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Noelle hummed as she looked at her phone, walking side-by-side with Kris down the Ebbot City University campus. “Alright, she says she’s here.”
“Here?” Kris gestured around themself dramatically. “Because I don’t see her.”
Noelle looked up. On her left was a large lawn spotted with tall, multicolored trees. A few groups of monsters lounged on the grass, and a pack of them were tossing frisbees around a ways off. It looked like a picture straight off of the college’s admissions site. On her right, the New Grindol Center of Student Life loomed over them, a hulking spire of brick, concrete and glass. Steam rolled from the ventilation atop the building, and a concerning dark liquid drip-drip-dripped out of a drainage pipe, right onto a patch of desperate-looking flowers.
Noelle frowned. “She said she would be at the dining hall.”
“Did she say which dining hall?”
“Well, uh.” Noelle swallowed. “This one’s closest to the bus stop, so I thought…”
Kris gave her a withering look. “Noelle. If you made me walk all the way across campus just to force me to walk all the way back across campus, I am going to steal all your plushies while you’re in class tomorrow morning and hide them where you’ll never find them.”
“Kris!” Noelle gasped. “Don’t you dare! Besides, the art building is over here, too. Don’t you make this trip every day?”
“Not every day. I don’t have classes here Thursdays. So making me walk down here for nothing on my day off after a whole week of walking down here is tantamount to high sin.”
Noelle gave them a flat look. “O Angel, forgive me.”
“Yeah. You better hope she does, because I’m not going to,” Kris said. “I will hold this grudge for the rest of our collegiate lives. You will not know peace. I will wake you up in the middle of the night by pouring fake spiders on you. I will keep our dorm nice and warm so your fuzzy reindeer fur makes you melt and die. I will—oh, wait, nevermind, there she is.”
Noelle followed their gaze and saw Susie trudging down the sidewalk towards them, suitcase bouncing along behind her. She was wearing big lace-up leather work boots, ripped jeans (with authentic rips), and a thick leather jacket.
“Susie!” Noelle exclaimed, abandoning Kris and running forward. She nearly tackled Susie with a hug, but Susie didn’t even stumble, catching her with a single arm around Noelle’s back. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Good to see you too, Jingles,” Susie said. “Missed ya.”
Noelle buried her face into Susie’s neck. “Ohhh, I missed you so much.”
Susie hugged for a couple more seconds, then peeled Noelle off of her. “Alright, alright. Plenty of time for that later. Besides, don’t want Kris to feel left out.” They began to walk back up the hill towards Kris, and Susie reached down to flick Noelle’s tail. “How’ve they been treating you, by the way?”
“Ugh, they’re a horrible roommate.” Noelle huffed. “They were just threatening to fill my bed with spiders while I slept!”
Susie snorted.
“H-Hey!” Noelle pouted. “It’s not funny.”
“You and Kris are adorable,” Susie said.
“What was that?” Kris called as Noelle and Susie neared them. They were grinning devilishly. “Awww, Susie! Did you just say you think I’m adorable? I’m flattered!”
“You musta misheard, freak,” Susie shot back. “I said you’re deplorable.”
Kris smirked. “Wow, I’m surprised you know a word that big.”
“Shut your fucking face, Dreemurr.”
“Why don’t you make—mmm…”
Susie cut Kris off by grabbing the side of their head with a strong claw and shoving her maw onto their lips. Kris made a couple noises of pleasant surprise as they leaned into the kiss, before Susie pulled back and socked them in the shoulder. “Dumbass.”
Noelle giggled, sidling up to the two of them. “Come on, Susie. Kris gets a kiss, but I only get a hug?”
“You can both have plenty of kisses once I’ve gotten something to fucking eat,” Susie grumbled. “I’m starving. This is the dining hall, right?”
Noelle pouted as Susie walked towards the building’s front door, but followed along after her nonetheless.
“See, if you wanna get kissed, you’ve just got to be an insufferable menace,” Kris said from Noelle’s side. “My annoying gremlin swag pulls sooooo many bitches.”
Noelle gave them a flat look. “You’ve pulled, like, two bitches, max.”
“Stop calling my girlfriend a bitch!” Susie cried over her shoulder.
“Fine. My annoying gremlin swag pulls one bitch and one nice, cute girl who’s never done anything wrong in her life.”
Susie nodded. “There you go.”
“Whatever,” Noelle said, pushing through her blush with a roll of her eyes. “Let’s just get dinner already.”
A few minutes later, the three of them had found an empty table towards the back of the dining hall. Susie’s eyes narrowed as she poked at some of the half-cold fries on her plate.
“You guys have to eat this food every day?” she asked skeptically.
“It’s, uh…” Noelle shrugged. “Some of it’s not actually that bad.”
“Yeah, some of it even manages to be mediocre,” Kris snarked. “The fries are notoriously terrible here, though, yeah.”
Susie glared at them. “And you didn’t think to tell me that before we sat down?”
“I mean, you used to eat chalk, so.” Kris shrugged. “Didn’t think you’d care.”
“Hey, that doesn’t mean I don’t have taste. We all went through phases in high school,” Susie grumbled. “Or do I need to bring up the month you wore vampire fangs every day?”
“Shut up.”
Noelle laughed. “I always thought the vampire fangs were cute.”
Kris snorted. “Yeah, you would.”
“What—what’s that supposed to mean?” Noelle protested.
Susie smirked, side-eyeing Kris. “Does she ask you to bite her, too?”
“She asks me to do a lot more than—”
“Okay!” Noelle announced loudly, chuckling nervously. “Anyway! Susie! How’s…How’s Hometown Community College? Are you enjoying it?”
“Eh, it’s okay, I guess. It just feels like more school.” She took a bite of her pepperoni pizza. “The food’s better than here, though, that’s for sure.”
“Not a high bar,” Kris mumbled.
“I dunno. I think that gap year I took spoiled me,” Susie said. “I guess I’ll see through the two years just so I have, like, some sort of degree. But yeah.”
“You can always drop out.”
Noelle gasped. “Kris! Don’t say that!”
“What? It’s true. College isn’t for everyone.” Kris put out a hand. “You shouldn’t have to suffer through it just because it’s what you’re ‘supposed’ to do.”
“But…” Noelle bit her tongue, looking at Susie.
“If I really end up hating it, yeah, I probably will,” she said. “But community college was already a compromise. I’ll at least try to stick it out.”
“Yeah! Yeah.” Noelle nodded. “That makes sense.”
Susie raised an eyebrow. “What about you? How’s the public policy degree coming, huh?”
“Oh, uh, well. It’s…going.” Noelle took a generous bite of her salad.
“I keep telling you, we don’t have to officially declare our majors until the end of the year,” Kris said. “If you’re not happy with it, you should choose something else.”
“My mom would kill me.”
“Screw your mom,” Susie snapped, rolling her eyes. “If you keep giving her ground, she’ll try to control you for the rest of your life.”
“I know, I know! But she’s paying my tuition, and I…” Noelle put a hand to her head. “Can we not talk about this right now? I just want a relaxing weekend.”
Susie exchanged a glance with Kris. “Yeah. Course. So, what do you wanna do?”
“Tonight, we can just chill out at our dorm,” Noelle said. “I have a morning class tomorrow, but it’s Friday night after that, so maybe we can do something fun?”
“See, Noelle doesn’t actually ‘do things’ or ‘have fun’, really,” Kris said to Susie. “That’s why she’s being so vague.”
Noelle pouted. “Hey!”
“But fortunately, I’m also here.” Kris placed their hand dramatically over their heart. “And it just so happens that one of my art student friends invited me to a party yesterday. It’s happening tomorrow night.”
“Which friend?” Noelle asked warily.
“Nikolas. But don’t worry, it’ll be chill this time.”
“What do you mean, this time?” Susie questioned through a mouthful of pizza.
“Kris has gone to Nikolas’s parties before,” Noelle said. “They seem…intense.”
“Yeah, but he said this is a more general one,” Kris said, putting out their hands placatingly. “He invited, like, the whole art department. That means lots of eyes, so I seriously doubt there’s gonna be anything stronger than weed and alcohol at this thing.”
Susie narrowed her eyes at them. “The hell did he have at his other parties?”
“You know, just some…various things,” Kris mumbled. “Look, I’m always responsible, okay? I promise.”
As Kris hid their face in their hamburger, and Susie continued to scrutinize them, Noelle sighed. “They’re not wrong, Susie. They’re being safe about it.”
Susie’s shoulders relaxed. “Well, if Noelle says so.” She crossed her arms. “Sorry. That stuff just makes me nervous.”
“Totally fair,” Kris said. “We don’t have to go to this thing if we don’t want to. I just, you know, I was invited, and I figured it could be a fun thing to do while Susie’s here. But I’m more than game to stay in and play video games or something, or go out to dinner in the city, or whatever.”
“I mean, I am curious what a real college party is like,” Susie said, grinning slightly. “Hometown parties are total garbage.”
“Sure, we could try it.” Noelle hummed. “You said it was going to be a big party, though? I don’t do super well with crowds of strangers.”
“It’s just going to be a bunch of art students,” Kris said, waving a hand. “They’re, like, the least intimidating kind of student.”
“Case in point,” Susie joked, kicking at Kris under the table. “You wimp.”
“I guess I’ll be okay if we all go together,” Noelle mused as Kris and Susie started playing an aggressive game of footsies under the table. “And I can always leave if my anxiety gets too bad.”
“Yeah, of course.” Kris leaned back in their chair, gripping the back for support as they bashed their sneakers against Susie’s legs. “Don’t be afraid to grab us and get out of there.”
Susie sat in her chair, weathering Kris’s assault with an unconcerned expression. Then she wound back and delivered a sharp jab of her boot right to Kris’s shin. As they winced and whimpered in pain, Susie turned to Noelle. “Totally. Your comfort’s the most important thing.”
“You asshole,” Kris whined, cradling their leg in their hands.
“See? Wimp.” Susie shoveled the last of her pizza into her mouth, then tossed a handful of fries in after it. “Anyway. You guys want to get out of here? If you have a class in the morning, we shouldn’t stay up too late.”
“Probably not,” Noelle conceded, scooching her chair back and shouldering her purse. “But you do owe me that kiss.”
“Oh, don’t worry, princess.” Susie stood, flashing a toothy grin. “I’ll make sure you get plenty.”
(Despite Susie’s assurances, Noelle did not go to sleep nearly on time that night.)
Noelle had long grown to hate the jingling Christmas carol she’d set as her alarm when she was fifteen. Though, the sacrifice wasn’t in vain; nothing got her up in the morning like the burning desire to shut up her stupid phone.
This morning, however, her rage was tempered by the pair of soft, warm bodies sleeping on either side of her. She was playing little spoon to Susie, who had an arm thrown over Noelle’s bare chest, and Kris was lying in front of her. Kris and Noelle had shoved their cramped college beds together to make a single larger bed after they’d started dating, but even so, Kris was hanging halfway off the edge, tangled up in their covers. That wasn’t unusual—Kris had a tendency to thrash around in their sleep.
(They insisted they never remembered their dreams. Noelle wasn’t so sure that was true, but she didn’t want to push it, either. So she let them be.)
As Jingle Bell Rock continued to blare from Noelle’s alarm, Kris groaned, grabbing one of Noelle’s plushies and pressing it over their head. “Noeeeeeeelle,” they whined. “Make it stooooop.”
“Give me a second, Kris,” Noelle whispered. “It’s on my desk.”
She tried to sit up, but Susie’s arm tightened around her, pulling her back down.
Noelle let out a surprised little noise. “Um—Susie—”
“No,” Susie grumbled, half-asleep. “Mine.”
“I-I have to get up, Susie…”
Susie growled, deep in her throat.
“Jingle bells chime iiiin jingle bell time!” sang Noelle’s phone.
“Noeeeeeeelle,” Kris whined. “It’s too earlyyyyyy.”
“Stop being a baby, Kris,” Noelle huffed. “If it’s bothering you that much, get up and turn it off yourself!”
Kris gathered their tangled bedsheets in a loose fist and pulled them up over their head. “I caaaaan’t. The morning sun would reduce me to naught but ash. Besides, it’s your stupid fucking alarm.”
“You’re impossible.” Noelle looked over her shoulder at Susie, who still hadn’t loosened her grip on Noelle. “Susie, please, I have to get up. I’m gonna be late for class.”
“Soft,” Susie spoke into Noelle’s neck fur. “You stay.”
“What about Kris?” Noelle offered. “Kris is soft!”
“Nooooo,” Kris wailed. “She’ll start eating my hair again.”
“Do you want the alarm off or not?”
“Thaaaat’s the jingle bell rooooock!” chirped the phone.
Kris mumbled something unintelligible into the covers, but began to roll closer to Noelle. Delicately, Noelle managed to exchange herself with Kris, get out of bed, and switch off her alarm. “There. Happy?”
“Whatever,” Kris mumbled. But despite Susie squeezing them like they were a squeaky toy, they seemed to relax, and by the time Noelle had finished getting herself dressed for the day, they were both fast asleep again.
Noelle smiled, walking over to the bedside and fixing the covers Kris had messed up, tucking them and Susie back in properly. She also tucked her big stuffed shark in next to Kris, because she thought it was cute. Hopefully Susie’s death grip around their torso would stop them from kicking the sheets off again.
Once they were all set, Noelle grabbed her purse and slipped out of the room.
(She wished she could’ve lain there with them forever. If only her grades in this class weren’t already slipping.)
“…And the thing about property tax being tied to the local level is that it can cause stark differences in the quality of local services, such as libraries and schools, between localities,” Professor Melano droned from the front of the lecture hall, gesturing at the slides behind her. “Examining this from a socioeconomic lens, we can see that some equity issues quickly arise here.”
Noelle listened idly from her place in the center row of the lecture hall, flipping back and forth between her note-taking document and an online clothes store that happened to be having a sale. Noelle wasn’t sure she really needed any new clothes, but it at least gave her something to do rather than sit here bored out of her mind.
But soon, her Monster Discord lit up with a notification. She pulled it up without hesitation, and was greeted by a direct message from Kris, who had sent her a picture of Susie sprawled out on the bed, asleep. Noelle nearly panicked before she realized that Susie was lying on her stomach, and Noelle wasn’t inadvertently flashing all the students behind her in lecture. Susie was also snuggling Noelle’s big shark plushie in a death grip, squeezing him so hard his head and tail were bloated with stuffing.
Kris kept typing, and soon a follow-up message popped up below the picture.
Kris: Susie is STEALING your plushies
Noelle suppressed a giggle.
Noelle: Awwww! It’s okay, Susie’s allowed to hug them c:
Kris:
What.
Kris:
So she’s allowed to squeeze them half to death but you won’t let me even touch them?
Noelle: What? That’s not true!
Kris: Yes it is. You’re always like ohhhhh kris I’m so sad and lonely come cuddle meeee. And then you get mad when I move your plushies around to make room to cuddle
Noelle: That’s because you throw them against the wall and knock them onto the floor, Kris! You don’t have any respect for them.
Kris:
And Susie does???
Kris:
Look at her she’s about to rip blahaj in half with her tiny thieving claws
Noelle: Susie would never! And her claws aren’t tiny, don’t be mean.
Kris:
Yeah uhuh
Kris:
You’d know wouldn’t you
Noelle: Kris!!!!!
Kris: What? I just meant you hold hands with her all the time. Don’t know what you thought I meant.
Noelle huffed under her breath and rolled her eyes.
Noelle: Look, I’m in class. Did you actually need something?
Kris: I needed you to TAKE NOTE of this HORRIBLE INJUSTICE
Noelle: Okay, Kris. I’ve taken note of it.
Kris:
And then I wanted to ask if ur still down for the party tonight
Kris:
Again I’m like chill either way just wanna know before I start getting dressed and shit
Noelle: What, you need to find a proper party outfit? :p
Kris:
Literally yes
Kris:
What about it. Loser
Noelle:
XD okay Kris.
Noelle:
And yes, I’m still down for the party.
Kris:
Kay cool
Kris:
When does your class let out
Noelle: One thirty. Do you wanna wrangle Susie into the waking world and join me for lunch at Bradman’s?
Kris:
Well it’d be like breakfast for us
Kris:
But I’m sure as fuck not walking all the way to grindol again lol so sure
Kris:
I mean. If I can even wake susie up
Noelle: Faha! Good luck!
The rest of the class passed in droll monotony—but on the plus side, Noelle found a skirt she really liked that was sixty percent off, which was a win in her book. It was a short walk through campus to the Bradman’s Community Center, and the dining hall sequestered within. It wasn’t hard to find Susie and Kris. Susie was wearing her typical tank top and jeans, but Kris was decked out in a loose, semi-sheer top, a buckled black miniskirt, thigh-high fishnets, heart-ringed garter belts, and thick black platform boots. They stuck out like a sore thumb, and even worse, they looked great. Not that Noelle would ever be caught dead admitting that.
“Hi,” Noelle said, eyeing them up and down.
“I told you. Party outfit.” Kris cocked a hand on their hip. “Sometimes in life, you have to say fuck it and slay the absolute shit out of an outfit. It’s good for your mental health.”
“They’ve been getting weird looks this whole time,” Susie muttered.
“That’s pretty impressive,” Noelle said. “This is college. Most of the time, people don’t care enough to bother with a weird look.”
“They make an exception for me,” Kris said, laying a hand over their heart. “I’m opening minds, Noelle. Because I’m so fucking hot.”
Noelle pursed her lips and waved her hand in a so-so gesture. “You’re alright.”
“Oh, please. You want me so bad it makes you look stupid, Holiday.”
“If you say so, Kris.” Noelle reached over to pat them on the head, and tried not to let her eyes wander to their thighs. She knew Kris would notice, and she couldn’t give them the satisfaction. “Should we go get food?”
Susie snorted. “Is it gonna be overpriced and terrible?”
“This is college, Susie,” Kris said, fixing their hair. “Of course it will be.”
(Susie’s burger was cold. She complained throughout the whole meal.)
Nikolas’s apartment was over in the Anderson dormitories, a series of old tall brick buildings, lined with balconies that the students were expressly forbidden from using. Noelle and Susie followed Kris up three flights of stairs and down a long hall to a door that was propped open with a water cooler packed with beer and Monster Red Bull.
“Well.” Susie snorted. “That’s a little shameless.”
“I mean, it isn’t like you aren’t allowed to have alcohol in here,” Kris said. “I think there are a few freshmen who are still seventeen, but other than them, everyone’s of age.”
“I still don’t think the school would be too keen about showing it off so blatantly, though.” Noelle looked over her shoulder, down the hallway. “Like, what if the RA sees it?”
“The RA is Nikolas’s roommate,” Kris said, striding through the door.
“…Oh.” Noelle drifted after Kris, into the apartment. The place was packed with monsters, carrying drinks and snacking on food set up on white foldable tables around the edge of the dorm. “So…what do we do?”
“Have fun!” Susie exclaimed.
And it was fun, at least for the first thirty minutes or so. Kris had quickly split off, spirited away by some of their stoner art friends, but Noelle had stuck with Susie, mingling with a group of girls that seemed more agreeable and less drunk than some of the other partygoers. But before long, the girls had to leave, and then Susie had to go to the bathroom, and Noelle found herself swept up by the crowd.
She had no idea what to do at parties. The music was loud, the chatter was loud, most of the drinks were alcoholic, and Noelle didn’t like any of those things. She drifted over to the edge of the room by a bowl of pretzels, idly munching on them as she watched the people around her dance and laugh and drink and kiss.
She surveyed them in a haze, almost like she wasn’t even there—like the picture before her was a scene from a TV show. One group of students was singing along, loudly and drunkenly, to Take Me Home, Country Roads. A zebra monster and a monster that looked like they were made out of clay were arguing loudly about Monster Sigmund Freud a few feet away from Noelle, and, if she was being frank, neither of them sounded like they knew what they were talking about. In the middle of the room, a small circle had formed around a turtle monster, who was breakdancing (if spinning around on your shell constituted breakdancing). A couple was making out against one of the walls. Off in the corner, Kris and a few monsters Noelle recognized as their art class friends were reclining on beanbags and passing around a vape pen. By the look in Kris’s eye, they were already somewhere far, far away. Noelle couldn’t see Susie anywhere, though. Maybe she was still in the bathroom? It had been a while, though.
Noelle was about to go look for her when the nearby discussion about Freud reached a climax.
“The only reason you don’t like him is because it’s cool to hate on him,” the zebra girl was saying, waving a hoof at the clay monster. “Maybe do some research instead of getting all your opinions off Monster Twitter!”
“Excuse you, I don’t even have a Twitter,” the clay monster retorted. “And I don’t understand why you’re licking his boots so hard. He was a weird old misogynistic creep! His theories were awful!”
“You don’t even know his theories. He was a psychological genius!”
“Angel, girl, give it a rest!” The clay monster threw up their hands. “He’s not gonna sleep with you, he’s dead.”
“Hey, fuck you!”
“Fuck you too! I need a fucking drink…”
Noelle stared, eyes wide, as the clay monster turned and stormed off. The zebra monster stomped a hoof in frustration, huffed, and took a generous sip from the beer can in her hand. As she was drinking, she tilted her head slightly and caught Noelle’s eye. Noelle quickly looked away, but it was too late, and the zebra was already walking over to her, brushing her mane back with a hand.
“Sorry about that,” she greeted when she was close enough. “Didn’t mean to bring down the vibe.”
“Oh uh…” Noelle bit down on a pretzel. “It’s okay.”
“Some people, right?” The zebra laughed. “They just have no respect for the greats.”
“Well, uh, some of Freud’s theories were pretty misogynistic,” Noelle mumbled. “B-But, um, obviously he was very influential, and, uh, well, there was no reason for that person to be so rude to you. Um.”
“Totally! Thank you,” said the zebra. “I’m Jennie, by the way. You’re Noelle, right?”
“Yes, but—” Noelle blinked. “Sorry, have we met before?”
“Nah, nah. I’ve just heard of you.”
Noelle did not feel reassured. “From… From who?”
“Oh, I know Kris. I’m an art student too,” Jennie said. “We’re, like, totally besties.”
That was unlikely, considering Kris had never even mentioned a Jennie to her before. Noelle looked past Jennie’s shoulder, towards where Kris was sitting in the corner. It was hopeless, though—with the state they were in, there was no chance she could get their attention for a save.
“Right,” Noelle said, returning her focus to Jennie. “That’s…cool.”
“You’re in a three-way with them and another girl, right?” Jennie asked, leaning forward a little. “That’s, like, so valid.”
“Uhhh.” Noelle wished she were anywhere else. “Thanks…?”
Jennie nodded. “Yeah, yeah. I’m dating this boy right now but we’re like, you know, it’s an open relationship and stuff, so I totally get it. You know?”
“Oh, um.” Noelle cleared her throat. “We’re polyamorous, but it’s not an open relationship. They’re not actually the same thing.”
“Yeah, I totally get it. That’s so valid. But like…” Jennie took a sip of her beer, looking Noelle up and down. “You’re super cute. You know that?”
Noelle grimaced. “Look, um, I’m flattered, but I really don’t—”
“Hey, hey, I’m just saying. Kris has good taste,” Jennie said, raising one of her hands in defense. “If you ever wanna do something, you know, it can be totally casual. But just lemme know. You want my Insta? Monster Snapchat?”
“No, I’m not—” Noelle put her hands out in a stop motion as Jennie reached for her phone. “I’m not interested. Sorry.”
“Wow. Okay.” Jennie frowned at her. “That, like… Why didn’t you start with that, then? Jeez.”
“Because—” Noelle stopped short, too stunned for a second to actually say anything. “Because I didn’t think you were hitting on me?!”
Jennie scoffed. “Yeah, I’m just saying, like, way to lead a girl on. You know?”
“I did not lead you on!” Noelle cried, staring at Jennie, completely baffled. “I said no as soon as you asked me!”
“You were totally giving me signals earlier,” Jennie said. “I could feel your vibes, you know? I’m kind of an empath.”
Noelle rolled her eyes. “Somehow I doubt that.”
“Whatever. If I’d known you were such a prude, I wouldn’t have bothered. Sheesh.”
“What—hey!” Noelle called as Jennie started walking away. “I am not a prude!”
Jennie didn’t turn around, continuing to walk off into the crowd. But another monster standing at the table nearby, who looked like a cross between a dog and a raccoon, shot her a strange look.
“I’m—I’m not,” Noelle insisted. “I’m very sex-positive!”
The monster laughed nervously, took a handful of pretzels from the bowl, and left.
Noelle groaned. This party sucked. She didn’t want to stay, but she also couldn’t go back to her dorm without Kris and Susie, so she split the middle, walking out of the apartment and going to sit in the hall. She leaned back against the wall, put in her earbuds, and let out a deep breath. She should’ve just stayed home and studied.
She didn’t know how long she was out there, listening to her music and scrolling through her phone, but it wasn’t that long until someone came out of the apartment and sat down next to her. Noelle jumped at first, until she realized who it was. A familiar claw wrapped around her shoulders, and Noelle relaxed into Susie.
“Was wondering where you were,” she said. “Couldn’t find you in there.”
“I don’t think I’m very good at parties,” Noelle admitted. “I don’t know any of these people. What am I supposed to do?”
Susie shrugged. “Get to know them, I guess?”
“Some weird girl approached me and tried to hit on me,” Noelle said. “She called herself an empath.”
“Christ. I could beat her up for you if you want.”
Noelle sighed. “No, that’s okay. Thanks though.”
Susie was quiet for a moment before she next spoke up. “It’s okay, you know. You don’t have to like parties. Lots of people don’t like parties.”
“Yeah. I don’t think they’re really for me.” Noelle interlaced her hand with Susie’s. “I just don’t understand how you and Kris do it. Like, what were you even doing in there?”
“Arm wrestling people.”
Noelle turned to stare up at Susie. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” Susie grinned. “Some drunk guys were doing arm wrestling contests, so I got in on it. Well—I was about to get in on it. I was looking for you ‘cause I wanted you to see me destroy them.”
“Actually…I think I do kind of want to see that,” Noelle mused.
“Oh, uh, you sure?” Susie ran her free hand through her hair. “We can also go back to your dorm if you want. Like, I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay here. I don’t really care.”
“No, no, I want to watch you beat people at arm wrestles,” Noelle said, standing up. “Really, I do.”
“Awesome.” Susie pulled Noelle back into the apartment by the hand. “I promise I won’t disappoint you.”
Susie led her through the room, stopping at one of the coolers to grab a can of beer. At Noelle’s look, she just smirked.
“It’s not to drink,” she said. “You’ll see.”
From there, Susie took her into a deeper room in the apartment, where a group of what could only have been frat guys circled around an ottoman that was being used as an arm wrestling board. Some of them seemed fairly intimidating, but with Susie at her side, Noelle hardly felt in danger.
One of them saw Susie walk in and tapped one of his buddies, grinning. “Hey, look who’s back! Thought you ran away.”
“You wish, boys.” Susie flung an arm around Noelle’s shoulders. “Just wanted to grab my girlfriend so we have an audience when I embarrass you.”
“Big words, girl,” one of the boys taunted.
Another one snorted. “Yeah, bet you brought her for emotional support when you lose.”
“Uhuh. Hey, babe…” Susie flexed her free claw so hard her knuckles popped. “Hold my beer.”
Susie handed the unopened can to Noelle, who couldn’t help but giggle. So that had been what it was for.
Noelle took the drink and gave Susie a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
Susie sat down and took the hand of the monster across from her, and as everyone chanted a countdown, she grinned, showing her teeth.
Her opponent looked at her fangs, looked down at the thick claw crushing his fingers, and gulped.
(Susie had them all begging for mercy in five minutes.)
“So what do you even do in a public policy degree?” Susie asked from Kris’s desk chair later that night, bouncing a stress ball off the wall and catching it again. “It’s like a law degree?”
“Uh, they’re close, but they’re not the same thing,” Noelle said from the bed, where she was scrolling through her phone. “Think more…politician, rather than lawyer.”
“Ah. Right.” Susie snorted. “Makes sense why your mother would push you into that. Does she want you to be her successor or some shit?”
Noelle rolled her eyes. “Angel, I don’t even know. I hope not. If she does, she’s going to be pretty disappointed.”
“Heh, yeah. Let me know if you ever need help talking to her.” Susie grinned. “I’m pretty sure she’s still scared of me.”
Noelle giggled. “Thanks, Susie.”
The door to the room opened, and Kris walked in, clad in a bath robe. They jabbed a finger over their shoulder. “Shower’s free.”
“Fucking finally,” Susie groaned, pushing out of the desk chair and grabbing the spare towel Noelle had let her borrow. “What the fuck are you even doing in there all that time?”
“I’m cherishing the simple joys of life,” Kris said.
“Fuck off.”
Susie left for the bathroom, and Kris began changing into their pajamas. “So. What were—”
“KRIS!” came Susie’s booming voice. “How the hell does your dumbass shower work?!”
Kris sighed. “You have to pull the the knob towards you!”
“That ain’t doing shit!”
“It—hold on,” Kris mumbled, pulling their robe back around themself and walking out of the room.
Noelle heard some sharp yet muffled chatting from the bathroom, and then, as the dull sounds of running water started up, Kris returned to the bedroom. Once they’d finished getting dressed, Noelle felt a familiar weight settle down next to her in the bed. She put down her phone, and then shifted under the covers, resting her head on Kris’s shoulder.
“Hi,” she mumbled.
“Hey,” Kris returned. “How are you holding up?”
“Hm? Fine.” Noelle rolled onto her side, looking up into Kris’s eyes. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” They glanced away. “I’m, uh, I’m sorry I abandoned you at the party.”
Noelle chuckled. “Abandoned me? Kris, I—it’s not your job to babysit me. I can handle myself.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Kris said quickly. “But it sounded like you had an attack. I knew it was gonna be an unfamiliar scene, so I just… I feel bad I wasn’t there for you.”
“Kris, it’s really okay,” Noelle assured them. She draped a hand across their chest. “It wasn’t even a full panic attack or anything. I was prepared, because I knew what I was walking into, and I was able to get out into the hallway and cool off. It’s not your responsibility to manage my anxiety, you know?”
“Yeah… No, of course. I get that. I’m still sorry about Jennie, though—she’s a total bitch, but she sits at my table in my intro to character design class and is convinced we’re besties.” Kris reached their arm around Noelle’s head, running their fingers through her hair. “But, uh, did you at least have a good time after that?”
“Yeah! Yeah, I did. I got to watch Susie arm wrestle a bunch of frat guys. It was really funny.” Noelle giggled nervously. “And, uh, really hot.”
“Susie’s so fucking hot,” Kris agreed, nodding sagely.
“Right?! I mean—those muscles. I don’t think she even works out that often.”
“I know she’s got a punching bag she uses when she’s angry,” Kris pointed out. “And she’s very frequently angry. So, you know. She stays in shape.”
Noelle snorted. “I guess, yeah. But still, it’s been a few years since she was running around in spiked armbands swinging an axe around and taking names, and she’s still got it. I do sort of miss those armbands, though.”
Kris’s fingers paused in Noelle’s hair, then pulled away, their arm dropping onto the mattress. They were quiet for a second, before they laughed weakly. “Heh, yeah.”
Noelle cursed herself. “Sorry, I—sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s okay. Long time ago, right?” Kris looked down at her with a smile that didn’t reach their eyes. “And it all worked out in the end.”
Noelle threw one of her legs over theirs and pulled them into a tight cuddle. “It was really bad, Kris. It’s okay if you’re not over it. I’d be surprised if you were, honestly.”
“Hard to believe that when everyone else seems to be doing fine these days,” they muttered.
“None of us went through what you did,” Noelle muttered. “It’s not the same.”
Kris didn’t say anything, but their hand found its way to Noelle’s back, rubbing small circles.
Noelle pulled them even closer. “Just—let me hug you. Okay?”
Kris let out a breath and relaxed into her grip. Noelle held them securely, pressing her body into theirs. And as she trailed her lips down their neck, she felt the tension flow out of their shoulders, and allowed herself a smile.
(They only stayed like that for a few more minutes, until Susie rampaged back in to accuse Kris of using up all the hot water, but judging by Kris’s taunting laughter, it was long enough.)
Out of herself, Susie, and Kris, Noelle was the only one who could be described, in any sense of the phrase, as a morning person. So, as her lovely partners lay back in her dorm, cozied up in the beds, it was down to Noelle to be a good girlfriend and scrounge around campus for breakfast.
Her quest led her to the cafe in the community center; which, at ten on a Saturday morning, had an egregiously long line. The student worker behind the counter meted out bagels and coffee with a lethargic stare, bags pulling at her eyes. Noelle sighed and took her place at the back of the line.
“Noelle?”
Noelle whirled around, and saw that a familiar face had slipped behind her in line. “Berdly! Oh my gosh, hey!”
“Salutations!” Berdly greeted, smiling at her. “Wow, I haven’t seen you all semester.”
“Has it been that long?” Noelle laughed nervously. “Sorry, um—I’ve been really busy…”
Berdly nodded. “Of course, of course. So have I. College, right?”
“Heh. College.” Noelle cleared her throat. “It’s, um, really nice to see you, though! How have you been?”
“I’ve been just fantastic, Noelle,” Berdly proclaimed, placing a wing over his chest. “How about you?”
“I’m good! Yeah, I’m good,” Noelle said. She gestured to the line in front of them, which appeared no less winding than when she’d arrived. “Susie’s actually visiting right now, so. Picking up some breakfast.”
“Oh, I see! You and her are still an item, then?”
“Yep! Long distance is hard, but we’re making it work.” Noelle rubbed at the back of her head. “Also, uh…Kris is now part of that ‘item’, too. So, that’s cool.”
“Kris is…what?” Berdly blinked at her. “You’re dating Kris?”
Noelle shrugged. “Yeah, it, uh. It just sort of happened.”
“How does that just happen?”
“We, well, I mean, we were, uh…” Noelle blushed. “We’re roommates? Things happen when you’re roommates.”
“Oh.” Berdly frowned. “Do I want to know what things?”
Noelle looked around at all the students milling about the community center. “This probably isn’t the place for that conversation.”
“Right.” A pause. “You know, I’m surprised they let Kris room with you.”
“I’m pretty sure Kris straight up lied to the college about their sex assigned at birth because they didn’t want to be roomed with guys,” Noelle said. “I mean, I guess even without that we could’ve both roomed together, since we’re both trans, but I also lied to the college about my AGAB, so…” Noelle waved a hand. “Look, it’s a whole thing. The rules about who you can room with at this school are, uh, old fashioned, to say the least. It’s a little tricky to navigate as a trans person.”
“I didn’t know the school’s policies were that transphobic,” Berdly said, sounding appalled. “That’s terrible! And they claim to be allies. They don’t know the meaning of the word! A true trans ally like myself would never stand for this!”
Noelle stared at him. “Uh…huh.”
“Kris was smart to lie to them, though,” Berdly continued. “You know, sometimes I wish I was trans, so I wouldn’t have college boys as my roommates. They really don’t know how to keep an apartment clean! But it’s saddening to hear that even if I was trans, the school probably wouldn’t let me room with who I wanted…”
“You…You know that you can just be trans, right? If you want?” Noelle took a step forward as the line advanced, side-eyeing Berdly. “Like, if you want to be trans, then you can just be trans. Nothing’s stopping you. Except maybe the school’s coed dorm policies, as stated.”
“Uh, I don’t think that’s how it works,” Berdly said. “Being trans isn’t a choice, Noelle. It’s about who you are inside.”
“No, that’s—that's not the point.” Noelle pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s…How do I put this? Most cis people don’t wish they were trans, Berdly.”
He huffed. “Well, clearly they could stand to be better allies, then.”
“Oh my god.” Noelle shook her head. “You know what? Nevermind.”
“Oh! But I do have some most exciting news, Noelle. You aren’t the only one who’s had an update to their love life!”
Noelle tried to keep her skepticism off her face. “You’re seeing someone? That’s great, Berdly.”
“Indeed.” Berdly puffed out his chest. “Her name is Jennie. She’s an art student.”
“Oh no,” Noelle said, before she could stop herself.
Berdly frowned. “Oh no? What do you mean oh no?”
“Zebra monster? A little shorter than me? That Jennie?”
“Uh, yeah! Do you know her?”
“I met her at a party last night.” Noelle gave Berdly an apologetic look. “She tried to hit on me.”
Berdly blinked at her. “What? Ha, no, she wouldn’t, um…Are you sure?”
“She said she was in an open relationship and then asked if I wanted to hook up sometime,” Noelle said. “It didn’t exactly leave room for doubt. Also, she had really bad takes about Monster Sigmund Freud. I really think you can do better.”
“What? But she’s so cool!” Berdly protested. “She even told me all about how the assassination of Monster John F. Kennedy was actually a CIA coverup!”
Noelle cringed. “Oh, honey.”
“No, no, I’m serious! Once you look into it, it’s clear that the story of the lone shooter is completely bogus—totally full of holes! It’s really interesting. Jenny said she only talks about it to people she really trusts, because it’s dangerous research, and also some people don’t believe it—”
“Because it’s a conspiracy theory,” Noelle interrupted, staring at him flatly.
“W-Well, calling it a conspiracy theory makes it seem crazy,” Berdly said, adjusting his glasses. “It’s more like…a theory about a conspiracy.”
“No, it’s—like, Berdly, it’s a whole thing. There’s a whole group of conspiracy theorists who speculate about the Kennedy assassination. Look it up on Moogle.” Noelle threw out a hand. “Jennie didn’t come up with this stuff. I don’t know what she told you, but she’s either trying to manipulate you, or she’s been manipulated herself.”
“But it sounded so real…” Berdly mumbled to himself.
“You might want to do yourself a favor and break up with her.” Noelle put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m telling you this as a friend.”
Berdly looked at his feet, pensive, but didn’t say anything.
Noelle moved forward again in line. They were nearing the front, but she didn’t want to leave things off on a sour note if she could help it. “So… have you been playing any new video games lately?”
“Obviously!” Berdly quickly adopted a smile, perking back up. “The grind never stops, as they say. Surely as a gamer yourself, you know this.”
Noelle laughed. “Right, of course. Kris and I still play Super Smashing Fighters every so often.”
“Ah, yes, a classic.”
“So, what games have you been playing?”
“Hmm… Well, recently, I’ve been replaying Fallout: New Vegas. Truly, it stands the test of time.”
Noelle raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah?”
“And I’ve finally begun playing Celeste as well,” he went on. “It’s been on my list for a while, and I must say, it certainly manages to live up to the hype!”
“Right.” Noelle looked at him knowingly. “And you’re a computer science major, yeah?”
“Yes, though I’ve taken a recent interest in electronic music composition as well. Why?”
“Nothing, just, ah…” Noelle laughed to herself. “Let’s just say that if you find that you need a lot of new clothes anytime soon, and you need a girl to go shopping with, don’t be afraid to shoot me a text.”
Berdly gave her a confused look. “I don’t understand. I mean, it’s nice of you to offer, I suppose, but I already have a perfectly sufficient wardrobe. Why would I need to go clothes shopping?”
“Next!” called the cafe worker, looking at Noelle.
“Look, just—open offer, okay? Great seeing you!”
Berdly still seemed puzzled. “Uh, you too?”
Noelle gave him a wave, and hurried up to the counter.
(The person in front of her had apparently taken the last cinnamon bun. Noelle cursed the heavens.)
“I’m home!” Noelle called as she shoved through the door to her dorm. “I got breakfast! There’s pastries and bagels and stuff, and juice, so just…go crazy.”
Immediately, Kris was on her. “Yesssss, thank you Noelle. Lemme grab something before Susie destroys it all.”
“Watch it,” Susie snapped, walking up to the two of them. “Oh, bagels. You’re the best, babe.”
“You’re welcome. But tomorrow, you two are going to have to duke it out to see who goes, because I am not standing in that line again.”
“Right, the cafe’s always super busy on the weekends,” Kris mumbled as they snatched a chocolate croissant and a bottle of apple juice from the bag.
“Oh, that’s not the half of it,” Noelle said. “Berdly was in line behind me.”
“Oof. Don’t envy you,” Susie said as she chomped into her bagel. “Was he being annoying?”
“No, he was—well—it was more frustrating than annoying.” Noelle placed the remaining pastries down on her desk and brought her hands up to her face, curling her fingers in rage. “You guys, I am having to restrain myself so. Freaking. Much. From breaking the prime directive here. I swear to the Angel, if he doesn’t start E in the next two months I’m gonna straight up lose it.”
“Ohhhhh.” Kris nodded slowly. “I see.”
Susie cackled. “Damn. Is he really that bad?”
“He said that sometimes he wishes he was trans so he didn’t have to room with boys.”
Susie snorted. “HA!”
“Like that would even help at this shitass school,” Kris snarked. “They’d still make him room with boys.”
“Yeah, that’s what I told him. But I just—oh my god. He’s so obvious it’s painful, but I can’t say anything, and—I felt like I was gonna explode!” Noelle threw her hands in the air. “And, oh, guess what? His new girlfriend? Is the weird chick who tried to hit on me last night.”
Kris nearly spit out their juice. “Jennie?!”
“No fucking way!” Susie smirked, popping the rest of her bagel in her mouth and reaching for another. “Okay, that’s kind of funny.”
“Maybe estrogen will fix his terrible taste in women,” Kris suggested.
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Noelle said. “I don’t think transitioning will fix him, but I think it might at least give him different, funnier problems.”
Kris shrugged. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“Just to clarify, this is the Freud girl?” Susie asked.
“Yeah, this is the Freud girl.” Noelle set down her purse and sat down on the edge of the beds. “Who, apparently, is also the Monster JFK truther girl? Because apparently she nearly convinced Berdly to get into that shit.”
“That…sounds like Jennie, all right.” Kris took a swig of apple juice. “Also sounds like something Berdly would manage to get himself into. Remember his Area 51 phase back in highschool?”
“Some people never change,” Susie said.
“I mean it’s only been two years since highschool,” Noelle pointed out. “Not a lot of time for changing.”
They’d also done most of their changing during highschool, albeit in a different dimension. Noelle didn’t voice that, though.
“How is it, by the way?” Susie asked, breaking the silence. “Living up here, I mean. In the city, all on your own.”
“It’s awesome,” Kris said.
Noelle pursed her lips. “It’s…freeing.”
“That.” Kris pointed at her. “That’s a good word for it. I totally get now why Asriel didn’t always come back home during breaks. It’s nice to just…be out of there.”
Susie huffed, looking off to the side. “I’ll bet. I can’t wait to get away from that damn town. If I can get my associates degree, and you guys can graduate, maybe we can just pack it up and go.”
“Aw, you wanna run away with us?” Kris smirked. “How romantic, Susie.”
“Fucking, yeah! Yeah, I do!” Susie laughed. “Are you kidding? That’s the dream!”
Noelle smiled softly. “Yeah, I get it. Part of me thinks I should feel more guilty about wanting to leave Hometown behind, but for whatever reason, I don’t. Maybe it’s because I’m finally starting to realize just how bad my mom’s been to me, and how much I need some distance from her. Or maybe it’s because moving to the city was what Dess always wanted for us. But whatever it is, it just…feels right.”
At the mention of Dess’s name, Susie reached a claw out, rubbing Noelle’s shoulder. Noelle reached her own hand up and laid it on top of Susie’s, sighing.
“Yeah,” Kris said after a moment. They’d reclined into Noelle’s desk chair. “I know Carol is awful and I’m not envious of you in the least, but sometimes I wonder if it might be easier to think about moving away if my parents sucked, too.”
“They do a little,” Susie said. “Like—okay, I love your parents, they’re great. But they’ve got their problems.”
“You know what I mean, though,” Kris said, laying out a hand. “I love them. And if I move away from Hometown—no, when I move away—I know they aren’t going to take it well.” They paused for a moment, staring at their half-eaten croissant. “I guess what you said about guilt just got to me. Like, it’s my life. I know that. But it’s hard to make a decision that’s gonna hurt my parents, even if that decision is what’s best for me. Even if—” Kris let out a sharp, dark laugh. “I mean, they’ve already had me stolen from them once before, and they barely even noticed it wasn’t me! So maybe I shouldn’t feel guilty! But I just, I don’t—I don’t know. I dunno.”
Noelle felt her heart melt as Kris angrily bit into their breakfast. “Kris…”
“You okay, dude?” Susie asked.
“I dunno,” Kris mumbled. “I think so. Yes. Thinking about the future is just…hard. Sometimes. I feel like life’s rushing by so fast and it’s leaving me behind.”
“Yeah.” Noelle wrung out her hands. “Yeah, I feel that too. I guess that’s just what growing up is like, huh?”
“The trauma doesn’t help,” Kris said.
Noelle hissed a breath through her teeth. “Yeah, no, that’s…yeah. It sure doesn’t.”
“But that’s why we don’t focus on the past,” Susie said firmly, gulping down what must’ve been her third bagel. “We got through all that shit together. We helped each other through. And god dammit, we’ll get through this too. Kris—your parents love you just as much as you love them. They’ll understand if you wanna move out, and they’ll support your decision. And Noelle, holy shit, fuck your mom for real, you don’t owe her anything.”
“I hope you're right, Susie.” Kris crossed their legs and leaned back. “I mean—sorry Noelle, but, yeah, that’s kind of real. At some point you’re gonna have to let Carol know where things stand with her, cause I don’t think she’s gotten the message yet.”
“I know. It’s just…not gonna be fun.” Noelle squeezed Susie’s hand. “But Susie’s right. We’re a team. We’re not alone, and that’s what matters.”
“It’s really nice to have you up here, Susie,” Kris said. “Dunno if I’ve said that yet, like, sincerely.”
“Of course you haven’t. Squeezing sincerity out of you could be an Olympic sport, Kris,” Noelle said, rolling her eyes.
“What can I say? It’s my dark and mischievous nature.”
“Well, I appreciate it, you dork. I’m glad I’m here, too. There’s nobody as cute as you two back in Hometown.” Susie reached towards the bag from the cafe and frowned. “Noelle, you didn’t get enough bagels.”
“I got three!” Noelle protested. “How many bagels do you need?”
“I need a lot of fucking bagels.”
“Wow, Susie,” Kris said. “Noelle waited in line and suffered through Berdly’s incessant egging for those bagels, and you’re not even grateful?”
“Don’t test me, Kris,” Susie grumbled, turning on them. “I’m still mad about the hot water from last night.”
Kris stuck out their tongue. “Skill issue.”
“I’ll eat your fucking face!”
“Awww.” Noelle giggled. “Are you sure you want to ruin it, Susie? You just said it was one of the two cutest faces in all of Hometown!”
Susie frowned at her. “Oh, what, you want some too, Jingles?”
Noelle smiled innocently. “I’m just saying, if you’re unsatisfied with breakfast, maybe you should wake up early enough to go it yourself next time.”
“Alright, that’s fucking it,” Susie growled. She bent down and scooped Kris up into her arms—they yelped and flailed, but Susie didn’t even seem to notice as she walked over and dumped them onto the bed next to Noelle. “You two should know better than to be little shits when I’m still hungry.”
Susie bared her fangs, and Noelle swallowed down a knot in her throat. Next to her, Kris sat up, weaving their hand into Noelle’s.
“Um…” Noelle smiled shakily. “Sorry? Ma’am?”
Susie’s grin only widened. “It’s adorable that you think that’s gonna save you, princess.”
The next thing Noelle knew, there was a strong claw on her shoulder, shoving her into the mattress.
(An hour and a half later, in the shower, rinsing the sweat out of her fur, Noelle thought about the future, and felt that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out alright.)