The feeling of having a roommate tell you they have a surprise for you is exciting and terrifying at the same time. And when you have roommates like mine this surprise could be anything from a new roll of paper towels to an illegitament child. It was June when I met up with Beth after work one day to walk home. Tucked, under her arm was a rolled up poster. I went to ask what it was, but she stopped me saying I would have to wait till we got home. For someone who is considered by others as a slow walker, I beat Beth home that day by about ten steps. When we walked in the door she proudly unfurled the poster. There staring back at me was Orland Bloom. He was holding a copy of "The Lord of the Rings" and staring earnestly back while the at the bottom in huge letter read the word "READ." When you roommate brings home the weirdest poster you have ever seen, you automatically hang it prominently in your living room for all to see. This poster became a coveted item in our apartment. We took pictures with it before we went out. We laughed at it when it starred at us while we were watching TV. The poster was there to stay and was a part of our friendship at this point. Christmas break happens. We come back. The poster is gone. Rolled up in the corner. Ouch. Thanks. You're not cooler than us.

Living with four other people is the most crowded I have ever felt, and also the loneliest. When you live with four other people they become your family. The downfall of this friendship type family is that you can't complain to them about every little thing, like you can with your mom. They can't defend and protect you like your dad. You can't fight and make up like a brother or sister can. They are around to go out with and act like an idiot. They are around to wake you up screaming or setting off the smoke alarm at 3 am. They are around to laugh with. They are around for all the things you could only ever experience with, with your generation. You could never explain the feeling of being on the same level as someone; or knowing without a doubt they will always know what you're talking about. But then, there are those times when you come home and no one's around. And you feel the loneliest you've ever been. When you live with four other people you constantly want to be alone and at the same time with every one of  those annoying, crazy, amazing, beautiful four other people.