Chapter Text
Edd didn't know if he could ever get over how easy it was to talk his roommates into things.
It was easy enough to talk the three of them into attending the same college with him. The four had been inseparable since their teenage years, with Matt being a childhood friend and Tom and Tord joining their little group in high school. When it came time to choose a university, it seemed only natural that they'd stick together.
Their decision to pool their resources and rent an apartment together had seemed equally logical at the time. Four bedrooms, one for each of them, as they pursued their individual dreams while maintaining the comfort of familiar faces. It had felt like the perfect plan, a way to ease into adulthood without completely letting go of the security blanket of friendship.
But as their first year of college drew to a close, the harsh realities of adult life began to set in. Making rent was proving to be more challenging than they had anticipated. The idealistic image of four young men in their late teens and early twenties pursuing their dreams while living together was soon overshadowed by the urgent need for a steady income.
Edd found himself increasingly restless about settling into a typical job. The thought of being trapped in a cubicle or behind a cash register filled him with dread. While a logical part of him told him it was realistic--and probably safer--the other part longed for something more.
It was during one of his late-night channel-surfing sessions that inspiration struck. As he watched yet another paranormal investigation show, a lightbulb went off in his head. Without hesitation, he pulled out his computer and began typing away, researching and planning feverishly.
The next evening, Edd gathered his roommates in their cluttered living room. The air was thick with anticipation as he cleared his throat, ready to launch into his carefully prepared presentation. He had his arguments prepared, a five-paragraph essay tucked away in his back pocket, and a PowerPoint presentation on his laptop.
Edd cleared his throat before he began, "Guys, I have an idea that could solve our money problems and be incredibly exciting. "What if we started our own paranormal investigation team?
Edd braced for his roommates' protests, but to his surprise, they never came.
Matt's eyes lit up, his vanity immediately kicking in. "Oh my gosh, yes! I can see it now - my beautiful face plastered across posters and websites. We'll be famous!"
Tord leaned forward with a mischievous glint, "I could build us some custom hunting equipment," he mused. "Imagine the possibilities - EMF detectors, spirit boxes, maybe even a portable containment unit!"
Edd turned to Tom, expecting at least some resistance from the usually skeptical member of their group. Instead, Tom shrugged and said, "Sure, why not?" before turning his gaze to the side, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Momentarily taken aback by the ease of their agreement, Edd found himself at a loss for words. He had been so prepared for a hard sell that the immediate acceptance threw him off balance. Quickly recovering, he shut the PowerPoint presentation he had meticulously prepared and opened a blank document.
"Well then," he said, grinning from ear to ear, "I guess we should start working on our branding and promotional materials!"
As the days passed, their excitement grew. Edd designed eye-catching posters, while Tord disappeared into his room for hours, emerging only for meals and muttering about "calibrations" and "field tests."
One evening, as they gathered around the dinner table, Matt burst into the room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand.
"GUYS! GUYS!"
"Jesus Christ, Matt, what?" Tom groaned, rubbing his temples.
"We got our first client!" Matt announced, still waving his phone. "Someone just contacted us about a possible haunting in their house. They want us to investigate and get rid of whatever's there before they sleep there again!"
A heavy silence fell over the room as the reality of their situation sank in. Edd felt a mixture of exhilaration and apprehension coursing through his veins.
Tom broke the silence with a skeptical snort, one that Edd couldn't help but notice. That logical part of him recognized that Tom might not be taking this as seriously as he hoped, but he pushed that thought aside, especially considering that Tord took care of it quickly with a swift elbow in the other man's ribs.
"That's great news!" Edd exclaimed, trying to mask his own surprise. "But we might have to ask our first clients to wait a bit. Tord still needs time to create the equipment we'll need for the investigation."
Tord waved his hand dismissively, catching the attention of everyone in the room, "No need to wait. I've already got what we need. We can head out first thing tomorrow night."
Edd exchanged a shocked look with Matt and Tom, who thankfully both shared in his disbelief.
"Hold on a second. How did you manage to pull all of this together so fast?"
Tord shrugged and replied with nonchalance, "I have my ways."
He kept his eyes closed, likely to avoid the questioning looks of all his roommates, especially considering Tom's glare intensifying with the very second.
Matt, ever the optimist, swiftly brushed aside any doubts. A spark of excitement flashed across his face when he spotted the graphic designs Edd had crafted for their advertisements, many of which prominently showcased his image.
"Well, it's clear why we got our first client so fast," he preened, abandoning his half-eaten dinner. "My stunning good looks are already working their magic!"
With that, Matt strutted out of the room, mirror in hand, to admire his reflection and bask in what he perceived as a job well done.
Tord stood up next, his dinner also barely touched. "I'm going to make sure everything's in working order for tomorrow night," he announced, heading towards his room. "We wouldn't want any equipment malfunctions on our first job, would we?"
As Tord disappeared down the hallway, Edd found himself alone with Tom, both staring at the remains of their interrupted meal. The excitement of Matt's sudden announcement and their impending adventure hung in the air, mingled with an undercurrent of uncertainty.
"Soooo, are you going to make a dramatic exit too? Or are you sticking around?" Edd asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Tom shrugged, slumping back in his chair with a playful grin. His voice dripped with sarcasm, "Might as well soak in my last night of peace before the chaos hits. You think we're actually going to stumble on something supernatural or some shit?"
His eyebrow raised, skepticism lingering in his face as he waited for Edd's response. Edd merely sighed, setting his plate down in front of Tom. He reached for the Cola at his side, cracking it open with a satisfying hiss. After taking a thoughtful sip, he spoke with sincerity, "I don't think we can be too certain. Anything can happen in this world."
Silence filled with unspoken thoughts fell between them. Edd couldn't quite decipher its cause, but he felt the weight of it nonetheless. The only sounds were the soft fizz of his cola and the distant murmur of Matt's self-admiration from down the hall.
Finally, Tom mirrored Edd's action, taking a swig from his ever-present flask. He nodded, more to himself than to his friend, and looked off into the distance.
"Yeah."