Chapter Text
Laura woke from a loud, incessant shrill coming from the other side of the room. “Ughhhh” Was all she could muster as she slapped her pillow over her head, but the noise wouldn’t go away. She threw her pillow on the floor, and with a defeated grunt, she fell out of bed to turn the alarm off. Rubbing her eyes, Laura stumbled over to the mirror noticing how dishevelled her hair was and that she had fallen asleep with her make up on still. She quickly showered, got changed into some tight jeans and a navy and white baseball shirt and searched for her to do list. It made her almost laugh that she had to search for her to do list, but soon enough she found it. It listed three things:
1) Finish journalism essay
2) Go to work
And most importantly, in all caps with swirls around it, to make it seem that more important:
3) FIND A ROOMATE!
The third she had been putting off. They all had really. They meaning Danny, Perry and Kirsch. Laf was moving out in the next few days and all three of them had been slacking in actively looking for a new roommate. It was mostly because they were all extremely busy with school, their respective jobs and trying to keep some semblance of a social life alive. But it was also partly because, and none of them really wanted to admit it, they were upset. The four of them had become extremely close over the last 6 months at university, and the group were all nervous it would impact their friendship.
Laura decided that because of the way her to do list was set out, that was exactly how she was going to do it. She knew that she was procrastinating, but she decided to put it to the back of her mind, for a little while anyway. If Laura was going to get anything done, she’d need breakfast. She went downstairs to find Danny in the kitchen, cooking something that smelled delicious.
Danny noticed her coming down, and with a quick smile asked “want some?”
Laura was always surprised at how nice Danny was. She was always giving. Always being helpful if she could. She would never tell her, but she really admired her for it. “You sure?” she said as she sat at the table, which was really a cheap table that they’d all brought online when they’d moved in, that was chipping and actually very sad. “I don’t want to put you out.”
Danny smiled a familiar smile and waved the spatula in the air, signifying it wasn’t a problem.
After a little while of general chit chat about the day, Perry came down. She had slightly red eyes, Laura almost uttered a word but Danny got to her first, putting an arm around her “what’s up angel?” to which Perry replied “it’s nothing really… no really! I’m just… it’s just…” Perry was cut off with Laf and Kirsch bowling through the Kitchen door, already consumed in conversation.
“I’m totally coming over when you’re moved in! I can’t wait dude!”
“Of course Kirsch! Whenever you want!”
“Really? Thanks bro.”
The conversation was cut short by Perry bursting out crying, and running upstairs. Laura knew that Laf leaving was hard on her, especially since they were best friends. But she hadn’t spoken about it, and Laura didn’t want to push her but she desperately wished Laf would be more considerate.
“Was that… was that me?” Laf asked innocently, with a slice of toast hanging out of her mouth. Danny looked at her with raised eyebrows as if to say ‘duh’. “Oh shit” Laf sighed, running upstairs after Perry.
Danny handed Laura some French toast with chopped up bananas on the side, and smiled gratefully. Kirsch was invested in a game on his phone, sloppily eating an apple, and Laura knew she had to say something.
“Guys… I think we need to talk.”
“Me too.” Danny agreed, but Kirsch was still playing his game.
Danny threw a slice of banana at him and his head shot up “hey, not cool dude. Now I’ll have to change this shirt.”
“Tragic.” Danny scoffed.
Laura put her French toast down and they both knew she was being serious. Laura was serious about her food, and to put it down, well, that could only mean that they seriously needed to shut up.
Laura cleared her throat and started “We still need to find a roommate. I know we’ve all been busy, I’ve been working way too much” to which Danny nodded her head in agreement “and Danny, you’ve been studying so hard, I was almost surprised to see you with something in your hand today other than a textbook. And Kirsch, well, you keep yourself busy.”
Kirsch smiles and playfully hits Danny’s arm “doing BRO things.”
“Yes Kirsch” Laura laughs, “bro things, but we need to find a new roommate. We can’t afford to live here if we don’t, and then we’ll have to go back to campus. And I think we all like living together right?”
Danny nodded vigorously with her mouth full, and Kirsch with his mouth full, said “Hell yeah! I love you guys”
“…So, tomorrow, we’re going to start looking. Word of mouth is good, and so is putting up posters, but we also need to listen out. And hard, yeah?”
They both agreed, with Laura feeling she’d accomplished something, finished off her breakfast and headed back to her room. It was only 9:30, and class didn’t start till 11, she had planned to get her essay done before class, this time. Laura had been slacking that was true. But not because she didn’t care, it wasn’t that at all. She’d just taken on more hours lately, and it had been catching up with her.
As Laura was hacking her way through a painful, painful essay, she heard a knock on the door. She mumbled a “come in” and turned around a couple of seconds later to find a guilty looking Laf in her doorway.
“What’s up Laf?”
She looked uneasy. Unsure how she should word what she should say, and her thoughts obviously churned in her mind uncomfortably. “Am I… doing the wrong thing? Leaving I mean?”
Laura sighed and gestured for Laf to sit on her bed, which she joined. “I don’t think leaving is the wrong thing at all. We know why you’re doing it, we know that this research internship is everything to you. I think we’re just a little sad about it. Some more than others.”
Laf seemed to understand, and nodded her head. Wrapped up in her thoughts for a minute, she mulled over a thought. “The ‘some’ meaning Perry right?”
Laura bumped shoulders with Laf, “Obviously.”
“She’s my best friend. Of course I’m sad I’m leaving you all and leaving her and leaving school, but, this could be really good for me. And I’ll only be an hour away?”
“And we’ll keep in touch all the time. Swear it!” Laura had a deadly serious look on her face.
Laf held up her hands “I swear. I swear!”
“Good, I’m glad.”
Laura was on her way to class, feeling happy she had gotten her essay done. She still had work and the third looming bullet point on her to do list, but she had made progress with that.
Laura’s phone buzzed and she was pulled out of her thoughts, it was a text from Danny, she smiled.
Danny 10:48: Hey! Sorry to bother you I know you have class, but I was thinking we could make some posters tonight advertising for a new roommate. Let me know!
Laura tapped out a short response: Sounds good. Will be home from work at 6.
The lecture was over at 1, and Laura walked to work with her headphones in. Her shift at the Café Bean went pretty quickly, it was short and sweet. It was made easier as one of her co-workers, Betty, was working today and she was always really lovely. And surprisingly, no one messed up an order today, and that really was a miracle in itself.
Once the shift was over, Laura mentally crossed out ‘work’ from her to do list. She only had the last bullet point, which was most definitely the scariest. But she was thankful that Danny seemed to be helping her now.
She walked in to Danny, Laf, Perry and Kirsch all on the floor of the living room with paper around them.
Danny noticed her first and waved her over, she handed her a glass of wine, to which Laura looked confused.
“We’re definitely going to need it if we’re ever going to find a roommate. Plus, I think Perry kind of needs it.” She gestures over to where Perry is sitting, cross legged with her hands waving in the air to the beat of the music. Or, completely not to the beat of the music, actually.
Laura scoots off her shoes, and looks at the mess of papers scattered on the floor. She sees the word ‘roommate requirements’ dashed around, but that’s about it. Laura takes a long swig of wine, she’s definitely going to need it.
2 bottles of wine later and the words ‘hot, clean and no pets’ have been thrown around. But that’s it. They’re all at least tipsy at this point. Apart from Perry who was now practically screaming the lyrics to a pop song, and Laura who was leaning her head on a very comfy Danny.
“They don’t have to be hot!” Laura said.
“But if they are hot, that’s a bonus.” Kirsch drawls, red wine drooling down his lips to his chin. Danny agrees and Laura feels that sting. It shouldn’t but it does.
She takes this opportunity to start another piece of paper, again with ‘ROOMATE REQUIREMENTS’ scrawled on the top. She starts the list with:
- Must be clean
- Must pay rent to Danny at the start of EVERY month
- Must not be an asshole
Laura shows the paper to an approving Danny, who mouths the word ‘hot’ and for some reason, Laura scribbles it down begrudgingly.
With a few more ideas written down, the most notable from Perry who requires that they sing pop songs with her whenever she wants, they agree that it will have to do.
Tomorrow Laura says she will photocopy a few and leave them around school, in which Danny says she would also do. She scrawls her number on the bottom with the address and hopes someone will be in touch quickly. By this point it’s 11pm, they all have to be up early, and so they fumble to bed. Danny helps a tipsy Laura up the stairs, laughing as they go.
When they reach Laura’s room, hands still entwined, Laura’s heart hurts a little that she has to let go. She doesn’t understand why it hurts, she was probably just lonely. But she indeed does let go, and goes to sleep feeling somewhat frustrated. Tomorrow, she thinks, she will wake up early to get these damn posters up, and finally get a roommate.
When tomorrow does come along, and Laura hears the same, annoying shrill of her alarm, she groans loudly. It’s 7 am and way too early for Laura, or any human for that. She showers, grabs some toast and makes it just on time to photocopy the poster and hang a few up before she just about makes it to class.
“Shouldn’t someone have replied by now?” Laura looks sadly at Danny
“You put them up this morning right? Its 6 now, if they don’t reply by this time tomorrow, then we have an issue to worry about. Only then.”
The night progresses with Danny cooking dinner, Laf and Perry dancing tipsy and Kirsch drinking a beer watching the madness. Laura keeps checking her phone for a missed call but decided to join in the fun instead. She makes herself a glass of red wine and looks at her friends: yep, she’s one lucky girl.
Perry is shouting a rendition of a Justin Bieber song so loudly and passionately, Laura was nearly wetting her pants as a result. She’s laughing so hard she can’t even breathe, and ends up collapsing on the floor. She thinks she could stay like this, in this moment for eternity, until Danny grabs her shoulder and hands with a ringing in the background.
“Answer it, it’s your phone sweetie!” Danny has to practically scream to make Laura hear her, but she definitely hears the sweetie. It makes Laura feel good.
“Hello! This is Laura speaking.” She walks out of the room still a little weak from the laughing fit, and tries to listen.
“Well cutie, I didn’t think I was calling my mum.”
Laura flinched at the both playful and harsh tone. Who did this girl think she is?
“Excuse me?”
Laura hears a sigh at the other end. Followed by “Are you the girl looking for a ‘hot’ roommate? Or have I got the wrong number?”
It clicks with Laura and she straightens up. They really need a roommate quickly and she needs to make herself seem like a good roommate. “No no! This is the right number.”
“Good. I was worried.” Laura notices the sarcasm and it bites. This girl is not friendly at all. “So, when can I see the place?”
Laura fidgets she feels uneasy. Does she even want this girl as her roommate? She hasn’t exactly had many other calls. Okay no other calls. So she decides to see how this goes.
“When do you want to see the place?”
“Hm. Now?”
That hits Laura with surprise. The place is a mess. They’re all drunk apart from Laura and Danny. This really isn’t a good time.
Laura hears the girl speaking again “Come on cutie, it’s just a room. All I want is to see the shower and make sure I have a window.”
“Okay.” Laura doesn’t even know why she said yes, or how to be more accurate. She takes a second and then continues. Not completely sure what to say next. “You’ve got the address right?”
But then she realises the line is already dead. Shocked she pulls the phone from her ear, feeling even more uneasy she searches for her glass of wine. She downs it in one.
Danny looks at her, “You okay? You’ve gone completely pale.”
“Yeah yeah of course.” She swats Danny away like a fly, but continues “a girl is coming to look at the room.”
Laf pops up “oh cool, when?”
Laura gulps, “now.”
“WHAT” the four say in unison. Laura looks guilty but just nods.
“She kind of forced it. I don’t know, but I do know that she’s coming. Now. And this place is a joke.”
They spend the next 10 minutes clearing the living room the best they can. Laf runs upstairs and tidies her room a little and Perry helps her. They all regroup on the sofa, sighing at the rest of the mess.
“We’ve done our best.” Danny tries light-heartedly
“Suppose.” Laura says.
They sit in silence for a couple of minutes, until three loud rasps come from the door. Laura gulps and gets up.
Kirsch sends some support in the form of “hey, she might be hot!” to which Laura smiles meekly.
The conversation they had had really put her on edge. She wasn’t sure how she felt. She sighed, there was no use now, so instead she straightened her shirt instead, and opened the door.
“Hi cutie, am I hot enough to be your roommate?”
Laura is blown away. Raven hair falling haphazardly down a leather jacket, followed by leather pants and black combat boots. The voice. The smell. Yes, yes she definitely was hot enough to be her roommate.