After that night, Romero never touched another of his uncle’s employees again. Any time one of them flirted with him now, it brought back the memory of Cici being slapped. It was a memory he’d probably never forget. He couldn’t stand it.

Isabel

All summer, Isabel had had her dorm to herself. It was heaven. She’d always been a neat freak, so she dreaded having to share a room with anyone. She’d been warned that fall would be different. With twice the amount of kids enrolling in the fall, there was no chance she was going to keep her room to herself. She could only hope she got someone she got along with.

She was still holding out hope when she got back from her second class and no one was in her room. Then there was a knock at her door. The door opened and in walked a petite blonde girl, with her hair in a ponytail. She read the paper in her hand. “Are you I. Montenegro?”

Isabel nodded as disappointment sunk in. “Isabel.”

“Oh good, then I’m in the right place. I’m Valerie.” She dropped the two bags she carried, then peeked out the door. “This is it, Alex.”

Valerie held the door open. Isabel had seen some muscular guys in her time, but this guy took the cake. Not only did his head nearly hit the doorway, he barely fit through the frame. He carried her luggage in and dropped it just inside the door. He glanced at Isabel who immediately felt inadequately dressed. She’d taken her bra off when she started reading. She hugged herself. “Meet my new roommate, Isabel.”

“Hey, Isabel.” He smiled at her politely, showing off a very nice pair of dimples before turning back to Valerie. “I’ll go get the rest.” He kissed Valerie before walking away.

The rest? With the bags Valerie dropped and the ones her boyfriend dropped, they were up to five. Valerie looked around for a few minutes.

“I take it this is mine, right?” Valerie plopped down on the empty, sheetless bed.

Isabel nodded, still hugging herself. “That whole side is yours.”

Valerie took everything in and was about to say something when Alex walked in with two more bags. “This is it,” he said, dropping them on the already crowded floor.

Valerie stood up and climbed around all the luggage to get to him. She tiptoed to reach him and gave him a peck. “Thank you.”

Her boyfriend wrapped his arms around her, picking her up effortlessly, making her screech. Isabel turned back to her laptop and tried not to think of how invisible she felt. They stood at the door smooching for what seemed like an eternity. Valerie kept giggling because he wouldn’t let her go. “I have to unpack, Alex.”

They went silent for a while. Isabel dare not look up, since they were obviously making out right there in front of her. She could literally hear the exchange of bodily fluids.

“Stop,” she finally heard Valerie whisper. “Alex, we’re not alone.”

Thank you!

Isabel pushed her glasses up a bit and pretended to be engrossed in the screen of her laptop. After an unbelievable few more kisses, Alex finally left.

Valerie closed the door. Now Isabel could look up.

“Sorry about that,” Valerie said, still standing by the door. “He gets a little carried away sometimes.”

Isabel nodded, not sure how else to respond to that. She only prayed this is not what she would have to put up with for the rest of the semester.

“I’ll just unpack and let you do whatever it is that you’re doing.”

Two hours later, Valerie had unpacked most of her stuff, but as far as Isabel could see, she hadn’t really put much of it away. For the past half hour, Valerie had been on the phone with Alex again.

“Yeah, I’m done unpacking.”

Isabel jerked her head up from her book. Most of her things were still all over the floor and she’d stacked a lot of stuff along the walls. They had drawers, bookshelves and a closet. Was she not planning to use any of them?

“No, I’m not coming home this weekend but you can come here.”

Isabel squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

*

Two months later, Valerie’s things were pretty much in the same place where she’d unpacked them, and there was never a dull moment. Valerie and her boyfriend had a turbulent relationship. Things were wonderful for a few weeks then Valerie would get into a noticeably bad mood, grumbling that she hated him and slamming things around for days.

Isabel never asked her anything about it. They hadn’t exactly warmed up to each other. Things got tense between them after the few times Isabel had to remind Valerie about not leaving her clothes on the bathroom floor after she showered.

Isabel had a ritual when it came to studying. She needed absolute silence. She’d explained this to Valerie, who said she understood and would try to keep it down, then proceeded to blow-dry her hair.

“I didn’t know you were studying,” she’d responded to Isabel’s complaint. “Who studies on a Friday night anyway?”

After a few more blow-ups, they officially hated each other.

Isabel sat on her bed. It was Friday night and she’d decided not to head home until the next morning. One of her friends told her about a party tonight just off campus, but as usual, she passed. She’d just finished talking to her sister, Gina, who couldn’t believe Isabel was sitting in her dorm room on a Friday night. Isabel had always envied her sister who was not only smart, but always fit right in with the popular, party crowd.

To her surprise, the door opened and in walked Valerie. Ever since the beginning of the semester, Valerie had gone out every weekend and sometimes during the week. She glanced at Isabel, her eyes and nose bright red.