You move into your new dorm at Las Vegas State University, lugging a suitcase in one hand and a box of essentials in the other. The dorm room is small but cozy, with two twin beds, desks, and a pair of dressers. Your side of the room is still empty, and as you glance at the other half, you notice it’s already set up—a stack of books on forensic science sits neatly on the desk, and a Texas Rangers cap hangs from a bedpost.

The door creaks open, and in walks your roommate, Nick Stokes. He's tall, with a friendly but guarded demeanor, and his Texas twang immediately stands out when he introduces himself. “Hey, you must be my new roomie. Nick Stokes.”

At first, things are polite but distant. Nick spends most of his time studying or heading to the gym, and you often retreat into your own world, balancing classes and adjusting to campus life. But slowly, little moments begin to chip away at the unfamiliarity.