Riley tried.Really,she did.
She tried to ignore the glitter hair clips on the bathroom sink.She tried to pretend Ava's playlist -full of bubble gum pop and K-pop bangers didn't bleed through her noise -cancelling headphones.
She tried not to flinch when Ava "accidentally dropped her hairdryer again.At 6:45 am.
But day three of living with Ava was already pushing her patience past the breaking point.Riley clenched her jaw and stepped over a discard crop top in the middle of the room."Do your clothes live on the floor now?"
Ava didn't look up from her mirror."They're just getting some air.Don't be so upright Riles."
"Don't call me that,"Riley snapped.
Ava smirked"Touchy."
Riley opened her drawer, pulled out a note book,and immediately found a smear of glitter on the cover.
Of course.
"I swear, it's like living with a disco ball that never shuts up."Ava turned,hand on her hip."wow. That's rich coming from someone who breathes like she's judging everyone in the room."
Riley rolls her eyes." Because I am judging you."
Their eyes locked.
One moment.
Two.
And Ava flopped dramatically onto her bed."you know what? Fine we need ground rules."
Riley narrowed her eyes."Rules?"
R"yes.Before we kill each other or set the dorm on fire."
She grabbed a pen and a sticky note her night stand and waved them dramatically."Come on, miss structure. Let's make it official."
Riley crossed her arms." Fine.Rule one -no loud music before 9.am."
Ava scribbled it down."Rule two - no judgemental glares before I've had caffeine."
Riley scoffed." That's not a real rule."
"it's now.Rule three - no touching my clothes. Especially my crop tops."
"Rule four - no glitters in the shared spaces."
Ava raised an eyebrow." Glitter is a lifestyle,not a weapon." Riley gave her a look." You glitter bombed my note book."
" Accidentally."
" Three times."
Ava stuck her tongue out but wrote the rule anyway. By the time they got to rule ten - " No flirting to win arguments ." -Avas handwriting was loopy and full of hearts. Riley noticed. And hated that she noticed.
She snatched the sticky note, stuck it to the wall between their beds, and muttered, "let's see how long this last."
Ava leaned back on her pillows, smiling like a cat with a secret.
" Oh, it won't. That's the fun part."