I Look In People's Windows

Chapter 16

A/n - This is a brand new iteration of this chapter. If you read the previous version, pretend that you didn't :)

1989

I opened my eyes and looked over at Lorie who was still sound asleep next to me. She'd gone to bed very early last night since she was feeling a bit under the weather. Parties weren't exactly her thing. I slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

Once I was done taking a shower and getting dressed, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. It was quite empty for this part of the time. Red, Speak Now and Evermore were the only ones there.

“Good morning.”

“Oh hey.” Red turned around from the stove greeting me with a smile on her face before heading over to the bin to throw something away.

“What are you making?”

“Pancakes.”

“Is that what's burning?”

“What? Oh fuck!” She rushed back to the stove and took the pan off the burner, dropping it into the sink and letting water run into it.

“Might wanna lower the heat.”

“Yeah.” She sighed loudly as she reached for a new pan.

I grabbed a cup from the cupboard and poured myself a cup of coffee.

“Did you see our new roommate yet?”

“Hmm?”

“You don't know? Karma is here.”

I choked on my coffee at the mention of that name. Speak Now stood up to hit me on my back, allowing me to catch my breath. I managed to choke a word out. “What?!”

“She got here last night. Mother wants her to stay with us since her apartment burnt down. Thinks it'll be good for her and Rep to start talking again. She's staying in the guest room and-”

I cut her off, hand flailing about wildly in the air, mind racing. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah-” I slammed my cup down and stormed out of the kitchen, ignoring Red’s words to calm me down. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be here.

I threw the door to the guest room open, not bothering to knock. “Hey, what the-”

Her words were cut off just as I felt a lurching feeling wash over me. “Karma.” Her name fell from my lips uncertain.

“Nineteen Eighty Nine.” The look of surprise on her face vanished, lips creeping up into a smirk. “It's been a long time hasn't it?”

“Not long enough.”

“Not happy to see me then?”

“What do you think?”

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room momentarily. Pleasantries weren't something I was interested in exchanging.

“I hear you have a girlfriend now.”

“That's none of your business.”

“Folklore is her name right? She seems sweet.”

Seems sweet? They haven't even met. “Don't talk about Folklore. She has nothing to do with you.”

“Don't shoot me for trying to be cordial.” She held her hands up in defence, that stupid smirk still on her face.

“Why are you here?”

“Didn't the others tell you? My apartment-”

“Save the damn excuses. Why are you really here?”