ONE DAY AFTER MOVING IN.

TABITHA'S P.O.V

I turned on my video camera-the same one I've been using since I was 15. My parents gifted all of my siblings cameras when we turned 15, so we could record videos that they could watch.

I have my own YouTube channel, but I don't want the whole world to know about what I'm getting up to at Uni, so my parents agreed that I could record videos on my camera and then show them.

I can always edit things out.

"Hey, viewers!
Just kidding, I know it's just you Mum and Dad.
Ok, I'm not gonna lie... the first night away was hard.
Someone snores really loudly too, which didn't help."

I turned to look at my door, paranoid that I hadn't locked it.
I quickly got up to check, pulling the handle down several times.
Once I was satisfied, I hurried back to my place.

"Sorry about that.
Everyone's really nice, by the way! Right-first impressions.
I forgot you wanted me to do that.
So, Sutton is this super neat, rainbow, glitter and sunshine kinda girl.
She's so sweet.
She's kind of like a big sister and little sister rolled into one-I can't explain it."

"Has anyone seen my highlighters?", called out Sutton.

I chuckled.
"That was her.
Anway, who's next?
Um... Luka!
He's really nice.
He really likes saying random facts every chance he gets, but some of them are interesting."

Did you know high heels used to be worn by men?

Sutton loved that fact.
She went on a five minute rant about how fashion 'transcends gender'.
It was pretty insightful.

"KJ's quiet.
He won't even ask for anything at dinner.
The salt shaker was literally touching my elbow and he still got up from the other end of the room to get it."

Ok, I wasn't really mad at this.
I was way too invested in my pizza slice.

"Anvi's really cool.
She's friendly, and I can just tell she's a team player.
You'd get on well with her, Dad."

And then there was one.

"Jace is... well he's pretty cute actually."

Yep.
I'm definitely editing that out.

"He's cool.
A very calm and collected guy.
You'd like him."

"Tabitha, the food's here!"

"Oh!
Gotta go!
I'm really excited about what the rest of the year has in store for us!
I really think we'll get on like a house on fire."

¤¤¤

PRESENT DAY.

Tabitha was seated at the dining table, a thick folder in front of her.
She was scribbling down something, her writing rather neat.

"You sure you don't want breakfast?", asked Sutton.

"I'll just grab an apple later."

"I didn't know you got homework before your course started", said Luka.

"It's not homework.
It's... a personal project."

"Well, I-", started Sutton, her voice freezing in mid-air when she saw Anvi leaving her room.

The air grew cold, and the silence became unbearable.
Luka stood up, his chair making a piercing sound as it scraped against the floor.

"Sorry", he muttered, before scurrying away into his room.

Sutton let her knife hover about her plate, waving it a little in the air, as if she were waving a white flag to surrender.

"Um, I'm gonna go check on Luka."

KJ, who had already finished his food by this point, wiped a tissue across the table, to clean up his area.
He stood up, and walked to the sink, washing his dishes.

There was something so captivating about KJ.
Whether it was his silent nature, or the fact that everyone else had stormed off and they were expecting KJ to do the same, but he was truly a sight to behold.

Once he had finished drying his plates, he put them away and walked towards his door.
He opened it, but before he went inside, he turned to face Anvi and Tabitha.

"This is stupid."

And with that, he disappeared into his room.

Jace took a deep breath, before exhaling sharply.

"Hey, Anvi?
I just wanted to-"

"Wait, what's that over there?", asked Anvi, pointing into the distance.
"Oh yeah, it's the last f*ck I give."

Before Jace could react, Anvi grabbed her plate and walked to her room.

Tabitha groaned.
"What is my life?"

¤¤¤

"Are you sure you don't want anything?", asked Sutton.

"Um... wait, yeah.
Bring me back a burger and fries please.
I'll pay you back", she replied.

Sutton nodded and headed out the door, closing it behind her.

"Finally... I've got the place to myself."

Tabitha's phone rang, and she quickly answered it when her mother's face appeared on the screen.

"Hi Mum!"

"Tabi!
How are you?"

"Good!
Just doing some writing."

"Are you eating enough?"

"Yes, Mum!
I had a big breakfast."

"Your Dad's worried about you.
Well, that's what he says, but I think he just misses his little girl."

"Aww, tell him I'm fine, ok?"

"Alright, will do.
I have to get going, but I'm going to call again in a few hours."

"Gosh, Mum, don't.
I'm fine."

"You're not changing my mind on this, Tabitha.
Good bye, sweetie."

"Bye, Mum."

As soon as Tabitha ended the call, a bedroom door opened, and Anvi emerged from it.

Tabitha's body tensed up, and her eyes widened slightly as Anvi approached her.

"Anvi.
I thought you went with the others."

Anvi shook her head.
"Didn't feel like it."

"Oh."

Anvi pulled out a chair, one that was directly opposite Tabitha.
She stared at Tabitha for a few seconds, before speaking.

"I'm sorry for shouting."

Tabitha furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"You're sorry?
No, I should be apologising!
Me and my big mouth started this mess."

"In fairness, it's mainly Jace's fault for telling me", said Anvi.

Tabitha shook her head.
"No.
This is on me."

Anvi traced circles on the table with her index finger, her brain working over-time to figure out how to say what she wanted to.

"Why... why did you say I cheated?"

"Because I'm stupid.
I saw how close you and KJ were, and I just found it a bit weird, because he never made that effort with us.
With me.
I guess, what I really felt was guilt. Because I didn't take the time to understand KJ like you did."

"Well... KJ and I are pretty similar.
In college, I was really closed off. Something happened and... I just felt alone for a long time.
But you learn to sit comfortably in your loneliness."

Tabitha frowned.
"That sucks.
No one should be lonely."

Anvi shrugged.

"It's just... we don't really know each other."

"So that makes it ok to accuse me of cheating?"

"No!
No, it doesn't."

Anvi sighed.
"Look, I know we don't know each other enough.
But hear me when I say this, I hate cheaters."

Tabitha nodded.
"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for snapping.
I should've listened to your side, instead of shouting at you.
I promise I'm not always like that."

"I kind of liked it.
I mean, it sucked to be on the receiving end, but I liked how you stood up for yourself."

Anvi smiled.
"First time I've done that."

"Really?"

Anvi nodded.

"Well, it suits you."

Anvi smiled.
"Friends?"

Tabitha nodded, before grinning. "Friends."

Anvi's smile brightened.
Her gaze landed on Tabitha's notebooks.
She pointed to them.

"Homework before Uni's started?"

Tabitha shook her head.
"No, it's just... well, I'm working on a little project."

"Ooh, what is it?"

"It's stupid."

"Hey, no it's not.
Don't say that about stuff you're passionate about."

"Um, well... it's a book."

Anvi's eyes widened.
"A book?
That's so cool!
How long have you been working on it?"

"I had the idea when I was seventeen, but kind of pushed it to the side.
I started working on it properly... about six months ago."

"What's it about?"

Tabitha's face turned red.
"Uh, its... it's nothing, really."

"Oh please tell me.
I love books.
I promise I won't laugh."

"Ok.
Fine.
It's a royal romance story."

Anvi's eyes widened once more, and her mouth opened slightly.
Tabitha was waiting for the laughter to begin.

"Oh my gosh, please let me read it when it's done!
Ooh, are you going to do a forbidden love type story?"

Anvi's excitement was palpable, and it was hard to believe that this girl was the same one who was full of so much rage yesterday.

Tabitha chuckled, taken by surprise. "Uh, y-yeah I guess.
I hadn't given much thought to it yet."

"This is gonna be a great book!", said Anvi.
"You better remember us when you're famous."

Tabitha laughed.
"I wouldn't go that far."

"I would."

¤¤¤

A few hours later, the remaining roommates returned.
Luka cautiously opened the door, with Sutton shielding his face with the bag of food.

Jace dramatically crouched on the ground, before doing a series of somersaults into the living room, and hiding behind the sofa.

"Is it safe?", asked Sutton.

"Guys, look", said KJ.

The others looked up.
They saw a perplexed Tabitha and Anvi staring at their roommates, as if they were aliens.

"You're weirdos", said Tabitha.

"Wait, are you two ok with each other now?", asked Luka.

Tabitha and Anvi looked at each other, before breaking into smiles.
Tabitha bumped her shoulder against Anvi's and the pair chuckled.

"Yeah, we're good", smiled Tabitha.

Luka raised his hands in the air and lunged.
"Yes!
Oh gosh, my little heart couldn't take it. Can we promise not to fight anymore?"

"I don't think Sutton can make that promise", said KJ, before pointing to Jace.

Jace was nibbling on some mozzarella sticks. Sutton's eyes widened.

"Oi!
I saved them for later!"

Jace gasped, and he dropped the box. Already familiar with the fire in Sutton's eyes, he started running, to give himself a headstart.

"You are dy-ing to-night!", exclaimed Sutton, surging towards him and rugby tackling him onto the ground.

---------

Hi.

I do read the comments, and they really make my day! I'm really stressed right now, so reading your comments make me smile. Even if I don't reply, I do read them! And I will reply to them when I can!

I'm sorry but I'm having so much fun writing Sutton and Jace scenes!

Anvi and Tabitha handled the situation maturely. In my opinion, this is a really good example of two people that care really deeply about a friendship, enough to put aside their pride to mend it.

And we get to see a bit more of Tabitha's life! Juggling a YouTube channel, separate vlogging, writing a book and Uni seems hard. Will she be able to find a way to balance them all?

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

ruesbennett

LeMystical-Puffle

1-800-ISAACLAHEY-

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