Chapter Text
“She’s already in there, what the hell do I do?” Vi whispered fiercely to her younger sister as she cupped her hands to the door trying to hear what was going on inside. She looked up at the numbers 207, affirming that this room would be her home for the next semester of her sophomore year.
Jinx leaned against the wall, chewing gum with theatrical indifference. “You can’t hide out here forever. Just knock. Worst case, she murders you on sight.”
Vi glared but couldn’t argue. With a deep breath, she adjusted the tote bag digging into her shoulder and faced the door labeled 207 — her home for the next semester. College roommate lotteries were supposed to be random. Fate clearly hadn’t gotten the memo.
Steeling herself, she knocked.
Seconds stretched painfully before the handle rattled. The door creaked open, and there she was — tall, poised, and unmistakably done with Vi’s existence.
“You?!” Caitlyn’s eyes widened before narrowing into frosty slits. “Absolutely not.”
Vi opened her mouth, but Caitlyn kept going. “I told you I never wanted to see you again after what happened last time.”
Last time. The words hit like a punch to the gut. Vi fumbled for something — anything — to say.
“Uh… I must’ve… gotten the wrong room?” she offered lamely, already stepping back.
Caitlyn scoffed and slammed the door with surgical precision, leaving Vi staring at the faded wood like it might offer some explanation.
Behind her, Jinx snorted. “Sooo… what was that about?”
Vi remained frozen, mind still in free-fall. “It’s best if we don’t bring it up.”
Jinx grinned wickedly. “You seriously aren’t going to tell me?”
Vi hefted her bag, suddenly very serious. “Let’s go home. I’ve decided to quit college.”
Jinx snorted. “Can’tcha just switch rooms? Someone around here’s gotta have an empty bed.”
Moments later, Jinx lingered outside the RA’s office, listening in on the increasingly heated argument echoing from within. Vi’s voice grew louder, more frustrated, until the conversation ended with a door slam.
“So... no luck?” Jinx asked casually when Vi reappeared, visibly seething.
Vi threw her hands up in exasperation. “I’m just gonna have to deal with that freakishly lanky girl.”
With matching scowls, they trudged back up the stairs to where most of Vi’s luggage still sat abandoned by the door. Resigned, Vi gave the door another sharp knock.
The door opened slowly this time, revealing Caitlyn’s sharp, suspicious gaze. Her eyes flicked down to the rest of Vi’s luggage still scattered in the hallway.
“You’re back,” Caitlyn said flatly.
“Lucky you,” Vi deadpanned, gripping her duffel bag tighter.
Caitlyn stepped aside with a begrudging sigh. “So what exactly are you here for? Another date? An apology? Are you so lonely that you went to the only girl-”
“I’m living here.” Vi interrupted. “Room 207? Ace hall?”
Caitlyn blinked, visibly thrown off. “You’re joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Vi retorted, hauling her duffel further into the room.
Caitlyn crossed her arms, still blocking part of the entrance. “There has to be a mistake.”
“No mistake,” Vi said sharply. “I already argued with the RA. Apparently, this is my room now.”
Caitlyn let out a disbelieving laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Fantastic.”
Vi dumped her bag onto the empty bed. “Look, I’m not thrilled about this either, but unless you’ve got a spare dorm hidden somewhere, we’re stuck.”
Caitlyn tried to keep her composure, “Fine. I’ll book a hotel room for tonight and you can figure out who’s couch you can crash on for this next year”
Vi shot Caitlyn a look “Why do you get the room? You could easily get yourself a mansion, if you wanted!”
Caitlyn shrugged, “It’s too much of a hassle to move all my stuff. I’m not dealing with that.”
Vi stared at the room. Half of it was meticulously neat: military-cornered bedspread, neatly arranged books, and a row of color-coded sticky notes pinned above a sleek desk. The scent of lotus drifted throughout the room. It was so incredibly Caitlyn.
It was perfect. Something you would see on a Pinterest board. There wasn’t a single thing that was out of place.
And that make Vi’s skin crawl. But she would force herself to deal with it.
Taking a deep breath, Vi finally gathered the courage to speak. "Look, we can try to make this work. We could just—"
“Ignore eachother completely and set up a curtain so I never have to see your face again?” Caitlyn finished, not even bothering with eye contact.
Vi blinked, taken aback by how easily Caitlyn finished her sentence. She suppressed a laugh at how utterly ridiculous this girl was being over something so small. "Yes, exactly. Thanks for the brilliant suggestion, Miss Perfect."
Caitlyn, completely unfazed, got onto her bed and opened her laptop. "Alright then. I'll go ahead and place the order for the curtains. Hopefully, they offer same-day delivery."
Vi stared at her in disbelief. "You can’t be serious."
Caitlyns eyes were unwavering from the screen, “You said it yourself. It’s a brilliant suggestion and must be done if we are to be…living together.”
Vi made her way to the door, her arms full of the last of her belongings, meeting Jinx as they finished unloading her things into the room. Caitlyn, still seething but unwilling to engage, kept her distance, pretending like everything happening around her wasn’t her problem.
Once everything was inside, the room wasn’t exactly decorated-but it was enough for now. Vi and Jinx sat on the stairs outside the building, having a final conversation, knowing their time together was quickly running out.
Jinx couldn’t hold it in any longer. "One last thing before you go- what did that prick do to you?"
Vi blinked, searching for the right words, trying to find a way to explain without sounding too bitter. Finally, she spoke quietly, her gaze drifting to the ground. "We went on a date. Just one. And now she acts like I’ve ruined her life."
Jinx raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "I thought you killed her mom or something. Oh well, see ya in a bit, sis." She stood up, pulling Vi into a tight hug before heading toward the exit, off to her own home.
"See ya," Vi replied, holding her sister close for a moment longer before letting go.
· ─ ·𖥸· ─ ·
“You snore way too loudly and put a piece of oily pizza in my cosmetic mini-fridge. If I get even one pimple, I’m blaming you for it.” Caitlyn’s voice was cold and authoritative as she stood in the doorway the next morning, her arms crossed over her chest, eyes narrowing at Vi, who was just waking up.
Vi blinked at her, still groggy and barely processing the situation. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, “A… a cosmetic fridge? You have a fridge... for makeup?”
Caitlyn sighed, clearly frustrated, but pressed on, "It's for skincare, actually. But that’s beside the point. We cannot live together."
Vi, still a little disoriented from the sleep she’d tried to get, sat up and ran a hand through her messy hair, feeling the dark circles under her eyes. “I stayed up last night reading through the roommate agreement. I even tried to find a loophole, but no such luck. We're stuck together until next semester.”
Vi’s gaze drifted to Caitlyn’s side of the room. Everything was pristine, neat, and organized—just like the night before. Vi’s own side, on the other hand, was chaotic: clothes were scattered, her duffel bag still half unpacked, and her shoes haphazardly strewn about the floor.
Vi considered trying to make small talk. But then she remembered Caitlyn’s earlier words: “We can’t live together.”
Vi wasn't sure she disagreed.
"Alright, so what's the plan, then?" Vi asked, grabbing her hoodie from the floor. “Do we just go on pretending we’re roommates, or…?”
Caitlyn, without looking up, replied flatly, “We’re roommates because there’s no other option. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend everything’s fine. We keep our distance. We respect the boundaries. And we make it through this semester without destroying each other.”
“Should we at least try…” Vi began hesitantly, the words slipping out before she fully understood what she was asking for.
Caitlyn frowned, clearly suspicious. “If you’re suggesting something inappropriate, then—”
“No! I meant talking to each other,” Vi clarified quickly, holding up her hands. “Just… trying to see what the other person is like. Humor me. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.”
Caitlyn’s skepticism didn’t waver, but after a long moment, she gave a curt nod. “Fine.”
“Okay,” Vi said, forcing a smile as she tried to steer them into neutral territory. “How about we ask each other questions? Something simple. Like… What’s your major?”
Caitlyn answered as if she were reciting from a résumé. “Pre-Law and English.”
“Of course it is,” Vi muttered, cracking a faint smile. “Your turn. Ask me anything.”
Caitlyn’s gaze sharpened, her eyes locking onto Vi’s like a blade honing in on its target. “Why the hell didn’t you treat me better?”
Vi froze, caught completely off guard. That was not the lighthearted small talk she’d been expecting. “I—what? It was just a first date. I thought it went fine—sweet, even.”
Caitlyn gave a humorless laugh, her voice icy and clipped. “ Sweet ? You promised me a fancy dinner and then took me to McDonald’s. That’s not sweet. That’s lazy . And if that wasn’t bad enough, you tried to kiss me at the end of it. I barely spoke eight words the entire night.”
Vi’s jaw dropped. “I’m a college student ! What were you expecting—Nobu?” she shot back defensively.
Caitlyn crossed her arms, her tone sharp. “I was expecting basic decency. You don’t overpromise and underdeliver. And maybe you don’t try to kiss someone who’s clearly not into you.”
Vi’s cheeks flushed with frustration and something else she couldn’t quite name. “I was nervous, okay? I thought we had a good vibe, and I didn’t want to mess it up. Clearly, I failed.”
“Clearly,” Caitlyn deadpanned, her words like a closing argument.
Yet, Vi continued, “I didn’t mean to screw it up,” she said, quieter this time. “I just… I thought you’d be cool with it.”
Caitlyn crossed her arms, but her glare softened—just a fraction. “I wanted to be cool with it… but you made me feel like I wasn’t worth anything better.”
Vi swallowed hard. That hit deeper than she expected. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Yeah, well.” Caitlyn broke eye contact, looking away like she regretted saying too much. “Now you do.”
The tension was still so thick.
The silence between them shifted, no longer as tense but still fragile. Vi leaned back against her bedframe, glancing at Caitlyn. “So, Pre-Law and English, huh? What’s the plan after that? Are you aiming to be the world’s most intimidating lawyer?”
“What? I—just shut up. Do you not know how to do that?”
“No. No, I don’t.” Vi smirked. “My turn to ask a ques—”
“Are we really still doing this?” Caitlyn interrupted, folding her arms. “I mean—”
“How early did you get here? Really.” Vi nodded toward Caitlyn’s pristine side of the room. “Your side looks so… presentable. ” She bit back a teasing grin, trying not to push too far.
Caitlyn’s expression tightened. “Not answering. It’s stupid.”
Vi’s smirk widened. “Ohhh, Miss Perfect has an embarrassing trait about her?”
Caitlyn glared, but Vi could see the faintest flicker of hesitation. For a second, it seemed like she might shut down again, but instead, she sighed, crossing her arms defensively.
“I moved in early... because of colorguard,” Caitlyn admitted reluctantly. “We had rehersal the week before classes started.”
Vi blinked, “Colorguard?”
Caitlyn snapped, her face faintly pink, “Yes, the things with rifles and flags with the marching band and-”
“Holy fucking shit you are a band kid, yeah, I would have kept that to myself,” Vi leaned on her bedframe.
Caitlyn corrected sharply, “I am not. I just like the challenge, the precision, the skill it takes.”
Vi said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “I just didn’t peg you for the whole... teamwork, ‘school spirit’ type.”
“Once again, it isn’t that. It’s something I have to be absolutely flawless at, or else I am just forgettable. I enjoy training myself in areas that aren’t reading great works of literature or practicing for a bar exam.”
Vi studied her for a moment, surprised by the vulnerability behind those words. “Sounds intense.”
“It is, ” Caitlyn said firmly, reclaiming her edge. “That’s why I’m good at it.”
“I bet,” Vi said, her tone genuine. “You seem like the kind of person who doesn’t miss.”
Caitlyn didn’t respond, but Vi caught a faint twitch of her lips, almost like she was fighting back a smile.
“Alright,” Vi said, breaking the moment. “Your turn.”
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“To ask a question.” Vi stretched lazily.
Caitlyn considered her, her expression guarded but curious. After a beat, she asked, “Why do you really keep trying to talk to me?”
Vi blinked, thrown off but only for a second. “Because I think there’s more to you than just scary death glares.”
Caitlyn opened her mouth, then closed it, clearly unsure how to respond.
“I’m stubborn like that,” Vi added with a lopsided grin.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”
“Okay my turn. “You don’t really care about how perfect everything is, do you?” she asked quietly.
Vi raised an eyebrow. “I’m not perfect , if that’s what you mean.”
“Not what I mean,” Caitlyn replied with a hint of something else in her voice. “But you try harder than you let on. You don’t have to impress anyone here.”
Vi chuckled, the words catching her off guard. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
Caitlyn smirked, but there was something more open in her expression now, less guarded. “Yeah, well… I’m allowed to be a little messed up.”
Vi nodded, unsure of what to say, but feeling like something had shifted between them. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it was better than when they’d started.
“Alright, enough deep talk for today,” Vi said, throwing herself back onto her bed. “You got anything fun planned for this weekend? Or are you just going to judge everyone else’s lack of precision?”
“I’ll probably just go hang out with my girlfriend.” This sentence coming out of anyone’s mouth may seem excited, more lovestruck, but for Caitlyn it seemed like an obligation.
Vi froze for a split second, her casual smirk faltering. “Oh. Cool,” she said, keeping her tone neutral. “Didn’t know you had a girlfriend.”
Caitlyn shrugged, her expression unreadable. “It’s…sure, it’s like that. Cool .”
“Right.” Vi forced herself to nod, stretching out on her bed like she couldn’t care less. “What’s she like?”
Caitlyn hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her laptop. “She’s...positive, driven…nice at times. We met last year on guard.” Her voice was mechanical, like she was reciting a list from memory rather than describing someone she cared about.
Vi raised an eyebrow. “Sounds... ideal.”
“She is,” Caitlyn insisted, but there was something hollow in her tone.
The room settled into an uneasy silence, the lightness from earlier evaporating. Vi drummed her fingers against her bedframe, debating whether to push further. She didn’t owe Caitlyn anything, but there was something about the way she’d said “girlfriend”—like it was a role she was expected to play, not something she wanted .
Caitlyn finally sighed, closing her laptop. “And you? Is there someone out there that is unlucky enough to end up with you?” She seemed more interested in her response than she was talking about her own girlfriend.
Vi snorted. “You think I’m the type to be tied down?”
Caitlyn’s lips twitched. “Good point.”
· ─ ·𖥸· ─ ·
It had been two days since the awkward-yet-oddly-pleasant conversation about Caitlyn’s girlfriend. The room felt less suffocating now, though Caitlyn still carried herself with that same sharpness, as if everything needed to be perfectly in its place—including her emotions.
Vi, on the other hand, was sprawled out on her bed, scrolling mindlessly through her phone. The rain pattered softly against the window, creating a lulling rhythm that made the tiny dorm feel cozier than usual.
“You’re going to rot your brain doing that,” Caitlyn remarked without looking up from her book. She was sitting on her neatly made bed, legs crossed, the epitome of control.
“Says the girl who probably studied case law for breakfast,” Vi shot back, flipping her phone shut dramatically.
“I prefer tea with my case law, actually,” Caitlyn retorted, but there was a hint of amusement in her tone.
Vi propped herself up on her elbows. “Okay, Miss Serious. What do you even do for fun? And don’t say ‘read.’”
Caitlyn’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong with reading?”
Vi rolled her eyes. “Nothing. It’s just... not fun-fun. Don’t you, like, binge-watch trashy TV? Or do something messy, like painting or... I don’t know, roller derby?”
Caitlyn actually laughed at that, a short, surprised sound. “Roller derby? Really?”
Vi grinned. “Hey, you’ve got the precision for it. Probably tackle someone like a linebacker.”
Caitlyn shook her head, setting her book aside. “If you must know, I do enjoy certain shows. Just not... ‘trashy’ ones, as you put it.”
“Oh?” Vi perked up. “What’re we talking about? Reality TV? Baking competitions? Please say it’s crime shows. I need to know if you sit there yelling at the screen about how ‘that’s not how the legal system works.’”
Caitlyn hesitated, and that faint pink crept back into her cheeks. “...Period dramas,” she admitted softly.
Vi blinked. Then blinked again. “Wait. Actually?”
“I like period dramas,” Caitlyn repeated firmly, like daring Vi to make fun of her.
Vi stared for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. “No way . You’re telling me you, Queen of Efficiency, sits there swooning over brooding dudes on horseback?”
“I don’t swoon,” Caitlyn snapped, though her cheeks were definitely pink now. “I appreciate the storytelling, the historical accuracy—”
“Uh-huh. Sure. It’s the storytelling,” Vi teased, sitting up fully now. “Tell me—what’s your favorite? Is it Bridgerton? Pride and Prejudice?”
Caitlyn gave her a withering look. “If I tell you, will you promise to stop?”
“Absolutely not,” Vi said cheerfully.
Caitlyn sighed, clearly regretting every decision that had led to this moment. “Fine. It’s Downton Abbey.”
Vi’s jaw dropped. “Downton Abbey?! Holy shit, Caitlyn, that’s so... so—”
“What?” Caitlyn demanded, her arms crossed defensively.
“Unexpected,” Vi finished, grinning like she’d just unearthed the world’s biggest secret. “No college student should watch Downton Abbey.”
“A lot do.”
“You can lie to yourself, but not me.”
· ─ ·𖥸· ─ ·
A couple days later, classes had started. The two had pretended not to notice eachother, and not to notice eachother trying not to notice eachother.
Vi returned from class, tossing her bag onto her bed with enough force to make Caitlyn glance up from her laptop.
“Do you ever handle anything gently?” Caitlyn asked, not even trying to mask the irritation in her voice.
Vi shrugged, kicking off her boots in a way that sent one careening dangerously close to Caitlyn’s neatly stacked textbooks. “Guess not. Sorry, princess, didn’t mean to disturb your perfect little bubble.”
Caitlyn sighed, shutting her laptop with an audible click. “You’d think by now you’d learn some basic respect for other people’s space.”
“You’d think by now you’d learn how to let loose,” Vi shot back, throwing herself onto the bed. “Seriously, do you ever not look like you’re one B+ essay away from a mental breakdown?”
Caitlyn’s jaw tightened, her blue eyes narrowing. “At least I care about my future. What’s your excuse? Coasting through life on brute force and sheer luck?”
“Better than coasting through life with a stick up my ass,” Vi retorted with a grin, taking a defiant bite of her snack.
Caitlyn stood abruptly, crossing the room to retrieve the stray boot and drop it pointedly at Vi’s feet. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, here we are,” Vi said, leaning back and lacing her hands behind her head.
Caitlyn crossed her arms, clearly gearing up for another sharp remark, but instead, she let out a long, controlled breath. “You know what? Fine. You do you. Just keep your chaos out of my side of the room.”
Vi smirked, watching Caitlyn retreat back to her desk. “You care about this room more than most people care about their pets, huh?”
“Yes, because unlike you, I value order and cleanliness,” Caitlyn replied, turning her back to Vi. “Some of us find peace in structure.”
Vi studied her for a moment, a flicker of something almost sympathetic crossing her face. “That why you do color guard? For the peace?”
Caitlyn froze, then glanced over her shoulder. “What are you getting at?”
“Just curious,” Vi said, sitting up a little straighter. “You’ve got this whole ‘perfect and untouchable’ thing going on, but you spend your free time chucking flags and rifles around. It’s... surprising.”
Caitlyn frowned, as if trying to decide whether to take offense or see it as a compliment. “It’s about precision and discipline. Two things you clearly lack.”
“Discipline? Trust me. I know discipline. A sport got me into this college, full-ride.” Vi said, matter of factly.
Caitlyn let out a sigh of disapproval, “I didn’t know that they gave full rides for being the most sluggish person.”
Vi snorted, leaning forward with a challenging glint in her eyes. “You think I’m sluggish? That’s cute.”
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “What sport could you possibly be good at?”
Vi smirked. “Volleyball.”
There was a brief pause as Caitlyn processed this, clearly trying not to seem remotely interested. “Figures. A sport where you hit things. Very on-brand.”
“Hey, it’s a lot more than just hitting things,” Vi countered. “You wouldn’t last five minutes.”
Caitlyn’s expression didn’t waver, though her eyes narrowed slightly. “I excel at anything I set my mind to.”
Vi leaned back with a knowing grin. “Oh yeah? You saying you could handle playing with my team?”
“Without question,” Caitlyn said with icy confidence.
“Prove it.”
Caitlyn blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Excuse me?”
“You talk a big game,” Vi said, standing and stretching. “Come to an open rec night. Let’s see if you’ve got more than just sharp words.”
Caitlyn scoffed. “Why would I waste my time playing some ridiculous game with you ?”
“Because you hate losing,” Vi shot back smoothly. “And now you’ve gotta prove you’re as good as you say you are.”
Caitlyn opened her mouth to argue, but Vi was already grabbing her gym bag, flashing her a cocky smile on the way out the door.
“Friday night,” Vi called over her shoulder. “If you’re really up for a challenge.”
The door shut behind her, leaving Caitlyn standing there, fists clenched, jaw tight.
She hated that Vi had gotten under her skin—hated even more that part of her was already considering showing up.