Lola groaned from the sudden brightness of the bathroom lighting, rolling her eyes at her gangly reflection disapprovingly. She cast her piercing blue eyes away from the mirror, pretending for a moment that if she didn't see her disheveled appearance that meant it had been merely a figment of her imagination. Unceremoniously, she tugged her over-sized T-shirt and panties off, rumpled when worn to bed and now left in a crumpled mess on the floor. She winced as the cold porcelain seat touched the back of her thighs but, the wave of relief that followed as she emptied her bladder won over the brief wave of icy discomfort. How had the need to urinate not woken her from her slumber?
The human body was truly an amazing work of science.
Habitually, she reached from her seated position and turned the handle for the showers hot water. Yes. Shower first, thinking later. Flushing, Lola waited a full ten count before immersing herself into the growing steam behind the plastic curtain. For a few minutes, she did nothing but stand under the cascade of water, nearly hot enough to scald her pale flesh and yet just the right temperature to relieve the tension from every muscle it caressed. Her hands moved out of habit to cleanse her body from the filth and grime from the night before, her mind finally rousing from its groggy state. Images of articles and videos flooded her mind. Speculation. Hesitancy.
Aliens. Glorious Aliens.
Lola smiled widely to no one, turning off the water and wrapping a towel around her thin figure. Wiping her hands down the length of her cotton covered torso, she reached for her cell phone with one hand and her tooth brush with the other. With practiced expertise, she maneuvered both, checking for any new articles since the few hours of sleep she'd gotten. She found herself watching the 'New Leader Lays Down on Old Leaders' twice over the course of brushing her teeth, a mini spike of adrenaline coursing through her veins when she nearly dropped her phone into the running water. She disrobed and strolled into her bedroom, humming slightly off key to herself as she dressed. Her phone was still glued into her right hand as she pulled on whatever items were highest on the pile of clothes within her dresser. She spun on her heel, looking up once into the floor length mirror in the corner of the room. A small sound of approval escaped her lips before she returned her attention back to her phone.
She padded out of her room into the open concept living/kitchen area of her shared dorm, catching a glimpse of her dorm mate out of the corner of her eye. "
Coffee" Lola grumbled, seating herself at one of the island barstools before finally peeling her eyes away from her cellphone, now sitting face up on her right.
"
Good morning to you too. Did you even sleep last night or did you just drink enough to convince yourself that you slept at some point?" Kristie chimed, her voice entirely too chipper for the time of day. Lola ignored the way her brown eyes look at her disapprovingly whilst handing her the mug of hot delicious consciousness. "
Thank you" she half whispered under her breath, grabbing the handle and swooping off of the barstool once more, phone within her grasp. "
Where's your purse? ...Never mind. I got it." By the time the words had left her mouth, Lola was seated on the couch, the over-sized designer bag dumped out on the cushion beside her. She ignored her friends sounds of disapproval, borrowing the use of her compact mirror and expertly applied a heavy rim of black eyeliner around her eyes. A few quick swishes of mascara upon her eyelashes and she was out the door, the contents of the purse still askew on the couch.
"
Lola!" Kristie called after her upset about Lolas carelessness with her things.
"
Love ya!" Lola shouted before closing the door behind her.
Hopping on one foot, she struggled to pull on her boots. The process would have been infinitely easier if Lola had not already been sucked back in to the contents on her cellular screen. Her feet carried her towards the student mess hall and she opened up a group text conversation.
She added 3 alien face emojis behind her message, giving it a pleased once over. Send. Only then did she stuff her phone back into her rear pants pocket, quickening her steps to her destination. The world was going to be different now..
And she could hardly wait.