Note: when you live near NYC you tend to learn a lot about it. And I found out a strange law in that city today... Oh yeah I visited New York. It's whatever, not like it's the greatest city in the world or anything. But seriously I've been there so many times it doesn't feel that special anymore, at least Manhattan doesn't. I still want to go to Brooklyn and Queens though. If you're confused then here's a map.
And keep in mind this is an AU. I just want y'all to know that.

Olivia POV:

I guess you can say my life is great. I mean, it's been a few months into the new year and nothing bad happened to me yet. Sure everything is already going downhill but I'm not hurt. If anything I'm exited!

Why am I exited? Well when you move from a small dull town in the middle of Kansas to the greatest city in the world, you tend to freak out. But I'm grateful that I'm here! I have a decent job and... that's about it really. My boss, Ellegaard, is really nice, I'm her personal assistant after all!

But for every good thing that happens to me something bad happens too. Like my roommate for example. She's not bad! If anything she's really nice and surprisingly normal. It's whenever we're seen together is what makes things so awkward. She's white while I'm... you know... African American. And people really love to assume that we're gay even though we are not! Why does everyone assume that we're gay? I don't understand it!

Anyways, my roommate is still nice and sometimes she isn't a complete jerk to me and wakes me up for work... which is every day. Okay she deserves more credit than I give her! And technically it's her apartment too, I guess I'm just being a bratty twenty-six year old who has no idea what she's doing!

Now you're probably wondering who my roommate is. You never heard of her though, she works at one of the libraries in Manhattan. Like I said earlier she's white and has the most stereotypical white girl name ever. Yeah her name is Stacy. I'm shocked how she looks younger than she actually is. She claims to have friends but I doubt it, she even says one of them is British.

But back to my life. While Stacy says that I should go out and make friends I already have some. My boss is my friend... sort of. And there's this guy... no not like that... we're friends, just friends, and we're saying friends. No romances in the work place!

Where was I? Oh right, his name is Lukas. Lukas Porter, part Scottish and completely blond. He's a cool guy to hang around, sometimes he lets me read his book. Oh yeah he's writing a book and it's pretty good! It's about this group of friends who go portal hopping into different worlds. But besides that we hang out (sometimes), we get along (mostly), and we're the best of buddies (hopefully)!

So what am I doing now? Well I was lucky enough to have the day off (I told you my boss is legit), and Stacy is dragging me to meet some of her friends. To be honest the only reason I agreed is to make sure she's not paying random people to be her friends. And if things go south I'll visit Little Italy or Chinatown for some lunch.

After some intense subway hopping and a lot of walking, we made it to Central Park. Well a part of it. We ended up in Strawberry Fields, which isn't a field or has strawberries.

"They call it Strawberry Fields because John Lennon was assassinated right across the street. At that apartment complex right there." Stacy explained.

I didn't know that guy from The Beetles lived right across from here. "Then why name it Strawberry Fields? It's not a field and there's no strawberries." I asked.

"That was one of his songs. See that circle tiled into the ground? Imagine was also another one of his songs." She explained some more.

"How do you know all this?"

"Because every year on the day John died, people crowd around the circle and sing his songs. One guy brought a drum set one year."

"Okay but how do you know?"

"One of my friends does that, he plays guitar. And the police usually end up protecting the place."

"From what?"

"Anyone with a gun. I know this is America but people take those gun laws for granted. Come on we got a lot of walking to do."

"Where are we going, Stacy?"

"We're meeting one of my friends at Belvedere Castle, and then he'll take us to the Great Lawn."

"There's a castle!"

"You'd be surprised."

With more walking we made it to this dinky little castle. To which Stacy explained how it also informed me how it's also used as a little weather station.

We didn't go inside, but there was a little string quartet playing there. A bass, cello, a violin, and I'm tempted to say a viola. But then this happened...

"Beware of the turtles! They'll snap ya!" Some British idiot yelled.

"Romeo, stop scaring the kids!" Stacy yelled at the man.

The man turned and I saw his features better. He had strange red hair and a little beard. Besides that he looked like a cheap scum if I'm being honest. "Well if it isn't Mother Stacy, gracing us with her presence!" Said the man.

"Stop calling me that Romeo. Just take us to the guys." She said abruptly.

"Hold on now," said Romeo, "is she your friend. What gives I thought I was your best friend!"

"Trust me, we're far from best friends. You can have her." I corrected.

Stacy scoffed, "You're not anyone's friend Romeo. Where are the guys?"

"Follow me! I hope you two like walking!" He cheered, while I let out a long unsatisfied groan of pure agony. Though it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Turns out the field wasn't too far from the castle since you could see it from the cliff.

For a day like today it's strangely nice out, I'm surprised not a lot of people are on the field. Or the field is so 'great' that I can't see them. But as Romeo led us I was beginning to wonder if Stacy actually did pay this guy to be her friend. He looks desperate enough.

But my thoughts where interrupted by the sound of a guitar. Turns out we weren't going on the big field but a little one next to the lake that's 'filled with deadly snapping turtles'. Looking onto the small area I saw seven people there. Five guys and one girl, she must be feeling so uncomfortable right now.

"Guys look who I found!" Romeo called out to them.

They all turned their heads and each gave a different expression. One guy in an orange hoodie jumped up, ran over, and gave Stacy a hug. Some guy with blue hair stopped playing his guitar for a second before playing it again. The big bulky dude kept eating his sandwich, while the other four kept playing with a frisbee.

"Stampy... your... suffocating me!" Stacy gasped between breaths.

"Oh sorry." Said the man and he let go of her. He had a British accent which made him stand out, besides his personality.

"I should probably introduce you to everyone," Stacy muttered, "the guy that was basically strangling me was Stampy, the douche playing the guitar is Dan, the sandwich guy is Axel, the jerk in the leather jacket is Aiden, the kid in the glasses is Radar, the dude in the suspenders is Jesse, and the red head is Petra. And you've already met Romeo."

"Give this frisbee back Aiden!" Radar called out.

"Don't be a chump! You gotta jump for it!" Aiden teased.

"Aiden," said Jesse, "leave him alone. Give him the frisbee."

"You're no fun. I'm just playing with my little brother!" Aiden groaned. He grabbed Radars head and started to give him a noogie.

"Aiden stop! You heard Uncle Jesse!" Petra snapped.

"Ugh. Fine!" Aiden complained.

He let poor little Radar go and watched him scramble behind Axel who gave him a piece of his sandwich. Though I had no idea what was going on. Was Jesse their uncle? Where Aiden and Radar related? How was I picking up their names so fast?

"Don't be confused, we aren't related. Some of us call each other family because if how much our actual families suck." Stacy pointed out.

"Like how Aiden was abused as a kid, or how I'm an orphan. It's okay though, we got Uncle Jesse. I think Jesse just calls himself that to be funny." Romeo explained.

Well that sucks. I was forced to do engineering as a carrier choice thanks to my parents. They messed me up enough as a kid, but to be an orphan or abused. How do they survive that?

"Is that Stampy guy actually British? And is that his real name?" I asked.

"Yes he's British, and no it's not his real name. It's a nickname that just stuck with him." Dan explained to me, he also had a British accent.

Then I was handed a sheet of paper with everyone's phone numbers on it. How Romeo has a phone still leaves me confused. I guess Stacy does have friends, because these people are too strange to be normal friends. I folded the paper into a square and put it in my pocket, hoping that I would forget it.

But then we heard Petra's phone ring and she left the group to answer her call. When she came back she grabbed Stacy and I by our shirts (there goes my favorite shirt) and dragged us onto a little pier above the turtle pond that was away from everyone. Sure enough I saw a lot of turtles, I guess Romeo was partially correct.

"I would talk to the guys about this but I need some girl advice." Petra said.

Stacy gasped, "I never thought that I would live to see this day!"

"What? Do you act like a guy for most of the day? I'm confused." I said.

"I don't like all that girl crap, but now I'm stuck in it and I can't ask the guys for help. You two are my only female friends who are sort of girly, you gotta help me!" Petra pleaded.

"Okay I guess we're friends now." I muttered. I never really had true friends who liked the same things I did, I guess this is Kansas all over again.

"Petra, I swear if you got yourself pregnant..." Stacy groaned.

"I'm not pregnant!" Petra barked.

I remember in high school some girl found a positive pregnancy test in the bathroom and instantly started punching girls in the stomach to kill the possible baby inside. I was one of those victims... Oh god do I have to punch Petra in the stomach? Now I really wish I practiced in my martial arts classes.

"Let's just say that I have to meet a guy next weekend and I have no idea where to take him." Petra explained.

"Oh... Oh! Petra! Wow, I'm so proud of you! I thought you were a lesbian!" Stacy teased.

"W-we don't talk about that..." Petra stuttered.

Stacy just smirked and shrugged. "Whatever you say lesbianvenom-"

But Petra shut her up. "No! Why do you remember that?"

"I have my reasons. Olivia, go hang out with the rest of the guys. They might be guys but they're cool." Stacy said.

Did I really have a choice? Probably but I went anyway. Aiden and Jesse were back to playing frisbee, Radar and Axel were eating, and 'Stampy' was listening to Dan's music. I sat down across from Axel and he gave me a strange look.

"What?" I asked but he said nothing. Probably because he was eating his sandwich.

"Don't mind Axel, he doesn't like to be bothered while eating." Said Radar.

"If you don't mind me asking, why is your name Radar?"

"Oh," he said, "well my parents were in the military. They work for one of the airports now because they're good with radars and that stuff."

I guess that's why they named him Radar. "Military parents? And they didn't force you to join the army?"

"No. They said that's my choice, but I'm the youngest one between my siblings. So I lucked out."

"Wow you sound really young. No offense, you just sound like you could be a voice actor."

"Well I'm only nineteen-"

"And you're hanging out with a thirty-five year old?" I screeched. 

"I don't see that as such a big deal. Maybe to you it is, but to me it's normal."

"I just... well alright then..."

We sat there awkwardly for a few minutes, but then Radar had to leave. So I guess I had to talk to Axel. But just as he finished his sandwich and I was just about to say 'hi' he reached into his bag and grabbed another sandwich. How much does this guy like food?

I have a feeling he was just ignoring me so I went to talk to Stampy and he told me about the rest of the group. He was very... enthusiastic. He had a bubbly personality that made me wonder how he got wrapped up in a group like this?

When I spoke to Dan he turned out to be less douchey than I originally thought. He was very... extra to say the least. And he told me about his hair condition that made it change colors. He was also British... I'm starting to think Stacy has a thing for British people.

Aiden and Romeo were jerks from the beginning. But I can understand why. Aiden was in a gang called the Blazerods, that can make you a douche from the start. And Romeo... I don't even know. He just proves my point about Stacy and British people.

Then there was Jesse. He was the one that broke up fights and told jokes. The friend I wish I had in my younger years. He stood up for Radar, so that shows something. And he assured me that Axel just likes to eat a lot and that he wasn't ignoring me. That's a relief. Though if anyone else told me that then I wouldn't believe them. Maybe Jesse is just very persuasive? It's probably his voice.

But the time came and went and everyone had to leave. Axel packed up his bag of sandwiches and followed Jesse to Harlem (from what I'm told), Romeo and Aiden vanished to the alleys (again from what I was told), and turned out Stacy and Petra already left without me.

So I was stuck with the British guys who already left to the subway. I've gotten home through the subway multiple times, but this time I heard a guitar. Sure performers play in the subway all the time. But I never heard a guitar before, not in the subway at least.

At first I ignored it. I got out my metro card, payed for my entry and waited for the train to arrive. It was then I noticed a man with blue hair playing his guitar, he was leaning on the map of where the train's go, and he had a bucket with some money inside. Was Dan seriously performing in the subway?

I wanted to say hello, but I didn't want to mess up his flow. Some people tossed change into the bucket as they passed by, and one guy threw a wrapper into the bucket (what an ass). But I ignored it as the train arrived, I got on and went home. That was my day, a strange one isn't it? It could've been worse... I've been through worse.

~~~

A few days later (it was Wednesday) I got a notification on my phone that was an invite to a group chat. It must've been that group of people I met a few days ago. I still had everyone's number and that paper.

But for awhile I didn't say anything, I just looked at their messages to see who everyone was. Every now and again I had to glance at the paper because I didn't know who that username belonged to.

Lesbianvenom (Petra): Guys I have a great idea!

Stacysays (Stacy): Right now? I'm at work Petra.

SandwichMan (Axel): We're all at work

DanTDM (Dan): I'm on break

Stacysays: We know Dan.

The_Admin (Romeo): Hi Mom!

Mr. StampyCat (Stampy): She's not your mom

Blazerods (Aiden): She's everyone's mom

Radar (himself): What is it Petra? I have five minutes until my next class.

Lesbianvenom: Oh this doesn't involve you. Sorry Radar

Radar: I hate you sometimes.

Radar is offline 

Stacysays: Not my son!

DanTDM: ouch

Blazerods: I thought you didn't have a son

The_Admin: I'm a dad!?!

Stacysays: No and NO! If I had a son I would want him to be like Radar. Pure, innocent...

SandwichMan: You're just describing Stampy

Mr. StampyCat: Aw, thank you Stacy! ^^

Uncle Jesse (take a guess): I ship it

Lesbianvenom: What would the ship name be?

Stacysays: Guys.

SandwichMan: We need to mash their names. Like a sandwich!

Blazerods: Stampcy

Mr. StampyCat: Guys please...

The_Admin: Cays

Uncle Jesse: Stop, those are both bad

DanTDM: It's like playing a note with another one that's a half-step higher. It doesn't sound right.

Olivia (me): How about StacyCat?

Lesbianvenom: Hi Olivia!

SandwichMan: StacyCat... Let's take a vote. All in favor say Cake!

The_Admin: Cake!

Blazerods: Cake!

DanTDM: Cake!

Uncle Jesse: I vote Cake!

Lesbianvenom: Cake

Olivia: Cake.

Mr. StampyCat: Ooo cake!

Stacysays: Stampy!

SandwichMan: All that oppose say pie

Stacysays: Pie! Hey I like pie.

Lesbianvenom: It's official! StacyCat it is!

Olivia changed their name to StacyCat Queen

StacyCat Queen: And people say I can't take a joke.

Blazerods: Nice

StacyCat Queen: Wait my boss might see the name change...

StacyCat Queen changed their name to Olivia

The_Admin: It was fun while it lasted...

Stacysays: No it wasn't.

SandwichMan: You loved it

DanTDM: It's okay Mom. You can still find a man at your age!

Mr. StampyCat: Daniel, respect your mother!

Uncle Jesse: Ooo shut down!

Olivia: OoooooOoooooO!!!

Blazerods: Fine DAD!

The_Admin: Oh snap

Mr. StampyCat: . . .

Mr. StampyCat has left the chat

Stacysays has left the chat

Lesbianvenom: I predict that a few years from now those two are going to get married

DanTDM: Then we can tease them about it forever!

Blazerods: I like the way you think

The_Admin: Petra why did you text us again?

Lesbianvenom: Oh right. Over the weekend I'm going to New Jersey for a date

SandwichMan: O_O

Blazerods: Who's the lucky lady?

Olivia: It's a man.

Uncle Jesse: How do you know?

The_Admin: She probably told her

DanTDM: Are you two rising against us?

Lesbianvenom: Let me finish! If you want to come it's fine, you just got to bring a date.

Uncle Jesse: If I could find a date I would... but I love myself too much. I'm busy with my pet pig anyways to go.

Olivia: You have a pet pig?

Uncle Jesse: Yeah. His name is Ruben. Since this doesn't concern me I'll leave

Uncle Jesse is offline

DanTDM: Why are you offering this to us? Shouldn't this be a personal thing?

Lesbianvenom: He said he's afraid that things will get awkward so he wants it to be a group thing. All his friends are busy so I'm asking you guys.

SandwichMan: Who's going?

Lesbianvenom: I dares Stacy to ask Stampy and he'll probably say yes

Blazerods: Romeo, will you be my date?

Olivia: You're gay?

The_Admin: No we're not, but I still accept Aiden.

Lesbianvenom: Scratch that. Romeo, Aiden, you two aren't invited.

The_Admin: Damn!

Blazerods: Will you still go out with me?

Olivia: So they are gay!

The_Admin: Fine we're gay

SandwichMan: And they're dating

The_Admin: Aiden if you fuck up again I swear

Olivia: Language!

Blazerods: Fine, we'll take it to a different chat

Blazerods is offline
The_Admin is offline

DanTDM: I can still come right?

Lesbianvenom: Yeah, but I doubt you have a date Dan

SandwichMan: No offense Dan but every girl you flirt with hates you

DanTDM: Hey! That's not completely true! I actually have a date this time!

Olivia: Did you pay her to be with you?

SandwichMan: DAAAAAAAAAANG!!!

DanTDM: Nope, in fact we've been together for a few weeks now. Take that!

Lesbianvenom: Fine she can come. Axel, Olivia, what about you two?

Olivia: Me? Date? Petra I might as well just steal a mannequin and call it Gabriel because that would be my date.

SandwichMan: I agree with Olivia, we're too weird to find a date.

Lesbianvenom: You're in NEW YORK CITY! There has to be someone in this city for you! Or there is another option...

DanTDM: This shouldn't concern me, but what?

Lesbianvenom: Axel you can ask Olivia!

Olivia: I'm right here!

SandwichMan: WAT!?

Lesbianvenom: It can be a friend thing. Olivia hasn't even heard your real voice. Just please don't leave me with Dan and his parents.

SandwichMan: Ugh fine. Olivia wanna do this?

Olivia: Fine, lets do this.

DanTDM: THEY'RE NOT MY PARENTS!

Lesbianvenom: You wish. I'll text you guys the details later. This'll be great I promise!

SandwichMan is offline
Olivia is offline
DanTDM is offline
Lesbianvenom is offline

~~~A Few Days Later~~~

The week went by so quickly, one day it was Wednesday and now it's Friday. I got lucky though, tomorrow is that whole triple date thing and it just so happens that my boss has an interview with someone tomorrow. So hopefully I'm off the hook!

I was in the subway once again trying to get home from another day of work when I heard guitar music again. Like last time I ignored it until I saw him once again. Dan was leaning on a pillar this time, but there was two people sitting on the floor. Aiden and Romeo? What's going on here! I thought.

Then I noticed that same open bucket again, this time with a little sign made out of cardboard stood in front of it. "About to get evicted. HELP!" Well that ain't good. I looked inside the bucked for a brief moment and saw a few 1, 5, and 10 dollar bills. But mostly change, and like last time a few gum wrappers. 

 Feeling some sort of remorse for them I pulled out a five dollar bill from my wallet and quickly put it in the bucket. Unfortunately Dan saw me do it. "Olivia? I'm not even going to ask why you're here, it's the subway after all."

"I could ask you the same thing. But I'm not, so I'm going to ask this instead. Aiden, Romeo, you two are getting evicted? From what your dumpster?" I joked.

Though the sincere look on Romeos face made me feel bad about what I just said. "No I'm not that much of a piece of trash," he said, "my girlfriend kicked us out."

"Girlfriend? I thought you two where homosexuals?" I asked. Did I seriously just say homosexuals? What's wrong with me?

"No we are," Romeo sighed then continued, "I was in a relationship with my girlfriend Xara for about five years. I managed to convince her to allow Aiden to stay with us because he was being pushed around by the other gangs again. Don't get me wrong, I loved Xara at one point. But when I started secretly dating Aiden... well I couldn't just give up Xara. It was her apartment after all."

The next part Aiden decided to finish for Romeo. "So for two years he faked everything with Xara so that I would be okay. You have no idea how many dates, conversations, and sexual stuff he did with her. But he faked it. ALL of it. So when she found out... well lets just say it was messy. And now we're homeless!"

When did this turn into a gay romance novel? Because this sounds like a modern day Shakespeare play. I do have an idea... it might be risky... "Well that sucks. Cute, but it sucks." I said, I was still thinking about my offer in my head.

"It is, now go away! You're scaring off the people!" Dan hissed.

"Well if you're going to be like that then I'll just take my offer and leave-"

"Wait!" Romeo almost shouted, standing up and grabbing my sleeve. "What offer?"

"I might have a place where you and Aiden can go. But you got to promise me something, and I swear to god you better take it so seriously that your life depends on it." I growled.

Aiden stood up and went next to Romeo, he even grabbed his hand. "Yeah, sure, whatever! Just what is it!"

I sighed, thinking over my life decisions before speaking. "I might know a guy who's looking for roommates. But he'll only let you stay on the following conditions." Romeo and Aiden nodded vigorously, waiting for what my terms of service where. "One: Don't mess with him too much, he's struggling just like you two."

"Okay sure, limits on the teasing. I can do that!" Aiden said.

"Second," I continued, "you both need to get jobs. Real jobs. You'll need to help pay rent and such. You have to work for the hospitality."

"We work for hospitality everyday, it's nothing new." Romeo boasted.

"Finally," I groaned, "keep your gay love to yourselves. Not that you have to hide it! Just don't do anything overly stupid, and follow whatever rules he gives you."

"We already have to do that. Tell us something we don't know!" Aiden snarled, though playfully.

"The guy I'm talking about... his name is Lukas."