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ANDIE.
the campus library has always been my haven, an escape from the disorderly swirl of new rome university. or, at least, it used to be. these days, it's about as crowded as the rec room on a weekend - too many people, too much noise, too much everything. my sanctuary's been overrun by caffeine-fueled night owls, procrastinators who still haven't figured out midterms are looming, and of course, the usual slew of would-be romeos who think libraries are somehow perfect for picking up girls. newsflash: they aren't.
i sigh, adjusting my bag as i push open the heavy glass door, met with the immediate sensory overload of whispered conversations, the faint smell of ink and dust, and the relentless clicking of keyboards. maybe i'm being dramatic, but to be fair, my nerves are already frayed - thanks to this group project that i, apparently, am the only one remotely invested in. it's funny how college kids think "group work" translates to "let one person do everything while everyone else ghosts." i'd like to write a study on it, but that would probably involve another group project, so... no thanks.
with a sigh, i push my way through the maze of study tables, finally spotting a quiet nook by the back windows. it's half-hidden, which is perfect for me, and i settle in, pulling my notebook and laptop from my bag with precision. i've got two hours to crank out as much of this essay as possible before gwen texts, reminding me to eat something.
gwendolyn. lynnie. my best friend, my personal therapist, my one-woman cheer squad this sea of endless academic nonsense. she's the type who can find humor in almost anything, even in me, and, believe me, she's seen the absolute worst. i pull out my phone, half-expecting her to have already sent me a series of messages - she's always up late, and we're due for our nightly exchange of existential crises.
as if on cue, my phone vibrates, and her name lights up the screen. we'll, not her name - she's saved as monica 💘 because she's convinced that's our dynamic, and somehow, i'm stuck as rachel ❤️🩹.
MONICA | RACHEL
hey brainiac u alive
somewhat. i'm in the library trying to survive off three hours of sleep and caffeine
u need food and sanity or omg a life!
working on it. but seriously you don't understand these guys i'm stuck with think research means copy-pasting from wikipedia and hoping no one notices
