Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 03:15:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Lira Feliciano <yoannarouge@yahoo.com>
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.