Now the night is coming to an end,
The sun will rise and we will try again.
~truce (twenty one pilots)
Snow fell down from the sky, a layer of snow resting on top of the entire city. A small layer of frost covered her thin New York apartment windows. It was so cold that her breath could have made a foggy cloud in the sky while she was only in bed.
Looking over, Sarah saw his soft tan skin and his light blonde hair. The heat from his body reached out and warmed her. She couldn’t believe that they had fallen in love and--
“You know this is pretty bad!” Greer slammed her laptop shut when she heard Douglas shout obnoxiously in her ear, “I was reading that.”
“Well it wasn’t yours to read.” She stood and stalked off to the kitchen, her voracious appetite preparing to consume an offensive amount of food.
“It was a literary masterpiece. You're the next Stephanie King.”
“You mean Stephen King?” Greer asked incredulously.
“No. That chick that wrote those vampire stories.” Douglas relaxed back into the barstool, staring at Greer who struggled to reach the bag of chips that he had hid up on top of the refrigerator to keep her from stealing them.
“Oh. Stephanie Meyer.” She strained.
“You know, I put those up there because you can't reach them.” With that Greer jumped up and plucked the bag from the top, grunting triumphantly. Placing a chip in her mouth, she chewed and swallowed.
“You underestimate me, my son.” Grinning, she retreated to the office.
“Your writing sucks, Greer!” She had already shut the door to her office but a muffled “Thanks!” still filtered through the walls.
Snow tumbled from the sky, a layer of powdery snow resting on top of the entire city. A minute layer of frost covered her thin New York apartment windows. It was so cold that her breath fogged out into a cloud as she woke up in bed.
Glancing over, Louise saw his smooth, tan skin and his light blond hair. The heat from his body radiated outwards and warmed her. She struggled to believe that he had chosen her to love--
“It's really not any better, Greer.” Slamming her computer shut once again she had an overwhelming sense of déja vu.
“Douglas. Can you kindly f—” He quickly brought his finger to her lips.
“It's not ladylike to swear, darling.”
“Go to hell.”
“I would be happy to give you some tips on how to improve your story.” He followed her to the bathroom where she shut the door in his face.
"You're not the accomplished writer in this apartment."
"You have one published book. That hardly constitutes as 'accomplished'." Greer rolled her eyes, realizing she had gone into the bathroom for no reason. She crossed her arms after pulling the door open, a gust of air throwing her hair back.
"And what have you done since high school?" Greer tapped her index finger on her chin, mockingly pondering, "Mooch off of your amazing roommate?"
"As it happens, my annoying roommate just paid my half of the electric bill." Douglas pleaded while grinning madly. She had been paying his half of the bill more than fifty percent of the time.
"You know you probably shouldn’t call her annoying if you’re asking for a favor. But anyway, no. Not again. I refuse." Greer flew past him and began to retreat to her office before Douglas' hand caught her forearm.
"Please? I'm working really hard at my job but my boss just won't give me that raise."
"Fine."
Snow tumbled from the atmosphere, a layer of fresh powder coating New York City. A thin layer of crystalline frost encrusted her thin apartment windows. Her breath fogged out in a cloud and she shivered at the cold.
Glancing over, Beth observed his serene breaths and his tan skin. The heat from his body radiated out and furled around her in curls, warming her to the core. She couldn’t believe that he had chosen her to--
"Chosen her for what?"
"Douglas! You dingus, stop sneaking up on me.”
A knock suddenly emanated from the door and Douglas jumped to answer it. Greer watched him greet a horde of people that entered their freshly cleaned apartment. Douglas lingered on one brunette, kissing her on the cheek and taking her by the arm.
Douglas began to lead her over and Greer cursed under her breath and desperately wished to crawl into her anti-social bubble and never come out.
“Dougie! Is this Greer Keating? You know, the writer?” She whispered the last part.
“Yeah. Greer, meet Dane, my half-sister.” A sigh of relief escaped Greer’s mouth, she was so inexplicably thankful that it wasn’t one of Douglas’ interchangeable girls.
“Oh my goodness, I am such a huge fan of yours! Dougie told me all about you.”
“Dougie?” Greer asked, snickering.
“Shut up.” He nudged her, slyly grinning before attending to his other guests.
“Who are all of these people?” Greer questioned Dane.
“Mostly family. A few friends. How did you get the idea for your book?” Dane asked insatiably, her wide brown eyes staring up at Greer’s own blue orbs.
“I don’t know.”
“So you’ve never been in love?”
“No.”
“It really seems like you have.”
Greer shrugged.
Suddenly, the lights all went out leaving everyone in the dark.
“Uh! Greer?” Douglas shouted from across the apartment, staring into dark oblivion.
“Yeah?”
“Did you pay the electric bill?”
“Yes! I’m the responsible one, remember?” Laughter erupted from Douglas’ guests.
“Damn, the power must have blown.”
Everybody had left due to the failing heating system. Douglas had called the landlord and he only brought them a few candles and flashlights. Ice had begun to claim the windows of their apartment.
Despite being dressed in long pajamas and covered in blankets, Greer shivered in her bed, reflecting on something Dane had said to her before she left.
Greer had been sulking in the corner since the landlord had brought them light sources, avoiding Dane’s probing questions about her non-existent love life. Dane approached her, throwing Greer off.
“I am sorry if I’ve annoyed you with my questions.” Dane joined Greer in the corner.
“You’ve been wonderful.” Greer attempted to keep the sarcasm from leaking into her words.
“It’s just…” Dane hesitated, as if she was afraid to say what she wanted to, “Dougie has been going on and on about you, about your writing and your personality and all of these little things that only someone in love would notice. I’ve never seen him like this. I’ve never seen him become so attached to someone.” Greer froze, mouth open, unable to avert her eyes from Douglas. He felt someone’s hot gaze on him and saw his roommate staring at him.
“Why did-- Why did you tell me all of that?” Greer spoke.
“It’s so obvious. I thought you knew.”
“No. I didn’t.”
Greer shot up from her bed and extinguished the candles in her room. Strutting to Douglas’ room, she paced back and forth on the hardwood floors in front of his door, fully intent on asking him what Dane had been talking about. The door opened and Douglas stood there wrapped up in a blanket, fully awake. He hadn’t slept a wink or thought about much else since he caught Greer staring at him. He thought, did she figure it out?
“It’s late. What are you still doing up?”
“I’m cold. I was wondering if we could--” She lied quickly.
“Heat each other up?” Douglas quirked his eyebrow and smirked.
“Don’t make it sound so dirty.” He just laughed and welcomed her into his bedroom.
Greer climbed awkwardly into the farthest side of his bed. She wrapped the blanket tighter about her body, and felt the bed dip down when Douglas laid down. He slid closer to her, pulling her into his warm embrace. She pushed away from him and erected herself, simultaneously grabbing her ankles.
“What did you do that for?”
“We’re supposed to be keeping each other warm.”
“Dane told me something today.” Greer blurted out of context. Douglas didn’t respond, but simply looked quizzically at her. The frosted moonlight cast rays across his face along with the flickering candles glowing softly.
“She said that… She said--” Douglas cut her off by capturing her lips with his own. She pulled away after a few moments but left their foreheads resting together. His hand reached up and held the nape of her neck, afraid that she might pull away at any moment. For so long he had been afraid of pushing her away with his true intentions. He had been in love with her for years, longer than they had been roommates. Since he had read her book.
“She said that I was in love with you.” Greer recoiled, as if his touch were coals.
“Are you?” She questioned, already knowing the answer after that searing kiss.
“Undoubtedly.”
“Why?” She knew she was mediocre. She did not have the beauty that all men craved, she did not have the intelligence to keep men guessing, she did not have allure or an identity, she was a misanthropic, introverted writer who relied on her sarcasm and silver tongue to keep her protected from the world.
“Because you’re not like most girls, Greer. You’re beautiful and sardonic and intelligent. You don’t conform.”
“I am exactly like most girls, Douglas. I am ironical and awkward and I conform. I think that I need to separate myself from the rest of the female gender because stereotypical girls are not good enough. I love too easily.
“Don’t get involved with me unless you want me to fall for you hard and fast. Because I will. And it will hurt when you don’t reciprocate.”
“I love you with all my heart, Greer. Take that leap of faith. Please?”
The lights flickered on and they both squinted, straining at the sudden burst of light. Greer’s eyes adjusted first, her lips pursed and brows furrowed. She saw Douglas’ face partially shrouded by the artificial light. He had always been handsome with a façade of strength. But now all she could see in this new light was his vulnerability. He was her drawback, his flaw, his weakness. He the Achilles’ heel, and she the poison arrow.
Snow tumbled from the atmosphere, a layer of fresh powder coating New York City. A frail layer of crystalline frost encrusted her thin apartment windows. Her breath fogged out in a cloud and she shivered at the cold.
Glancing over, Greer observed her empty bed, but her heart did not yearn for Douglas. Her steely resolve had not melted soon enough, pushing him away. But she had finally come to peace, and it was only the beginning.
The sun will rise and we will try again.
~truce (twenty one pilots)
Snow fell down from the sky, a layer of snow resting on top of the entire city. A small layer of frost covered her thin New York apartment windows. It was so cold that her breath could have made a foggy cloud in the sky while she was only in bed.
Looking over, Sarah saw his soft tan skin and his light blonde hair. The heat from his body reached out and warmed her. She couldn’t believe that they had fallen in love and--
“You know this is pretty bad!” Greer slammed her laptop shut when she heard Douglas shout obnoxiously in her ear, “I was reading that.”
“Well it wasn’t yours to read.” She stood and stalked off to the kitchen, her voracious appetite preparing to consume an offensive amount of food.
“It was a literary masterpiece. You're the next Stephanie King.”
“You mean Stephen King?” Greer asked incredulously.
“No. That chick that wrote those vampire stories.” Douglas relaxed back into the barstool, staring at Greer who struggled to reach the bag of chips that he had hid up on top of the refrigerator to keep her from stealing them.
“Oh. Stephanie Meyer.” She strained.
“You know, I put those up there because you can't reach them.” With that Greer jumped up and plucked the bag from the top, grunting triumphantly. Placing a chip in her mouth, she chewed and swallowed.
“You underestimate me, my son.” Grinning, she retreated to the office.
“Your writing sucks, Greer!” She had already shut the door to her office but a muffled “Thanks!” still filtered through the walls.
Snow tumbled from the sky, a layer of powdery snow resting on top of the entire city. A minute layer of frost covered her thin New York apartment windows. It was so cold that her breath fogged out into a cloud as she woke up in bed.
Glancing over, Louise saw his smooth, tan skin and his light blond hair. The heat from his body radiated outwards and warmed her. She struggled to believe that he had chosen her to love--
“It's really not any better, Greer.” Slamming her computer shut once again she had an overwhelming sense of déja vu.
“Douglas. Can you kindly f—” He quickly brought his finger to her lips.
“It's not ladylike to swear, darling.”
“Go to hell.”
“I would be happy to give you some tips on how to improve your story.” He followed her to the bathroom where she shut the door in his face.
"You're not the accomplished writer in this apartment."
"You have one published book. That hardly constitutes as 'accomplished'." Greer rolled her eyes, realizing she had gone into the bathroom for no reason. She crossed her arms after pulling the door open, a gust of air throwing her hair back.
"And what have you done since high school?" Greer tapped her index finger on her chin, mockingly pondering, "Mooch off of your amazing roommate?"
"As it happens, my annoying roommate just paid my half of the electric bill." Douglas pleaded while grinning madly. She had been paying his half of the bill more than fifty percent of the time.
"You know you probably shouldn’t call her annoying if you’re asking for a favor. But anyway, no. Not again. I refuse." Greer flew past him and began to retreat to her office before Douglas' hand caught her forearm.
"Please? I'm working really hard at my job but my boss just won't give me that raise."
"Fine."
Snow tumbled from the atmosphere, a layer of fresh powder coating New York City. A thin layer of crystalline frost encrusted her thin apartment windows. Her breath fogged out in a cloud and she shivered at the cold.
Glancing over, Beth observed his serene breaths and his tan skin. The heat from his body radiated out and furled around her in curls, warming her to the core. She couldn’t believe that he had chosen her to--
"Chosen her for what?"
"Douglas! You dingus, stop sneaking up on me.”
A knock suddenly emanated from the door and Douglas jumped to answer it. Greer watched him greet a horde of people that entered their freshly cleaned apartment. Douglas lingered on one brunette, kissing her on the cheek and taking her by the arm.
Douglas began to lead her over and Greer cursed under her breath and desperately wished to crawl into her anti-social bubble and never come out.
“Dougie! Is this Greer Keating? You know, the writer?” She whispered the last part.
“Yeah. Greer, meet Dane, my half-sister.” A sigh of relief escaped Greer’s mouth, she was so inexplicably thankful that it wasn’t one of Douglas’ interchangeable girls.
“Oh my goodness, I am such a huge fan of yours! Dougie told me all about you.”
“Dougie?” Greer asked, snickering.
“Shut up.” He nudged her, slyly grinning before attending to his other guests.
“Who are all of these people?” Greer questioned Dane.
“Mostly family. A few friends. How did you get the idea for your book?” Dane asked insatiably, her wide brown eyes staring up at Greer’s own blue orbs.
“I don’t know.”
“So you’ve never been in love?”
“No.”
“It really seems like you have.”
Greer shrugged.
Suddenly, the lights all went out leaving everyone in the dark.
“Uh! Greer?” Douglas shouted from across the apartment, staring into dark oblivion.
“Yeah?”
“Did you pay the electric bill?”
“Yes! I’m the responsible one, remember?” Laughter erupted from Douglas’ guests.
“Damn, the power must have blown.”
Everybody had left due to the failing heating system. Douglas had called the landlord and he only brought them a few candles and flashlights. Ice had begun to claim the windows of their apartment.
Despite being dressed in long pajamas and covered in blankets, Greer shivered in her bed, reflecting on something Dane had said to her before she left.
Greer had been sulking in the corner since the landlord had brought them light sources, avoiding Dane’s probing questions about her non-existent love life. Dane approached her, throwing Greer off.
“I am sorry if I’ve annoyed you with my questions.” Dane joined Greer in the corner.
“You’ve been wonderful.” Greer attempted to keep the sarcasm from leaking into her words.
“It’s just…” Dane hesitated, as if she was afraid to say what she wanted to, “Dougie has been going on and on about you, about your writing and your personality and all of these little things that only someone in love would notice. I’ve never seen him like this. I’ve never seen him become so attached to someone.” Greer froze, mouth open, unable to avert her eyes from Douglas. He felt someone’s hot gaze on him and saw his roommate staring at him.
“Why did-- Why did you tell me all of that?” Greer spoke.
“It’s so obvious. I thought you knew.”
“No. I didn’t.”
Greer shot up from her bed and extinguished the candles in her room. Strutting to Douglas’ room, she paced back and forth on the hardwood floors in front of his door, fully intent on asking him what Dane had been talking about. The door opened and Douglas stood there wrapped up in a blanket, fully awake. He hadn’t slept a wink or thought about much else since he caught Greer staring at him. He thought, did she figure it out?
“It’s late. What are you still doing up?”
“I’m cold. I was wondering if we could--” She lied quickly.
“Heat each other up?” Douglas quirked his eyebrow and smirked.
“Don’t make it sound so dirty.” He just laughed and welcomed her into his bedroom.
Greer climbed awkwardly into the farthest side of his bed. She wrapped the blanket tighter about her body, and felt the bed dip down when Douglas laid down. He slid closer to her, pulling her into his warm embrace. She pushed away from him and erected herself, simultaneously grabbing her ankles.
“What did you do that for?”
“We’re supposed to be keeping each other warm.”
“Dane told me something today.” Greer blurted out of context. Douglas didn’t respond, but simply looked quizzically at her. The frosted moonlight cast rays across his face along with the flickering candles glowing softly.
“She said that… She said--” Douglas cut her off by capturing her lips with his own. She pulled away after a few moments but left their foreheads resting together. His hand reached up and held the nape of her neck, afraid that she might pull away at any moment. For so long he had been afraid of pushing her away with his true intentions. He had been in love with her for years, longer than they had been roommates. Since he had read her book.
“She said that I was in love with you.” Greer recoiled, as if his touch were coals.
“Are you?” She questioned, already knowing the answer after that searing kiss.
“Undoubtedly.”
“Why?” She knew she was mediocre. She did not have the beauty that all men craved, she did not have the intelligence to keep men guessing, she did not have allure or an identity, she was a misanthropic, introverted writer who relied on her sarcasm and silver tongue to keep her protected from the world.
“Because you’re not like most girls, Greer. You’re beautiful and sardonic and intelligent. You don’t conform.”
“I am exactly like most girls, Douglas. I am ironical and awkward and I conform. I think that I need to separate myself from the rest of the female gender because stereotypical girls are not good enough. I love too easily.
“Don’t get involved with me unless you want me to fall for you hard and fast. Because I will. And it will hurt when you don’t reciprocate.”
“I love you with all my heart, Greer. Take that leap of faith. Please?”
The lights flickered on and they both squinted, straining at the sudden burst of light. Greer’s eyes adjusted first, her lips pursed and brows furrowed. She saw Douglas’ face partially shrouded by the artificial light. He had always been handsome with a façade of strength. But now all she could see in this new light was his vulnerability. He was her drawback, his flaw, his weakness. He the Achilles’ heel, and she the poison arrow.
Snow tumbled from the atmosphere, a layer of fresh powder coating New York City. A frail layer of crystalline frost encrusted her thin apartment windows. Her breath fogged out in a cloud and she shivered at the cold.
Glancing over, Greer observed her empty bed, but her heart did not yearn for Douglas. Her steely resolve had not melted soon enough, pushing him away. But she had finally come to peace, and it was only the beginning.