Austin's POV
I woke up in hell.
Not metaphorically. Not poetically. I mean literally the seventh circle of pastel-scented, flower-scented, chaos-ridden hell.
The blanket on me was pink. The pillow had glitter on it. Something fuzzy and plush was wrapped around my leg. And—
"What the hell—"
I sat up straight. A tiara fell from my head and clattered dramatically onto the floor. A unicorn plush fell too. A second one slid off my stomach.
I looked around in horror.
I was in Ray's room.
Last night's conversation came rushing back:
"Please, please, please, Austin. I can't sleep alone."
"She's terrified, man. Just crash in her room. I'll handle her," Sebastian had said. He was in his own dorm room, probably peacefully napping with Ray curled up like a feral cat on his chest.
And I? I was surrounded by seven different stuffed animals, a twinkle-light canopy, a pile of candy wrappers, and what appeared to be a rainbow vomit aesthetic.
There were stickers on the mirror. She had a picture of Sebastian taped to her lamp. I saw another one—cut out, decorated, with washi tape—inside her drawer titled "My Cinnamon Toast Man."
I might throw up.
I pushed myself out of bed, only to step on something soft—Ray's legendary bunny slippers. The ones that squeak.
They squeaked.
"God," I muttered. "I'm a grown man. I passed the bar. I have dignity."
The closet was half-open, revealing at least eight versions of the same oversized hoodie in different shades of pink and white.
There was a chore list taped to the wall with tasks like:
Water Ava's cactus (DO NOT TOUCH it yelled at me last time)
Don't forget Sebastian's left dimple pic = phone wallpaper
Put marshmallows in coffee = love language
If sad = wear fluff socks + kiss Seb's neck + watch Tangled
I needed therapy.
I needed holy water.
I NEEDED TO NEVER SLEEP HERE AGAIN.
Ray barged in just then, glowing like the human equivalent of the sun.
"You're awake!! Oh my god, Austin, good morning!! Did you sleep okay? Did Mr. Bun snore? He does that sometimes."
She pointed at a bunny plush that was sitting innocently on the desk.
"I made pancakes!" she added. "With smiley faces! And hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle! And sprinkles!"
"You fed Sebastian already?" I asked warily.
"Oh, he got breakfast in bed. I literally spoon-fed him marshmallows. I'm the best girlfriend in the world. Don't argue."
I just nodded, defeated.
She ran past me, singing something about pancakes and boyfriends and true love and flowers in her hair.
I picked up my phone, dialed Ava.
The moment she picked up, I said:
"Ava. Come home. Please. I slept in unicorn land. I have pink glitter in places I can't mention. She made me hug a bear named 'Cuddle Chad.' I— Ava. AVA. I think she might've braided my leg hair."
Ava laughed so hard she nearly dropped the phone.
I was never going to emotionally recover from this.
The end.
Signing off.
Siddhii Singh.