“You’re not a member of my fan club?”

Those were the first words Tashi ever said to you when you met at summer orientation. Fan club? How popular is she? You didn’t even know. You’re not familiar with the tennis scene at all, and you’re not one for the gossip mills either. So, you were one of the few incoming freshmen at Stanford who didn’t know who she was.

She hadn’t intended to be rude when she asked you that. She was genuinely shocked that you didn’t know her (well, know of her). Is that self-centered? Maybe a little bit. But it’s Tashi Duncan. The Duncanator. Only the face of college tennis. So pardon her if she’s really that surprised that you don’t know about her and her status as a tennis prodigy.

And imagine the surprise both of you experienced when you found out that you’re roommates for your first year of college.

You were already in the room and unpacking when she came in, her parents not far behind. “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me,” followed by a scoff and an eye roll.

Now, maybe it is her fault she didn’t check her school email much over the summer. But she can’t remember seeing her roommate assignment in the email that provided her with her housing information, so is she really to blame?

You, on the other hand, knew that she was your roommate before moving in, and therefore you weren’t shocked to see her. Shocked to see her name in the email you received two months ago? Yes, but not now that you’re seeing her in-person.

“I can’t believe we’re roommates. I mean, you don’t even know who I am— and everyone, everyone knows who I am!” She places the bag she was carrying on the floor next to what she (correctly) assumes is her bed. She’s once again aware that she sounds conceited, but she reminds herself that her reaction is justified by the fact that she is very, very well-known.