Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Piper pulled on a t-shirt and jeans, getting ready for school. Merula groaned from her place on the dorm floor. She hadn’t planned on sleeping over, but she and Piper had been so engrossed in their TV show that they’d lost track of time and before they knew it, it was 4 a.m. and Merula was in no mood to walk to her dorm in the other building. Piper had agreed to let her sleep on the floor, much to Merula’s dismay and eventual compliance. 

Merula tried to get up, but fell back down in exhaustion. “Do we have to go to class? Can’t we just stay here . . . and sleep in?”

Piper chuckled. “Merula, come on, we can’t just skip school everyday because of lack of sleep.”

Merula groaned again. “Why not ?”

Piper turned to Merula and placed her hands on her hips. “Merula Snyde, if you don’t pick your ass off the floor and get dressed, I’m going to forbid you from―” she wracked her mind for a good retort, “. . . coming over.”

Merula opened one eye and half-grinned from her spot on the floor. “So? I’ll just sneak in through the window.”

“Of a fourth-floor dorm? Good luck with that.” Piper turned away from Merula to grab her hoodie from the back of her desk chair, slipping it on.

“ Or I could just pick the lock on your door,” Merula said cheerily. 

Piper rolled her eyes. “Stop making excuses. I’ll buy you coffee if you get up right now.”

In less than a split-second Merula was up and pulling on her jeans and sweater. Piper grinned inwardly. That girl had a serious addiction.

Piper finished tying her shoes before turning to see Merula all dressed and ready. She raised an eyebrow. “What happened to sleeping in?”

“You mentioned coffee . . .” was all Merula said.

Piper resisted the urge to shake her head. “You’d sell your liver for a cup of hot bean liquid,” she quipped.

Merula grinned. “That I would,” she confirmed.

The two girls left the dorm, Piper locking the door behind her before they both set off down the stairs and outside. Piper relished the feel of a cold breeze blowing through her hair. Yesterday had been ridiculously warm, what with spring blending into summer. “Eastside?” Merula asked hopefully, breaking into Piper’s thoughts of changing weather.

“Huh? Oh, no way. We’re already late enough as it is.” Eastside was Merula’s all-time favourite café, but it was a mile away from the school. Merula pouted but Piper didn’t budge. “You’ll have to settle for gas station coffee.”

“Fine,” Merula grumbled, though she was content to settle for any coffee other than Piper’s disastrous home-brew. The one time Piper tried to brew coffee at home she had bought the coffee grounds, boiled the water, and mixed it all together, only she hadn’t boiled the water. Merula had spit the drink all over Piper, and made her vow to never make coffee again.

Piper chuckled at the memory and Merula looked at her quizzically. “Are you laughing at me?”

Piper shook her head. “No, just remembering that time I tried to make my own coffee.”

“Oh, don’t even bring that up. That—substance—was a disgrace to every coffee-lover out there, and we will never mention it again!”

Piper faked a hurt face. Merula glanced over at her and rolled her eyes, “I love you, but your coffee sucks.”

“Now that hurts.”

Merula leaned over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Aw, don’t worry, Pipes. I’m sure someone will come along who will absolutely love your coffee.”

Piper laughed, “Get off!” 

Merula untangled herself from Piper. “Come on, Wells. You promised me coffee, and we’re running late―you said so yourself.”

Piper grinned at her from the side. “Okay, okay. Let’s go get that coffee.”