Roommates! {ms tiff + jenwishuknew}

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Terra wandered out into the living room and flopped down on the couch, attempting to rub some of the chill from her arms. Outside it was cold and snowing so she'd not bothered going out any longer than was strictly necessary to pick up food and other supplies to last a while. She didn't think she'd mind the cold so much if she had someone to help keep her warm but that hadn't been the case for a while now. Sure, she was known to be plenty friendly and out going but she was focused on school and dancing and well, to be honest a lot of the guys that asked her out just didn't interest her.

So instead of cuddling up with someone to bear the cold, it was just her, bundled up in a colorful hoodie and sweatpants, and flipping through channels to try and find a good movie or something on tv. She might have been tempted to call friends but honestly they'd all gone home for the break and she didn't really want to hear about how she should have gone with them and so on. Her roommate was still around oddly enough. She'd expected to hear that she too was going home but apparently she'd decided differently which seemed like it might be a mixed blessing.

Terra liked her roommate, she really did. The girl was pretty, sweet, smart, and they got along fairly well considering they'd been strangers before the start of the school year, but Terra sometimes felt slightly uncomfortable around her. There were times when she found herself noticing how pretty her eyes were or how her lips were shaped just so. She'd initially thought she was just jealous of the girl but no, Terra wasn't really the type to worry about things like that. So it had to be something else... and whatever it was it was super distracting.

Sighing softly to herself, Terra turned off the tv and set the remote aside. Rising from where she'd flopped down she ran a hand through her hair and padded her way across the room and down the short hallway to her roommates door. She usually didn't bother the other girl but, well, maybe she was as bored as Terra was already? If so they could figure out something to do together maybe, and if not, then Terra would just return to her channel surfing.

A knock or two, some patience but then nothing. There was no sound from inside. It was nearly 11 am, Terra figured the girl was awake late, catching on TV shows and such. 'She will be up soon,' she mumbled to herself heading back out to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Standing there in the kitchen, she looked out the window and all the white snow that covered the whole city. And there was more to come!

Layla stared up at the ceiling trying not to feel sorry for herself. Cocooned in a puffy yellow comforter, she sunk deep into her bed, determined to stay there and wallow in self-pity until winter break was over. She hadn’t intended to spend winter break at school, she should have been with her family on their annual ski trip. Her folks, however, had other ideas. Instead of coming back to the States after their anniversary trip to India, they had opted to extend the trip another two months so they could make sure to see all the family they hadn’t seen since moving to America twenty-two years ago.

She could hear her roommate moving around in the living room. Oddly enough, Terra hadn’t left for the break either. Layla didn’t know much about Terra when they had moved in together, she still didn’t. The two ran in different circles and had vastly different interests. But, they were cordial with each other when they saw one another and that was all Layla could ask for in a roommate.

Outside the snow fell in delicate flakes, the chill moving into the apartment through small gaps in the window. Burrowing deeper into her bed, Layla popped in her headphones and queued up the audiobook she had started last night and didn’t hear the knocks on her door. However, she just couldn’t get into the sappy little romance. Frustrated she pulled her headphones out and threw them down on the floor.

“This sucks.” She groaned, turning over on her side and pulling the covers up over her head. She couldn’t even call her boyfriend over to keep her company since he was off with his family for the break. “Ugh!” She flopped onto her back, kicking her legs in frustration. Climbing out of bed, she pulled an oversized gray sweater that hit around her knees and wandered out to the kitchen hoping for some coffee and a snack.

“Oh, hi there.” She said, seeing Terra standing in the kitchen. “I was gonna make some coffee, you want some?”

Terra hadn't really known what she expected to happen as she literally had the whole break ahead of her. The noise seemed to startle Terra just as Layla came around and say something, making her lift her hand and place it against her chest, her brow crinkling with alarm as she whirled to face the other woman. The meek and shorter of the two wasn’t loud but it was so calm inside the kitchen and living room since Terra had muted the TV and was glancing at her phone when the young woman came out.

"Sorry..." She managed, her expression clearing and then turning into a somewhat sheepish smile as gestured to strangle her roommate. "I think you got me pretty good." She rubbed her hand over her still somewhat speeding heart, though the next moment Terra started to stretch, “I actually was debating between coffee or milk and cereal. But if you are making coffee, why not!” Terra said and moved to the small center island, hopping up on it as she watched Layla. Even though he just jumped out of bed, she looked…so pretty!?

"I uh..." she shook her head, "I woke up kind of early since I went to sleep super early yesterday. It's just been a couple hours but I am already bored. First day of break! So much for a break…“ she let out a frustrated sigh. She'd been curled up in her room by like 7 pm, watching Christmas specials* and the last time she'd seen on the clock had been 7:37 am, which meant she'd conked out much much earlier than she usually did. She didn't mind a bit of extra sleep here and there but she could only take so much before her body would automatically wake up. Once she'd woken she'd laid there for a while then eventually had gotten up and shuffled off to the shower.

"Anyway, it got kinda boring out here after a bit so once I thought you might be up I came to see if you had plans or anything? Or if maybe you wanted to find something to get into or just endure boring tv with me? You know, I knocked a short while ago but then figured you might be sleeping when you didn't answer?“ She sounded a bit hopeful, like she really didn't want to be the only one this damned bored. If they were willing to venture out into the cold she was sure they probably could do a number of things but really, Terra would settle for some good company—Layla’s company--here. Inside. Keeping warm. Staying comfortable. It was then, she threw her hoodie hat on, streching yet again before locking her hands atop her head. "How did we end up here? When everyone is at home, with family?" she said to Layla before adding, "But I thought you would be going to some ski trip, like you mentioned a month ago?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Layla apologized sheepishly as she prepped the coffee pot. Pressing the on button, she turned around and propped her hip against the counter. "Yea, I was supposed to go on a trip, we do it every year, but my parents decided to extend their anniversary trip. So, here I am." She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about it all. "I would have thought you'd have plans, too."

The smell of fresh coffee permeated the apartment as the coffee pot beeped to signal the delicious elixir was ready. Layla grabbed her favorite mug, a hand-thrown one she'd made in her pottery class the last semester. Cradling the mug she took a tentative sip, smiling happily as the caffeine hit her system.

"What were you thinking of doing today? It doesn't look like the weather is going to let us get outside any time soon."

“You did not?” Terra raised her brow to tease her roomie while she went about prepping a pot of coffee for them both. “I saw that smirk on your face seeing me horrified,” Terra added to tease the naive young girl.

The cluelessness, naivety, with a hint of pretty, that’s what Terra liked about Layla. She’d seen her friends in her group of friends, a few girls of the same race, and they would not come anywhere close to how beautiful Layla is. It was a deadly combination and Terra knew why the boys couldn’t help themselves. Including her boyfriend, who is almost over every weekend during the semester, and the not, Layla is at his. Or at least that’s what Terra thought when Layla don’t come to sleep.

And the same attracted Terra to Layla. Not the way two people are attracted and want to date, but Terra definitely appreciates a beauty when when she sees one. Like complimenting when it’s due. “That’s a bummer. And no, I went home for the summer and then thanksgiving. So, I am not too bummed that my trip home got cancelled.” She looked at Layla just when she turned around to fix two glasses of coffee for them, “The bad news is that we are stuck here for the break. The good news is that you are stuck with me, Missy! You know, you have really nice hair! Thick and dark!”

Terra hopped off the center island and reached out to get a feel of her hair for a second or two. For a split second, a thought ran through her mind- how nice it would feel to yank her head with her hair and kiss her way down her slender neck. Normally, Terra wouldn’t think about other women in this manner. She was more into boys than a girl, considering her experience with a girl was from two different occurrences. And while it was a great experience, she was definitely more into boy. So far.

“Thank you, you’re the best!” She said and leaned for a hug, being careful not to hit her hand or anything, considering she was holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Terra quickly grabbed her mug and nudged her head towards the couch, “Well, I was thinking of watching some TV. Catch up on shows. But you’re right. We probably will not be able to go outside but we are lucky that I stocked up on some beers. Oh and I may have a bottle of wine somewhere in my room too. Friends gifted me last month on my birthday.” She shrugged her shoulders, “But I am all ears if you have ideas what we can do.” She said and plopped down on the couch, lifting her comforter, “I will let you share this if you are nice to me.” She said as she moved it away so Layla can join her on the couch.