The Stranger in the Room

Leanna leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring at Jess like she was a puzzle missing a few pieces.

“You sure about this?” she asked, glancing at Hannah and Olivia.

Hannah nodded eagerly. “She seems great! And we really need a roommate.”

Olivia chimed in. “And it’s not like we haven’t let a stranger move in before. Remember Katie?”

Leanna sighed. “Yeah, and she left two months’ rent unpaid.”

Jess shifted awkwardly. She wasn’t sure why Leanna seemed so hesitant, but something about her felt… off. Like she wasn’t just considering whether Jess would pay rent on time, but something bigger.

“I can pay upfront,” Jess offered. “I just need a place. And I don’t take up much space.”

Leanna studied her for a moment before exhaling. “Fine. But no drama, okay?”

Jess forced a smile. “Yeah. No drama.”

Kevin clapped his hands together. “Awesome! Well, that’s settled.” He turned to Jess. “I’ll help you grab your stuff from my dorm later.”

Jess nodded, grateful. Kevin was the only reason she wasn’t completely losing it.

A couple of hours later, Jess had her bags in hand—well, a backpack and a gym bag full of Kevin’s spare clothes, since Jason’s wardrobe wasn’t exactly useful anymore.

Leanna stood in the doorway of their shared room, arms still crossed as Jess tossed her bag onto the empty bed.

“You don’t have a lot of stuff,” Leanna observed.

Jess hesitated. “Didn’t have much room to bring anything.”

Leanna didn’t push, but Jess caught the way she was watching her, like she was waiting for something.

“You don’t have to be weird about this,” Jess muttered.

Leanna raised an eyebrow. “I’m not being weird.”

Jess scoffed. “You didn’t want me here, and now you’re studying me like you’re waiting to confirm something. Like you already have a theory.”

Leanna’s expression flickered for a second, but then she just shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

Jess didn’t believe that for a second. But she didn’t push it. Not tonight. Not when she was still trying to keep her voice steady and her thoughts from unraveling. Leanna felt like a door to something Jess wasn’t ready to open—not yet.

Later that night, the four of them sat around the tiny living room, eating takeout and talking.

“So, Jess,” Olivia said, leaning forward. “Dating anyone?”

Jess nearly choked on her drink. “What? No.”

Hannah giggled. “Oh, come on. You’re cute. You have to have some kind of love life.”

Kevin, who had stayed for dinner, shot Jess an amused look.

Jess forced a laugh. “I’ve, uh… been focused on other things.”

“Oh, yeah?” Olivia smirked. “What kind of things?”

Leanna, who had been mostly silent, suddenly cut in. “She just got here. Give her a second to breathe.”

Olivia huffed. “Fine.”

Jess glanced at Leanna. For some reason, she had come to her rescue. But why? And why did Jess feel like Leanna knew something she wasn’t saying?

As the night wound down, Jess lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Leanna was just a few feet away, facing the wall, pretending to sleep.

Jess sighed. She had a roof over her head. A plan in motion. She didn’t know who Leanna was—not really. But something in her posture, in the timing of her silences, told Jess she mattered. Maybe she had always mattered. Even before all this.