Chapter 14

Standing in the hall in the student dormitory, Rachael tried to concentrate on Graham’s words and not the idea that something had happened recently to both of them. Whatever it was had somehow made him aware of her existence about the same time that everything in her world had turned bizarro. Now wasn’t the time to contemplate what sort of supernatural phenomenon had transpired, though. She tried to focus in on the moment so he didn’t think there was something wrong with her. Especially since he had plenty of other reasons from earlier that day to think she wasn't playing with a full deck.

Graham continued. “Anyway, you’d have your pick of any of these rooms except the first three on each side. A couple of students have already moved in, and the others that have committed have room assignments now. We’d prefer it if you chose one of the next two in order because it’s just easier to keep track that way, but it doesn’t really matter.

“Are they all basically the same on the inside?” Rachael asked, already knowing the answer.

“More or less.” Graham stepped up to the room on the right side of the hall that would’ve been the next unoccupied room and punched in a generic code Rachael knew all of the unoccupied rooms were reprogrammed to as soon as the students from the last group moved out. He opened the door and held it open.

“Can I?

“Of course.

Rachael walked inside and immediately realized where she was. She hadn’t been paying attention to the number on the door, but she knew this room. A glance back at Graham made her wonder if he’d noticed where they were when he’d picked the dorm. His expression made her think he hadn’t noticed until it was too late.

The living room was clean, with beige carpeting and matching sofa and loveseat. The coffee table had a few old rings on it from forgotten coasters. An empty bookshelf sat against one wall, and the TV that was mounted near the entryway was large enough for comfortable viewing in the space. Rachael noted the room was only slightly smaller than the living area in her apartment. To her right was a coat closet. She opened it as if she didn’t know exactly where it was and immediately had visions of the jackets she’d described hanging here a few times, when the perfect accessory had to be located. She closed the door and noted Graham was hanging back.

A sliding opaque partition separated the living room from the sleeping area. Rachael went through, but Graham waited for her in the living room. Three large windows lit the area well enough that she hadn’t even needed the lights on in the living room. The furniture here was also nice--a queen sized bed, dresser, vanity, nightstand all in matching oak. To her right was a bathroom, and she knew it had a tub/shower combo, sink with plenty of counter space, private toilet area, and fresh, clean white tile before she even peeked inside. A linen closet and plenty of cabinets made the room much nicer than the average dorm room, almost like an apartment, maybe better than some.

She came back out and noted the large closet next to the bathroom. How many times had she mentally stood in there, looking for the right pair of boots, the right leather pants? This place was already like home to her because she’d practically lived there the first year she’d written the book. It was no wonder Graham didn’t want to come in here. She glanced behind her at the bed. The red and gold linens were gone now, the mattress bare, but he had slept there many times. With a lump in her throat on his behalf, Rachael walked back out of the bedroom.

Graham was leaning against the back of the sofa, a solemn expression on his face, though she noticed he tried to perk up when she came in. “Well, what do you think?

“It’s great,” she said smiling at him, though not exuberantly, considering how he was feeling. “What is your pet policy?

That got a small grin out of him. “Normally, we don’t allow pets in student dorms, but I think we can make an exception for Scrappy.

“She loves you,” Rachael reminded him.

“I noticed.” They both chuckled for a second before Rachael’s eyes wandered back over the space. She couldn’t believe any of this was real, but this was soberingly so. “You can have a few days, a week or so, if you need it, to think about it.

“Oh, I don’t need to think about it,” Rachael found herself saying. “I definitely want to do it.” What was the alternative? Go back to Merek and Merek? Without him even mentioning salary, she knew this job paid way better than that one. Rather than paying to go to school here, students got paid, which was an amazing perk she'd constructed. And besides, this was the chance of a lifetime.

“Great!” He lit up with that news. “That’s amazing. We’re so glad to have you, Rachael.

He stood then, and Rachael felt a little awkward, but when he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight, she couldn’t help but melt into him a little, even if her brain was shouting at her that this wasn’t anything romantic--it was just his typical “welcome to the club” hug.

Nevertheless, she took a deep whiff of leather and spicy aftershave and felt her head spinning. Graham’s chest was hard as rock, but beneath her cheek, it felt as soft as a pillow, and his arms around her were a little too familiar, like she was finally home.

But he wasn’t hers. He was Chell’s, at least in his heart and mind, for now. Here she stood in Chell’s first dorm room, hugging her boyfriend, thinking of becoming her. It was all crazy, yet oddly comfortable.

Graham released Rachael and took a step back. “Would you like to see the room across the hall?

“Nope, I want this one, please,” Rachael said with confidence.

He raised an eyebrow. “You sure?

Something told her he’d prefer it if she chose another room--any other room--but she was sure. “Yep.

“Okay.” He shrugged, like he knew it was his internal struggle, not something she needed to worry about. “Well, then, let’s go do some paperwork.

“Sounds fun,” she joked. Rachael took one last look around and then followed him out the door, wondering how long it would take for her to change her hair color and her name so that the transformation was complete.

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