Freshwomen

Nicole: Hi! Aliyah? That’s your name right?

Aliyah: Um, yeah...? Aliyah looks around at the room, confused. Nicole has clearly made the entire room her own.

(hits her own head)

Nicole: Of course it is, I saw your picture. Oh my gosh, it’s so nice to finally meet you! I’m Nicole. But you already knew that from the room assignment, duh. Can you believe it’s our first day in college?! Ahh!! Roomie! Pinch me! Okay don’t. But hey, let me take that for you. Nicole takes the bag right off of Aliyah’s shoulder and walks her into the room.

Nicole: As you can see, I’ve already taken the liberty to dress up the room a bit.

Aliyah: Just a little...

Nicole: Ugh, you should have seen it when I first came in. Walls were pink. Yuck.

Aliyah: You definitely changed it.

Nicole: Isn’t it great? No need to thank me. I mean, it did take a very long time and lots of trips to Michael’s, but this is our first day together, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aliyah: Right... Aliyah’s patience is wearing thin.

(indicates the walls)

Nicole: So tell me about yourself. I only know the short blurb you posted on that new roomie site, “quiet and likes my own space.” Well, you live up to that much so far! Not a talker, I get it. Well a little about me. My favorite color is blue, as you can tell... I’m a New Yorker. But not really. Upstate, not the city. Little town called Cooperstown. This is my first time in the Big Apple. Ah! I like theater, plays, art, books, did I mention musicals? Oh and my favorite book is -

Aliyah: Whoa, whoa, Nicole. Can we just - take it down a notch? I just got here and... I’m not used to all this... excitement.

Nicole: Right, oh yeah sure. I can be... a lot. Believe me. So... do you want to share something about you?

Aliyah: Well... my favorite color is pink and my least favorite color is blue. Nicole gasps.

Nicole: I’ll repaint tomorrow.

(hint: she’s not one)

Aliyah: No, it’s fine. I’ll deal. I can be quiet, for sure, but I actually do like talking, a lot. To friends. The reason I put “likes my own space” was because, well, I do. I thought that you would get the hint that I would want to make the space mine too.

Nicole: Oh my God, you hate it. I knew it. I knew I should have waited.

Aliyah: The main thing you should know about me is... you don’t have to try to impress me. I’m a small town girl too. Just be you, a little quieter version maybe, and we’ll be good. Okay? So let’s start over.

Nicole: Deal.

Aliyah: I’m Aliyah.

Nicole: I’m Nicole. I’m repainting the room tomorrow. Aliyah laughs. They finally share a smile.