Chapter 3 Who Says Death Is The End?

• "Are you O.K.?" My roommate Shanna asks looking concerned after she knocks on my door and sees me sitting in my dorm room alone, crying on Halloween. She is a big girl, about 6 foot and stocky with dyed pitch black hair and wearing heavy black liner. She looks like the type of person you don't want to meet in a dark alley. In reality, she is actually very insecure and unsure of herself. Not at all what you would think. Glancing up at her, I fake a smile. “Yeah, just in one of those moods. You know how I get.” I say mournfully and the frown that follows, tells all. “I completely understand. So, what happened today with idiot?” She replies as she picks up a piece of trash off of the floor and throws it away. Shaking my head, I say, “He tried to apologize, but I blew him off. I hate it when he gets that way.” Standing up, I turn the depressing music off and decide to go grab something to eat with her at the cafeteria. I look over at the mirror and notice the dark circles under my eyes. "Boy, I need to get some sleep." I mutter without Shanna hearing. After quickly brushing my pixie-cut bleach blonde hair, I grab my I.D. and lock the door behind me. “I wonder what’s for dinner tonight?” After asking, I turn to her and stick my tongue out, acting like I'm about to puke. “I don’t know. Why do you ask when it’s always disgusting?” Turning the corner of the dorm, we start to smell lasagna and then she laughs while opening the door to the cafeteria. Several of our friends are sitting at the table by the windows. When I see them, I point them out to her. ““Looks, like they beat us here.” I start to move forward so I can get food and she lightly smacks me on the back. Seeing John, she stops dead in her tracks and holds onto my forearm tightly, forcing me to stop too. We stand there in the middle of the room and wait for her to make her move. Figuring out that she isn’t going to, I take a hold of her hand after freeing myself and make her follow me to his table. “Hey, what’s up?” He looks up at us both with a smirk on his face, then he turns his attention solely to Shanna. “Well, it looks like I’m eating pig slop for dinner. What about you?” She still doesn’t move or say a word, even when he winks at her. I end up elbowing her and when she finally snaps out of it, she tries to leave. Stopping her with my hand, I can't help but to laugh. This whole situation is so funny. They like each other so much it hurts to watch, but neither one has the guts to talk about it. I guess it’s up to me. “Shanna was wondering if you were doing anything tonight?” He glances over to me and smiles, flirting with me. Seeing recognition in his eyes, he shakes his head and replies, “No, nothing I can think of. Doing something with you sounds like fun though.” Staring at her, he waits for her response. She begins to blush and tries to escape, but I stop her dead in her tracks by blocking her exit. I’m not about to let her go anywhere, especially when she is about to get a date with the love of her life. AAfter having a serious crush on John for the last two years, tonight she should find out if he likes her just as much or if he is just playing with her. I step on her toe when she doesn’t respond to him and she gives me a dirty look. However, she does finally ask, “What do you suggest?” She stares directly at him and waits for an answer. “Hm. I know that there’s a party over in Rowan Hall tonight. A bunch of the grad students are getting together and they asked me to come over. Do you want to come with? I can pick you up at your dorm room first if you want.” He pats the seat next to him, motioning for her to sit. My stomach starts growling, so I wave to her when she sits down and I get in line for food. As I wait, I scan the room and watch my friends stare at Shanna and John flirting. Amazed, I shake my head and the food line finally moves. When I get up to the counter, all the different aromas combined practically make me puke. I see mashed potatoes and carrots, then lasagna. Pointing to the mashed potatoes, the server plates it up and then hands it to me so piping hot that I burn my fingers. Almost dropping it, I place it on my tray and continue to check out after grabbing my chocolate milk. Sitting down at my friend’s table, I eat and listen to their conversations. “What was all that about? I noticed, she’s still there.” Kim points jealously over to them. “Oh, that? Shanna has a date tonight with John. Hopefully, now she will stop daydreaming about him all the time. I really worry about her sometimes.” Glancing over at them, I smile and continue to eat.