Puzzle Manor (an FTRS fanfic) DISCONTINUED!

Chapter three

Kayla threw her phone onto her bed, she was getting tired of her mom trying to message her. She knew full well all that woman wanted was her to beta-read another story. Kayla leaned back in her desk chair, she knew she should be grading these tests but she couldn't seem to get her mind straight. Not that it ever was... She let out a small laugh at her own joke, bringing her eyes back to the papers in front of her.

In all honesty Kayla didn't even know why she decided to become a teacher, let alone a middle school math teacher... She hated every single math teacher she ever had, but she was good at it and it was the farthest thing from english.

Therefore the farthest thing from her mother.

Kayla glanced at her phone sitting dejectedly, she knew that the next part in her mom's plan would be getting her sisters to call her non-stop until she picked up and it was at times like this that Kayla wished she didn't have a phone. Sadly though she needed a way to talk to her friends, plus she doubted her not having a phone would stop her. "Okay Wingtip, get it together. Ignore them, you have been for five years and grade this darn paper!" Kayla stared at the paper in front of her, her eyes starting to hurt from the straining. She tried to force her brain to comprehend the numbers but it refused to, and with every second she kept trying the blurrier her vision got.

"Okay brain you win, I will go get some food..." Kayla shoved her chair back, though it only moved a few centimeters. She cursed her past self for not getting something to put underneath it, even though she knew full well she could easily order one online and has been planning to since she moved here. But Kayla just pushed the door to her bedroom open. Her eyes immediately going to the kitchen, then her mess of a living room. She should really ask her roommate to clean up after themselves.

Kayla headed towards the tiny kitchen, squeezing in between two of the counters.  She then headed for one of the drawers, pulling it open to reveal packets upon packets of ramen. Every college student's dream... And her roommates. She grabbed one of the veggie packets and a pot, which she plopped on their stove top. She grabbed the measuring cup they usually kept near the sink, filling it and dumping it in the pot. She turned the stove on, leaning on the counter as she waited for the water to boil.

As she waited she looked around the tiny apartment, noting just how much cleaning she was going to have to do this weekend. The living room could desperately use some love... Kayla thought, staring at the pride flags that were draped over the side of the couch. She knew they had been using them as blankets during their latest movie night and it seemed they had forgotten to put them up. She then heard the telltale sound of water boiling and she spun around, plopping the packet of noodles in the pot. Kayla gave them a tiny stir and went back to staring at the tiny place she called home.

"Honey I'm home!" Kayla's head perked up as her roommate waltzed through the door. Their long hair was in a messy bun and they were carrying two large shopping bags. As soon as they noticed Kayla they ran over, throwing one of the bags at her. She barely caught it, her hand grasping the handle right before it hit her pot. Kayla turned her attention back to the other person in the room, placing the bag onto the counter.

"Hey Sasha," Kayla greeted, walking around to give her friend a hug. "How was visiting your sister?" She asked, moving to stir her ramen.

"Terrible as usual, I swear that girl is using the wrong pronouns on purpose!" Sasha slammed her head onto the counter, their bun coming loose. "Like yes, I use she pronouns but they're she/they for a reason!" Kayla made a sound of agreement, using a spoon to pull a noodle out of the pot checking to see if it was done.

"I get that, I have a kid in my class that uses they/them and everyone keeps using he/him." Kayla poured some of the broth into the sink so the flavor wouldn't be too strong. "I had to stop my lesson and explain to them what it meant and why you should respect them."