Chapter 2
(Day 3) So after a great night out of carousing around shops and walking through Central Park before all the crazies came out, we walked toward Mandy’s dorm, which made me long for her to be going to my college and be my roommate. It’s torture without her, and this guy is going to be a challenge to live with. At least we have a big room and a bathroom…what luck. Walking back to NYU is not very smart when you’re alone and in the dark. Just a hint for next time. I put my keys in between my fingers like Wolverine from the X-Men, great show, to fend off any unwelcome advances. This is making me nervous and 5 more blocks to go. I’m such an idiot, they should have walked me home…there are two of them. It seems like I’m still too young to be in such a big, involved city with involved people. I’m not even sure that this is the place my degree will be at and everyone going to school here seem so sure of there paths…if they weren’t then why would some of them travel all the way across the United States just to be here. I’m here by default, or so it seems. I have to have a purpose, but who knows when I get to figure that one out. Ok finally I’m here, home, or so it is for now. Mental note: take the stairs next time, this elevator is rickety and I hate elevators. They just give me the willies. I mean what if you get stuck on one with a pregnant lady like Zach and Tori did on Saved By The Bell. You’d have to deliver it or something and Rachel’s the doctor, not me. Or you’d end up getting stuck and no one would find you until the next day when they realized it. One could starve. Ack, the elevator of death is done with me. At the door and sounds of loud music and singing are radiating to me, not that it's bad mind you just interesting. I know this song, its Old 97’s Designs on You. Good song, but it sounds better when whoever this person is sings it. I just hope I walk in and it’s not my roommate, his brothers, or random friends/people. Crossing my fingers that its just a good recording…then opening the door open the door… (Day 4) But of course it is my roommate, standing on top of my bed in pajamas (the kind you’d see at Old Navy, matching and that sort) with his brothers playing along. Mocking my bad luck and making me forget all my manners…only for a split second though. I suppose my face paled and my mouth flopped open and after thinking of several things to say to him I think a smile graced my face and let him regain his composure. I have a knack for embarrassing people, but my you can see my emotions and I have awful timing. Why couldn’t that elevator have taking a few seconds longer, so my curiosity could be held at bay…no such luck? And he is so embarrassed, red faced and everything and crouching on my bed like a little boy who’s mother caught him jumping on the beds, except I could care less if he was singing on my bed as long as he straightened the covers first. Somehow I’m embarrassed too. And I can feel the blush rise into my cheeks, oh how I hate to blush. It’s torture from the ancestors back in Scotland and Ireland.
“Ididn’tmeantogetonyourbed…” finally he spoke.
“No just forget I even saw it, just put back the covers, I could care less about anything else. It was good though; you know that, right? Feels like I know your voice, I guess it sounds a lot like one of my friends back home.”
“Uh well uh thanks, we were just having fun. Oh well its getting late, you must be tired. We’ll rap it up.”
“No, don’t quit on my account, I’ll be invisible and showering so please continue Mc Jagger.” Avoid further eye contact while gathering after-shower-soon-bed clothes. Yes! You have successfully made it to the bathroom without further embarrassing yourself and countless crowds of people.
Showering is the one thing that can make any day feel better. Hot steam can cure headaches, muscle aches from low blood sugar, stuffed up noses, and just the Long Day uckies. It’s like the magic cure all that people used to sell town to town in the little house on the prairie days…and you get to sing. Overall is this delicious feeling of yummy cleanness over everything. Being clean makes me sleepy too and I hope they’re gone so I can climb under the cool sheets and smell the Tide on them and remember camp outs with my family. Peeking out of the bathroom I see Taylor already in bed reading a thick book and looking sleepy. Hopefully he covets sleep as much as I do. “Hey, I think I’m going to crash. You ready too or what?”
“Oh yeah, I was just waiting so I wouldn’t turn the lights out on you. Good roommate etiquette and all. Can I ask you a question,” he asked as he turned out the light.
“Sure ask away, but just to let you know I can’t spell within an inch of my life.”
“Oh well it’s not a spelling question, although I will take that into consideration. You really thought we were good?”
“Oh yeah. I thought you were a recording until the voice sounded better than the original and not many people choose to cover Old 97’s songs.”
“Good, uh I mean thanks.”
“It reminded me of the troubadour’s that roamed the lands singing about love and such. I always wanted my own troubadour. Hey can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot”
“So Taylor would you be my troubadour?”
(Day 5)“Sure, if you need one, there I’ll be. Your own personal troubadour. Goodnight mistress.”
I could almost see the smile in his voice. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship…to coin an overused phrase. “Goodnight to you too Taylor.”
As I was slowly emerging from sleep I smelt the faint accent of gingko just like the candle I used while studying for the big midterm in English lit 1 right before Christmas break. I used the candle because of its supposed calming qualities, and it worked. It calmed me so much I fell asleep before I finished studying, but I still made a good grade. Soon I’m sure the stress level would be as high, except that I’d have to pull all nighters. The thought made me want to sleep more, but the room was flooded with light. I could tell that from behind my closed eyes and I could hear Taylor moving around. My whole New World was beckoning me to explore and feel. So I woke up officially and stretched. Taylor picked that moment to step out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. I giggled and looked away.
“You afraid of my out-of-shower looks, Melissa? I hope I don’t look too goofy.”
“Well I’m just not used to random men walking around me in towels, just reminded me of a Zest commercial, or something. I’m waiting for you to pull another towel out that has the logo on it and proclaim that you’re zestfully clean. You don’t look goofy or frightening, just like a commercial.”
“Joke all you want. I’m not used to having a girl roommate. Maybe I’ll just shower at my brother’s apartment from now on.”
“They’re living here too?”
“Yeah to work on stuff and let me try out getting an education. That’s why the whole family was here to greet you yesterday.”
“Will you be pursuing a music career here?”
“Oh uh well, no. What are you majoring in?”
“Graphic Design, maybe if I can get into an art college here. My friend Mandy is already going to the one I want to go to. She’s on music scholarship, but her real major is Interior Design. Don’t tell anyone though.”
“Good enough. What are your plans today?”
“Oh I thought I’d head up to see MTV studios and bug the crap out of their popular music establishment. It's all politics and I hate that. The good bands never get played.”
(DAY 6)“Yeah I totally agree. We’re just going to go shopping for CDs and stuff. Mainly walk around the city. My family left early this morning so no long good-byes or facing the traffic.”
“If you want to join us sometime, you can. Feel free to butt in anytime. We’re queens of randomness but I think we’re fun.”
“Oh yeah same to you. Ah, well I better finish getting dressed and all. Can’t go all day looking like the zest man.”
“Oh yeah, me too. Gotta call Mandy and make sure of our plans.” He got dressed and I rolled my hair and then we both went our separate ways. Maybe having a guy roommate wouldn’t be that bad.

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story stuff