Many people go to college expecting to fall in love. Mark was not one of those people. He was a non traditional student and it had taken him a long time to get to this point. He certainly didn't want to be distracted by some man. Mark was moving into his dorm room. The school told him he would be treated like other freshman and he still had to live in a dorm. He smiled a little as if that would be terrible. Aside from having rules and a roommate a dorm was a heck of a lot better than living in a box on fifth avenue.
He was nervously wondering if his roommate would accept the fact that he was gay. The titanium barbell through his tongue made a horrible clicking sound as he flicked his tongue-ring against his teeth. He had on one of his out and proud T-shirts. It was black with sparkly purple writing across the front. "Smile, it's okay to be gay," it read, a smiley face juxtaposed beneath it. Mark usually had on something dark. He didn't like being messed with and his rainbow pride was always visible. The twenty-two year old figured that if he was upfront about his sexual preference then people couldn't claim they were shocked. His big baggy black clothes dripping with chains made him look bigger than his half starved frame really was.
Most of the other kids were waving good bye happily to their parents ready to begin their new lives. Mark wasn't one of those kids. He had been kicked out of his home when he was only fifteen years old. His parents had found out he was gay in the worst way imaginable. Now as far as the Jameson's were concerned they only had a young daughter. Their son had died when he was fifteen and Mark was never spoken about again. Mark had bounced around from foster home to foster home eventually landing in a shelter. It had taken almost everything out of him just to finish high school. Mark realized he never wanted to have to depend on someone again. So with the help of scholarships grants and loans here he was four years later about to meet some homophobic teenager.
Mark inserted his key into the creaky latch of the care-worn door. The residence hall was one long hall way with many wooden doors nestled between white cinder blocks. Marks black army boots collided with the cold classroom like floor. He was living in Dalton Residence Hall this year and was nervous about who was on the other side of the suddenly intimidating door in front of him. He opened the door and smirked at the almost floral scent that wafted out into the hall. Laying on a four poster bed, was a small kid with blonde hair and a rainbow flag proudly displayed over his bed. Their eyes met and they laughed, clearly relieved they played for the same team.
"I was worried you would be some ass-hole preppy jock." The blonde giggled happily, a nice little bubbling sound that rolled off of him like happy froth from a steamy caramel latte.
Mark couldn't help but remember he had been thinking the same thing only moments ago. His mantis green eyes drank in Justin's things already carefully organized it their room. Justin had more clothes in the room than Mark had owned in the past four years. Everything was organized by color and many of the things looked like they belonged to a girl. Mark noticed the bows and the make-up. The perfume, not cologne but perfume, was organized by shape and size.
"Justin," He said getting up and offering a dainty hand.
Mark smiled, noticing how small Justin was now that he was actually standing. "Mark," he said offering his hand. Just then, he noticed the subtle differences in Justin's hands. For one, they were much softer, tinier, and most importantly they were tanner than the ones he possessed. Mark, for some reason, always looked pale. This went along with his darker gothic look. However, the pale skin unlike with the other gothic teens was not intentional. Mark nodded to the empty bed, "That one mine?" he inquired his ivy green eyes motioning to the unoccupied bed. Mark could have kicked himself for how stupid a question it was.
Justin nodded "Yeah, but we can rearrange the room and whatnot. I like to people-watch, so I picked the window but it's not a big deal if you want it?"
The room was a small cold space. There was one window which let in minimal warmth. The walls were almost prison like which was oddly fitting. They were a boring grey color with many cold unforgiving cinder blocks. Justin's side was brightened up far more than Mark could hope to brighten his. Justin had so many things everywhere and it made the room look bigger. Mark rested his only suitcase down on the other bed.
Mark smiled, a happy gesture that reached all the way to his eyes "Nah, you got here first, besides, I'm more of a lone wolf type of guy." He smiled his full lips pulling back to reveal perfectly strait teeth. The only thing unharmed by Marks abusive father had been his teeth which his parents had spent a small fortune to straiten. He was proud of them and the snake bites poking through his pale skin only drew one's attention to his beauty.
Mark couldn't help but to smirk at the pink bedspread that read princess in glittery silver on Justin's bed. It was excessively girly and somehow it was comforting to Mark. He hadn't known what he would have wanted Justin to be like but this was perfect. Mark flushed as Justin caught him looking over his things.
Justin giggled happily, there was no other word for the sound than giggle.
Mark pushed back his strong black coffee colored hair before setting down the rest of his pitiful amount of belongings. He returned to making his bed. Mark had a red sheet and a black comforter with one pillow in a white case. It had been all he could find to fit the extra long twin beds. Mark squirmed a little in the silence and decided to try and make conversation. "So what major are you?" Mark asked not liking how lame it sounded.
"psychology" Justin exclaimed.
Mark waited for him to say something like "only the best major ever!" but he didn't.
"And you are a biology major, I stalked your student profile." Justin kicked his feet a little. "how'd you get that?" He asked pointing to a long scar running across Marks delicate throat. Mark swallowed and Justin took the hint smiling instead. His face lit up "I love your tattoo!" He squealed.
Mark's discomfort about being asked about the scars melted. "which one I'm covered in em." He spun a little tempted to lift his shirt for the little pixi.
Justin pointed excitedly to a shattered padlock and chain on Mark's wrist. The chain appeared to have been shattered by a tiny butterfly. "what does it mean?" He asked touching the links.
