I, being Aileen, had just graduated from high school in Michigan. I didn't much care for school, but I needed to get into college. Why, you ask? Well. Because that's what people do. People who want good jobs, anyway. So, I picked one in the not too far state of Arizona, Collins College, a tiny technical institute built solely for the redemption of your funds. Anyhow, that part isn't important.

Upon enrolling into the school, and finding out I needed to live in a dorm (le gasp), I went off in search of my assigned quarters in some little apartment complex that I no longer remember the name of. *sheepish grin* Not important!

Anyway, the day I got to move in was full of anxiety. My older sister and father were with me, thankfully, so I didn't feel too bad. I walked as determinedly as I could to the front door of #15 and knocked. A short girl answered and I was ushered in with all my junk. My sister and I stood in the living room of my new home and looked about. I was pleased with the wall coverings; half nude anime men. What? I'm a Yaoist at heart. *big grin*

Minutes dragged by as Dad unloaded the car of all my stuff needed for this new life when all of a sudden, just out of the corner of my eye, a blur wrapped in a large green towel with a big black panther on it ran past into one of the bedrooms. I looked at my sister, she looked at me. Neither of us had a clue what that had been. I was about to find out.

As soon as Dad was done and cooling off in the air conditioned apartment (remember, Arizona, so pretty darn hot), the most adorable girl came out of the room the jungle towel had run in to. Short brown hair, hazel eyes, glasses. She had the brightest smile I'd ever seen and she was so excited to see me. I was ecstatic to find out this girl, Melonie, was one of my roommates. I would soon find out she was my lifemate, too.

It didn't take long for us to click. We have a lot in common; anime, video games, FOOD. She loves a good horror movie, and I love a good serial killer mystery. Her giggles are infectious, her good mood tends to drag me out of any melancholy and she's so...darn...CUDDLY.

There were issues at first, of course. She was with the short girl. Dating her, had been for nigh eight years. But it also didn't take long for her to start seeing that she was in the wrong relationship. The three of us altered the relationship to a strained friendship for a while, which eventually fell apart, unfortunately. Time went by with Mel and I growing closer while her ex grew farther apart from us. She eventually found the love of her life, but by that time, ties had been pretty much severed. Only in recent news have I tried again with a long distance friendship, hoping that at least can be attained. So far, little to no sour grapes.

And I wouldn't have had it any other way.

-- Aileen B.