Lost in Translation

Chapter 7: Unpacking

———Anthony———

Sunday, May 5th, 2019

I woke up at 6:30 with the blaring of my phone alarm. I hadn't meant to get up this early, but I forgot to turn off my school alarm. James was flat on his back, snoring obliviously with one arm draped off the cot, and Percy the Penguin laying face down on the floor.

I attempted to go back to sleep but gave up after about ten minutes. The moment the thought of the ordeal today would bring entered my mind, there was no hope I could relax.

I trudged into the bathroom and frowned at myself in the mirror. I didn't look any different than my usual aesthetic of "disheveled raccoon," but I felt more bothered by it than normal. The dark circles stood out against my sickly pallor. My skin was naturally not pale but had the look of someone who spent too much time indoors.

I tore my eyes away from my reflection, deciding a shower would take up time and mental energy, even if it didn't improve my appearance all that much. I brushed my teeth as the water heated up, tiptoeing back into the room to snag my shower caddy from my bag.

I took more time than I usually did. Whether that was because I was nervous and stalling the real beginning of my day or I wanted to look nice for my not-date, I wasn't sure, but I would deny either if asked. My complexion looked a little better when I finally stepped out of the steamy stall, though the eye bags were still as prominent as ever.

I toweled off quickly and changed into house clothes, baggy sweat pants, and a T-shirt before leaving the bathroom. James was exactly as I left him. I glanced at my bed, where I had left the blankets in a crumpled pile next to Seal Buddy, and felt a surge of... something. I scooped up Percy quickly and lobbed him directly at James, whose snore ended in an ugly snort as he jolted up and blinked at me blearily.

James checked the time on his phone and fell back onto the cot heavily. "Good morning to you, too."

"Fuck you."

"Pretty sure Loverboy wouldn't like that."

"Get fucked then."

"Pretty sure I would like that, long as it wasn't your grumpy ass."

"Whore."

"Prude."

"Breakfast?"

"Of course."

James shuffled into the bathroom to brush his teeth as I stomped down the stairs. Thankfully, we'd had the foresight yesterday to pick up some basics alongside the ingredients for dinner tonight. I threw a plate of microwave bacon in the microwave and was in the process of dragging the toaster out from a cabinet when James flounced down the stairs. He was still wearing the plaid boxers and gray tank top that he slept in.

"Would it kill you to put on pants?" I asked with a roll of my eyes as I plugged in the toaster.

"Probably, thought best not to risk it," James replied lightly. He passed me two slices of bread as he yawned. "The fuck did you wake me up at 7am for?"

"Your snoring was annoying," I said in a waspish tone. I dropped the two slices of bread into the toaster and slammed down on the level perhaps a tad more forcefully than necessary.

James smirked and leaned over the counter to look up at me. "Aw, you missed me. Cute," he cooed, dodging my glare and elbow both with a laugh.

"Gods know why anyone would miss an annoying lanky fuck like you," I grumbled.