The Outcasts

SAM

My new bubbly roommate is lying on the floor surrounded by girly bathroom products and the smashed glass door from the bathroom cabinet.

“What the fuck happened?”

She glares up at me from underneath her heavy bangs. “You decided the shortest person in the household would be fine with the top shelves?!”

I look up and realize a little guiltily that I’d not gotten around to moving my shit after she’d left earlier.

“Stay still, shorty, I’ll get rid of this glass.” I sweep my hair back and tie it off my face while I bend down and gather the shards together, dumping them in the trash before I help her up.

She gives me another murderous look as she pulls her hand back out of mine and then stomps across the hall to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Fuck.

“Hey.” I knock on the door. “You okay?”

The door flies open, making me take a step back in surprise. Her blue eyes flash with an emotion I can’t decipher.

“I’m peachy, just funking peachy.”

“Funking?” I raise my eyebrows, fighting a smile.

“Yes!” She scowls. “Ugh! I can’t believe you thought that I would be okay with having the top shelves! Unless you only did it so you could have a good laugh at my expense.”

I sigh as I see tears fill her eyes again. “Do you really think I’m that much of an asshole?”

She sniffles and shrugs a little.

“Well, I’m not. I just forgot to move my shit. You did kinda land on me without warning today.”

“I’m sorry.” She runs her fingers under her eyes and bites her bottom lip. “I can’t believe I broke your bathroom cabinet on my first day. That’s normally, like, my second day calling card.”

I chuckle this time and am rewarded with a bright smile. “It was only cheap anyways, and I’m not truly convinced I’d ever attached it properly.”

She giggles, and sniffs wetly.

“I’ll get a replacement tomorrow. Don’t even worry about it.”

I offer a slightly awkward wave as I start to turn away, but a small voice stops me.

“Thank you, Sam.”

***

“Morning, Sam.” The little brunette yawns as she shuffles into the kitchen wrapped in some awful fluffy pink housecoat.

“Mm-hmm.”

I continue to gulp down my bitter black coffee. She stretches up on her tiptoes, trying to reach a mug from the top shelf of her cupboard. I sigh and lean over her, plucking a sparkly pink mug up and placing it on the granite countertop.

“Thanks.” She flashes me a grateful smile, and I realize her large eyes are hidden behind heavy tortoiseshell glasses. “I forgot I was wearing my heels yesterday when I unpacked my things.”

“I’ll move some things around later.” I drain my mug and place it in the sink. “I will try my best to short-proof the house.”

“Hey!” She laughs, playfully slapping my stomach. “It’s not my fault you’re a freaky giant.”

I leave her singing along with some shitty pop songs and push open the back door, balancing a cigarette between my lips as I fumble with my matches. Inhaling a big lungful of smoke, I close my eyes as the slight head rush of the first hit of nicotine hits.

The morning is still fresh and still, the dew making the lawn sparkle in the sunlight. I push the sleeve of my hoodie up, exposing the patterned skin of my forearms, and perch myself on the back step like usual.

“Um, Sam?” Elizabeth pushes open the door behind me. “Your phone is ringing.”

I lean back and take it from her outstretched hand and answer the call, cutting off Rob Zombie mid-“Dragula.”

“’Sup.”

“Hey, Sammy!”

I roll my eyes at my brother’s chirpy greeting.

“I’m a little surprised your phone is actually charged and switched on.”

“What’s up, Christian?” I take another drag as he clears his throat.

“The parentals were wondering if you were planning on coming back over Thanksgiving break.”

I take another deep inhale of smoke, watching it swirl away as I slowly breathe it back out.

“If they were so curious to know my plans, they could have phoned me themselves.” Christian starts to speak, but I cut him off. “I haven’t decided my plans yet, but I’ll endeavor to let them know before they have to make the final decision on their catering.”

“Sam,” he sighs down the line, “you know that’s not the only reason they’re asking.”

“Not the only reason, but the most pressing one in their eyes.” I stub my cigarette out on the concrete step and chuck it into the bin I’d positioned by the fence. “I’ll call you back when I’ve made up my mind.”

I end the call before my brother can say anything else and stand up, only to find Elizabeth standing behind me, looking at me thoughtfully. “What?” I grit out.

“Nu-nothing!”

My brusque tone makes her jump, so much so that a little coffee splashes out of her mug.

I push past her and march back to the sofa and my ever-waiting dissertation. I flick the TV on and scroll through to the music channels.

I’m vaguely aware of her shuffling around and feel a little guilty for being a bit dickish toward her.

“What is that?”

She plops herself down next to me, wrinkling her nose as she looks at the screen. I glance up and see a weird Tool video playing.

“That’s so creepy!”

I shrug, looking at her properly.

She’d ditched the glasses again, her eyes accentuated by sparkly eyeshadow and heavy mascara. Her lips were covered in that shiny gloss shit girls seem to like, and she’d changed from her fluffy nightwear into a faded pair of denim overalls, a cutesy T-shirt underneath featuring some cartoon characters.

Her bangs hang low, covering her eyebrows, making her look even more innocent and bright-eyed.

The doorbell rings and she jumps up to answer it.

“Hey, babe.” There’s a pause where I hear a kiss being exchanged. “You ready to go?”

“Yes! I just need to grab my bag from my room.”

Elizabeth comes back in, a blond preppy-looking guy trailing behind her. “Um, Sam, this is Robbie. Robbie, my new roommate, Sam.”

“Good to meet you, man.” The guy smirks slightly, offering his hand. I give him one shake, quickly turning my attention back to my computer. “What the hell is this noise?” Preppy boy chuckles.

As I open my mouth to make a smart-ass comeback, Elizabeth skips back in. “Be nice, Robbie.” She frowns. “Our differences are what make life interesting. And you know more than most how much skill goes into playing an instrument.”

The guy rolls his eyes at her, making a dismissive noise, and moves toward the front door.

“I’ll see you later, roomie.”

I find myself returning her bright smile, her seemingly permanent sunny disposition already seeping into my pores.