I was desperately lonely without my roommate. It was like an amputation. A few weeks ago I would have tried to get Tim for a roommate, but under current conditions…It was now obvious that his intention had not been platonic. I wasn’t one of the guys. I mulled the situation over in my head. Though there was an attraction between us, I didn’t feel it was strong enough to turn into anything more than what it already was. And from what I had observed, inevitably when one partner wanted more from a relationship, the other wanted less—still searching for true love.
I wanted true love. I hoped loneliness wouldn't make me compromise and settle for so much less.
For a couple of days, I kept to myself. I didn’t know where to turn for companionship so I turned to work. I signed the volunteer work list and made boxes with old Hazel and crazy Mary Catherine for two days and then I’d had enough of that. They about drove me mad, or would have if I hadn’t already been doing it to myself. So on day three I didn’t sign the list and I lay in my bunk reading a book which was completely forgettable.
In the afternoon there was a knock on the door which turned out to be Lauren. She completely wasted her sex kitten bounce and winsome smile on me because I just wasn’t in the mood. I acknowledged her presence by silently putting my book aside and giving her a direct stare. I lay back against my pillows and waited.
I could tell I made her nervous. “Boy, did you ever make an impression on Thomas. He’s quite smitten.”
“Well, yippee. He’s made quite an impression on me, too. And come to think of it, Lauren, I guess you have, too. But I’ve got to tell you, I don’t think it’s the kind of impression you want to make a habit of. You see, I have pretty strong opinions on dates with married men, men, who by the way, have pregnant wives. I’ve got even stronger opinions on people who thoughtlessly match-make.”
The sex kitten bared her claws and hissed at me, “Well, I didn’t tell you to go climb in his bed either!”
I was feeling dangerously calm and there was no way I was going to come out of this in any position but on top. “No, you didn’t, did you, Lauren? You were only hoping to make him jealous and regretful by slobbering all over Billy and hoping that I’d go home after dinner and drinks. You don’t like sharing any male attention, do you? Isn’t that why almost no women work here? In fact, it was Thelma who hired me, not you.”
“Wrong!” she spat. “I just hired two new women and you’re getting a new roommate tonight.”
********************
I piddled around in my room for awhile, trying to shut off my brain. A new roommate, no other information. I didn’t like it and I didn’t want to think about it anymore. After eating a non-nutritious meal of Top Ramen noodles, there was again a knock at my door.
Again, Lauren.
I raised my eyebrows and waited. She smiled winsomely. Uh-oh.
“What’s up?” I asked abruptly.
“Well,” she said, taking a deep breath and leaning against the door jamb, “that bitch Thelma got to Jeff again and he hired a third woman.”
“So?” I asked, waiting.
“Well, there aren’t enough beds.”
“Of course there are,” I said. “You’ve now got three women in this wing without roommates: me, Jaimie, and Mary Catherine”.
“Oh, no,” Lauren said adamantly, “Mary Catherine always gets a single.”
“So what are you saying, Lauren?”
She smiled at me again and I started to get damned irritated with her.
“We-ell, I’ve got some guys at my place right now, clearing out a spot for you. You’re going to be my roommate!”
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