Page 10 of Pack Giroux

Chapter 4

It's crazy to think that I've met new friends before my roommates or teammates. I figured they'd be my only lifeline here to help keep me sane and on the right path. Yet, here I sit at my desk, figuring out all of the things on my new laptop in a dorm room meant for four and being the only person here in days. I managed to get all of my login credentials straight so that I have access to the NFU website that has all of my classes on it. Eventually, I should be able to check my grades and GPA all in the same place. They're all just big blanks right now.

The other day when Grady dropped me off in front of my building, he'd asked if I wanted his number to get in touch. At first, I'd wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him that he should be running as far away from me as he can. But something stopped me. Call it that selfish streak. After I handed over my new phone to him, he'd put in both his and Kinkaid's numbers, saying to text or call whenever. If I needed to chat or wanted more chocolate cake. He'd known that he had me at that. I waved bye to him as he pulled off in his bright-red car with no top, and I haven't reached out to him since.

Being out of their presence and away from their scents helped clear my mind. I came here for a reason. Yes, that reason was to get away from the compound, but that doesn't mean that I need to squander it by getting too attached to anyone that I don't plan on giving access to any part of me in that way. So, my phone has sat untouched on the charger at the end of my desk for days. At some points, it has felt like it's taunting me. Especially the day after our lunch when I'd cracked open my food and found that Kinkaid had absolutely slipped another slice of cake into my bag. I'd almost cracked then and there. I held strong, though. Other than going to the dining hall for food, I haven't left my room, not wanting to risk running into anyone.

Not that I'm afraid, I just want to give it all time to settle down and for everyone to move on. I really should delete their numbers, but that takes us full swing in a circle back to the selfishness. I just really don't want to.

Have I spent the past several days overthinking every single little thing? Sure. It's who I am as a person. It's what I'm doing as I hear people at the main door of the room. The halls have been getting increasingly more crowded and crazier, so I'm honestly not even surprised as the door opens revealing a girl my age. Her long, blonde hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail.

She spots me standing in my doorway, and she shoots me a huge grin. "Heyyyyy, roomie. I'm Nichole."

"Marnie," I reply, my smile mirroring hers.

"Nice to meet ya," she says. "You just get here today, too? Our other roomies were headed up the stairs right behind me. Probably got distracted talking to people."

I open my mouth to answer her, but two more girls burst into the room in a flurry of personality and bags. They introduce themselves as Whitney and Laura before the three of them mock argue over the remaining three rooms. Though, I don't exactly see why since all four of them are literally the same. The only difference being that the beds are pushed against opposite sides of the wall in the rooms that mirror each other.

Whitney throws a hissy when she doesn't get the one that's set up just like mine. "Maybe if we'dallhave gotten here at the same time, we could've made the decision together as to who got which room."

"Stop being a damn baby," Nichole states. "Just take mine."

Leaving them to unpack and do their own thing that I've had days to myself to do, I sit back down at my desk and open my laptop back up. My fingers hover over the button that'll open a new word document. In the time I've spent alone, I might'veconvinced myself to write the story of my upbringing on the compound. Not for anyone else to read, but for me. Just in case I ever forget, or ever lose all sanity and think about going back. With all of the noise currently filling the main room from my roommates, I give up on the idea for now. I'll definitely need to invest in some kind of headphones so that I'll be able to concentrate in here.

A knock at my door, has my head turning that way. I'd left it open on purpose so that if they needed anything they'd feel welcome to come ask.

Nichole glances around, "Like what you've done with the place."

"Thanks," I say, smiling, knowing she's joking because I haven't done a single thing to my room, and hers looks exactly the same.

"We're going to go out for dinner if you care to join us," she offers.

Honestly, I don't want to, but if I don't then that's going to be a very bad start to a very long year. "Sure, give me a few to change."

"Cool, cool," she says, running back off to her room.

Thankfully, I showered already this morning, so all I need to do is throw on my black pants that have rips in the knees and thighs and the dark-hunter-green-colored shirt that I'd bought specifically to wear with them. The straps go up around my neck, leaving my shoulders and a lot of my back bare. Another good thing that's come from volleyball is that my body is toned.

Pulling up a small part of my hair on top, I make a small bun-type thing with some of it spiking out and leaving the rest of it to fall to my shoulders. I slide my phone into my back pocket before grabbing my bank card and keys and putting them in my front pocket.

I'm the first one to make it out into the main living room,but it doesn't take long for the rest of them to meet me. Of course, looking at them, I feel a tad bit under dressed. Whitney and Laura are both in short, mini dresses. Nichole has on a pair of jeans similar to mine, but she's got on a lot of jewelry making hers look more lavish.

We head out, and I listen to them making small talk as we walk across campus. Nichole includes me when she can, but it's mostly about what they did over summer break. They're sophomores, so they've already had one year of playing and getting to know each other.

I've been so engrossed in listening to them talk that I don't realize where we're going until it's too late. I let them take the lead into Kinkaid's restaurant. Maybe I'll get lucky, and he won't come out of the kitchen. As we walk in, Whitney waves at one of the waiters, who immediately comes over and gives her air kisses on her cheeks before leading us out onto the patio.

We've just sat down and opened the menu when a familiar red car parks on the opposite side of the road, and two tall figures step out. One is instantly recognizable as Grady. The other is just as tall, smaller around the waist, but just as broad shouldered. He's of some Asian descent, but it's his long hair that hangs down underneath his beanie that is the most eye-catching. It's a dark-brown color and fans out around his face as he moves. It makes me curious as to which pack member he is, or if he's one at all.

The girls at my table have already noticed them, not like I can blame them, but that doesn't stop a spark of jealousy deep in the pit of my stomach. As if I even have anything to be jealous about anyway. They are not mine. Besides, my three roommates just so happen to all be gorgeous alphas. They're likely more to their tastes than I am. Plus, they probably don't come with the baggage of a lifetime of trauma.

Grady is half turned saying something to his friend whenthey make it to our side of the street. As his gaze turns back toward the restaurant, it locks onto mine without hesitation. His lips turn up in a wide grin that I'm too weak not to return. Laura notices that he doesn't give them one ounce of attention, and I can almost feel the literal tension and jealousy radiating off of her as she faces me.

He doesn't stop walking, nor does he or his friend come out onto the patio where we are. That doesn't mean that I don't spend the entire dinner wondering if they're going to.

"So, I think we should go around and introduce ourselves since we're going to be living together for the next ten months," Nichole suggests. "I'll go first. Hey, I'm Nichole. I'm majoring in secondary education. I love volleyball, obviously and feral alphas."

The other two cackle at her, and I follow suit. I know they're doing this for my benefit and quite possibly theirs because they all know each other. All of their ‘get to know me’ stuff is kind of ridiculous, like stating things that they already know. This might just be a way to see what kind of person they have living with them. Can't say I blame them either, honestly. If they only knew, and I hope they never do.

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