Revolving Doors by Perri Forrest Page B

obligatory smile, followed by a friendly “ Hey .” Then she was off typing her lecture notes on the Dell laptop she brought to every class.
    One day as I was packing up to leave, she remarked, “Could Thursday have been any slower getting here?”
    “I know, right?” was my response.
    Apparently, all it took was starting a dialog, because from those few words, we began a conversation and hit it off immediately.
    Like me, Kelli was an only child. Both of us were close to our parents, evidenced by the fact that neither of us left the state to pursue our four-year degrees.
    How many young adults had the means and opportunity to “go away” for school but didn’t ? Exactly.
    While Kelli lived in student housing, my apartment was off campus – a gift from my parents when I got to junior year and maintained a 3.8 GPA. 
    Because of my obsession with space, I opted out of living amongst other students. No roommate situations for me. Even a single dorm would have left me feeling claustrophobic, because they’re so small.
    Perhaps if I’d had siblings I might have had a different outlook. However, since I didn’t…
    My bedroom growing up was always somewhere in the 500 square foot range, and even then I still needed more room. So when my new apartment boasted an additional 700 square feet, I was ecstatic – and still not at all willing to share.
    Although Kelli had spent many nights, and we hung out quite often, offering her the extra room never crossed my mind.
    Not that she hadn’t hinted many times with, “Girl! Do you know how much fun it would be if we roomed together?”
    I became a master of changing subjects during those times.
    Not interested.
    Besides…good friends have no business entering into such an arrangement. It never ended well. I’d seen my fair share of Judge Judy episodes to know that was a recipe for disaster.
    The subject was finally dropped, the day she broached the topic with a joke.
    “So, I was thinking… we could try being roommates for a few weeks to see how it works out.”
    I sat there thinking, this girl can’t be serious . I’d never even made such a reference. Immediately my mind went to, well looks like this friendship is coming to an end because she’s going to be major offended when I tell her “No .”
    “Where is that coming from, Kelli?” I asked out of curiosity.
    “I’m over here so much it just makes sense.”
    “To who? It would make sense if I’d extended that offer – and I haven’t,” I said sternly.
    When Kelli burst into a fit of laughter, complete with clutching her stomach and all, I didn’t see the humor.
    My emotions were bouncing back and forth between, what the hell is wrong with her ? and how a blossoming friendship was about to be stopped mid-traffic, when it didn’t have to be.
    “What the hell is so funny?”
    “ You’re funny , Gabriella!”
    “Am I?”
    “Yep, you are!”
    An attitude had crept in , and I was growing angrier by the minute.
    “Okay …whatever,” I snapped at her as I walked into the kitchen to make a sandwich, and hoping she’d be showing herself out soon.
    “Gabriella!” she yelled after me, “I’m kidding with you, girl! Relax!”
    I turned around and shot her a don’t fuck with me look, and the smile she’d been harboring across her face, disappeared.
    “Dang! Why’d you take that so seriously? You know that I know better than anybody how much you crave your space. I’m not trying to move in on your territory. I just saw how you made a mad dash to the hottest topic each time it was brought up and thought I’d mess with you.”
    I finally allowed my frown to turn upward.
    “You are not funny, Kelli… at all .”
    “ We good ?” she asked extending her hand for a truce.
    I smacked her hand from in front of me.
    “ Now we’re good, you asshole!”
    We got a good laugh out of it.
     
    ~*~*~
     
    One day headed to our regular lunch spot for crepes, Kelli invited me to attend a party at her mother’s