Chapter Text
"Are you sure this was the right decision?" With a shaky voice, Jewels didn't dare look her dearest friend in the eye. Her head hung low, her skin paler than usual. Kori noticed that Jewels was taking this sudden news the hardest out of everyone. It made sense; Jewels and Sam were cousins and the first to move in together. Suzie and Kori were just a welcome addition to the rent payment. The blonde girl nodded with a soft smile, putting her hand on the brunette's knees. "I'm sorry, I truly am." She then turned to the other two, "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can't just pass on that." Suzie, always the wisest of the group, smiled sadly, "We know, Sam. We love you and will always keep supporting you, no matter what." With those words, Jewels burst into tears, the auburn-haired girl softly rubbing her back in support. Kori's heart warmed at the sight of the two, always so caring toward one another. She had always wondered how long it would take for either of the two to confess. It was so obvious they were in love with each other, sometimes it became a bit infuriating, having to watch them cuddle up to each other during their weekly Film Night on Saturdays. If only someone could love her like that.
"We're so proud of you, Sam," Suzie then said after a beat of silence, broken up by Jewels soft sobs.
"This job could catapult you into stardom. We've got you. Just don't forget us when you're, like, Lady Gaga-level famous or something." Kori added, always the jokestress. As Sam chuckled, Kori noticed her eyes brimming with tears as well. They had lived together, the four of them, for two years now. It did feel a bit weird not having the Southern Belle in their midst. The blonde girl always gave her unfiltered opinion on an outfit whenever they went out clubbing together. Sam was always taking care of everyone after clubbing, acting like their mum, even though they were all the same age. Except for Jewels, of course, who had always looked up to her cousin like she hung the stars. They'd have to find someone who could easily fill Sam's shoes, which wasn't an easy task to do.
"I hate to be the analytical one here, but we do have to look for a new roommate. We won't be able to pay for rent without a fourth girl living here." Suzie returned from the kitchen with a glass of water, handing it to Jewels, who drank it in between hiccups and sobs. She brushed a curl out of her face, tucking it behind her ear, causing the younger girl's cheeks to turn pink. Kori snorted. Lovesick idiots.
"What about Arrietty?" Sam proposed. Jewels shook her head, swallowing a sip of water. "I love her, but I think we'd end up fighting sooner than she can sew me a new dress. I think it's best if we stay friends, and just that. She wouldn't be the right roommate." Kori nodded, remembering the days when Jewels and Arrietty used to room together in college. The two hated each other at first, fighting over the smallest things. She's such an annoying bitch, Jewels would rant over the phone as Kori was sketching up a panel of one of her comics, only half paying attention to whatever the younger girl was yapping about. A week later, when she moved in with her cousin, her opinion on the girl had shifted.
Suddenly, Suzie's face lit up. "Oh! I might know someone!" Without elaborating, she stood up from her spot next to Jewels, tapping away on her phone with a smile.
Kori frowned. "Uh... Are you... Gonna tell us who it is?" Suzie shushed her with a pointed finger in her direction. "Damn," Kori mumbled, taking a sip of her black coffee.
A moment of silence followed. "Hey! Yes, it's Suzie! Y'know... Suzie... Yes, from Fort Lauderdale. Wasn't your friend looking for a place to live?" Suzie turned to her friends, mouthing friend from high school, before turning back to her phone. "Oh, really? Amazing! Text me her contact info and we'll call her right away! Thank you so much, Lucky. You're a lifesaver. Bye!" She hung up, smiling to herself as she sat back down.
"Well?" Kori pressed, intrigued at this mystery girl who could become their new roommate. Suzie's face lit up again, causing Sam to snort. "Oh! Yeah, my old friend from back home reposted her friend's post yesterday about her looking for a place to live. I believe her name was... Lydia? I vaguely know her, she's a bit kooky but pretty cool. At least she was, the few times I talked to her."
"So we're gonna live with a complete stranger? Great." Jewels rolled her eyes, turning away from her friend, missing the hurt look Suzie had on her face. "If she's friends with Lucky, she has to be pretty cool, trust me." The girl spoke softly, leaning towards Jewels. The younger girl scoffed. Damn, Kori thought, Sam's departure is hitting Jewels like a truck. She never acts like this.
"I don't see why we shouldn't give this Lydia girl a try," Sam chimed in, always the mature one. "I mean, I won't be gone the millisecond she sets foot in this apartment. She can stay for a week, kind of like a trial, and then if we like her, she can take my place. And if we don't, we'll try again with someone else." Always the optimist, Kori thought as she smiled at Sam.
"Sure," she said, "How bad could it be?"
Oh, how much Kori regretted that statement. Two days later, Lydia had flown over to their city, standing in their living room with a duffel bag. Kori was immediately captivated by her and the way she carried herself. Her sense of fashion, her relaxed but also mysterious aura. Her piercing blue eyes.
Her skin prickled as the girl shook her hand. "I'm Lydia." Did she mean to sound so sultry? Was that just the way her voice sounded?
Kori must've been standing there making a fool out of herself, as Suzie jabbed her elbow against her ribs, shaking her out of her trance. "Uh, I'm Kori."
"Kori." She loved the way her name rolled off her tongue. Wait, why was she staring at her mouth? "Nice to meet you, Kori." Her gaze lingered on the taller girl a little longer before turning to check out the apartment. Kori gaze followed her as she graciously moved through the apartment, until she disappeared from her sight.
"What the fuck was that?!" Suzie hissed to her friend when the girl had disappeared into Sam's bedroom to check it out.
"I- I don't know!" Kori hissed back.
Suzie stared at her friend and gasped, shaking her head. "Nuhuh, miss King. No fucking our potential new roommate. It could mess things up, big time."
"Is that why you haven't made any moves on Jewels?" Kori snapped back.
The auburn-haired girl looked like a deer in headlights, a tinge of pink appearing on her cheeks. "I- I don't know what you mean."
"Mhm," The taller girl chuckled, "Exactly."
As if summoned, Jewels emerged from the front door, bubbly as ever. The girl held a paper bag in her arms, barely able to close the door behind her. Suzie rushed to grab the bag from her, making Kori chuckle at their obvious flirting.
"I got it," Suzie mumbled, the bag almost causing her to tip over. "Jesus, Jewels, what is in this thing?!"
"Taco Bell!" Jewels yelled in a singsongy voice.
Both Sam and Lydia emerged from the former girl's bedroom, Kori's heart skipping a beat when Lydia's eyes immediately locked with hers. "Oh, I forgot to mention," Sam chimed in, causing Lydia to break eye contact, much to Kori's disappointment. "It's Saturday, our weekly Film Night. Usually, we get some takeout and watch some dumb, trashy movie. I guess Jewels robbed the Taco Bell across the street."
"Taco Bell!" The youngest girl repeated in the same singsongy voice as Suzie put down the bag on the table with a huff. She quickly straightened her back, pretending the bag wasn't as heavy as it was.
Kori felt a presence sit down next to her. She didn't dare look, as she knew she'd be staring back at those piercing blue eyes again.
"Cool," Lydia said, nudging Kori's knee with hers, prompting Kori to look at her. Big mistake. "I love Taco Bell." She said, the eye contact intense as ever.
Fuck.