Page 23 of Sinister
Walking around to the back of the car, Mama V. has already unpacked my three matching suitcases, and hands me the handle of one before she drags the other two up the stairs and toward the front door. I follow her and I’m surprised when she opens the door and waltzes in like she owns the place. I don’t know why I would think we’re supposed to knock as it’s my place of residence now, but it still catches me off guard. I follow her like a lost little puppy and gaze around at the dark wooden interior looking like an exclusive ski lodge. There are two sets of wooden staircases that skirt the left and right of the large main lounge room and three hallways leading to who the hell knows where. The place is eerily empty and I bet everyone cleared out because they knew I was coming. Female and male students are forbidden to be housed together on and off campus in any accommodation that is part of the college. The exception of this rule is the Queen of the frat. So, I don’t even know what lengths Papa V. had to go to allow me to stay here with the three boys.
“I think Rome said your room is on the second floor to the left.” She heads to the staircase to the left and hauls one suitcase up and comes back down for the second before I get halfway up.
Managing to not fall back down the stairs, I follow her lead until we reach one of the last rooms on the left. It has my name tacked to the door in Rome’s scrawl with a little love heart at the end. I open the door to reveal a room much larger than I thought I’d have here. “Oh, wow, it’s perfect.”
I walk in and head straight to the bay window with the soft cushioned loveseat built underneath it. Views of the sprawling forest stretch for miles and to the right I can see a large lake that extends until it kisses the horizon.
“I had my decorator come and set the room up for you. You have a new bed and we had the old dusty carpet ripped up. I hope it feels somewhat homey for you.” Mama V. comes and stands beside me. “Your mom would be so proud of you, my love.” She wraps her arm around my shoulder and pulls me into her.
“Thank you.” I lean my head on her and absorb this last moment of comfort before she leaves to go back home.
“I love you, my darling girl. You’ll be safe here and I know it will be hard in the beginning but give it time, you’ll soon love it here.” She kisses my head and lets go of me. “Now, do you want me to stay for a while and help you unpack or is it too embarrassing having me here?” She grins.
“You are never embarrassing,” I laugh, “but I know the long drive home is exhausting. So, it’s okay, you can go. I’ll be okay.” I glance back out the large window and feel a sense of calm.
“Are you sure?” Mama V. walks toward the door.
“Yes, I’m a big girl. I’m fine.”
“If you need me, call me anytime of the day or night, and don’t let those boys boss you around.” She winks before she disappears down the hallway.
I hear the closing of the front door echo up the staircase as I peer out to see if I can see anyone. The whole house is silent and I wonder if any of the other guys are here yet. I pull the note off my door before closing it after me and retreat into my room. It doesn’t feel like my room yet, but I’m determined to make it a little home for me. I lug one of my suitcases onto the bed, unzip it, and go about sorting my clothes into the walk-in closet. I’m lucky in that I have my own private bathroom and don’t have to share it with the others.
After I unpack my belongings, hang a few pictures on the wall, and sort my makeup and toiletries out in my bathroom, I sit on the loveseat and stare out at the darkening forest bored shitless. I must have spent hours setting up my room since the sun is starting to set and my stomach is growling from hunger. I move across my room and look in the mini fridge Mama V. had set up in here and find it stocked full of my favorite imported pickles.
“Thank you, Mama V.” I pull one of the jars out and attempt to open it, but the lid doesn’t budge. Tapping the side of the lid on the top of the fridge, I hear the familiar sound of the seal hissing at me, letting me know it’s broken. Making my way back to my new favorite seat, I sit my ass down and unscrew the lid. My life is complete now that I have enough pickles to get me through the next few weeks.
I’m about to bite into the pickle when I hear a knock at the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s me.” Rome’s voice filters through the door.
Excitement and relief tainted by anger flood me as I hurry to let him in. With the pickle now lodged between my teeth and the jar gripped in my arm, I open the door to be greeted by Rome and some guy I’ve never met, both wearing black tailcoats, vests and suit pants.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” he says as he wraps an arm around my neck and steers me backward further into the room, acting like he didn’t just reject me again the other night. I swear he has the memory of a goldfish.
Taking the pickle out of my mouth. I smile at the guy in the doorway. “You can come in too, you know.”
He glances down the hallway and hesitates before Rome gives him a nod of okay. He stalks toward me with a friendly grin and holds out his hand to me to shake. “Hey, I’m Hudson.”
I hand Rome the jar of pickles and shake Hudson’s hand. “Hi, I’m Monroe.”
“Now I know where to come for pickles.” His smile widens as he chuckles.
“I got you. There are jars of them in the fridge.” I laugh. It feels good not to be stuck in my own head after the other night. I turn to Rome and see him staring out of the bay window. “Where’s your room? And why are you both dressed like you’re about to attend a wedding?” I ask him.
Without looking at me and deep in thought, he replies “upstairs.” He ignores my second question.
“Is Chaser up there too?” I glance at Hudson who stands awkwardly in the middle of my room.
“Sin and Chaser and…” He pauses for a beat before collecting himself and continuing, “are on the top floor. The rest of the guys are on this floor and the bottom floor depending on rank.”
“Rank?” I look at him confused.
“Okay, that’s my cue to leave. If you need anything at all, Monroe, I’m the next room over.” Hudson scurries out.
Rome places the jar on top of the refrigerator and looks at me. “I’ll explain it all later tonight. But seriously, Hudson is the only one you can trust in here, apart from us three.”
“Three?” I snort, knowing damn well I wouldn’t trust Sin to look after a dead houseplant.