" Crap, where did I put it... There we go! " The sound of metal on metal rung out softly down the hallway as Jamie slipped her room key into the door handle, followed by the soft click of the lock disengaging as the key was turned and a few creaks as the knob was turned and the door opened. She stepped inside quickly, turning to shut the door softly and engage the lock once again from the inside of the room, letting out a soft sigh before turning around and stretching her arms up into the air. " It's good to be back, tonight was rough. "

Another sigh escaped her lips as she slung the damp towel around her shoulders into a nearby hamper, afterwards walking over to her bedside table. Right hand extended and digits wrapped around a wood knob on the uppermost drawer before tugging it open and reaching inside to grab her phone, left hand slid the drawer shut quickly. " Maaaan, so many SMS messages, too tired. Stop bugging me people.. " Thumbs played across the touch-screen artistically before the device was set on top of the table by her right hand, left coming up to quickly stifle a yawn.

" Hmph, fourth place huh... " Jamie sat down on her bed with care, soft sheets provided padding for her sore posterior, something she was infinitely grateful for as many times as she got thrown on her a** earlier in the night by rival duelers. Hands reached out to plug the phone into its' charger before she rocked back and splayed out across the sheets.

" ... I can do better. "

Brown eyes glanced sideways at a calender hung on the wall to her right, Wednesday on the coming week circled in bright red sharpie, her own handiwork before hitting the showers. " I know I can do better! " Reassurance in the tone of her voice, if only for self comfort. Eyes flickered to the ceiling of the small dorm room, lost in thought for a moment. " But I guess I did well, can't beat myself up over it, tomorrow is another day after all, guess I better get some rest, can't climb the ranks beat up and tired. " Left hand reached out to touch a metal lamp on the bedside table and the light immediately left the room. Jamie snuggled into a nearby pillow for some well deserved shut-eye, not bothering to slip beneath the sheets, a nearby fan blowing on her was much to comforting.

After Midnight - Early Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"Sorry we couldn't go out to dinner like you wanted.. It's just." King started to say. The two girls sat within the shared bathroom that connected their two rooms together. King sat upon the toilet, using it as a chair while the now one year older Alex would be sitting Indian style against the hard floor. The door that led to King's room being cracked open, allowing the two the chance to listen for the slumbering Gabby that laid resting in bed on the other side.

"It's fine.. you really don't need to explain yourself. I got it the first time." Alex said. Tucking stray strands of blonde hair behind an ear. She was peering to that slightly ajar door, and then turned her attention back to King; who then paused upon reaction at seeing those deep blues stare right into her light browns. At times like this, Terry couldn't help but be reminded just how beautiful this girl was. They've known each other for so long now.. When she first came to this school, Alex was her roommate. The blonde dragged her out of angsty self-loathing and told her she could spend her time doing something active instead of sitting alone and smoking after school. The swim team.. then basketball, it was her who made her feel more welcome at this school. Through her, she became more popular - and the rest was history now.

"But.." King tried again, but Alex was quick to stop her words with a shake of her head. Once more, Terry was captivated by the way her hair swayed about. Sure.. it wasn't brushed, and it could be almost called bed-head since she had woken her up only ten minutes ago; but still - it was beautiful. Especially with the smile she was now giving her.

"I'm proud of you, Terry.. You've really grown up."

This caught King by surprise. If her cheeks weren't so tanned, there might of been a blush showing. The teen shot a look off to the side and pursed her lips, then turned it back onto Alex. ".. whatcha' talkin' about..?"

This only got a small chuckle out of the girl. "When you're older, you'll understand." A waggle of the brow followed. Terry could only sigh out. ".. You're only older by a few months, stop actin' all important just 'cus you turned eighteen.."

"But it's fun." Alex exclaimed. There was another chuckle that time around too. King just smiled.

"I'll make it up to you, I swear.. Once things settle down, I'll take ya out for that dinner you wanted. Wherever you want. Don't get anal about prices an' stuff." King slid off from her `throne` and crouched in front of the blonde. Her lips brushing against her forehead, then pressing for a soft kiss. "I promise.. you hear me? Real talk."

"I'd like that.." Alex said. A genuine smile gracing her lips. Terry saw it, and felt the need to exploit them. She lowered to press a kiss to those very lips, but she felt something pressing against her shoulders. King opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. Alex only looked to her with a sly little smile while pushing her away. "You shouldn't go kissing other girls when you have one sleeping in your bed.."

That caught King. She shot a look toward that slightly opened door and her heart sunk. What was she doing.. Gabby was in there, hopped up on pain medication and sleeping away like nothing mattered; and here she was, about to kiss another girl only half a room away. They weren't a couple -- her and Gabby were just friends, but even so - it felt strange. She looked back to Alex, who then perked a brow at her. Terry then shook her head and pressed her forehead right against the other girls own. "You know I love ya'.. I don't say that to a lot of people, you know that."

"Yeah.. but you love a lot of people, that's the problem.." Alex's voice cut through her. King settled back to sit across from her on the hard floor. ".. I ain't in love with them." King reached out to press fingers to her healed ankle. A small peering up of those eyes to glance at the other girl. "Well.. for an hour or so, you do." Alex replied, and that only made King click her tongue. "Why we even talkin' about this.."

"Well.. like I said, you're the one trying to kiss me while another girl sleeps in your bed."

"it ain't like that.. she's hurt..!" Kings voice picked up. Alex pressed a finger to her lips, which caused King to quiet up instantly. "I'm not saying it like it's perverted.. What I'm saying is, you shouldn't be in here trying to kiss me." Alex looked to the object that was resting within her lap. That wrapped box. Unopened. ".. you sure it isn't anything? I know you, Terry.. You keep looking at the door, but it's not like you're worried she'll catch us. It's.. something else."

Terry pursed her lips and looked to the toilet. Those ankle rubbing fingers now gripped against her leg. She remained quiet. It was better to stay quiet when you were too confused to make anything but an honest answer. "I don't know what it is.." She couldn't keep up the silent treatment - so she just spoke what she felt.

"That's cute." and so the return of the chuckling Alex. King shot her a semi-glare and then let out an exaggerated sigh. "Stop bein' such a bitch, Jesus Christ.." Crossing her own legs then. King leaned to press her back against the wall. "Just open your damn gift.. Makin' me sit here all night, we got class in the mornin' an' sh*t.." Becoming antsy with annoyance. Or was it embarrassment?

"Fine, fine." King didn't look as Alex responded to her in such a submissive fashion. She glanced around, here and there, then finally - when she couldn't think of anywhere else to look - settled her eyes upon the blonde. There Alex sat. In her hands one of those beanbag-buddies she loved so much. King knew about it, how couldn't she? It was something Alex first told her about when they shared a room together. The one King got was special, or that's what the website said. From the betting going on and the fact that she was forced to stay up till 5 AM to make sure she constantly outbid someone else, it had to be good. A little Bengal tiger. That's what it was. Hell if King knew why it was so expensive. Something about it being rare, but it was a damn stuffed tiger.. but whatever floats peoples boats.

King had taken the time to tie a little ribbon around the beanbag tigers neck that read.. "Roar. Lonely tiger looking for a home. Please take good care of me." Alex read it, lacking the enthusiasm Terry put into the note. All those exclamation points would probably wake up everyone in the building if she read it how it was written. Hearing it now, it sounded corny to King's ears. It even made the teen look away in embarrassment. But that was the perfect time for Alex to strike, and King found herself hugged. "I always wanted Tora and Tiger.. How'd you know?" Alex was squeezing her like crazy, but it didn't last long since the girl pulled away and sat down. Leaving Terry to watch while she inspected her new gift.

"Well.. uh, I just knew?" Terry tried to think up a good reason, but that's all that really came out. `Smooth, Terry..` came to mind when she thought her words over. But it didn't matter in the end, not when she saw that happy smile on the girls lips when she made the beanbag tiger wave its paw at her.

"Happy birthday." King gave her a wink, then leaned in to poke at the tiger.

Tap tap tap, tap.

Jamie's fingers raged furiously across the keyboard of her slim net book while her eyebrows furrowed in anger and disgust, she tilted forward slightly to get closer to the LCD monitor and make sure she was reading correctly.

" A week? I can't wait a week. Unacceptable. Tell him tomorrow or bust and don't skimp on the angry face either. " The words were translated to text as they came out of the girls mouth, a sharp depression of the enter key sent a small mail icon zooming towards the name Graffiti on a large contact list pulled up in the bottom right corner of the screen. " I can't deal with this bulls**t... " Jamie's left hand shot up and swatted the LCD screen down like a fly, a large clap ringing out as the screen and keyboard met in the net books closing.

" ARGH! " Knees were quickly pulled up into her chair so she could bring her chin to rest on them, a brooding, gloomy expression set itself deeper and deeper into her face the longer she stared at the wall on the opposite side of her desk, until the soft jingle of her doorknob turned the gloomy expression quickly into an alert and cautious one. Jamie left her seat slowly and silently, toes and feet pressing silently against the floor as she made her way to the racket that disturbed her. What time was it? She couldn't remember exactly but just looking at how dark it was outside and the silence in the next room she could guess it was past lights out.

Jamie was nearly upon the entryway, left hand drifting slowly to the grip of a wooden baseball bat propped up in the corner beside the door when King's voice came out in rushed silence. Jamie stood stiffly while the girl spoke, why was she here this late? What did she want? A small smirk started to appear across her lips as she thought of the possibilities.

The only response King received was the soft click of the lock on the door disengaging and the sound of soft footsteps traveling deeper into the dorm room.

By the time King had closed and locked the door Jamie would be spread out belly down on her own bed. Chin rested on palms propped up by elbows pushing down into the comforter, and both legs swayed back and forth in tune with the soft hum vibrating along her vocal chords. Jamie's brown oculars almost seemed to bathe Terry in amusement as she made her offhand comments coming through the door.

" I was kinda' hopin' you were here to steal off with me into the night, I was trying to be... Dramatic. "

While the last word left her lips both legs would come to rest on the bed and Jamie would roll to her left side onto her back, swishing hair and head backwards haphazardly while the back of her left hand came to rest upon her forehead just to emphasize the feigned drama. A soft giggle escaped her lips as she rolled back over and propped her chin on palms once more, watching Terry with that disturbing amused look across her visage while the other girl glanced curiously around the room.

" Not much, just taking care of some logistics and messing around on the net. Y'know, trolling around on forums and such seeing how much I can make people seethe hatred. Guess you're not here to steal me away huh? "

Pout face shot in Kings direction as she delivered herself on to the sheets beside Jamie with a soft creak as the springboard depressed against Terry's sudden collapse, those legs went to kicking at the air again while she glared curiously at the other girl.

" What about you? Caved in any faces or done any maiming in the ring recently? "