Fight or flight response… it’s real, people!

Last night started out much like any other. I went to bed around 11 and glided into some much-needed peaceful sleep. That is, it was peaceful until I heard my roommate’s frantic voice around 1 a.m.

“Kaylee?”

I mumbled a response, thinking maybe my phone was going off, or maybe that it was 7 a.m. and time to get up already.

“Someone is trying to get into our apartment.”

Believe me, my eyes were open then. I heard, around that moment, the doorknob rattling. And it was a gentle rattle. It was a loud, scary, I-want-in-your-apartment-NOW rattle.

I picked up my phone and attempted to dial Campus Security. Of course, I was so disoriented that I called Maintenance and OC’s main line first. But finally I reported the attempted break in and I was assured that a security officer was on his way. I just prayed they weren’t at OnCue and that they would be there soon.

Meanwhile, the rattling was getting louder. And then I heard something that made my heart stop. I heard the blinds move. Which meant that they were in my window. Which meant they could potentially get in my apartment. Which meant that we were in extreme danger. So of course Kim and I were flipping out. Kim looked out our bedroom door and said, “I can see someone looking in! Should we scream and scare them away?”

At this point, I could feel my adrenaline pumping and I knew I had to do something. So I felt like my Grandmother Zede’s spirit took over my body, and I screamed in my scariest voice, “GET THE HELL OUT OF MY APARTMENT!!!!”

I actually scared myself. It wasn’t pretty, but this blog is all about honesty.

Then I heard a voice from outside.

“Girls! It’s your phase manager! It’s okay!”

Yes, you heard me. Our phase manager was breaking into our apartment at 1 a.m.–through two locks, a safety latch, and a window screen–all because my friend Chelsea left her keys inside and she didn’t have her cell phone to call me or Kim. Apparently the best way to handle that situation was by forcibly entering my apartment and scaring the wits out of me.

Actually, I can think of a thousand ways that would have been more effective and less scary than that. But at least it wasn’t a criminal trying to get us.