Chapter Text
I'll admit that maybe going out to a pub late at night wasn't exactly the brightest idea, especially considering the fact that the UK has the most miserable weather anybody has ever had the misfortune to witness.
However, I'm not exactly known for my bright ideas.
Since me and Vivienne's exams had finished, logically the next step was to celebrate, right? I ended up dragging her down to one of the quieter pubs, just so we wouldn't have to deal with any crowds or long lines.
In my defense, it was a good plan; I ended up convincing her to even dress up for the occasion. Viv was wearing one of her famous iridescent sequin halterbacks with a denim skirt so short it would probably put Uncle Lan in a hospital if he ever saw it (luckily he never will). Inevitably, a few of the pubs stragglers craned their necks to get even a glimpse of my dear cousin.
Too bad for them that Viv doesn't entertain boy-toys, she does for the 'gays and girls.' (Her words not mine.)
I traced the engraved patterns on the cup in front of me with my blood red nails, trying my best to ignore the musty cigarette smoke assaulting my nostrils. I sighed, tuning out the typical noise and music of the pub, opting to sketch a caricature of the bartender on a napkin.
"So you dragged me here to watch you stare at beer?" Vivienne's voice snaps me out of my daydreams, revealing her very annoyed expression. "We could've easily done that at the dorm, Leigh." She sighs, sliding into the seat next to me, her pastel pink nails combing through her platinum blonde hair.
I smile apologetically, it's no secret that Viv is my ride or die that I drag everywhere with me. Most people tend to keep her at an arms length due to her dramatics and inherent narcissism. However thats never been the case for me. Ever since we were children, I've always seen her as a younger sister, a confidant, and most importantly a best friend.
I wrap an arm around her waist, pressing her against me for a quick side hug. "Sorry Viv, you've just been so focused recently that I thought it'd be a good idea for us to go out a little." I admit, brushing her hair from her pouty face.
Our embrace is rudely interrupted by the loud crack of lightning outside. A groan of annoyance leaves my lips as I hear the rain begin to pound against the roof of the pub. In my haste to drag Viv out of the dorm, I'd insisted we just walk, since our destination wasn't that far away.
Which meant now we were fucked.
Since we didn't drive my car, nor bring an umbrella, there wasn't really any options other than to either make a mad dash and risk a cold, or ask a stranger for a ride. I raised my thumb to my lips before forcing it right back down.
Chewing on my thumb has always been my nervous tell, even when I was much younger.
I sigh, twisting a loc of my brown hair around my finger. "Well, whats the plan? Do I send you to go seduce some guy to take us home?" I giggled, nudging my cousin, to which she didn't dignify with a response.
"I say we just make a run for it, our campus isn't that far away." She suggested, tapping her acrylic nails on the beer-soaked table.
"Running it is then." I nodded, already getting up.
~~~
We burst through the door of our shared flat, gasping and dripping rainwater all over the floor.
I heaved, my lungs burning from the speed we just ran at to get back here. Even though I feel as if I'm close to throwing up a lung, one look at Viv's disgusted, miserable face forces a breathy giggle out of me.
"You look like a wet cat that got stuck in a drain pipe." I grinned, my green eyes glinting. I padded into the bathroom to get warm towels, before unceremoniously throwing one at Viv's crumpled form.
She sneezes before glaring up at me. "See what your nonsense caused?" She wailed, taking off her top and throwing it in some corner.
"I just wanted to stay at home and maybe watch a movie, but noo! Nobody listens to Viv even though I'm always right!" She whines, continuing her rant as she kicks off her skirt and pulls on one of her many pink pajama sets.
I simply tune her out, heading to my bedroom to change my wet tank top and skirt for my much more comfortable oversized sweater.
Technically, its my dad's sweater I stole from home, but whatever. Speaking of my father, I should probably call him this week and tell him I'm alive and well before he starts worrying.
He worries for me all the time, my dad.
Another one of Vivienne's sneezes, brings me back to reality. I peeked my head through the door, watching her sneeze uncontrollably. "Looks like somebody caught a cold." I chuckle, meandering out of my room to pat her head.
"Does little Viv need a nappy and some cold medication?" I taunt in a high-pitched voice, ruffling her hair. Her entire face turns red with embarrassment before she whips around and slaps my hand away from her.
"Me? Sick? I'd like you to know my utterly sublime immune system is filing an HR complaint with your idiotic mouth!" She snapped, storming over to the couch before flopping down dramatically. "And besides! Even if I was sick, it wouldn't affect me anyway." Viv declares before proceeding to sniffle and sneeze right after.
Yeah right, not sick my ass. So we're just sneezing for fun now?
"Whatever you say, cousin dearest." I said, sinking into the couch right beside of her before turning the TV onto a random movie.