an abundance of problems (short story)

two: welcome to california, bitches

I'm so excited. we get to pick our roommate. I can't wait to tell Sienna so i can pick her. Joel and I are sitting next to each other on the plane. We're on the bus to the airport now. Sienna, Joel and I meet up at the airport. "Sienna, we can pick our roommates for the hotel!" I say excitedly. Her face drops. "I know, i forgot to tell you. My grandparents are making me stay with my cousin, Jena. speaking of i have to find her she's my plane parter. sorry love." she says. "Yeah, that's okay, i'll find another mate to bunk with." I say. taking my luggage and slumping myself into a chair.
Now what? "I'll be you're mate, after all we have to ride on the plane together. And it's your first time on one, and I've been to LA before. I'll be your tour guide." Joel says, sitting next to me. "Are you just being nice or am I your last resort?" I ask. "both?" he says. "fine," i say. "but don't even think about taking the covers in the middle of the night." i say. Our school only paid for rooms with one bed, so this should be just wonderful. "if they have anything to say about it, just pull the gay card." I tell him, as we haul our luggage before we miss the flight. He never seems to respond to that comment anymore, i wonder if it offends him.

During the flight, i have my earbuds in listening to my new discovery of shiloh dynasty, and i get super sleepy. I miss my mum and dad. I look at Joel, he's reading something, something romantic. I sigh inside my head, if only he felt the same for me. I yawn, Joel looks to me, then pats his shoulder. "here love, i'll be your pillow." he grins, turning back to his book. I make myself comfortable, then rest my head on his shoulder. I slowly drift off to sleep, hoping I wake up before we land in America.
                            *Joel's POV*
My brain bas been fluttering with confusion for these past few days. I always thought I liked boys, everyone in my family expected it when I came out. But.. I don't know. I'm so confused. I've had crushes on boys, but that kiss with Mollie Jane, i felt something i've never felt before. It's messing with my head, making me question things i never thought i would question. Am I straight? Am I bisexual? Could I, be in love with mollie jane elizabeth? All these question, leaving my mind vacant of answers. I don't know what to think or what to believe. A part of me wants to isolate myself and stay away from mollie and hope it will go away, but i can't. She's stunning, so sweet and innocent. I don't want to confuse her and take that away from her, but i just can't stay away. At least not yet.
   I feel like she has liked me for forever, but I can't get her to admit it. Maybe she really does like that twat. I'll kill him. Goddammit.
  I'm confused again, am I jealous? Am I just angry because I like him? Fucks sake. I don't know what to think.
  Just then, I feel a limp body slowly fall onto my shoulder. it's Mollie, she's asleep. I kiss her forehead, pull the covers up to her neck, and take out her earbuds so her ears don't hurt when she wakes up. Maybe I am in love with her. I mean, It doesn't matter what you identify  as. Gay? Bi? Straight? It doesn't matter. It's all about who you fall for. and I think i've fallen, hard, and fast. I sigh, and just watch her sleep, peacefully, and so innocent. I don't know what I'm gonna tell her.

                               *Mollie's POV*
   I wake quickly, turbulent. My eyes widen with confusion. Mainly because I didn't know what it was at first. I grab the first thing I can and squeeze as tight as I can. It's Joel's hand. He looks up at me, sees my terrified expression, and forces my head back to his shoulder. "close your eyes," He whispers, "Imagine you're at home, eating Nando's with your Mum and dad, laughing and talking about your new baby brother or sister." I imagine it, and I calm down slowly. "Thank you." I whisper back.
   I have severe Anxiety. My therapist hasn't really concluded what triggers it yet, right now it's just about everything that triggers it. Large crowds, loud noises, bright lights, lots of people, potentially dangerous situations, there's more, but the biggest one is the thought of being alone for the rest of my life, only my therapist knows about that one. Joel knows about it, and Sienna, and obviously my Mum and dad. But that's it, no one else knows.

                           *time skip to cali*

We've finally gotten here. LAX, wow. It's so much busier than I imagined. We get to the hotel and we have to do a roll call and they call the students by pairs for the rooming. There are 12 students attending the trip, so there are 6 pairs.
"Jena Wilson and Sienna Graham, (cousins)
Zoie Douglas and Tori Douglas, (twins)
Josh Martins and Asher White, (bestfriends)
Joshua Waters and Samuel Waters, (brothers)
Tyler Montgomery and Alyx Washington, (possible relationship?)
Joel Casper and Mollie Edwards." (hopeless)
After they called their names that pair could go to their assigned room. The hotel has other guests booked so our rooms are all mixed up. Our room number is 599. The very last room on the top floor. We're gonna have a view. I'm so excited to be here, just don't think about your unrequited love for Joel Ivan Casper, even though your rooming with him. "He's your mate jane elizabeth, get over yourself," i tell myself, "he will never love you."