The Other Roommate

6 - Shackled to You

It was a chilly autumn night and Alex had just gotten home from work. She took her thick, multilayered jacket off and hung it in the foyer closet. One by one, she removed her gloves and rubbed her palms together, creating fiction and in turn, heat.

She heard rustling noises from the living room and found Callie curled up in the sofa, fluffy socks covering her feet. She couldn’t help the smile at the sight of her, the woman she had grown so fond of and missed immensely. But her heart was ripped from her chest when she realized they have not really spoken in a long time. Pretending to be girlfriends didn’t need a lot of conversations at work when there was always something to do.

It wasn’t long for her to realize that Callie was skilled at avoiding her.

With a sigh, Alex turned on her heels to go to Callie's room. She didn't look elsewhere but her roommate's disheveled bed to find a blanket. She hugged the soft fabric close, taking a whiff of the Callie's scent, closing her eyes as longing spread like a wildfire in her chest. She put the blanket over the sleeping girl and leaned down to kiss her temple, her hand caressing her cheek.

After taking a brief shower, she plopped down on the dining table, journal in front of her and pen in her hand. The polar bear she tried to sketch looked better after weeks of practice but there was still some work to be done. She was yet to master how to shade with the gel ink and manipulate the tip of the pen but unlike most things, she had time to learn it.

Callie Maxwell, she read at the top left corner of the page, surprised to find she wrote her name without her conscious decision. Heaving a sigh, she dropped her pen and stared at the couch, knowing just how easy it would have to snuggle up to her.

She missed her. Seeing Callie everyday didn’t do anything to quell her longing, not when she couldn’t talk to her like she used to.

She was desperate to make Callie speak to her again. In a desperate attempt, she decided to instigate their bickering one more time. See if she would take the bait. Because Alex would rather have her speak with contempt than nothing at all.

Callie woke up only a few minutes after Alex had sat in the dining room table. She felt the weight of her blanket, furrowing her brows and looked around if anyone was with her. She wondered if it was Denise who put the blanket over her but she could feel her heart fluttering at the thought of Alex being the culprit.

She wondered if Alex was home and contemplated on checking on her bedroom to see but her question would be answered as soon as she pushed herself up to sit.

"Hey BB!" Alex beamed a naughty grin knowing how much it would rile Callie up, surprising herself with the ease. "How was your sleep?"

Callie groaned, rolling her eyes. The spell of sleep was chased away by the surprise jolting her, clutching her chest as she looked towards Alex, waving at her.

"Hey, Morticia Addams." She grumbled the first thought that came to her at the sight of her roommate’s dark hair and black oversized shirt against her porcelain skin.

"What did you just call me?" Alex was clearly taken aback though her features wouldn’t betray the satisfaction she felt. It worked. Callie was humoring her and it was amusing enough that her shock quickly turned into gratification.

"Nothing." Callie retorted, dragging her feet towards her room with her balled blanket pressed against her chest.

“Morticia. That’s not my name, Merryweather.”

“Merryweather.” Callie chuckled, it was of a genuine fondness for what she had just heard but she couldn't let Alex know that. "How do you even know about that movie?"

"Come on, BB! It’s Sleeping Beauty. It’s a classic. I was a child once like everyone else.” She rolled her eyes, trying hard to sell her feigned contempt. “Obviously.

"You still are." Callie muttered under her breath. She continued her walk, finally reaching the door. She stood there holding the brass knob.

“Hey! Where are you going? I thought we were having a moment.”

"Don't you have actual friends here at all? Anyone at all who you could bother but me." She groused as if Alex was wasting her time, internally berating herself for even saying it. “There’s at least twenty people at work, call one of them. I bet Sandra would love to hear from you.”

In her room, Denise was steadily being woken by the voices on the other side of her door. It wasn’t as loud as before, at least grateful that her roommates were not terrorizing the entire floor. But she could hear tension and the friction between those two created an explosion. And it only meant one thing, she had to step in.

Groaning, she forced herself to get up, briefly seeing that it was three in the morning.

No surprise there.

But she did have something to tell them and it was as good a time as any even if she had to threaten them first before she could bring it up.

“I don’t need anyone who believes I cheated on Felicity first. Just because I don’t cry and pretend to be pitiful doesn’t mean I’m not hurt.” Alex stood up, scraping the legs of the chair against the floor. There was fire in her eyes and it was burning Callie and herself. “Everyone is just so easy to manipulate. You included. She’s not the victim she claims to be.”

"Maybe she is."

Whatever compelled Callie to say it was quivering in a corner as Alex marched towards her and the three inches she had on Callie seemed bigger as she loomed over her.

Clearly, Alex’s plan was backfiring but it did bring her close to Callie.

It just wasn’t the kind of close she wanted.

"You don't know jack shit."

"And I don't care!" Callie fired back, her grip on the door knob tightening. Her anger was forcing her words out, slamming it into Alex’s heart. She was angry at herself for saying such insensitive words but there was always something about her that brought out the worst in her.

"Guys!" Denise interrupted before Alex could speak again. Her eyes remained narrowed as she adjusted her vision to the glaring light hovering over the dining table. "It's almost four! I have work in the morning. I should not be up at this ungodly hour. Besides, our neighbors won't like all the noise you two are making. We could get evicted."

Both of them stiffened at the intrusion and the poorly veiled threats that rumbled within. Denise was proud of herself for inflicting fear on them, mostly Alex.

"You, two!" She pointed to her two roommates, so pointed a stern finger at them, jumping from Alex to Callie but then settled on the former. "We're all hanging out on Sunday before either of you go to work. And I need you to get along." She flitted her gaze on Callie who was backed up against the door, her back firmly pressed on it to avoid Alex’s body as much as she could that Denise had to fight her smile. "I know it’s your day off on that Sunday, Alexis and you finish your shift at two, Callie. Neither of you have a valid excuse to skip it. And Callie, Alexis is not an excuse even if she pisses me off, too."

“Thanks for the loyalty, Denise.”

"What are we doing?" Callie nodded incessantly, her voice a little squeak. She was too scared of Denise that she ignored Alex’s murmur she felt vibrate against her cheek.

"Our friends are coming over and you are joining us. It will be fun!" Her excitement was palpable in her grin but it all fell apart when the spiteful words from Alex’s mouth spilled into the tense air.

"I'm not coming." Alex stated firmly, marching back to the dining table where her journal still laid. She couldn’t deny the satisfaction that Callie was getting the same treatment as she but the potential of playing nice with Callie in front of their friends was enticing even if she didn’t want to admit it. "I've had enough of you two. And if you tell me I can’t go out the door, I'm staying in my room all day."

"Alexis!" Denise warned, effectively crumbling Alex's façade. "I will drag your porcelain ass out if you don't walk on your own two feet after I shatter your door."

"Fine, Mufasa." She scoffed as she picked up her pen, ready to get on with her sketch.

"There's a consistency in your name calling," Callie chimed, her gaze set on Alex, who was ready with a glare. "They're all Disney characters. Reliving your childhood, princess?"

"Girl, I know we're friends and everything but if you start this second round, I will bite you." Denise threatened, sending Callie’s back plastered against the door yet again. But then, Alex laughed to herself and the quietest noise prodded at Denise’s ears. "I don't want to hear it, Rivera. Now, I will get some sleep and I expect damn silence or so help me god, I will strangle both of you. "

Her gaze flitted between her roommates, satisfied to see them both nodding like children. Callie soon scrambled to get into her room and hide behind the door while Alex leaned in the table, hovering over her journal and pretended to start scribbling again as she waited for Denise to disappear.

Satisfied, Denise retreated back to her room with a smile on her face.

"Finally." She sighed as she lay back down on her soft bed.

In the safety of her room, Callie smiled. Without the need for pretending, she surrendered to the fact that she did miss Alex and acknowledged that playing nice for their guests would be a good thing. She was willing to accept any sort of contact from Alex and there was only so much she could do not to wrap her arms around her when she was so close and so sad.

She wouldn’t admit it but she was fell asleep on the couch waiting for Alex to get home. She couldn’t remember when she started doing it but she couldn’t help but worry about her coming home by herself, knowing her roommate liked walking. Despite avoiding her during the day, she wanted to finish the night knowing her roommate was home and safe.

When Sunday finally arrived, Alex merrily went down to the front of the building to collect her friends, who greeted her with excited squeals and tight hugs. They soon took the flights of stairs up after one of them suggested it, saying she had to work out after missing a day at the gym.

"I just came from a meeting." One of them explained, slowly unraveling her scarf as the warmth of the building steadily enveloped her. "This always happens when we have big clients. They barely have time, I barely have time. We have to sacrifice Sundays if we have to meet deadlines."

"My professor brought me and a few others to the court house. I mean, I want to be a lawyer but it wasn’t even open." The other one seconded, scoffing. She brushed stray strands of her hair kept in an immaculate bun. “I don’t know how you even work twelve hours a day, six times a week, Alex.”

“I wanted to. It’s better than just sitting at home all day.” Alex answered simply, refusing to divulge on her reasons.

Nobody liked to be pitied. She refused to ask for their help. It was her cross to bear.

“How does it work, though?” The first one asked. “You and your ex work in the same place.”

“I ignore her.” Alex shrugged as if it was obvious. “She tries to get my attention but she’s not getting anything from me.”

Callie was in her room, changing into more comfortable clothing. She was halted when she found resemblance in the two foreign voices she has never heard inside their apartment. But she has heard them before.

It can't be them, she thought.

"Jazmin! Rachel!" Denise exclaimed as she emerged from her bedroom. Her hands were extended to her sides as she rushed to the two girls, engulfing them in her long arms. All three laughing as they were compressed together.

Callie gulped as she pressed her ear against her door, eavesdropping on the conversation. Denise's words confirmed her suspicions. It's them and they knew Alexis Michelle. Her stomach was in knots and any sort of blush has left her features as it dawned on her. She will be forced to talk about the horrible roommate she described to them, and it caused an epic wave of discomfort to wash over her.

She looked around her room to see if she could find a place to disappear in, a small latch that would lead outside. Anywhere, really.

"Where's the other roommate you were talking about, Alex?" Jazmin queried they rounded the corner to the dining table just in time for Callie to walk out of her room and stood there, holding her breath and waving at them.

"Hi." She grimaced at the sight of gaped mouths and wide eyes riddled with shock much to Alex’s confusion.

"There she is!" Denise proudly stated as she waved to ask the last of the three roommates to join them. "Isn't she just adorable? She is when they’re not bickering."

“Calista Odette Maxwell! You live here?!” Jazmin exclaimed.

Callie blushed and soon timidly made her way towards the assembled group, forcing a sheepish smile as she approached Jazmin who was looking at her, asking for clarification.

"Do you have another roommate?" Rachel shook her head. She looked around the place and counted the number of doors she saw. "Do you live with a Michelle?"

Alex's confusion never died down. She was being defensive in her answer, pointing to herself upon hearing her middle name.

"I think I'm the only Michelle here. Actually, I'm very sure about that." She clarified as she looked around the faces that surrounded her until she settled her scathing gaze on Callie.

It was like a storm brewing and lighting crackled between the pair. Jazmin and Rachel were treated to a spectacle Denise was unfortunate enough to experience almost every night. But they felt it, too. The s****l tension that hovered between the pair and it was suffocating them somehow but then there was Denise who made things lighter than a feather, or even air itself.

“Okay, this is not the way to welcome our guests.”

"No. No, no.” Alex pressed on, nearly pushing Denise out of the way. “I'm sure Denise is just Denise and the rest of the thirty letters that make up her full name but none of them is Michelle. I grew up with her, I should know. Unless I don't which makes me a horrible person." She continued as she took a step back to allow for space to ponder on the situation. "Are you Callie Michelle? Or are you Michelle Callie? I thought you were just Callie? And I just found out right now that it’s not Calliope."

Jazmin eyed Callie knowingly, prompting her to bow her head down in shame, in embarrassment.

"The plot thickens." She commented, crossing her arms with a smirk on her lips. Suddenly, everything made sense and she was all the more convinced of her friend’s attraction for “Michelle.”

And suddenly, it was a hodgepodge of conversations all at once.

“You know my middle name?” Callie stared at Alex, seeking for answers.

"No, I am not just Denise, Alexis." Denise corrected, her chin raised. "I’m the Denise Reynolds."

"The Denise Reynolds!" Rachel echoed with much enthusiasm. She raised her palm up for a high five to which Denise obliged. "My favorite assistant!"

"Got that right, girl!" Denise exclaimed as she winked at her boss, Rachel. It was the oldest girl who helped her get a job.

"I saw your résumé in Dorsey's office." Alex admitted.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Jazmin held out her hands, her head felt as if her brain was pulsing against her skull. It felt as if the chaos in the apartment was comparable to Wall Street brokers, fighting for stocks. The girls were talking over each other and she could not stand the pandemonium anymore. Everyone halted, much to her delight. "This is too much information! Would somebody speak and the rest just listen? I can't be expected to understand when all I hear are voices, not words. This is not how—”

"How do you know Jazmin and Rachel?" Callie interrupted, looking at Alex with such disdain.

All that Jazmin could do was grab Denise and Rachel by the arms and yanked them away from the pair and into the living room.

"How can you stand this?" She asked Denise, her gaze imploring for an answer because it was driving her insane.

"That's the thing, girl," Denise shook her head, the advent of her answer. "I can't. Trust me, I've seen worse." She gestured around her face, to the dark spots under her eyes. “I have bags. I’m dizzy. I’m overworked—” She glanced at Rachel, grinning. “And I don’t mind. But I’d like to come home and sleep after but then that happens.”

"Denise and I went to high school with Jaz. We met Rachel because of her." Alex explained, sounding a too defensive for her liking. "You? Don't you dare tell me they're your friends, too." She felt possessive, wanting to preserve the friendship she shared with Jazmin and Rachel especially after her relationship with Felicity ended.

"Did you tell her you grew up in Campton Hills with me?" Callie looked at Jazmin, searching for a tag team, while pointing at Alex.

"Ladies!" Rachel interrupted before either of them could worsen the situation even if she found them entertaining.

"I think introductions have been taken care of a long ago." Denise mumbled, trying her best not to laugh at her roommates. "Can we go sit now?"

"Yes we may. But not you." Jazmin sauntered over to Alex and grabbed her wrist. "I want to talk to you in private."

Great. Alex thought. What could this be about?

Jazmin’s hand felt like shackles around her wrist and she felt that it wasn’t the usual conversation she had with her. Dread overwhelmed her. The more steps she took, the more she felt suffocated with the illusion that the hand around her wrist was wound in her neck. They were headed for her room and it only intensified Alex’s suspicions.

“Sit.” Jazmin commanded, pointing to her bed.

She stomped her way over, making sure Jazmin knew she was not pleased with it. She found comfort in her defense mechanism. It made her feel superior when she was angry. It even made her feel a false sense of power. But her friend left a lingering feeling on her wrist and she rubbed the sore area and the reminder of it haunted her.

“What the hell is this about?”

“Watch it, Rivera!” Jazmin folded her arms, condescending in her unwavering stance. She raised a brow and stood a few feet from Alex, towering over her, effectively intimidating her. “Why do I feel like there’s something going on between you and Callie?”

“Why do I get the feeling you know more about this than I do?”

“Because I do.” Jazmin scoffed, dismissing her faux sense of grit. “Was this your fault? All the bickering and fighting. I don’t remember Callie being this aggressive.”

“I didn’t do anything! You heard what she said. I was quiet until she started saying stupid things.”

“I didn’t mean that. But there’s a falling out. What happened?”

“From where? We weren’t friends.” Alex averted Jazmin’s brown eyes, fearing she could see the truth in hers. “I don’t want to have this conversation, Jaz.”

“Alex, don’t take this the wrong way,” Jazmin said, sighing as she plopped next to Alex and reached for her hand. “But this is not how you’re supposed to deal with pain. You don’t push people away. Do you know how many times we’ve seen each other since you dated Felicity? Once. And have I told you how I didn’t like her from the beginning?”

Alex glanced at Jazmin, the grooves of her forehead seeking for clarification. She always knew nobody liked Felicity for her but she knew the woman and she liked the person she was whenever they were together. Felicity used to be so sweet, caring. At times, she would smother her with love and that was more than Alex could ask for. She had no idea how toxic she was until she had to work long hours for her sister.

“She wanted you to herself. And she hated whenever you spent time with us. That one time you we with us, she was with you and you got a phone call from Stella. Did you know how pissed she was because of it?” Jazmin wore like any friend would when speaking about tough issues but she couldn’t hide things any longer. She softened at the thought of Denise’s little commentaries about Alex recently. “When Callie came into your life, Denise said you’ve been smiling more even if you two fight like cats and dogs. We know how much you hide that pretty smile to fool people into thinking you’re this tough, rock solid chick. A bad ass. But I know you, Alex. I know you enough and even then, I know your smile is hard to strangle out of you. But why does Callie pry it out of you so easily? Had I know it was my Callie and my Alex, I would have come her sooner. And what is this I hear about you moping when she refused to talk to you? Isn’t that better than, I don’t know, what I saw just now?”

Alex c****d her head to the side, feigning a thoughtful look. There was an outburst in her chest as her stomach churned, twisting in knots. She was caught. She was dreadfully trying to think of an excuse, something big enough to save her from their conversation.

“Denise may have told me a thing or two.” Jazmin clarified, rolling her eyes. “But Callie was in my apartment every single day since that fight of yours. She has been cleaning for me, cooking for me, just so I would let her stay. I mean, girl, I don’t mind the free help but she didn’t really need to do it all. She was just really desperate to get away from you. She was going through great lengths to do it. She was really hurt, Alex.”

“I am hurt, too, Jazmin.” Alex clarified, defending herself, which nobody seemed to be doing for her. “Why is everyone treating her like the only one with feelings?”

“I’m not saying you’re to blame or that you don’t have feelings. But you did say some pretty nasty things.” Jazmin refuted albeit gently. She nudged their intertwined hands. “Hey…I’m here for you if you need to talk about it. You know that right?”

Defeated, Alex nodded.

“But, Alex, I need to ask you something.” Jazmin probed, never breaking the eye contact. The slight movement in Alex’s head signaled for her to go on. “Is Callie special to you? Do you…have feelings for her?”

“f**k, no.” Alex denied with haste, yanking her hand from Jazmin’s grip.

“Okay then. That’s all I wanted to hear.”

“What do you mean?” There was ample curiosity in her question, something that shouldn’t have been there if what she said was true.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t like our Callie because I wanted to set her up with one of my law friends.” Jazmin explained as she shrugged, acting as nonchalant as possible to provoke Alex. She wanted her to say something, anything indicating the slightest fondness towards her other roommate but alas, Alex didn’t. “Alright. Since, we’re clear on it, let’s go. They might be looking for us.”

A very noticeable pang of jealousy hit Alex’s chest. Her shoulders felt heavy while her knees didn’t seem to offer her any stability, weakening as the conversation progressed. She dreaded the thought of Callie finding someone.

While the two girls were inside Alex’s room, Rachel sat on one end of the couch, next to Callie. Denise had excused herself to make some refreshments and grab some snacks. Taking advantage of the privacy, the oldest girl nudged her friend by the elbow, instantly earning her attention.

“What’s up?” Callie reluctantly asked, sensing the stare that never left her side.

“You were talking about Alex?” Rachel whispered, posing her words as a question but she knew the answer to it quite well. “I thought you said her name was Michelle?”

“I might have wanted to keep it as covert as possible.”

“Why?”

“I don’t exactly know. But Rachel, you know I hate talking about certain aspects of my life and I just needed to vent. You guys were the only friends I have in here, so.” Cornered by the sharp, decisive questions, Callie tried to explain as best as she could while maintaining composure.

“From what I recall, you tell us everything but your romantic life.” Rachel’s smile emerged and that knowing look was not making it easy on Callie.

“Stop!” Callie whined, swatting the hand that was prodding her side. “Stop that!” She cupped her face, burrowing it deep in her palms as she bent over, resting her forehead on her knees.

Rachell rubbed Callie’s back soothingly and whispered, “It’s okay. It’s just Alex. We know how annoying she can get. But I have to say, I’m really surprised you actually know how to stand up for yourself. That was new.”

Callie shook her head in her palms, “She’s not just Alex.”

There was something about Alex; something special about her that Callie refused to fully grasp. Her disdain was apparent but there was always this fondness for her that’s looming, lurking about, waiting for a chance.

“Not just Alex?” Rachel gasped as she inched closer to her until they were pressed firmly. “Tell me about Alex.”

Just in time, Alex emerged from her room with Jazmin in tow and she heard the question loud and clear.

“What about me?”

“Nothing.” Rachel quickly dismissed, wearing that winning smile of hers. “I wanted to hear some gossip. I’ve never really seen you with your coworkers. This is my chance.”

Alex pursed her lips and shrugged, leaving it behind. She settled on the chair next to Rachel, leaving Jazmin to sit next to Callie but she had the perfect view of her.

“Denise, do you need a hand?” A surge of unease overwhelmed Callie, forcing her to stand up. She sauntered over to the kitchen, to Denise.

She couldn’t just sit there after what had slipped her tongue. Despite how vague it was, it was enough for Rachel to speculate something and she was not very pleased about that. Alex being there intensified her trepidation and she had to leave.

“Sure!” Denise replied from where she stood in front of the stove. “Put these on that tray.” She handed her roommate plates filled with chicken fingers, fries and nacho chips, pointing to a silver tray sitting on the dining table behind them.

Alex was still itching to be closer to Callie especially after denying her feelings for her to her own best friend. It was an incessant itch that demanded to be heeded, scratched until the surface bled. She thought about pretending to write something on her journal while Callie fixed the tray on the table but Jazmin would have made her stop writing and join them back in the living room.

Without thinking further, Alex stood up and aimed for the bathroom. The moment she made it behind Callie, she slowed her pace down, pretending to be busy with her phone while her eyes wandered to the woman next to her.

Callie was feeling the same commotion in her chest but while Alex yearned for it, she was keen on avoiding it. She scrambled to arrange the plates as quick as she could and made her way back to the couch.

“Did you cook this, Denise?” Rachel queried as soon as she laid her eyes on the food Callie perched on the coffee table. She reached for the chicken tenders, taking one big bite.

Callie sat back on the spot she left, taking some chips along with her.

“I did.” Denise proudly stated as she turned around holding a tray with glasses of the Arnold Palmer blend.

“When?”

“Oh, this morning.” Denise answered Jazmin after putting the tray down. “I couldn’t sleep. Cats were arguing outside my door, wailing too loud.” She let out a breath in amusement, making Callie sink further in the couch.

Inside the rather cold bathroom, Alex stared at her reflection in the mirror as she twisted the valve to open the faucet. The sound of running water prompted the bartender to bend down as she cupped the clear liquid in her palms and splattered it on her make-up free face. She felt significantly calmer as soon as the cold water grazed her features. She did it two more times before she stood back up, reaching for the towel that hung by the chrome finished towel rack hovering above the porcelain throne.

She lingered in the soft touch of the towel against her cheeks, closing her eyes in the process. Her little reprieve was halted by the familiar sound of somebody’s message tone. She looked around the place and found Callie’s phone in the medicine cabinet.

Alex debated against herself. She wanted to check who the message was from and yet she didn’t want to intrude. But she felt she had to and so she did. She made sure the brass door knob was locked before cautiously reaching up for the idle phone as her chest beat louder and louder, echoing from inside her.

She swiped to the right, revealing her roommate’s home screen.

“Why the f**k doesn’t she have a pass code?” She breathed quietly as the thrill of doing something so forbidden rushed through her veins.

Her heart sank the moment she found the new message. She read it painstakingly slow, making her torture loiter in her chest, causing more pain.

Hey Callie! It’s Sydney Tucker, Jazmin’s friend. She’s told me so much about you and I wanted to see you. So…here I am, asking! :) You want to go grab lunch some time?

“Sydney Tucker. Lunch.” She scoffed as she clutched onto the phone tighter, making her knuckles hurt. “Not when I’m around.” She glared at the phone as if the sender could see it.

Her jealousy ran wild as her mind seemed to be numbed and paralyzed with her anger. She didn’t want to lose Callie. Her eyes widened as she took a sharp breath when an idea hit her. It was then that she realized she was going to do anything to keep her, at least, behind the brown-eyed brunette’s back.

She looked at herself in the mirror once more, now with a smug look across her face.

“Well, hello, Sydney Tucker.” She muttered.

Alex blocked Sydney’s number and deleted her message. She dialed her own phone number in Callie’s to figure out her ten-digit number. They still have not exchanged said digits and Callie never saw the a reason to. She then quickly typed the same message, omitted the lunch invitation, using in her phone and sent it to Callie, assuming Sydney’s identity. With that, Alex beamed. She had just averted one problem but created a new one. The repercussions were still unknown yet she was sure it was leaning towards yet another argument.

“This living room arrangement doesn’t really encourage watching movies with a lot of people. The TV is against a window and when it’s bright outside, it’ll glare into your eyes, too.” Alex heard Jazmin say from the living room. Her voice muffled by the cold enclosing she was standing in.

Denise chuckled. “Yeah but it’s great for talking.”

Alex composed herself, brushing noticeable creases from her shirt. She shoved her phone back in her back pocket and walked out to the living room with Callie’s phone in her hand.

“Your phone, BB.” She mumbled as she crashed next to her with a very noticeable devilish grin after Jazmin moved to the chair she left. “I heard it ring.”

Callie was not annoyed but she wanted to act like it. So she furrowed her brows and curled her upper lip while giving her roommate a pointed look. She took her phone and held it in both her hands.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you stole this from me.” Callie muttered under breath.

To her dismay, Alex heard it. “I did not!” She whisper-yelled, internally enjoying the heated conversation. She crossed her arms and moved her hips about to get comfortable in the couch. “Speaking of stealing, you stole two of my best friends.”

“Nobody is stealing anyone from anybody!” Callie grumbled through clenched teeth with the same quiet voice as Alex. “You annoy the life out of me.”

Alex swiveled her head away from her roommate, as she smiled to herself.

“What? I annoy the life out of you?” She snapped her head back, the movement grabbing Denise’s attention. “Are you dead right now? Seriously? Maybe you didn’t have a life. I could only guess by how you’re acting.”

“I will be!” Callie leaned close to Alex’s ear, catching a whiff of her coworker’s scent, making her heart flutter. Damn it! She thought. “How am I acting, huh, Rivera?”

“Like a f*****g child!” Alex’s voice was louder than expected, startling their two visitors.

“Kinda like you? You-” Callie groaned.

Denise sushed both girls, interrupting Callie. “What did I just tell you two this morning?”

“Sorry.” Both muttered with head held down.

Jazmin smiled at the display, her eyes found Rachel’s, who wore identical expressions as her.

“I told you two I live with two feral cats!” Denise grumbled, rolling her eyes and left Jazmin and Rachel bellowing in laughter.

Their little get together went smoothly after that. The two bartenders stayed in their seats but made sure not to look in either of their directions. At least not blatantly. After a few hours and a lot of food, Callie decided on escorting their friends to their cars, leaving Denise and Alex in the living room.

“Denise! Did you see her lips?” Alex ran up to Denise who was on the chair texting her boyfriend. She sat on her lap and clung to her like a koala, taking her attention from her phone. She began to imagine the plump surface of Callie’s lips against hers, as a genuine smile stretched her lips.

“Yeah, Alex, they’re not exactly hidden.”

“I’m serious!” The bartender insisted as she hit her arm. “They’re…they’re full. They look so sweet, delectable even. They remind me of gummy worms. I would nibble them until the sugary coat melts.” The whole time she spoke, she kept picturing the scenario in her head as she tried to remember the night they kissed.

“Gummy worms.” Denise laughed. She threw her head back as her body jerked. She found it adorable that Alex was being, well, adorable. It was one of those very rare occasions. “I thought you hated her guts.” She said despite knowing the truth.

“I’ve never hated anyone more than I hated Callie Maxwell.” Alex muttered. It was the truth but her hatred didn’t mean she didn’t like Callie. “But I miss her lips. I j-”

Her little speech was interrupted by the jolting movements in her back pocket. Denise’s eyes widened and pushed her off, letting her crash down to carpeted floor in a loud thud.

“What the hell was that?”

“Ow!” Alex complained as she rubbed her back side soothingly, taking her phone out after a few strokes.

“Girl, tell me that was your phone.”

“You’re lucky it didn’t break.” She chuckled.

Alex grinned the moment she found the familiar phone number pop up as Denise went back to texting. The glint in her eyes was indication that she was happy. She decided it was good for now, to pretend as if she was Sydney. She figured she’d show her roommate who she truly was in her heart of hearts.

Only then will she come clean.

As soon as the prerequisites were met.

Callie wrote, Hi Syd! Is it weird that I gave you a nickname that quick? Nice to finally meet you. How was your day?

She shook her head with the smile never leaving her lips. Her cheeks were starting to hurt but she didn’t mind. She was happy.

It’s cool. I like it. My day actually is pretty good. How about yours?

As soon as Alex hit the send button, their door swung open to reveal a smiling Callie, making Alex’s heart leap. It was her who caused it. It was Syndey’s name but it was Alex. It was me. She assured herself.

“Hi, Denise!” Callie walked in holding her phone between in her hand.

Alex decided on messing with her roommate by replying to her greeting. “Hi, BB!”

Callie looked to the other direction to hide the smile that was getting wider, reaching her eyes. That smile was Alex’s, not Sydney’s name. It was a shame Alex didn’t see it.

“Hey, gummy worms.” Denise teased without bothering to lift her eyes, knowing Alex’s reaction.

“Oh, my god.” Alex breathed as she hit Denise’s leg forcefully.

Callie stopped dead in her tracks, contemplating on the nickname. She ended up brushing it off and went to the kitchen to help clean up.

Alex was bound, she was shackled to something. The shackles were invisible but they were linked to the same chain as the ones binding Callie.