Still Dreaming - Treebros

Chapter 3: "There's a Yes in Your Head"

Sunday, August 25th

It may be a little too early to say this, but so far I'm loving college. Sure, I've only been here for 2 days and classes won't start for another 3, but this is great. I love my room mate, I love my dorm, and I'm starting to tolerate the ambience of the residence hall.

"Okay now you add just a little bit of cinnamon and sugar- a little bit!" Sam squeals, clutching my wrist as I dump the seasoning into the bowl.

"Sorry! Sorry, my hands shaky," I apologize. Sam insisted that if I were to be his room mate, I would have to learn how to make ramen properly. When I told him I'd never seasoned my ramen, you'd have thought that I just killed someone.

"No, it's. Okay, it's all cool. Coolio. For sure. You can just- it'll be fine," Sam nods, squinting at the noodles. Light brown powder dusts the top in a worryingly thick pile. I can't even make instant noodles without fucking up.

"Is it gonna explode?" I ask, somewhat jokingly. It won't explode, but it might taste awful.

"It's ramen, sugar. You'll be fine," he says, scooping out as much of the cinnamon as he can. I pause.

"Sugar?" Everything's cool. My room mate just called me an affectionate name. I've known him for like 24 hours. My ex boyfriend is 4 feet away, laying across my bed on his phone and definitely hearing this. No big deal.

"Get it? Because you poured too much sugar and it all went *fwoop* on the noodles?" Sam asks, smiling expectantly and doing jazz hands. "I'm funny," he sighs when I don't respond.

"Whatever you say," I tease, mixing the now far less toxic amount of sugar and cinnamon into my noodles. I almost drop my fork when I hear pounding at the door.

"Sam?! Sam are you in there?!" someone shouts.

"Oh God, someone's turning to break in, fuck," I murmur, stepping back from the door. Connor's head snaps up, and we share a horrified look.

"Charlie?!" Sam calls out, stepping towards the door. Oh God, the crazy murderer is going to kill him because I didn't tell him to not open the door but I can't open my mouth and my hands clenched too tightly and and.

"Let me in, pube face," the person demands.

"Okay!" Sam chirps, and scampers towards the door. I take a step forward, but the door's already open.

A tall stocky girl is standing in the hallway, looking impatient. Her bleach-blonde hair is falling out of its pony-tail, and her bra is kind of falling out of her shirt. I was expecting a knife-wielding psycho and I got a frazzled woman who looks like she can and will and wants to tear me limb from limb.

I would have preferred the psycho. At least he'd probably make it quick.

"Charlie my girl!" Sam cheers, wrapping his arms around her. She squeezes him tightly for a moment before pushing him back.

"You're just meeting the whole cast, aren't ya?" Sam says to me, grinning before turning back to who I assume is Charlie. "How are you Charlie babe?"

"My cat died. Who are these guys?" she asks, looking coldly over at Connor and I. I can't help but let out a choking cough.

"Ohhhhh my God. Fuck, was it Spaghetti?" Sam asks, taking a horrified step back. Unfortunately, I'm right behind him. I quickly take a side step to get out of the way.

"Her name's Penny, and no. It was Optimus. I'm Charlotte Tan, which one of you is Sam's room mate?" Charlie continues, surveying each of us. It might be my imagination, but I think Connor sits up straighter.