Page 8 of The Prospect

“Listen, Hazel. I get it, you love to learn.” Amira stands back up, placing both of her hands on her hips. “But how about instead of studying this, you study how hot the guys are on campus instead? You know, fall in love with real men instead of fictional ones for once. What do you say?”

I pause, taking a second to process her generous offer before I stare her deep into her eyes. “I say I’ve yet to meet a real-life man that has ever topped a fictional one.”

Amira throws her hands into the air. “That’s it!” She storms across the room and reaches for her bag. “I’m done. You want to stay in, go right ahead, but I'm going out!”

I’m completely unphased by Amira’s outburst. It’s routine for us. I think she still struggles to comprehend how we’re so different, when the reality is, we just are.

Amira likes to go out and be the life of the party, and me? Well, I like to read about it.

Both she and I have different depictions of what a “fun night”looks like and that’s okay. I think I’ve come to accept she’s the main character between the two of us, leaving me as the quirky, home-bodied friend.

To this day I’m left wondering how the two of us got paired as roommates. Don’t they usually tend to pair you up with someone that you have things in common with? Though, I can only imagine the housing office that paired us together saw the fact that we’re both majoring in art and thought: visual arts, meet dramatic arts, you’ll match perfectly!

Wrong.

We’re far from one and the same, but frankly, I think our differences have helped to bring out a different side to the two of us. Over the years, Amira has made me more confident, outgoing and willing to try new things, and in turn, I’ve enlightened her on the magic that comes from hunkering down and studying for a test. All the while educating her on some of the best love stories of all time. Every year she joins me in my re-watch ofThe Notebook.I mean, Ryan Gosling?

Duh.

“Have fun.” I sigh, resting my head back against my headboard as the door to our room slams shut, taking both Amira and her stomping heels away.

She’ll get over it.

She always does.

Deep down, I hate the fact I’m the boring roommate who always stays behind. It’s a terrible representation of who I am. I’m a fun person,I am.

Shit, does having to assure someone you're a fun person mean that you’re really not?

I don’t know.

All I know is I want to take every final moment I’ve got left in art school seriously. I want to remember these boring nights. I want to remember how much I hated this dorm room at first but was able to make it become my sanctuary because one day, I’ll look back and wish I was here, basking in the simplicity.

That’s what we hold onto in life. The little things, the finite details that we can often overlook. That’s why I love romance so much. That’s why I love art. It’s the reason why the two dominate my life. They’re a pairing.

Love is an art.

Art can depict love.

They’re synonymous.

Art school was the only logical choice when it came to what I was going to do in my life, and when the time came to decide on which school I was going to attend, the only realistic option was to stay near to home—stay in Crawley.

Since the age of seven, Crawley has remained my home. It’s been the longest I’ve ever stayed anywhere in my entire life and I’ve been so thankful.

I needed stability, consistency, and when I finally got those two things, I got something even more special as well—friendship.

As you’d expect, naturally people have come and gone in my life over time, but one person since that first day of year three has remained true—Daniel Green, akaGreenie, akamy best friend.

Green was the one who encouraged that I’d take the leap for art school. We’ve always had a tendency to do that for one another—sign each other up for things we both are too scared to do.

So, when I registered him to try out for Crawfield Football Club without his permission, he submitted an application on my behalf for a local uni not too far away from the town.

In the end, things worked out for both of us. Green got recruited for Crawfield and I’ve been here, studying my craft, honing in on my passion, and working my way toward being a full-time freelance artist.

But despite the varied paths the two of us have taken in life, we’ve always been on the same road together. That’s what’s special about having a true friend…a true love for someone; nothing, no matter what, can ever come in the way of that.

As if we’re telepathic, as my mind starts to wander to Green, he calls me, and every time I see his name pop up on my screen, I can’t help but suppress the butterflies in my stomach, ones I know I shouldn’t feel but have no control over.

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