Chapter 5

Pov: Jules

If one bed wasn't made, I would have questioned which side was mine. My roommate's stuff was scattered everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. The whole floor was filled with clothes, the desk occupied with stacks of books. And the food wrappers and bags lying on every surface is just gross.

I wouldn't call myself a tidy person, but this was on another level. I shouldn't judge but I can't help it. I stand in the middle of the chaos; how do people even live like this? I move my suitcase carefully, avoiding stepping on what looks like a half-eaten granola bar. My bed is the only place that looks somewhat untouched. I dump my backpack there, sighing.

Maybe I'm being dramatic. Maybe my roommate's just... busy? It's only been a few minutes, and I haven't even met her properly yet. Maybe she's really nice.

I try to think positive. This is my fresh start, after all.

I glance over at the desk again and spot a half-empty bag of chips, squished between two textbooks. Something catches my eye—there's a notebook open, a bunch of doodles filling the pages. At least she's artistic? Maybe we could bond over that?

Feeling the exhaustion from the trip settle over me, I kick off my shoes and lie back on my bed. My body sinks into the mattress, and despite the mess and my swirling thoughts, my eyes feel heavy. I just need a quick nap before I tackle unpacking, the clutter, and meeting my mystery roommate.

My eyes drift shut, and I let myself relax, hoping that maybe things won't be so bad after all.

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I jolt awake to the sound of the door creaking open. I rub my eyes, still half-asleep, and sit up just as a figure steps inside.

A guy.

Not just any guy—a tall, dark-haired guy with striking features. He has this intense look, sharp eyes. He's dressed in dark loose jeans and a fitted black shirt that do his broad shoulders a lot of justice. For a second, I'm too stunned to say anything.

He stares at me like he's trying to solve a puzzle. After a moment, his gaze settles on me, and his expression shifts to something almost unreadable.

"Uh, hi?" I manage, my voice barely above a whisper. My head still not really awake yet and the fact that a guy is standing in my dorm is not really registering.

He raises an eyebrow, looking almost amused—or maybe irritated. "Who are you?" His voice is low, steady, with a hint of impatience.

"I... I'm Jules," I stammer. Maybe he is my roommates boyfriend.

The guy glances at me, looking a bit annoyed, like I'd interrupted something important. He shifts, crossing his arms, and raises an eyebrow. "Okay?"

I swallow, the awkward silence hanging between us. "Uh, sorry—are you... are you friends with my roommate or something?"

He snorts, clearly amused. "Friends?" He shakes his head. "No."

"Right," I say, shifting uncomfortably as I try to piece things together. "So... you just hang out here?"

The guy gives me a once-over, his expression unreadable. "Sort of."

I can't tell if he's playing with me, but I can feel my cheeks heat up. This isn't how I imagined my fresh start.

I clear my throat, nodding toward the door. "Well, if you're not here for my roommate... then maybe you're in the wrong room?"

He smirks, a hint of something almost mocking in his eyes. "Or maybe you are."

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A/N

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