The Game Changer The Final Score - By L.M. Trio Page 0,1

USF. He was just coming off a two week road trip on Florida’s east coast and I wasn’t expecting him. I was sitting at my desk working on an assignment while Mya answered the knock at the door.

“Holy shit,” I hear the familiar voice trail in through the doorway. Typical Mikey, doesn’t hold back his thoughts.

“Who are you?” Mya asks bluntly in her monotone voice while glaring at him; dressed in her darkest gothic wear with streaks of blue scattered throughout her jet black hair.

“Who the hell are you?” he shoots back, eyeing her up and down.

“Mya, it’s my friend… My very rude friend. Let him in please,” I intercede, jumping from my chair and rushing to the door, giving Mikey the evil eye to zip it.

Mya mumbles something under her breath that can’t be heard, but I’m assuming it isn’t nice. Mikey smirks as he arrogantly walks past her, picks me up in a bear hug, and swings me around.

“What are you doing here?” I laugh, quickly forgiving his rudeness, as he twirls me around. I’m happy to see a familiar face.

“Just got back, thought I’d surprise you and see if you wanted to get somethin’ to eat?” he asks.

“Sure; where?”

“We’ll decide along the way,” he says, leading me out the door.

I turn back to Mya. “Mya… do you want to come with us? Mikey’s treating, since he was so rude earlier.” I laugh, giving him a wink.

“No thanks, I’ll pass,” she grumbles.

We aren’t out of the door for a second before Mikey begins to badger me. “What the hell is with Morticia? JJ, please don’t tell me that’s your roommate?”

“Yes, she is… And that’s not nice… We get along fine.”

“Yeah, of course you do,” he says with sarcasm. “You’re supposed to be here to cheer up, not to want to slit your wrists… Great, now I have to worry about Morticia bringing you down.”

I laugh, loving the way Mikey just says it like it is because I know in all honesty, he does worry about me. If nothing else, Mikey is loyal to the people he cares about.

“Trust me; I’m not going to slit my wrists… You have nothing to worry about… And her name is Mya, by the way.”

Later that night, after returning home, it doesn’t take long before Mya makes it clear that she isn’t so fond of him, either. “I really can’t believe you are friends with someone like him. He’s so fucking full of himself; it’s written all over his perfect, arrogant face. Typical, egotistical jock,” she exclaims. I laugh, unable to argue his case. In some ways, she’s right.

However, as the months pass, and Mikey continues to faithfully do his weekly visits, Mya and he decide to call a truce; trying on some level to get along. She even agrees to attend a couple of his games with me and we all grab a bite to eat afterwards. I actually think they enjoy pretending not to like each other.

Deanna on the other hand, is having a tougher time accepting Mya as my friend. Her visit for a long weekend a little while back has her petrified of Mya and she’s afraid for me to be living alone with her. She honestly believes Mya is going to kill me in my sleep.

Then again, Mya wasn’t on her best behavior when Deanna visited. I know Mya well enough to realize she was intimidated by Deanna’s beauty, confidence, and our friendship; which in turn, caused Mya to act out more so than usual. Deanna tried her best to be nice, but Mya wasn’t having it. She laid on the psycho, depressed girl routine pretty thick.

Sadly, my dad has the same impression. Although Mya is pleasant whenever he is around, she scares the hell out of him. I know that he’s thinking, in the back of his mind, that it’s only a matter of time before I show up on his doorstep dressed in Mya’s attire.

I know they all think I’m vulnerable and will be pulled to the dark side once again, with Mya leading the way. Even though my life isn’t what I want it to be, I am making the best of it and moving on. I do my best to assure my dad and Deanna that all is well.

I haven’t made many friends, other than Mya, since attending USF. It doesn’t help having her as a roommate. She’s just as content as me to mope around and lay in bed all day; both of