Chapter:2
687 Words
Vivian’s house already sounded like Vivian before they even got fully inside.
Somewhere a speaker was playing low music nobody was really paying attention to, and Vivian’s voice was louder than all of it combined.
Sofia stepped in behind her, still laughing at something Vivian had said outside the gate about “group work being emotional fraud.”
Vivian kicked her shoes off halfway into the room. “I’m telling you, that guy in my class thinks he’s in a documentary.”
Sofia dropped her bag by the couch. “Maybe he is in his head.”
“No,” Vivian said immediately, heading straight for the fridge. “He’s just dramatic.”
Sofia laughed, shaking her head as she followed her in. “You call everyone dramatic.”
“Because they are,” Vivian said, leaning into the fridge like she was checking for hidden treasure. “Ah! We survived. We have food.”
Sofia leaned on the counter. “You act like you live in the wilderness.”
“I do,” Vivian said seriously, pulling out juice. “Campus is survival.”
Sofia snorted. “You’re too funny.”
Vivian shut the fridge with her hip. “Sit down before I assign you chores.”
“I didn’t sign any contract,” Sofia replied, already walking back to the living room.
“You did emotionally,” Vivian said, following her.
They dropped onto the couch like they’d done it a hundred times. Vivian immediately stretched out, phone already in hand, scrolling like her fingers were born for it.
Sofia leaned back, comfortable, smiling to herself.
A few seconds passed like that — nothing deep, just quiet background noise, Vivian laughing at her phone, Sofia watching nothing in particular.
Then Vivian suddenly laughed out loud.
“Oh my God,” she said, sitting up slightly. “This guy just posted that group work builds character. Liar.”
Sofia laughed. “Maybe it builds patience.”
“It builds anger,” Vivian corrected.
Sofia shook her head, still smiling. “You just don’t like people.”
“I like people,” Vivian said quickly. “Just not when they talk nonsense.”
Sofia laughed again, leaning further into the couch.
The house stayed relaxed like that — normal afternoon noise, Vivian talking too much, Sofia just going along with it.
Then Vivian suddenly paused her scrolling.
“Wait,” she said, already half-standing. “I forgot something in the kitchen.”
She disappeared still talking to herself.
Sofia stayed where she was, reaching for Vivian’s drink like she already knew she’d be gone for more than “just a second.”
From deeper inside the house came Vivian’s voice again. “Don’t drink it oo!”
Sofia laughed. “Too late!”
“Thief!”
Sofia was still laughing when she heard movement somewhere further in the house.
Not loud. Just footsteps.
She didn’t think anything serious of it — just glanced up a little like normal.
And then Adrian walked in.
Like he had every right to be there.
Calm. Quiet. No announcement.
Sofia blinked once, then smiled a little without even standing up fully.
“Oh—hi,” she said casually, like it was just another person in the house.
Adrian gave a small nod. Nothing extra.
Vivian’s voice came from the kitchen immediately. “Ah, you two are behaving like strangers again.”
Sofia laughed. “We are not.”
Vivian came back in holding snacks, already talking again. “Good, because I can’t manage awkward energy today.”
She dropped beside Sofia again like nothing had happened.
Sofia took another sip of the drink she wasn’t supposed to touch. “You said don’t drink it.”
Vivian stared at her. “You’re a thief with confidence.”
Sofia laughed harder. “It’s literally yours.”
“And yet,” Vivian said, grabbing her own snack, “justice will come for you.”
Sofia leaned back again, smiling.
The three of them stayed in the room like that — Vivian talking, Sofia laughing, Adrian quiet but present like it wasn’t even strange.
- Writer
