Chapter Two

I glanced at the clock. It was 6:30, meaning my day finally ended. I slung my bag on my back and joined the crowd of students spilling into the halls wearing my winter jacket, which had thick faux fur layered underneath its leather surface.

Outside, I was met by the brisk air and the starlit littered sky of Friday night. The fabric of the solid black scarf laced around my neck protected my skin from the cold. Snow crunched under my boots as I walked up the path leading back to my apartment. By the time I made it, it was damn near 8 o'clock. Admittedly, I detoured to get a sandwich from the local eatery on campus.

I stepped into an apartment void of any sign of Jacob. It was the third official day of school. By now, Jacob should have had our team of hooligan hockey heads raiding the pantry and fighting over who's turn it was to play Halo. "Jacob!" I called out. "Where are you?"

No response.

I rolled my eyes. I walked passed the microwave, whose digital clock flashed 8:06 p.m. That's when it hit me. Jacob had a night class and wouldn't be back until 9. Maybe 10 if he got side-winded for McDonald's off-campus. I remembered Jacob reminding me about his Friday schedule. A smirked stretched from ear to ear as I happily ran back to my room, locking it of course, and flopped myself on my bed. An hour wasn't enough but any time for myself was worth it. I let the silence drown out the noise of the day as my head cleared itself of all the thoughts running rapidly from its events. I wanted to block out the list of due dates, the full schedule for next week, the next official hockey tournament-everything.

The silence was quickly lost when something buzzed loudly in my pocket. I slipped my hand inside to fish out my phone. It was Jacob's ID flashing on my screen. I rolled my eyes. So much for quiet time.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I answered, "Hello?"

"I'm ditching class," he said. Jacob's voice unsure and shaky in my ear.

"What? Why?" I spilled out. I elbowed myself upright to a sitting position. Thoughts came flooding back and swarmed my mind with new ones. "What's wrong?"

"You won't believe me," Jacob said.

"Tell me."

It fell silent on the other end. I opened my mouth to call his name but a slam sounded from the other side of my door. I hung up the phone and hurriedly flew it open to see Jacob's face inching towards me. His cheeks flushed a bright red and his eyes looked as if he saw a ghost.

"What the hell happened!" I demanded.

"We have a new roommate."

I stared at him blankly. "That's what you're freaking out about!"

"Yes!" Jacob protested.

I shook my head. "Why?"

"Because our new roommate is your ex-boyfriend!"

"What?" My breath hitched in my throat, and my stomach started to squeeze. I choked back the panic attack I knew was rising. "How do you know?" I asked as casually as I could. Jacob lifted his phone to my face. On the screen was an email from the residential office informing Jacob and me of our third roommate and his school email address. The name above it was Ethan Price. "No. Fucking. Way!"

"Yeah!" agreed Jacob.

"Did he email you?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Nada." Then added, "Check your email."

I unlocked my phone to get to the email account my school used for its students. Before I could, I saw the message bubble perched in my notifications. A nasty taste lingered in the back of my tongue as I opened the message. It was from Ethan.

Hey, I know it's been a while since we last spoke. I just wanted you to know that I'm coming back to Minnesota. Also, I just found out that we're roommates!

- E.

I threw my phone across the room and didn't care to watch where it landed. I wasn't even bothered by the sickening thump against the carpeted floor. Why the hell would he come here! I screamed in my head.

Knuckles rammed against the front door loud enough for the two of us to hear from where we stood. Jacob and I exchanged looks before I followed him to the door. I silently counted to three as I watched Jacob reveal the familiar face of my ex.

Ethan's eyes flew over to me. I was taken back by the emotions running rapid in their hazel hue. I felt the tension still unresolved from that night I dumped. I still heard the same question whispering in my ear: was I right for leaving him?

"Hey," Ethan said to me.

I won't do that. This wasn't a movie where the guy shows up at his ex's door and just says "Hey!" thinking it was some kind of a romantic gesture. "What are you doing here?" I asked him. I meant for those words to come off harsh. Instead, my voice cracked sounding weak and tight. "You're supposed to be in New York."

Ethan practically chased after his father's footsteps. He lusted for the six-digit lifestyle with cars, the women and men falling at his feet, and his achievements of Wall Street success plastered all over the New York Times. Just as his father did. So far, Ethan accomplished his first two years at NYU for a degree in business and accounting. Why he was back in Maple Groove, at Maple University, was beyond me.

Ethan didn't answer at first. He just looked at me. Like really looked at me. Something tingled inside, but being fond of it was what made me sick. Still, I stood my ground not wanting to show weakness.

Ethan finally piped up. "Didn't get my text, I see."

"No, why are you here?" Jacob spoke my thoughts aloud.

Ethan's eyes darted at Jacob for a moment, giving him a stare that was unnerving. "I'm sorry I didn't know I was obligated to tell my shit to you," he said, wryly. "Is this part of the room pact?"

Jacob's jaw clenched and the muscles in his shoulders tightened. I stepped forward to avoid anything more because I knew neither of us would hold back. "You're not obligated to do anything," I said. "It just feels like the ball dropped on us."

"All because I showed up?" Ethan snidely said.

Yes! "Listen, it's been a rough start of the year for all of us," I shot back. Thankfully, that shut him up.

Ethan heaved a sigh, grabbing his suitcase and waltzing through the door. Jacob and I watched him pass by. Yet, he made sure to stop beside me with our shoulders damn near touching. His lips pressed into a tight line but his eyes softened when they met mine. "Maybe this will be a great way to catch up?"

I held his gaze not blanking back once. "I don't think I want to."

At least, not yet.