**Chapter 8: Dorm Room Shenanigans**

As Xander and Ren entered her dorm room, Ren's roommates, Rachel and Emily, looked up from their laptops, curiosity etched on their faces. Ren's eyes darted to her roommates, her expression wary, while Xander flashed a charming smile. "Hey, guys!" Xander said, his voice booming through the small room. "I'm Xander, Ren's boyfriend." Rachel and Emily exchanged a glance, their eyes sparkling with interest. Rachel, a petite blonde with a nose ring, spoke up. "We've heard so much about you, Xander. It's nice to finally meet you." Xander chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Likewise, ladies. I brought some books for Ren." He gestured to the U-Haul trailer parked outside, filled with stacks of books. Emily's eyes widened. "Whoa, that's a lot of books!" Ren's roommates began to chat with Xander, asking him about his interests and hobbies. Ren watched, amused, as Xander effortlessly charmed them with his easy smile and quick wit. Rachel turned to Ren. "He's really something, isn't he?" she whispered. Ren rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Yeah, I know. He's a real charmer." As the conversation flowed, Xander pulled out a few gifts from his backpack – a set of bookmarks, a booklight, and a gift card to a local bookstore. Ren's roommates oohed and ahhed over the thoughtful presents. Xander handed Ren a small box. "I got you a little something, bookworm." Ren's eyes lit up as she opened the box, revealing a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny book pendant. "It's lovely, Xander," she said, her voice soft. As the afternoon wore on, Xander regaled Ren's roommates with stories of his biking adventures, making them laugh with his impressions of various bike mechanics. Ren watched, feeling a sense of pride and affection for her boyfriend. As the roommates chatted, Xander leaned in, his voice low. "I'm glad I could meet them. They seem nice." Ren smiled, her eyes sparkling. "They are. They're good friends." The roommates began to pack up their things, preparing to leave for the weekend. Xander stood, his eyes locked on Ren. "Want to grab some dinner, bookworm?" Ren nodded, feeling a sense of excitement. She had a feeling that this was going to be a very interesting weekend. As the roommates left, Xander turned to Ren. "So, what do you want to do tonight?" Ren shrugged, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I don't know. What did you have in mind?" Xander grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I was thinking we could have a movie night." Ren raised an eyebrow. "A movie night?" Xander nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "Yeah. Just the two of us." Ren's heart skipped a beat as she realized what Xander had in mind. She smiled, feeling a sense of anticipation. "That sounds like a great idea."