for it.
We've always been very close—he's probably my best friend—and his sudden departure was horribly painful.
"You should sleep," he adds, "otherwise tomorrow you'll be a real dragon."
My brother knows me inside and out, and he's right. When I don't get enough sleep, I become an irritable monster.
"There's this amazing invention called 'coffee,'" I reply, completely stubborn, "I hear it works miracles."
His laughter answers me, and that simple sound warms my heart. It's crazy how much I miss him!
"You forget who you're talking to, Dixie. I know you too well to be fooled."
He's right; he's the only person on Earth who knows everything about me.
"Good night, little sister. Sweet dreams."
"Good night to you too, Bradley."
In my dream, I'm once again on the path leading to the TEC building .
In this strange state of consciousness, half-asleep, half-awake, I realize this isn't reality, so when I hear footsteps behind me, I step off the path.
A tall figure rushes past me, but I have time to identify him: nonchalant stride, smug expression. .. It can only be...
"Player!"
I open my eyes, awakened by the sound of my own voice. I almost jump when I notice someone leaning over me. My eyelids flutter frantically as I try to organize my thoughts and escape the sleepy state I was in.
This can't be happening.. .
Yet, all my blinking can't dispel Player's face hovering above me. He's watching me, and I can't tell what he's thinking.
"Are you here to finish the job?" I say with a grimace. “Knock me down and break me fully this time?”
My new floormate frowns before moving away, without answering me.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I'm not the one crashed out on the couch in the middle of the living room."
His voice is low, deep, almost... sexy? Dammit. A shiver runs down my arms, but I quickly push it away. There's nothing appealing about this insufferable asshole !
I sit up straight while dismissing this strange sensation.
"Why do you care where I sleep?" I counter.
He stands motionless, his gaze fixed on me, and I realize that someone has turned on a lamp in the room.
"You ask too many questions," he finally responds.
"And you don't give enough answers."
We definitely got off on the wrong foot, but for some reason, I have no desire to fix things. There's something about this guy that irritates me to no end.
"I do what I want," he states.
Moments ago I was asleep, but now I’m awake…
and annoyed . I have a feeling he's not just talking about now, but that he's like this in life generally.
Yes, that's it! I finally put my finger on what bothers me about him, his way of considering everything his due and believing he has the right to do absolutely anything he wants in all circumstances.
"Good for you, Player ." I emphasize his name, or nickname, and punctuate my words with a small, disparaging pout.
His eyes narrow as he observes me, and I add, "Are you planning to stand there all night? "
"Little Dixie having night terrors?" he fires back immediately. "Don't tell me you had a bad nightmare. "
His smug expression and condescending tone get on my nerves. I blink several times while trying to control my breathing to stay calm in front of him. The memories of my interrupted dream resurface: Player was in it, so yes, you could say it was a nightmare.
Oblivious to the turn my thoughts have taken, my new floor mate continues, "Do you need your mommy to come tuck you in? Or your daddy to check there's no monster hiding under your bed?"
"If there's a monster around, we should probably look in your direction!" I shoot back. Then, as if there were a spring attached to my ass , I jump up with the intention of heading to my room.
"Ouch! You're so harsh with me!" he replies. But the expression on his face contradicts his words. He's neither offended nor hurt, in fact, he seems almost... amused?
What is his problem, anyway? I can't figure him out, but actually, I don't care. I have no desire to understand him. It's late, I'm exhausted, and this guy is a stranger to me. Player can think whatever he wants about me; it doesn't affect me.
"Oh, I know!" he adds, continuing his tirade.
He makes a theatrical pause, and I wonder why I'm still standing here instead of having slammed my bedroom door in his face.
Ignoring the nuisance, I head toward my room, but Player isn't finished with me.
"You lost your teddy bear and couldn't sleep without it! "
I glance at him over my shoulder. A strange gleam shines in his eyes, unless fatigue is making me imagine things that don't exist...
I think about the little teddy bear that accompanies me everywhere and is currently at the bottom of my suitcase. He can't possibly know about that! My cheeks warm , and I hope Player doesn't notice, or that he attributes it to the irritation he's causing .
"Don't you have anything better to do at this hour of the night?" I throw back.
He leans against his bedroom door frame nonchalantly. "I already got my kicks tonight, but I thought I wouldn't stop there. I'm never against a little midnight snack."
I frown, not sure exactly what he's getting at. His wolf-who-swallowed-grandma look triggers disturbing alarms in me. What if Player is actually hitting on me?