Our different worlds

Dysfunctional second family

I was staring at the pages of my book, trying to absorb the words, but the homesickness was hard to ignore. We were all trapped at the university for Christmas because of the security lockdown after the fire alarm prank, and while I'd adjusted to spending time with the guys, today the library felt emptier than ever.

Thomas let out an exasperated groan beside me, tapping his pencil against his notebook. "I swear, math was invented just to torture people. Max, how is this supposed to make sense?"

Max chuckled, leaning over to check Thomas's notes. "Think of it as a puzzle, okay? You just have to-no, not that equation, you're using the wrong formula."

Across from me, Alex was quiet, doodling absently in his notebook, a rare, relaxed expression on his face as he let his pen glide over the paper. Dan, meanwhile, was reading a comic book that had to be PG-18 based on the cover art. James, in contrast, was scrolling on his laptop, clearly deep in his research for the perfect skincare routine.

Then I caught a wave of strong perfume, and, glancing up, I saw her. Rose. With an outfit more suited for a club than a library in December, she plopped down right beside Alex, her heavily made-up face lighting up as she surveyed the group.

Dan saw her first, stifling a laugh as he jabbed Alex with his elbow. "Hey, man. Got company."

Alex looked up, frowning until his gaze landed on Rose, his face shifting to a mask of polite neutrality. "Oh. Hey, Rose. What're you doing here?"

She smirked, brushing a manicured nail over Alex's notebook. "Well," she started, drawing out the word, "my dad thought it would be a good idea for me to stay here over the break too. Figured we could get to know each other a little better, maybe start making some... memories."

James, ever quick on his feet, tried to stifle a laugh. "Memories? Isn't that the start of every holiday romance movie?"

"Or every horror movie," I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for Max to chuckle and Dan to cover a snicker.

Rose shot me a look, but it only seemed to fuel her confidence. "Laugh all you want," she said, mostly addressing the group, "but Alex and I? We're a power couple in the making."

"A power couple, huh?" Max said, raising an eyebrow. "That's ambitious. What's your power? Distracting people from their studies?"

Rose gave him a chilly smile. "We have bigger plans than you'd understand. Right, Alex?"

Alex looked up, finally meeting her gaze with a bemused look. "Uh, sure, Rose," he replied, his voice almost dismissive. "Glad to know you have it all figured out."

She beamed at that, leaning just a bit closer, so close that even Alex shifted slightly. "Isn't it exciting, though?" she said, her eyes practically sparkling as she went on. "You and I, here over Christmas... It's like destiny."

Thomas snorted, not even trying to hide his laughter this time. "Yeah, destiny. Just like me and this math problem."

Alex was unfazed, flipping to a fresh page in his notebook and continuing to sketch. "Well, hope you enjoy your stay," he said lightly, as if talking to an acquaintance and not someone who had clearly planned out their future together.

Not one to be ignored, Rose pressed on. "So, what have you guys been up to, hmm?" She turned to me, her eyes narrowed just a bit. "Studying, I guess? Or just... hanging out?"

"Oh, yeah," I said, keeping my tone even. "Pretty much that. Although some of us study harder than others." I gave Dan a meaningful look, nodding at his comic book.

Dan held up his hands defensively, grinning. "Hey, sometimes a good story's the only way to get through math trauma."

"Or skincare trauma," I added, glancing at James, who was looking up serums on his laptop.