#it was our storage room and we had temporary roommates using it but they recently moved out

[finn-nelson-for-the-win]

New Beginnings: Chapter 5

Hello, my lovelies! I know that it’s been a while (ok, a REALLY long time) since the last update, but I haven’t had the time to do as much writing as I would have liked in recent weeks, so alas! Here we are…As always, more of my pointless rambling can be found in my Author’s Note beneath the tags.

If you want to get caught up on the previous chapters of this story or read any of my other writing, look no further!

***

The elevator chimed, signaling that they had reached their intended floor and the metal doors slid open slowly.

“Alright, Rachel. The dorm that you will be staying in temporarily will be just around the corner from here. Number 335, if my memory serves me correctly,” Greg said as he gestured for Rae to exit the elevator in front of him.

She nodded silently and followed the directions that Greg had given her until she stood in front of an unassuming white door adorned with metal numbers indicating that this was dorm number 335.

Rae stepped aside to let Greg dig through the pocket of his jeans to retrieve the key to the dorm that she would be officially living in beginning tomorrow morning.

“After you, Rachel,” Greg said once the door was unlocked and he stood with the door open wide.

Rae walked hesitantly into the dorm room, unable to shake the feeling that she was an intruder despite this being the place where she had been assigned to live for the duration of the repair process on their previous dorm.

Rae and Greg had decided to visit her new dorm and see if her new roommate was there to introduce the two girls prior to moving the majority of Rae’s belongings into the new dorm, and as Rae looked around, she could clearly tell which side of the room had been cleared out and designated for her. Rae was walking towards the simple desk that she assumed to be hers when a door in the far corner of the small dorm opened loudly, causing her to jump.

“Oh! You surprised me,” Rae said with a nervous chuckle when she noticed a girl with deep tan skin and long hair walk into the room.

“You’re my new roommate, I presume?” The girl stated plainly as she walked across the room towards the side that clearly belonged to her.

“Yes, I am. My name is Rachel, but I go by Rae.”

“Good to know. My name is Adrienne,” she said as she cast a quick glance over her shoulder and gave Rae a nod in greeting, “are you going to bring any of your stuff in here? I was told I’d be having a roommate, so I tried to clear enough space for whatever you have in the common spaces that we share.”

“Rae and I wanted to stop by here and meet you before we started bringing her things here to make sure that the space was ready for her and that the key she was given is the right one,” Greg elaborated when Rae stood silent despite the question that had been directed towards her, “She and I will be coming in and out a lot over the next couple hours as we bring her belongings up here. If that’s alright with you, of course.”

“It’s her dorm now too, I guess, so go ahead. I’m actually on my way out of the dorm right now,” Adrienne said as she grabbed her cell phone and keys off of her desk, “but you have the key, so feel free to come and go as you please.”

“Perfect! Thank you, Adrienne. It was nice to meet you,” Greg said as he stepped away from the door of the dorm to allow her to pass by him.

“I guess I’ll see you later then, Adrienne. It was nice to meet you,” Rae mumbled as her new roommate unlocked the door and swung it open.

“Yeah! See ya later,” Adrienne called over her shoulder as she hurriedly walked out of the dorm and shut the door behind her.

“So, you’ve just met your new roommate, Rae. Would you like me to give you a tour of the dorm before be head back to start bringing all of your boxes up here?” Greg asked.

Rae shrugged, still slightly unsure what to make of her first impression of Adrienne, and followed as Greg led Rae to the opposite side of the room where the door that Adrienne had emerged from initially was tucked away in the corner.

“So this will be the door that leads to the bathroom you share with the dorm next door. This is also a co-ed living community, but bathrooms are only shared with people of the same sex, so you and Adrienne will share the bathroom with two other girls. There is a ‘Jack and Jill’ style sink and lots of storage space, but the toilet and shower will be shared between you four girls.”

Rae peered into the open door that Greg was referring to before closing the door and following Greg back to the other side of the room where he stood by the door.

“Now I will take you back downstairs and show you the community study rooms as well as the dorm where you will be able to find your new resident assistant, Dana.”

Rae unlocked the door of the dorm and stepped outside, waiting for Greg as he closed and locked the door behind him before leading the way towards the next stop on the tour of Rae’s new dorm.

***

By midday on Thursday, all four of the girls had managed to pack their belongings and get it all moved into their new dorms, thanks to the help of the other girls as well as their resident assistants; however, none of them were looking forward to parting ways at the end of the evening to return to their new dorms, so Rae, Izzy, and Chloe were trying to find any excuse to spend more time together.

“I can’t believe that because we’ve been so busy with packing and moving all this week that we’ve missed the last three days’ worth of Welcome Week events,” Chloe whined as she grabbed a chip from her plate and took a bite.

Izzy and Rae hummed in agreement as they ate their food as well, allowing Chloe to continue her rant on the topic.

“I mean, I wasn’t very impressed with the Welcome Week Block Party while I was sober, but I really had high hopes for the community pool party, outdoor movie night, and the Welcome Week concert! Even if they were awful too, at least they were all free and we could say that we went!”

“Well, it’s still the beginning of the semester, so I’m sure there will be plenty of other fun events that we can go to together,” Izzy said with a smile to reassure Chloe.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right, Izz,” Chloe added, “Anyways, I heard that you met your roommate when you and Greg were moving your stuff to your new dorm. What’s she like, Rae?”

Izzy and Chloe shifted their attention towards Rae and the two waited while she finished chewing her bite of food thoughtfully and she tried to decide what her initial impression of her roommate was.

“Well, she was on her way out of the dorm when I got there earlier today, so I think she was in a bit of a hurry, but she seems alright I think,” Rae trailed off as she grabbed a chip from her plate and began to idly twirl it around in the small heap of ketchup on one side of her plate, “her name is Adrienne, I’m pretty sure.”

“Just alright? Did she know that you were going to be her new roommate or did it seem like it was a shock to her?” Chloe asked as she took a drink of her soda.

“She said she knew she’d be sharing a room with someone for a few weeks, but didn’t know much else other than my name. We introduced ourselves before she headed out the door, but she just seemed a bit standoffish, or cold, maybe. I don’t know...I’m sure that she must not be too happy with having to share her room when she was under the impression she’d be living alone, but it is only temporary and it’s not like either of us had a say in the matter,” Rae replied with a shrug before finally taking a bite of the chip that she was holding.

“Well I hope she warms up to you a bit more once you’re actually living together, Rae. I met my roommates yesterday and they are all really quiet, but they seem nice enough, so I guess I’m lucky. I’d hate to think that your new roommate isn’t welcoming towards you, Rae, so if she’s still being rude after a few days, let me know and I’ll beg my roommates to let you sleep on our couch or even on the floor of my bedroom.” Izzy offered.

“Yeah, we want to make sure that you’re happy in your temporary dorm too, so just let Izz or me know if you need a place to crash if things don’t work out with Adrienne,” Chloe added with a sincere smile.

“Thanks girls, I really appreciate it!” Rae said as she leaned over in her chair to give Izzy and Chloe each a hug.

The three girls continued talking at the student dining hall until one of the staff members let them know that the dining hall would be closing shortly.

They took the long way around campus as they walked in the direction of all the student housing buildings on campus, but as they neared the slate gray building that Rae would be living in for the next two weeks, they knew that it was time for them to head in their separate directions.

“Alright, I think this is where I have to leave you two ladies to head to your new dorms,” Rae said with a sad smile as she stopped beside the black metal door that requires a keycard to enter the building.

“Alright, Rae, thank you for coming to dinner with Chlo and I,” Izzy said as she pulled Rae in to a tight hug.

“Have a nice night, Rae! Let Izz and I know if you’re free at all this weekend and maybe we can meet up one last time before classes start on Monday, yeah?” Chloe replied when it was her turn to hug Rae.

“Yeah, of course! I’ll talk to both of you really soon,” Rae finally said as she scanned her ID card at the door and pulled open the heavy door, waving goodbye to her friends as they walked away before stepping through the door.

Rae was not in any hurry to return to the dorm—her new dorm, technically, although the less than warm welcome from her new roommate had left Rae feeling a bit apprehensive—so rather than taking the elevator up to the third floor where her new dorm is located, she decided to take the stairs and prolong the inevitable as much as she could.

When Rae was standing in front of the door to her new dorm, she knew that she had already stalled for long enough, so she pulled the key to the dorm from her backpack and unlocked the door.

As soon as Rae opened the door, she saw her new roommate sitting on her bed on the opposite side of the room. Dressed in a simple black vest top and shorts, the deep olive skin of her arms and legs seemed to stand out even more. When she looked up from the screen of her laptop that was resting on her knees, she stared back at Rae with her green eyes wide in surprise.

“Oh! You startled me,” Adrienne replied as she pulled the white earbuds from her ears and set her laptop aside on her bed.

“Sorry,” Rae mumbled as she set her backpack down on the ground beside the empty desk on her side of the dorm.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, I’m just used to living alone for almost a week now, so I wasn’t expecting to hear the door open!” She laughed as she climbed down from her lofted bed and walked towards where Rae stood on the other side of the room, “If anything, I owe you an apology.”

“Er, for what?”

“I think I was a bit of a bitch to ya this morning when we first met. They had only let me know I’d be getting a roommate last night, so this morning I had to rush to get everything ready for you so you could have space in the closet and bathroom as well. When we crossed paths earlier, I was running late to meet a friend for lunch and she was getting impatient, so I was a bit frustrated, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. So, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, thank you, but you don’t need to apologize. I understand,” Rae replied with a small smile.

“I just wanted to make sure that we start off on a good note if we’re gonna be living together for a while. If you need me to move any of my stuff to give you more room or if you want any help unpacking your stuff, feel free to let me know!”

“I think I’ll be fine unpacking my own boxes, since I don’t have too much stuff, but thank you anyways,” Rae said as she began to stack most of her boxes underneath the lofted bed on her side of the room.

“So, I know your name is Rachel, but you go by ‘Rae’ instead,” Adrienne said as she climbed back onto her bed, allowing her tan legs to dangle over the side of her bed as she sat facing Rae, “but I wanna get to know you a bit more. Tell me more about yourself.”

Rae turned around to face her new roommate and saw that she was waiting patiently for Rae to speak as she shook loose her long, dark brown hair from the top knot it was in and began to braid the hair with expert precision.

“Well, I don’t really know what there is to tell, honestly. I’m not all that interesting,” Rae replied with a shrug as she began arranging her pillows on her new bed.

Adrienne chuckled lightly before beginning to ask Rae questions and answering them herself in return to help the two girls become better acquainted.

***

The next few days were spent unpacking and trying to get settled into her new dorm and get used to the new roommate dynamic with Adrienne, so before Rae even knew it, the weekend was over and she was doing last minute preparations so she would be ready for classes to start the next day.

“So Rae,” Adrienne began as a way of announcing her presence as she walked into their shared room from the door that led to the bathroom, still using her towel to dry her wet hair that was fresh from the shower.

“So Adrienne,” she replied in return as Rae turned around in her desk chair to face her and give Adrienne her undivided attention.

“What’s your class schedule like? I think it’d be smart if we tried to coordinate our schedules so then we aren’t in each other’s way when we’re trying to get ready or whatever.”

“Oh, well I mostly have classes in the late morning and early afternoon.”

“Perfect! I have work early in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but other than that, I mostly have afternoon classes,” Adrienne stated as she climbed onto her lofted bed and took a seat on the edge facing Rae, “When do you normally like to shower? As I’m sure you can tell, I’m more of a ‘night shower’ kinda girl.”

“Uh, I don’t really have a preference. I can shower in the mornings, if that is more convenient so we aren’t fighting for time to shower in the evenings.”

“Alright, that sounds good to me! I’m gonna finish binging the show I’ve been watching all summer, so I’m gonna have my earbuds in. If you need me, just throw a pillow at me or something to get my attention.”

Rae agreed with a chuckle and turned back around in her desk chair to face her laptop where she was currently trying to price match the various textbooks her classes required of her this semester.

Why must textbooks be so fucking expensive?

***

Nine in the morning came entirely too soon, but Rae was trying to begin her first semester of Uni on a positive note and even she knew that being late to her first day of classes was not a good idea.

Rae took a shower and got ready for class, impressed with herself that she was on-time or even running a little earlier than she had expected.

I might even have time to treat myself to a “first day of Uni” coffee from one of the shops on campus if I’m done getting ready early enough!

Rae had finished brushing her hair and getting ready in front of the mirror in the shared bathroom and was about to open the door to return to the room she shared with Adrienne when the door opened before she could even touch the handle.

“Oh! Good morning, Adrienne!” Rae said with a smile when she saw her roommate standing in the open doorway, mid-yawn as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Morning, Rae. You smell really nice,” Adrienne replied as she stepped past Rae and into the bathroom, leaving Rae chuckling slightly at her roommate’s directness when she is still half-asleep.

When Adrienne returned to their shared bedroom, Rae was at her desk trying to pull up the map of campus on her laptop to figure out where her first class of the day was going to be, so Adrienne walked across the room and took a seat on the corner of Rae’s desk that was not currently occupied.

“Are you heading to class right now?” she asked as she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs where they were propped up on the desk to the left of where Rae sat using her laptop.

“Yeah, well sort of...I’m pretty early right now, so I think I’m gonna grab some coffee and then get to class extra early, but I am going to be leaving in a minute or so.”

“Okay, I’ll wait until you’re ready to leave before getting back into my bed, so I can lock the door behind you,” Adrienne replied with a smile.

When Rae was clear on what building she was going to for her first class of the morning, she stood from her desk chair and grabbed her backpack from where it sat on the floor beside her lofted bed.

“Are you leaving now?” Adrienne asked before continuing when Rae gave her an affirmative hum, “Okay, well...have a nice first day of classes, Rae! I’ll see you when I get back from classes tonight, alright?”

“Yeah! Enjoy your classes today, too!” Rae replied as she unlocked the front door of the dorm and stepped outside, allowing Adrienne to close and lock the door behind her after giving her a quick wave goodbye.

***

The queue at the coffee shop was insane, but luckily Rae had left her dorm in enough time to still be early to her Intermediate English Literature lecture course by the time she found the building she was looking for and walked into the lecture hall to find her seat.

Once Rae had gotten settled into a seat, she pulled her cell phone from the outer pocket of her backpack and entered the passcode to unlock it.

It’s been a couple days since I called mum and spoke to my family...

Although she had been texting her mum and Karim often over the past few days while she moved dorms and got settled into her dorm with Adrienne, she had not had a proper conversation with them on the phone since she told her mum about her changing dorms the morning after she had found out for herself and a call felt long overdue.

Rae had also remained in contact with Izzy, Chloe, and Maddie through the group chat that they had created on the day when they had initially moved into the dorm together; however, all four girls were similarly overwhelmed with adjusting to the move and beginning classes, so meeting up and making plans together had not been a priority.

Rae continued scrolling through social media on her phone and sipping her iced coffee to pass the time as more students shuffled into the lecture hall and found their seats.

“Good Morning class! I’m your professor for Intermediate English Lit, Doctor Adams,” a slender, middle-aged man with neatly-trimmed facial hair and graying dark brown hair that seemed to suit him well said from where he stood behind a podium at the front of the lecture hall, “Please take a moment to double-check your schedules and confirm that you are in the correct class and not in my wife’s Beginning English Lit course in the lecture hall on the other side of this building at the same time, since your schedule will likely just list the professor name as ‘Adams’.”

Rae’s first class of the day was primarily spent going over expectations for the course this semester and other important documents relating to the class and the requirements for doing well in the class and before long, she was already heading across campus to her second and final class of the day.

Rae was not as early to this class as she had been for her prior class, so when she stepped inside the large lecture hall, there were only a few scattered seats that were not currently filled.

“Hey, are you here for Intro to Psychology with Doctor Hayes?” A lanky boy carrying a skateboard in his hand asked when he noticed Rae standing near the entrance to the lecture hall.

“Oh, yeah I am, I was just trying to find a place to sit,” Rae replied, earning a thanks from the boy now that he knew he was in the right place.

“Rae? Is that you?” a voice called from a few rows from the back of the lecture hall.

When Rae looked around to see who might be calling her name, she was surprised and relieved to see Archie standing up from his seat and beckoning her over.

“Archie! It’s so good to see you!”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! I’m so glad that I have at least one person that I know in this class already! Do you want to sit with me?”

“Yes, thank you. I just came from another class and I was afraid I wasn’t going to find anywhere to sit!”

“Oh, well I have a long break between this class and the one before it, so I’ll always be here early enough to save you a seat with me, if you’d like!”

“I’d really appreciate that, Archie!”

“So, how have things been lately? Me and the lads tried coming over to your dorm to see if you and the girls wanted to join us for a meal or to go out somewhere a few times this weekend and no one ever seemed to be at the dorm. Then, this morning when I was leaving for class I saw a letter on our door informing us of the hours that they would be doing repairs to the dorm next to us, that way we could plan accordingly.”

“Oh! I suppose I never had the chance to let you know, but there was an issue with the plumbing in our dorm so the girls and I had to move out and we were all split up and placed into temporary dorms with new roommates!”

“Are you serious? That’s terrible, but I guess that makes sense why you lot haven’t been in the dorm lately. When did this happen?”

“We had to officially be cleared out of 113 by Thursday evening, so we had about 2 days’ notice to prepare.”

“Damn,” Archie replied with his eyes raised in shock.

“That’s not even the worst part, Archie. All the other girls got placed into dorms in the same community, but there wasn’t a 4th open bed space, so I was placed into the Northridge Residential Community instead!”

“Are you serious, Rae? That’s complete shit! I know they would have never allowed it, but I wish I could have let you move into one of the empty bed spaces in my dorm!”

“You have empty bed spaces? What did you do in the first week of living on campus that made your roommates run away already?” Rae joked.

“Ha ha, Rae, very funny! I didn’t do anything to scare them off, but the guy I shared a room with before decided he couldn’t pay for living on campus and was able to find a friend of a friend to live with for cheaper, so he left this past weekend. My suitemates are also considering joining student organizations, so depending on if they make it in, they may be moving somewhere else as well.”

“Wow! That’s pretty cool, I guess. At least now you’ll have a lot more space to yourself!”

“Yeah, I suppose. I also spend most of my time not in class with Finn and Chop, so it’s not like I’ll ever be too lonely!”

The pair continued chatting about Rae’s move to the new dorm and her new roommate until their professor walked into the building nearly twenty minutes late, claiming that the traffic was worse than she had anticipated.

After their class had ended, Archie and Rae walked leisurely in the direction of the dorms on campus, since both of them were done with their classes for the day.

“So, Arch, what are you up to on this fine Monday afternoon?” Rae asked as she casually nudged him with her shoulder as she walked.

“I’m meeting Chop and possibly Finn for a late lunch in a couple hours, since they both have classes later in the evening but have a two hour break around the same time. Why do you ask?”

“Do you wanna come see my new dorm and hang out for a bit?”

“Of course, Rae. I’d love to!” Archie said as he began leading them in the direction of the residential community that Rae was now living in.

They took the elevator up to the third floor and Rae unlocked the door to her dorm, holding it open while Archie walked inside.

“My roommate is still in class for a while, so we don’t have to worry about interrupting her or anything,” Rae said with a smile as Archie began looking around the dorm that she shared with Adrienne.

“This dorm is a lot smaller than the other one you girls were in,” Archie mused as he removed his shoes before climbing onto Rae’s lofted bed.

“Oh sure, please make yourself at home,” Rae joked when she noticed Archie sprawled out on her bed as she set her backpack to the side and removed her own shoes, “But yes, this dorm is quite a bit smaller than the other one, but it’s only for a couple weeks or so, which isn’t that big of a deal.”

Archie turned on his side on Rae’s bed and patted the open space beside him, inviting Rae to join him on the bed.

Rae chuckled but climbed onto the bed and settled into the open space anyways.

“So Rae, I bet you think that by up and leaving your dorm next door to me you could escape this conversation, but think again!” When Archie saw the look of confusion on Rae’s face, he continued, “I happen to remember saying that you had some explaining to do after I learned that my childhood best mate had spent the night in the dorm of my female neighbor.”

“Oh, that…” Rae trailed off with a nervous chuckle as she turned away from the intense stare Archie was giving her, “Didn’t Finn already tell you everything that happened? Must we really relive all of that again?”

“Yes, Rae, we must. He told me his version of the story, but I want to hear your version now!”

Rae huffed dramatically and rolled her eyes but continued to recall the events of the night of the Welcome Week block party—or what she could remember, at least—as well as the morning afterwards and what she had managed to piece together from the night before after talking to Finn and the girls the next day.

“And so I’m pretty sure that Greg thought that Finn was doing the walk of shame when he was standing at our door,” Rae concluded with a chuckle at the memory.

“Wasn’t he though? I mean, Finn did have a fun night with a girl that left her hungover and him shirtless and trying to get back into his own dorm the next morning...that sounds pretty ‘walk of shame’-esque to me,” Archie replied smugly.

“Ugh, I don’t even know why I put up with you,” Rae said with a laugh as she jokingly tossed a pillow at Archie’s head.

“Oh? So this is how you want to play, huh? I’d advise you not to start a pillow fight that you have no intention of finishing, Rae!” Archie added with a smirk as he grabbed the pillow she threw at him and tossed back at her.

Rae swatted the pillow away at the last second, sending it falling to the ground beside her lofted bed, shooting a quick glare at Archie and sticking her tongue out at him in triumph.

“Oh, don’t kid yourself, Rae. You know you love me,” Archie said as he propped himself up on the side of the bed where he was laying on to look at Rae more directly, “All jokes aside, how do you feel about the whole situation between you and Finn?”

“There’s a situation between Finn and I? Since when?”

“Uh, pretty much since the two of you spent most of the night drinking and talking together before we all went to the block party as a group and the two of you proceeded to dance with each other and were inseparable until Chop had to nearly pry the two of you apart as we left the block party once it had ended. Stop me if I’m wrong or overstepping my boundaries, but it seems like you might like Finn.”

“Well of course I like him. He’s a pretty cool lad and we have a lot in common,”

“We both know that’s not what I mean, Rae. You don’t have to tell me or talk about it with me if you don’t wanna or if it seems weird since I’m such close friends with him, but—”

“No, it’s not that, Arch. I guess I just...I don’t know how I feel about him yet. I like talking to him and I like spending time with him, but I’m not sure if it’s in a friendly way or as more than friends,”

“You don’t need to make a decision yet, Rae. You can take your time getting to know him and seeing if something more develops from it, you know? Trust me, I’m sure that he would be very willing to spend more time with you and get to know you better as well,”

“What do you mean?”

“Sorry, I’m too good of a friend to be divulging the details of what Finn tells me in confidence, but I can tell you that he likes ya...A lot,”

“Sure he does,”

“Does this look like a face that would lie to you?”

“Do you want me to answer honestly?” Rae joked

Archie gasped in mock offense and flopped onto his back dramatically, throwing an arm over his face.

“Oh, you wound me so, my dear Rae-Rae!”

“Perhaps, yes, but I only do so out of love,” Rae said as she leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek as she wrapped her arms around him.

Archie returned the embrace but before he could reply, the door to the dorm unlocked and opened and Adrienne walked inside.

“Hey, Rae! I—uh, sorry. Am I interrupting something? Should I leave?” She asked, her hand still on the handle of the door in case she needed to walk out the door quickly.

“Not at all,” Rae replied as she sat up on her bed and Archie did the same.

“How rude of me to not introduce myself! My name is Archie! You must be Rae’s new roommate,” Archie said as he reached his hand out to shake hands with her.

“Nice to meet you, Archie. And yes, I’m Rae’s new roommate, Adrienne,” She replied with a polite smile as she shook his hand.

“I should probably be heading out now, actually, Rae. It was really nice to see your new dorm. I’ll see you again on Wednesday, yeah?”

“Yeah, sounds good to me! Enjoy your late lunch with Chop and the lads. Make sure to tell them I say, ‘hi’,” Rae added with a smile.

“You mean tell Finn you say ‘hi’?”

“No! Well...Not just Finn, but still…”

“Alright, I’m just kidding. I’ll send them your regards. The lads and I have really missed hanging out with you ladies, so maybe we could make plans to meet up soon, yeah? I’ll talk to the lads and be sure to let you know as soon as I can. See you later, Rae-Rae!” Archie said as he pulled Rae into a hug and gave her a peck on the cheek before waving goodbye to Adrienne and leaving the dorm.

“Listen, Rae,” Adrienne began as soon as Archie had closed the door behind him when he left, “I really didn’t mean to walk in on you like this. My class got out earlier than I expected so I just came straight here. If you ever want some privacy or alone time with Archie, just feel free to send me a text and I’ll make myself scarce until you’re okay with me being back here.”

“Wait...do you think that Archie is my—? That we’re...like a couple?”

“Well, it looked like it because you two seemed to be cuddled up pretty close on your bed and he kissed you goodbye. Is he not?”

“Oh, god no! I adore Archie, but alas I am a girl and he is spectacularly gay, so we are doomed to just be close friends,” Rae joked, “he was actually one of my neighbors at my previous dorm and we just became immediate friends!”

“Oh, alright then. I’m sorry that I assumed…”

“Don’t be! I can understand the confusion, but you’re totally fine. No need to apologize!”

“Well, nonetheless, this is a good time to discuss this I guess. If you do ever have a boy over or friends or anyone and you don’t want me to be hanging around, just let me know.”

“Well, I don’t have a boyfriend or anything like that, so you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll be sure to let you know when I plan to have friends over though as a courtesy, and you can feel free to let me know if you are bringing a boy back here or want privacy as well, alright?”

“Of course! Sounds like a plan. And for the record, I don’t have a boyfriend or anything of the sort either, so you won’t see me trying to sneak a boy in here or anything like that,” Adrienne replied with a laugh.

The two spent some time chatting about each of their first days of class and Adrienne eventually ordered a pizza for them to eat while they sat side-by-side on her bed and began watching the new season of a show they found out they were both interested in as they ate together.

@arathewallflower @likeashootingstarfades @eveerez @getawaytrain @pink-royaute @kneekeyta @milllott @i-dream-of-emus @ifinallyknow 

A/N: I know I had to stir up a little drama by making the girls split up, but I’m not totally evil and I couldn’t stand to keep the gang apart for too long, so I brought Archie back into this chapter and more of the gang will also have a presence in the next couple chapters while the drama calms down a bit more. But I can’t make things too good just yet, so there is still some more drama and crazy antics and fun stuff to come in the next chapters.

Speaking of which…I think I’m going to take a more formal break from writing. For the past few months I’ve been posting really inconsistently and struggling to put my ideas into words, so I think with all the stress I have going on in my life at the moment, writing and posting has actually become another source of stress for me and it is no longer the respite and creative outlet for me that it used to be. In all honesty, y’all probably won’t even notice a difference, since I’ll probably still post monthly or occasionally, but I’ve abandoned any hopes of getting these chapters written and posted weekly or on any reasonable schedule.

With that being said, I do have a short story that I’ve been writing off and on since July that is just about ready to post, as soon as I put some finishing touches on it. I’ll stagger post those chapters over the course of a few weeks so then I’m at least posting semi-regularly for a little while; however after that, I will likely go back to seldom posting, depending on if I am able to write or not.

My inbox is always open if you fancy a chat and I’m always lurking and keeping tabs on the goings on in the MMFD fandom, so I’m sure you’ll still get more than your fill of me regardless of whether or not I’m actively posting my writing. Until next time: Stay awesome, my friends! :)

#mmfd #my mad fat diary #mmfd fanfic #my mad fat diary fanfiction #New Beginnings #chapter 5 #My writing #finn-nelson-for-the-win

[catthefearless]

Moving forward

I moved this week, again. I moved because it was the right thing to do for me emotionally. Life with the boys was beginning to grate on my nerves to the point of not feeling safe there anymore. They hated the dogs, barely tolerated me and barely spoke to me. I tried repeatedly to make things work, but was always frustrated with how they treated my doggos. I had to find something else that would work for me.

Enter ex husband #2. He’s a good man and he’s the father of my son. He and I realized when we split that we were better friends than spouses so we divorced, almost 17 years ago. We have remained good co-parents for our son, even as Rheinart grows as a man. He had had a “roommate” move out recently so now was my chance to live in a safe environment, again.

His house is decent sized and there’s an addition on the back of the house that originally was a formal dining room and game room. Neither of those were used for their original intent and instead became a smallish apartment for his last 2 roommates. The last one was a bitter woman with her daughter that never treated #2 very well and constantly nagged at him and expected the world, all while not paying rent and instead was supposed to be cleaning and doing other things around the house. It is in need of some repairs and updates which she promised to do but instead didn’t, she decorated to her “tastes” which included sloppy painting jobs and horrid colors. Plus she muted all the lights with painted fixtures and hot glued items to walls and doors which all has to be un-done. 

In exchange for rent for me and doggos, I promised to repaint and repair the damage done by this shrew. Her ideas on “decorating” leave a lot to be desired! I will be repairing not only the two rooms I have moved into, but the bath room and bedroom where her daughter lived. It’s a tough challenge but one I look forward to, making the house pretty and reasonable again. I also pay for a joint storage unit for Rheinart and myself that #2 had previously been paying for, needed when my son and I had to move out of #4′s house suddenly. 

This is a safe environment for me since #2 and I are still really good friends and it gives me a chance to be with my son for awhile. When #4 and I separated, my son and I couldn’t stay together and he came to live with his dad while I went on to live with the boys. It seemed to work at first but in reality, I missed living with my son and a big part of him did too. 

This is only a temporary solution since E is still determined that I will come live with him once he gets a house. The current offer on the house is stalled by the bank whom the seller has a mortgage with and we’re not sure if even this one will pan out. If it doesn’t, E has promised we will rent a bigger place for all of us until he can switch to a new job earning substantially more money, and then be able to afford for an even better house. A whole lot hinges on how this house deal happens and if it doesn’t, at least we have a decent plan B. 

Life with #2 is freaking E out some and so for now he isn’t as inclined to spend the night with me, yet. My son says he will stay with the doggos overnight from time to time so I can stay with E at his place which I find heavenly. The doggos are limited to just my 2 rooms and direct access to the backyard. They are frustrated in that they aren’t allowed to roam the whole house but love the backyard! It is only temporary, for about 2-3 months, and we will all adjust. 

@bofursunboundbraids @sweeticedtea @cd1242 @deepestfirefun @pixiedurango @patanghill17 @princess-of-erebor1992 @calicoskatts @armitageadoration @bellevox @abiwim @princesssparkle @dailykatesblog @thegreyberet @childoftheshire @september-stardust @unsng @fragments-of-my-mind @raychellefay @thedarlingwriter @theincaprincess @ixoxopoetry @thestorybookmistress @heartofmuse @xxbyimm @fandomgalcentral @someallpowerfulforce @bmindsstrange

[auburnfamilynews]

(Author’s note:  My best friend from Auburn lost his fight against cancer this past Saturday.  Even though I haven’t contributed anything new in a long, long time, I am reposting this old column from six years ago, which I also reposted on the occasion of his mother’s death two years ago.)

One spring afternoon in the mid-eighties, having previously seen the invitation painted on the cafeteria windows, I began walking from my class at Haley Center over to Foy Union to sign up for the College Bowl academic competition.  As I started toward Foy, I noticed a fellow of large stature (who naturally stood out from the crowd) about thirty feet in front of me walking in the same general direction.  Oblivious to me behind him, he crossed Thatch Avenue and headed for the back entrance to the cafeteria, the exact same route I was choosing.  I had the strange feeling I was following him, even though there was a long way to go and many different turns on my way.

The fellow in front entered the cafeteria and turned to go past the backed-up, stacked-up rows of used trays and dishes on the cafeteria conveyor belt, once again seemingly anticipating the direction I was heading.  He turned down the corridor leading to the elevator, again the same way I was headed.  By this time I think that fellow started to feel like somebody was stalking him for some reason.  We both got on the elevator together, both got off on the third floor, and both walked into the small former storage closet that housed the AU College Bowl team, both feeling a little awkward at having made this dance all the way through the bowels of Foy Union.

That’s how I met Bill Jones, the person I call my “best friend from Auburn” and one of the best friends ever in my life.  During our concurrent time on the Plains, we spent many, many days together on College Bowl road trips and at Auburn football games, and way, way too much time in front of the pinball machines and video games in the Foy Union game room.  When I couldn’t make it home all the way to Florida for nonbreak holidays such as Easter, Bill took me to his home in Montgomery, where I became the proud owners of a second set of parents. (I love you, Mr. and Mrs. Jones!)

Our college careers diverged somewhat: I went straight through and got two degrees in accounting at Auburn; Bill continued at AU and finished up a math degree a year later.  I went into accounting and Bill started in software development.  We both moved around different places in the Southeast, always staying in touch and sharing the triumphs and challenges of young single life.

Our social and political philosophies also diverged, I becoming more conservative than ever and Bill leaning much the other way.  Even our interest in and identification with Auburn (both the institution and the football program) would wax and wane, usually at completely different times.

But our lives also criss-crossed so many ways.  We were roommates for a while when I was between jobs (both of us just happened to end up in Atlanta at that time, for different reasons).  Later on, we were even groomsmen in each other’s weddings within the space of a month (not planned, just happened that way).  And through the years we always shared that bond of being Auburn men, no matter the extent to which we self-identified as such at any particular time.

Recently, I was out of work for a year and a half, all through Auburn’s 2010 National Championship run.  Bill and I had both ended up in Atlanta for a second time, again under totally separate circumstances.  So, we got together to watch almost every AU football game that season, with him keeping up my naturally pessimistic spirits during my mostly fruitless job search.  When we each got “snowed in” for the BCS Championship, we kept in touch the whole game via text messages and celebrated by phone after that kick went though the uprights.  We both observed that that season was the first time in a while that either of us had strongly felt a part of the Auburn Family.

Later, I was the one with the job, while Bill was “in transition,” as they say.  On top of that, Bill had a couple of health problems from which he is recovering.  Through all of these struggles, Bill maintains the positive (enough) attitude that has always marked him in his own challenges.

In 2013, I broke my fibula playing Rugby with guys a half and a third my age. (“That’s what you get,” said more than one acquaintance, including my beloved bride.)  With my right foot in a cast, I could not operate an automobile for the hour-and-a-half commute to my job.  Bill knew I needed face-time at the office and offered to take me into work two days a week just for gas money.  As Bill’s home was between my home and my office, he basically took on double the time of my own commute, plus, due to the timing of our ride, more time in the snarled Atlanta traffic than I usually spent (well, at least we had some good company).

With me and my crutches and him with his cane, I started to nickname us the “Gimp Brothers” (but then I remembered that scene from Pulp Fiction…).  I thought back to our salad days of yore when two young guys with a world of possibilities in front of them would ride around singing along to the car cassette player or would be hollering and cheering during amazing AU comebacks like the 1987 Iron Bowl and the 1990 FSU fumble-rooskie game.  Those two invincible guys back in the past could never picture the “sorry” state in which we now found ourselves—surprisingly still hanging out with each other but beat up physically (and a little bit mentally) by life.

(I must interrupt these reflections on my friend Bill to tell you of an even more wonderful blessing bestowed upon me.  My wife Eileen, a teacher, was SO looking forward to her week off for winter break in February.  These breaks in the school year are her own personal time to recharge and take care of things.  Bill could not transport me and my cast during the particular week Eileen was off.  Knowing how important getting into the office was to me, this woman effectively gave up her precious break and dragged me into work the whole week, many days killing time—HER time—during my workday on my office’s side of town.  Add to that the days she took off to cart me to work several other weeks, all the personal care she gave me during my time of limitation, and you see why I will always say I have the best wife in the whole world.)

Now, this column isn’t just a well-deserved paean to my friend nor is it a mere warm-and-fuzzy piece about our shared Auburn heritage.  No, this is a reflection on an amazing fact that I discovered the hard way (the only way I learn anything):  no matter who you are, life is just too freaking hard to make it well—really well—on your own.  If we are truly going to flourish the way God intends us to flourish, we all need the “human touch” of our friends and family.  In turn, we help our own loved ones flourish with their lives.

That doesn’t mean that we relate to everyone we know in the same way.  Sometimes, out of respect (of one kind or another), one must keep some distance from certain others; the important thing is that the folks who are currently apart must know that whenever one really needs the other, that temporary gulf will be bridged faster than Bo Jackson could hit the sideline and score.

Everyone meets great friends at whatever college they attend.  I’d like to think the friends we pick up at our time at Auburn are ones of a special type.  As diverse as we Auburn folks are, we already share many things in common that go beyond the eleven young men for whom we scream on autumn weekends—if not the Auburn Creed, specifically, then the values and outlook on life that the Creed represents.

So, people, I leave you with this: value the friends you have gained in your lifetime, especially those you found at Auburn.  If you haven’t spoken to one in a long time, pick up the freaking phone, burn some rollover minutes and call them up.  It doesn’t have to be for a reason.  Let’s face it, the clock only runs in one direction, and anything can happen at any time.  For the one thing I have learned from my forty-seven years of walking this earth is that, after all is said and done, the only thing you really have in this world is your friends and family—I mean, that’s all you have.

Michael Val

(who believes “in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.”)

The post “Old Friends, Old Friends” appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.

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#IFTTT #Blogger #auburn #auburn fast #wareagle #AuburnFamilyNews #war eagle #sec #football news #aubu

[lizzylightning]

Life As We Now Know It

This is attempt number two in as many nights at writing a post. Last night I found myself both blissfully distracted from writing by my gorgeous girlfriend and drifting amid a sea of apathy. Either way, as I'm sure you've noticed, nothing got written. But here we find ourselves on this nippy evening... me writing, you reading, inhabiting a harmonious delight. The past week has been a grind, although in reality it's been a grind for over a month, but this week it finally began to take it's toll. In the past six weeks I have: • Moved the contents of my storage unit • Moved the contents of my girlfriends storage unit • Packed and moved all of my furniture and belongings • Helped my girlfriend move much of her belongings • Scrub our new room to rid it of it's persistent cat urine smell So yeah, I've been rather busy. If it weren't obvious, yes, my girlfriend and I have moved in together. We've been dating for nearly 5 months at this point. Some would say moving in with each other that soon would be a mistake but both my girlfriend and I really feel like it was the right move in our situation. I've never felt for anyone the way I do about her and she feels much the same way (to my amazement) as evidenced by me being the first girlfriend she's ever lived with in with in her 41 years. Also it's worth mentioning that we had already planned on getting a place together in April, but things with her past living situation went south (house full of mold) and she ended up being stuck with a rather firm move out date of February 12th. My living situation wasn't significantly better, paying $650 a month to rent a 10x10 room was costing me an arm and a leg. We're currently renting a room from two of my girlfriends friends who are also in the local music scene. They're a married couple, good kids (I mean that literally, they are younger than both of us) that play in a few bands and recently due to a reduction in income desperately needed roommates, we desperately needed a room so it was a perfect match. However, this situation, while much needed and an improvement overall, is far from ideal. First of all, the room we are renting was formerly the junk room and cat room and as I eluded to before, it reeked of cat pee. The roomies didn't put a ton of effort into getting it cleaned up, although I don't blame them too much as I'm sure they had gotten used to the stench and it didn't seem as bad to them as it did to us. We got everything in on the first night but didn't have an opportunity to work on the urine drenched hardwood floor for several days because we were both too exhausted to do the work and too broke to buy any cleaner. So we dealt with it... my eyes burned, my nose ran... it was terrible at best. Payday rolled around for me some four days later and we tore off to the mall to do it up. I bought some cat urine cleaner, an area rug to cover most of the floor and a seal thingy to go on the bottom of our door to prevent both random cat hair and the frequent funk from the litter box across the hall blowing in. That was 7 days ago, we eventually got the roomed moved around, scrubbed and got the rug down, it's still a disaster zone in here because we have way too much stuff but it's 100% less stinky and that is a profound improvement. I should also mention that this is a temporary situation, this room is a holding point for us to save money and get our own place, hopefully by summer at the latest. I can't fucking wait. Even though we've gotten semi settled, our lives haven't gotten any easier, beyond being generally exhausted, we've both been plagued by health issues that began this past Tuesday. My girlfriend has been having a problem with severe pain in her right foot to the point she can hardly walk; not an ideal situation for someone who has to stand on their feet all day at work. I've been making an effort to keep her on regular doses of ibuprofen and Epsom salt soaks and there has been some improvement but quite often the relief is far too temporary. Apparently she has this sort of foot malady on an annual basis which is disappointing to hear, I always dread to see her in any pain. I fear I've been a frightful caretaker as I haven't felt well myself. I had a severe panic attack on Tuesday night over a situation at work and the stress from that brought on a gastroparesis flare that lasted several days. That Wednesday I found myself at work (I'm a courier) in a gas station bathroom having a panic attack whilst puking my guts out for 30 minutes. Things honestly haven't improved much since then, my girl is still dealing with her fluctuating foot problems and I've been battling digestive issues alongside extreme anxiety and depression. When will we catch a break? That remains to be seen. Anywho, tomorrow is Valentine's Day and it looks to be an exciting and for once satisfying affair. We're both broke, but I managed to get a few rad things for her in lieu of taking her out to dinner, something that is my typical M.O., because in a fit of anxiety and excitement she let the cat out of bag that she intends to cook me dinner. I am thoroughly stoked to have her make me dinner, it's perhaps the sweetest gesture anyone has ever made for me on Valentine's Day. She really is the only thing that has kept me going for these past several weeks throughout the physical and mental exhaustion and she is certainly what keeps me holding onto the hope that the future is going to be better, with her I can't imagine life not being great. Was that a whiff of optimism? Nah, must've been cat pee. ;)

#transbian #dailylife

[auburnfamilynews]

(Author’s note:  My best friend from Auburn lost his mother last week.  I am reposting this old column from four years ago.)

One spring afternoon in the mid-Eighties, having previously seen the invitation painted on the cafeteria windows, I began walking from my class at Haley Center over to Foy Union to sign up for the College Bowl academic competition.  As I started toward Foy, I noticed a fellow of large stature (who naturally stood out from the crowd) about thirty feet in front of me walking in the same general direction.  Oblivious to me behind him, he crossed Thatch Avenue and headed for the back entrance to the cafeteria, the same exact route I was choosing.  I had the strange feeling I was following him, even though there was a long way to go and many different turns on my way.

The fellow in front entered the cafeteria, and turned to go past the backed-up, stacked-up rows of used trays and dishes on the cafeteria conveyor belt, once again seemingly anticipating the direction I was heading.  He turned down the corridor leading to the elevator, again the same way I was headed.  By this time I think that fellow started to feel like somebody was stalking him for some reason.  We both got on the elevator together, both got off on the third floor, and both walked into the small former storage closet that housed the AU College Bowl team, both feeling a little awkward at having made this dance all the way through the bowels of Foy Union.

That’s how I met Bill Jones, the person I call my “best friend from Auburn” and one of the best friends ever in my life.  During our concurrent time on the Plains, we spent many, many days together on College Bowl road trips and at Auburn football games, and way, way too much time in front of the pinball machines and video games in the Foy Union game room.  When I couldn’t make it home all the way to Florida for non-break holidays like Easter, Bill took me to his home back in Montgomery, where I became the proud owners of a second set of parents (I love you, Mr. and Mrs. Jones!).

Our college careers diverged somewhat: I went straight through and got two degrees in accounting at Auburn; Bill continued at AU and finished up a math degree a year later.  I went into accounting and Bill started in software development.  We both moved around different places in the Southeast, always staying in touch and sharing the triumphs and challenges of young single life.

Our social and political philosophies also diverged, I becoming more conservative than ever and Bill leaning much the other way.  Even our interest in and identification with Auburn (both the institution and the football program) would wax and wane, usually at completely different times.

But our lives also criss-crossed so many ways.  We were roommates for a while when I was between jobs (both of us just happened to end up in Atlanta at that time, for different reasons).  Later on, we were even groomsmen in each other’s weddings within the space of a month (not planned, it just happened that way).  And through the years we always shared that bond of being Auburn men, no matter what the extent we self-identified as such at any particular time.

Recently, I was out of work for a year and a half, all through Auburn’s 2010 National Championship run.  Bill and I had both ended up in Atlanta for a second time, again under totally separate circumstances.  So, we got together to watch almost every AU football game that season, with him keeping up my naturally pessimistic spirits during my mostly fruitless job search.  When we each got “snowed in” for the BCS Championship, we kept in touch the whole game via text messages, and celebrated by phone after that kick went though the uprights.  We both observed that that season was the first time in a while that either of us had strongly felt a part of the Auburn Family.

Later, I was the one with the job, while Bill was “in transition” as they say.  On top of that, Bill had a couple of health problems from which he is recovering.  Through all of these struggles, Bill maintains the positive (enough) attitude that has always marked him in his own challenges.

In 2013, I broke my fibula playing Rugby with guys a half and a third my age (“That’s what you get,” said more than one acquaintance, including my beloved bride).  With my right foot in a cast, I could not operate an automobile for the hour-and-a-half commute to my job.  Bill knew I needed face-time at the office, and offered to take me into work two days a week just for gas money.  As Bill’s home was between my home and my office, he basically took on double the time of my own commute, plus, due to the timing of our ride, more time in the snarled Atlanta traffic than I usually spent (well, at least we had some good company).

With me and my crutches and him with his cane, I started to nickname us the “Gimp Brothers” (but then I remembered that scene from Pulp Fiction…).  I thought back to our salad days of yore, when two young guys with a world of possibilities in front of them would ride around singing along with the car cassette player, or would be hollering and cheering during amazing AU comebacks like the 1987 Iron Bowl and the 1990 FSU fumble-rooskie game.  Those two invincible guys back in the past could never picture the “sorry” state in which we now found ourselves—surprisingly still hanging out with each other, but beat up physically (and a little bit mentally) by life.

(I must interrupt these reflections on my friend Bill to tell you of an even more wonderful blessing bestowed upon me.  My wife Eileen, a teacher, was SO looking forward to her week off for winter break in February.  These breaks in the school year are her own personal time to recharge and take care of things.  Bill could not transport me and my cast during the particular week Eileen was off.  Knowing how important getting into the office was to me, this woman effectively gave up her precious break and dragged me into work the whole week, many days killing time—HER time—during my workday on my office’s side of town.  Add to that the days she took off to cart me in several other weeks, and all the personal care she gave me during my time of limitation, and you see why I will always say I have the best wife in the whole world.)

Now, this column isn’t just a well-deserved paean to my friend, nor is it is a mere warm-and-fuzzy piece about our shared Auburn heritage.  No, this is a reflection on an amazing fact that I discovered the hard way (the only way I learn anything):  no matter who you are, life is just too freaking hard to make it well—really well—on your own.  If we are truly going to flourish the way God intends us to flourish, we all need the “human touch” of our friends and family.  In turn, we help our own loved ones flourish with their lives.

That doesn’t mean that we relate to everyone we know in the same way.  Sometimes, out of respect (of one kind or another), one must keep some distance from certain others; the important thing is that the folks who are currently apart must know that whenever either one really needs the other, that temporary gulf will be bridged faster than Bo Jackson could hit the sideline and score.

Everyone meets great friends at whatever college they attend.  I’d like to think the friends we pick up at our time at Auburn are ones of a special type.  As diverse as we Auburn folks are, we already share many things in common that go beyond the eleven young men for whom we scream on autumn weekends—if not the Auburn Creed specifically, then the values and outlook on life that the Creed represents.

So, people, I leave you with this: value the friends you have gained in your lifetime, especially those you found at Auburn.  If you haven’t spoken to one in a long time, pick up the freaking phone, burn some rollover minutes and call them up.  It doesn’t have to be for a reason.  Let’s face it, the clock only runs in one direction, and anything can happen at any time.  For the one thing I have learned from my forty-seven years of walking this earth is that, after all is said and done, the only thing you really have in this world is your friends and family—I mean, that’s all you have.

Michael Val

(who who believes “in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all”)

The post Old Friends, Old Friends appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.

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