Tags: Claire Shipman/Laura Rosenbury, Alternate Universe – College/University, Forced Proximity, Friends to Lovers
“Anybody home?” Claire called as she walked through her apartment door, shaking off her boots and tucking them in the built-in alcove.
“In here!” Screamed her roommates, Shih-Fu and Josef, in unison. They were seated on the couch in their living room, eyes glued to the television as Mayor Mamdani appeared behind a city-branded lectern.
“Is this about the snowstorm?” Claire asked, unwrapping her scarf from her neck.
“Yup. Supposed to start tomorrow night,” Josef replied with a smile, “thank God we’re getting out of here.” He was tucked under his boyfriend’s arm. From the outside, yes, the two didn’t exactly make the most likely pairing, but after two years of living with them as a couple, Claire honestly couldn’t imagine one without the other.
“Don’t remind me. I can’t believe you guys are leaving me to fend for myself this weekend.” Being Snowbirds, the Changs had a time-share in the Florida Keys, so Shih-Fu and Josef were fleeing the city for some “much needed” sun. Shih-Fu had invited Claire to join them, but she had an exam on Tuesday she had to cram for, and as much as she loved her friends, she couldn’t always be their third wheel.
“The forecasts don’t always get it right, but what is being predicted right now, whether it’s a foot of snow or even a little bit more, would be one of the biggest snowfalls that our city has seen in years. I want to encourage New Yorkers to do their parts to stay safe this weekend. That is why we are issuing a hazardous travel advisory for Saturday and for Sunday”
“God, he’s sexy.” Josef said.
“Shut up!” Shih-Fu cried, mock-hitting his boyfriend on the chest.
“Oh, come on! Even Claire thinks so, and she’s as gay as a May morning.”
“I don’t even know what that means,” Claire sighed.
“I want to encourage New Yorkers to do something that we don’t often have the luxury of doing, which is take a breath and stay home, stay indoors, stay off the roads, watch the snow come down, watch the worst possible reality TV show you can find.”
A weekend at home couldn’t be all that bad, could it? The apartment was stocked up on groceries, candles, and the space-heater that Mrs. Shipman had sent last week from California in a flurry of panic. It would be nice to have some much-needed alone time, even if Claire was bound to get a little bored.
Claire felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out, seeing a message bubble from “Laura R. (Mod. ME Politics)”
Still on for tomorrow night? Claire frowned at the message before typing out a quick reply.
It’s going to be snowing pretty hard. Claire had barely put her phone back in her pocket when it buzzed again.
Scared of a little snow? I thought more of you, Shipman. Claire rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t ignore the little flutter in her chest. Laura was her class friend, if you could even call it that. They sat next to each other, and sometimes texted back and forth during boring parts of lecture. But Laura was tall, and blonde, and on the rugby team, and Claire was just… Claire. And Claire was half-convinced Laura was only sitting with her for the notes.
Though, it had been Laura’s suggestion for them to study together this weekend.
Fine. But you better bring snacks.
Maybe this weekend wouldn’t be so boring, after all…
