Campus Corner (Open)

[CarnivalBarker]

I sleep through it again, unable to bring myself to get up as I groan and roll over.

 

[celestialdragon]

I roll my eyes and chuckle. "baby? That was the alarm, please wake up."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Unnnh!" I whine. "I don't wanna get up. Ever." I keep laying there. "It's cold out there," I whine more.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Yes, it is, baby, it's called 'winter'," I say. "and I know you don't want to get up, I really don't want to either, but you got work and I got school, okay? Do you close tonight?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Noooo," I say, burying my head under a pillow.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Baby?" I ask. "What's wrong?" I shake you gently. "What's wrong, baby?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"I'm sleepy!" I snap a little at you. "Nothing is wrong."

 

[celestialdragon]

"Baby!" I say, a little taken aback. "I just wanted to see if you were okay, alright? You didn't have to snap at me. Now get up."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Oh my god," is all I say as I climb out of bed and head to take a shower.

 

[celestialdragon]

I attribute your grumpiness to the fact you're sleepy and get ready for my day, dressing to go to school. I pull my hair up into a bun, as I'm going to ballet. I sling my slippers over my shoulders, wearing my leotard and tights underneath my yoga pants and sweatshirt. "hey, baby, going to class now," I say, poking my head into the bathroom, where you're shaving. I go over and kiss your clean cheek. "Love you, see you later." And with that, I bound out the door.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"You coming home after school?" I call after you.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Maybe!" I call. "Stacy wants me to help her paint the baby's bedroom sometime this week, I'll see! Why?" I ask.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Just wondering," I say, finishing my shave and throwing on some jeans amd a jacket over my typical bar shirt.

 

[celestialdragon]

"I'll let you know, okay?" I say. I dash out the door and go to ballet, where I was not allowed to use the barre on my bad hand, forcing me to work on my balance. I was thankful for the exercise, even though I slipped and fell several times. I continued to work at it, though, and my balance significantly improved by the end of the class.

I call Stacy after class and she didn't have the paint yet, but she'll let me know when Don picks it up. I thank her and call you. "Hey baby, I'm coming home, Stacy doesn't have the paint yet. How's work?"

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"It's fine," is all I say.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Alright, I'm going to study, got a big comprehensive exam coming up for Ginger's class, okay? I'm home if you need me, okay? I love you."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"I'll be home around 9," I say before just hanging up on you.

 

[celestialdragon]

I look at the phone, confused. I shrug it off and get to work studying, spreading everything out on the floor in the living room, books, papers, notebooks, pens, highlighters, and my laptop.

I study all day, and don't even hear you come in, my headphones in as I listened to music, humming along softly as I look over the notes and past tests from the semester.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

I see you and your things spread all over and shake my head as I slam the door and head immediately upstairs to change.

 

[celestialdragon]

I continue to study, laying on my back with my notes dangling in front of my face, mouthing out terms and definitions and illnesses and symptoms and the like. I barely see you go upstairs to change.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Lynn, clean this shit up," I say when I return. "You're here all day and my house is a pit," I grab a beer from the fridge and head to the clubroom for some basketball.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Oh, what was that?" I ask, angry, ripping my headphones out of my ear. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize a clean house was more important than me getting a good grade on a test in my chosen field! Do you want me to pass college, sweetcheeks? Do you want me to have a career? I think you do, so, please, let me study and go watch your stupid ballgame."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"Clean it up before you go to bed! I'll sleep down here tonight," I shout slamming the door to the clubroom. I sit down and turn on the game, thinking I may be out of line, but dammit, the house IS a mess and I bust ass all day to provide for her. I just need a few minutes to decompress. Work sucks, and I'm tired. Today was just shitty, is all.

 

[celestialdragon]

"whatever," I say. I'm too angry to study now, so I spend the next three hours cleaning, trying to calm down and please you at the same time. The living room is still a mess, but it's because I eventually want to return to studying and I do take small breaks so I can study. I don't go to you; I was sick of being the one to come to you after a fight.

I am scrubbing out the oven when you come back in the kitchen for another beer.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

"What are you doing?" I ask incredulous.