Gallery Piece || LAMS

one

[ john laurens ]

I set down the final box in my room, heavily breathing from the weight of the boxes I carried to my room. Honestly, it was kind of a bad idea to unpack last minute. We had to start classes very soon. And I mean soon. My own dorm mate, who is an odd guy, seemed to be stressed over this. He seemed to be even more distressed once I started unpacking now that I realize it. But, to be fair, I wouldn't blame him.

I glanced over to my dorm mate, realizing I haven't learned his name yet.

I awkwardly smile as he stares at me, stone-faced. I chuckled a little, but that didn't help either.
"Sorry.." I muttered.

He rolled his eyes and dramatically twirled around, his incredibly curly dark hair whipping around with him, landing on his shoulders.

I sighed, the guilt running down my spine as I turned back to the dozens of boxes I have moved into my room.

Today is going to be a long day..

-

I finally finished unpacking. I decided after making my bed I can just jump right on top of it and ruin it.
I decided to turn on my laptop and start up iMessage, and to no surprise, I see hundreds of notifications from my very own best friend Peggy;

Peggy🤠: JOHN
Peggy🤠: WHAT
Peggy🤠: DORM
Peggy🤠: DO
Peggy🤠: YOU
Peggy🤠: HAVE
Peggy🤠: BITCH ANSWER ME

I laughed, watching Peggy go this berserk soon before college is quite surprising considering that she has never shown this much excitement in high school or middle school.

I started typing my responses to her.

TwoPints: calm down, peg

Peggy🤠: Bitch tell me your dorm number already so I can come over

TwoPints: ok ok

I thought for a moment, then I came to the realization that my dorm mate would think I'm annoying or something if I didn't tell him I was having someone over.

So I got up, walking towards my dorm mates room, knocking on his door.
I waited at his door, hearing something shut or fall and hearing his foot steps. I watched him as he opened the door and meet face to face.

He looked at me with an expression mixed with confusion and annoyance.

"Uhhh.. So a friend of mine may be coming over-
s-so I wanted to know whether or not you are okay with them coming over and to our dorm so, y'know, they can hang out and shit because I don't want you being annoyed by me and stuff so I just had to ask-"

"Jésus, mon ami, vous parle plus que Alex. Slow down." He said, stopping me.

"Pardon?"

He raised an eyebrow, but then grinned.
"You can have your friend over, I don't care." He said, the sentence alone may have seen rude, but to me he sounded playful.

Then he shut the door on me.

I shrugged it off, and then walked back to my room.
Then realizing I STILL have not learned this guys name yet. Again.

I wonder what language this guy was speaking in, it seems so familiar.

I sat down on my bed, taking my Mac in my hands and setting it down on my lap as I sit back. I began typing my message back to Peggy.

TwoPint: ok my dorm is 1776

I sigh, watching Peggy fill the screen with a dozen of messages about Eliza and Angelica and having a delay in coming over.

Peggy🤠: Oh my god and now she is talking about how much she wish she didn't get the 3 bed room
Peggy🤠: Fuck this I am coming over
Peggy🤠: Ttyl

I laughed, Peggy and her relationship with her sisters  was always pretty healthy, but they can always start arguing over anything ever. But I love all three of them, they are like family to me.

I sat up from my bed, going into the kitchen to make bowls of ice cream. All of the sudden, I hear a knock at the door as I finished making food. I rush to the door with my sleeves rolled up, opening the door to Peggy.

"Ugh."

"Well, hello to you too." I said, watching her walk over to my couch and fall onto it.

"Whatever." She said, growling into the pillows on the couch.

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. I grabbed the bowls of ice cream and handed her one. She glanced at the bowl once, and then back at me. I watched her as she snatched the bowl out of my hands.

"Thanks.." She muttered.

"No prob, Bob."

I heard her spit out a laugh at the reference, not looking back at her as I scroll through dozens of shows on Netflix.
"What do you want to watch?" I said, mouth full of ice cream.
"Anything but Moana. I am so tired of watching that." She told me, groaning at the end of the sentence. I could just feel her rolling her eyes even when I am not looking.

"I never once in my life watched that movie." I said, quite curious about what that movie is about.

"Good. Eliza's boy toy would not stop playing that movie every time he comes over." 

"Boy toy? She never told me anything about this boy toy."

She sighed. "Yeah, he looks like he wants to strangle her every time he comes over. The only time he seems like his sanity is intact is when he watches that movie."

I chuckled. It is not unusual for Eliza to be paired with guys that never work out for her.

But I guess the same can be said for me.

"Can't wait to meet Boy Toy." I stated, creating a new nickname for a guy I have never met.

"If you even get to meet Boy Toy." She started, gulping down her ice cream. "Though they aren't even dating, she acts so clingy around him. I am pretty sure Angie has already had, y'know, the talk."

I hummed in response. Even though Eliza is an incredibly sweet person, she can get overly clingy to some guys to the point where it drives them insane. And when Angelica comes to talk them down, she practically scares them to death and it makes it hard for them to leave Eliza. It is quite sad how her relationships never last, but Eliza is a strong woman and can get over it easily. She must be a serial romantic.

Once I landed on our favorite show, as if in sync, Peggy's phone goes off.

"Ugh." She groaned, looking at her phone.

"Eliza?"

"As always." She tucked her phone away. "Would you like to come? Boy Toy might be there."

I thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Why not?"