not in nottingham

“Hey, roommie!” Camille smiled, trying to get his attention. “So I was just cooking dinner and I realized I made way too much food for just me again. And you know how I hate to let food go to waste. So you do you want to come back to the room and eat? You’d be doing me a huge favor, honestly.”

he looked up at the face that went with her familiar voice, and managed to force a tiny smile onto his face as she spoke. “yeah- i can come up.” he took a deep breath and forced himself off the couch, his movements slower than they had been before eliza left. “sorry i haven’t been the most lively roommate- i’ll be better about it, i promise.”

Olga had been walking down the hall, books firmly pressed against her chest as she headed off to her dorm. She’s suddenly filled with sadness as she picks up and registers a few scattered thoughts from the boy sat in the lobby. She isn’t one to meddle with anyone or to actively go and strike up conversations with strangers, but she finds herself walking over to him and sitting down in front of the boy. Olga looks down at her books and skims a few lines from a page, mentally telling herself to not say anything because she knows the boy across from her doesn’t want to talk to anyone, much less to her. Before she can stop herself however, she blurts out, “You know it’s not good to bottle things up all the time. Not that I know–You just seem upset.” Olga finishes lamely.

thomas brought his gaze up to her when she spoke, and he just looked at her for a moment before replying, “i’m not bottling anything up- i just don’t feel like talking to anyone right now.” he shrugged, realizing that he probably sounded kind of rude. he sighed and pushed himself upright, leaning forward and propping his head up with his elbow resting on his knee. “what are you reading?” he figured he would have to start socializing eventually, he couldn’t wait around for eliza to come back.

Ash had been walking down the hall, leaving his room once again out of the pure need for freedom. He sat down, about to open his latest attempt at breaking the curse, when he noticed the other guy. “Dude, did your dog die or something? You look like a sandstorm hit you,” he commented.

thomas looked up at ash as he spoke, and it took him a moment to register the other boy’s words. “oh- uh- no, no animal deaths. my girlfriend is off traveling the world- and i couldn’t go with her. i just miss her, that’s all.”

“t-thomas…..?” daisy asked stepping forward timidly. it had been a few months since she’d seen the boy and she wanted a silly reunion, however, sadly that didn’t seem to be the case. the boy was upset. why? “are– are you okay?” everything in her wanted to run forward and hug him but she knew it was best to keep her distance.

thomas looked up at daisy, seeing her would usually cause him to smile, but he was feeling so terrible that he couldn’t even muster up the tiniest of smiles. “hi- uhm- not really? eliza is millions of miles away and i can’t be with her-”

thomas hadn’t really spoken to anyone since eliza left the school. they hadn’t broken up- but he missed being able to hold her and kiss her and spend every moment of the day with her. she was his everything, and now she was millions of miles away from him, and the only contact he could have with her was a facetime or call. when someone sat across from where had planted himself in the lobby, knees pulled up to his chest with a blank expression on his face, he didn’t even notice.

“ crazy stupid love ?? “ eliza questioned, thinking about it for a moment. “ no, i haven’t, “ she replied. “ besides school, where’s the farthest you’ve been ?? “ she asks, a random thought. but something she’s thought about. she’s never been anywhere aside from school. kansas was her home since birth and she’s never been outside of the state until she was fifteen and went away for school and her parents left her and her brother. she was curious, has thomas been places ?? did he want adventure ?? did he want to travel ?? she was antsy, she didn’t want to sit and watch movies and order takeout. she wanted to live.

-hansol-

            “ um… it’s okay, i forgive you. i— are you okay ? you seem… i don’t know… are you okay ? ”

“Look, it you have a problem with how it smells, then you can go somewhere else. But I retain the right to not feel like shit, and this helps.”

“i know- i’m sorry. i just- sorry. do you want to talk about anything? that could maybe help you not feel shitty-”

“hm… i could’ve sworn you had admitted my greatness,” all said in good humor, of course. ry pretended to ponder for a further moment, before shrugging one shoulder, “but i s’pose even if you hadn’t, i can settle for a tied first place again. you’re a good person to be tied with.”

thomas grinned at her, “now that we’ve avoided that argument for the millionth time, can i get you a glass of water? if you don’t hydrate yourself you’re going to have a really bad headache in the morning.”

“Yes, well, no one has ever truly treated me the way I deserve to be treated. Other than Scarlett and Cleo, of course. And, like, Daniel Rodgers maybe. But if I only ever hang around people who treated me the way I deserve, than I’ll never have any friends at all.”

thomas nodded, “you’ll find someone, camille. when you meet them, you’ll just know. and you’ll find better friends who don’t leave you- i know you will. plus, i’m here! i can be your new best friend and i promise i’ll treat you the way you deserve to be treated!”

‘Aww,I was only joking. My,you take things to seriously.”Holly joked,grinning lightly. “I promise that I’m only like 1 % offended.”

thomas nodded, a rush of relief hitting him. “don’t scare me like that again! i don’t want anyone to be upset with me- it would stress me out too much.”

-eliza-

“ i think you’re exaggerating a little, “ eliza said and tossed her shirt. “ i love you, “ she said softly, just loud enough for him to hear her. 

“Damn right I’m not the problem! I’m fucking flawless!” She crossed her arms and let out a sigh. Still not able to let anyone say anything bad about Lachlan without trying to defend him. “But, I mean, he’s not a problem either. H-h was always very respectful and committed to me.”

thomas shrugged, “i know you still care about him- but you have to admit he didn’t treat you the way you deserved to be treated.”

-eliza-

eliza had become much more, well, comfortable with herself, she didn’t exactly shy away ( though her cheeks did turn just as red as they did months ago ). “ you thought right, “ she grinned.

            “ i KNOW i’m not the best at this telekinesis thing, it’s alright, really ! a little discouraging to be told i might need more pots than i already, but pratice makes perfect, right ? ”

“Well, I am from the jungle so, yeah. I don’t do cold weather.”

“right- that’s what i meant. where was the jungle?”

“ or– this, “ eliza smiled. “ this is good, “ she giggled and moved closer to him, sitting on his lap.