The Neighbor Next Door

A day spent preparing, and settling

Another day, another thing for his routine. It wasn't dishes this time, or lightly cleaning, but laundry. And today he definitely had to make his online order for his groceries so he could cook tomorrow. The thing about laundry though, was that it just sucked. He didn't really have a set dirty clothes tote or container, so most of the clothes he did manage to dirty were just scattered across the floor. Meaning first, he always had to gather what he wanted clean. Laundry also meant he would have to go into his room to put the clothes away when they were done though. He just had to get it over with though. That was just how his routines went. He'd do it, and he wouldn't complain, or allow himself to feel so bad he couldn't finish what he was up to. He could feel bad later. Right now, he had things to do, and he wouldn't let his stupid feelings get in the way.

So the laundry was done eventually, as it always was, and here was the hardest part really, only after it's done, having to put the clothes away.

MePhone let out a heavy sigh as he stood outside the almost always closed door to his room, two other doors in this hallway to rooms he would never dare even look in anymore. Despite spending most of his time in his room, he still hated being in there.

He stepped forward, honestly just nervous, before opening the door, and letting the light from the hallway peek in. The curtain for the window in the bedroom was closed, like almost every other one in the house, and there were two beds, one made, and neat, the other as messy as MePhone left it the last time he slept in here instead of the living room. The wall next to the window extended outwards a bit for a small, walk-in closet, where he hung all his clothes. It was a slow process where he just hummed to himself-- preferring anything over the suffocating silence he always was stuck with when he went in here-- while he got everything neatly put away. He stepped away from the closet with a sigh, daring to glance back at the beds.

He might as well make his bed look nice too while he's in here, right? He moved over, keeping his gaze solely on his, not looking over at the other as he took a moment to get the motivation to actually do anything, first adjusting the pillow, before moving to grab the blanket, waving it out, and flopping it back down on the bed. It wasn't as neat as the other bed, it never would be, but it was fine. Better than it was before.

He gave a passing glance to the empty, red sheeted bed as he left the room again, closing the door as softly and quietly as he entered.

As mixed as he was already feeling today by mid afternoon, he still had things to do. He couldn't afford to be emotional this early in the day, anyways.

...

OJ opened the door with a smile, and an automated greeting towards his sister.

"Hey! Glad to see you!"

TestTube shared the sentiment with a smile of her own; "Hello! Fan will be bringing over the other two in a bit, I just thought it'd be nice to come by and catch up a little first."
"Sounds good to me," OJ glanced down at the watch on his wrist. It was still really early. He was almost surprised she was actually awake.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" OJ looked back up at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope! The usual." She said, like it was normal, which considering the two, it mostly was. OJ just gave a small chuckle as he stepped aside, giving her space to enter, and look around.

"The Cherries are still sleeping, I think, so we just have to be quiet. I'm thinking I can make some coffee, and then we can get started."

"Sure, sounds good to me." TestTube looked around at all the boxes, and the crudely set up living room. It was only the TV stand, the TV itself, and a couch he had to help move in from the moving truck he rented on the first night. Everything else was still boxed up, excluding the lamp he wanted to put in here-- But he'd have to get it later, the Cherries having requested it in their room for the time being, until their nightlights got unpacked.