Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE) - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

September 5th 2018 - 13:10
When you read a story, that is all you know. You only see what the characters need you to see; what they're going through, their feelings and fears. If you're lucky, you might see them get a happy ending, maybe even grow as a person and find love along the way. Not very often do you see the before part of the adventure, what their lives were like before the heroes met and went on their grand journey.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Kiara grumbled, dragging a brush through her hair and muttering swears as it snagged in the knots. She grimaced at her reflection in the mirror, her dark hair flying all over her face and her green eyes narrowed back at her. It had been weeks since she had bothered to throw on something other than jeans and a tee and she wasn't enjoying the change.
"Stop bitching and hurry up." Elvis snarked, leaning against the door jamb and watching her with arms folded, "I refuse to be late to this. We need to find another roommate or we're out of here."
"It's not my fault Crazy Kayla decided to up and leave without any notice."
Somehow, Elvis had been ready for nearly an hour, his hair perfectly coiffed on his head in a way that screamed 'I tried...but not really'. It infuriated her.
"It literally is!" Elvis snatched the brush from her hand and dragged it through her hair roughly, ignoring her protests, "Maybe if you didn't sleep with her then completely ignore her for a week, she would have stayed!" He yanked to emphasise his words.
"She was psycho anyway. She kept talking to a cat inside the walls."
"I hate you. I actually hate you. Get dressed, we're going."
It took at least another half hour for Elvis to drag Kiara from the apartment, the pair bickering like an old married couple as they did. This continued on the streets, on the subway and even at the orientation, much to the displeasure of the students surrounding them. Unbeknownst to themselves, they were making a horrible first impression on potential roommates.
In the month since they had decided to brave the 'big city' together, they had managed to send three roommates running for the hills screaming. Neither would admit their faults in it but they were equally as guilty. Elvis was shrill, demanding and had little patience for anyone that wasn't Kiara. While Kiara took an...interest in anyone that stepped foot in the apartment which never ended well. Between the pair of them any potential roommate was driven to the brink.
"Alright! I'm sorry I put the empty milk back in the fridge." Kiara eventually snarked, "Can we move on?"
"Gladly." Elvis smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Now let's talk about Little Miss Gucci over there."
Kiara glanced over and snorted as she noticed the girl standing there. She looked as though she stepped off the runways in Milan, tall, thin, blonde, in a tight Gucci dress and adorned with sunglasses almost bigger than her face - indoors.
"Someone's overdressed." Kiara snickered, then glanced up at Elvis, "Maybe if we weren't such assholes Kayla wouldn't have been the third roommate we've driven away in a month."
"Maybe." Elvis shrugged, "Or maybe we need someone that matches our energy. We're not the problem."
Kiara chuckled, "Yes, dear. We are never ever the problem. Of course."
"Ahem."
The pair glanced up to see Gucci Girl likely glaring at them from behind her shades, holding out a piece of paper.
"Where is the mixer?"
"Hello to you too, Barbie." Elvis drawled, "So lovely to meet you."
"Yeah. Whatever. Mixer."
Kiara and Elvis shared a look, then a smirk before glancing back at the girl who now had her arms folded and her hip cocked. It was almost adorable if it wasn't extremely annoying. Kiara wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders as Elvis reached out and snatched her sunglasses from her face, ignoring her squeaks of displeasure.
"Hey!" She squealed, stamping her foot, "Give those back! Those are Gucci!"
"Jesus, are you a cartoon character or something? There's no way real people act like this." Elvis raised an eyebrow.
"Listen, Barbie." Kiara began as they dragged her along towards the mixer, "We've decided to take you under our wing."
"Your wing? I don't need a pair of poor people trying to 'help' me."
"You think you're going to make friends with that attitude? No one likes a bitch. Except us."
The girl gave them a pensive look, before frowning, "I'm not a bitch. I'm-"
"Spoiled, stuck up, rich." Elvis counted on his fingers, "Yeah, you're at NYU, that is not going to fly here. You can stick with us until you make the kind of friends you're looking for. But, if you don't want our help..."
"No! I mean...no. I want it. I want your...help."
"There's hope for you yet. What's your name, Barbie?"
"Violet. Violet Hastings." She turned her nose up haughtily.
"Lesson one. Stop sticking your nose up. People don't like that."
"Right." She nodded, lowering her chin, "Got it."
The trio wandered into a large hall of budding freshmen, all clinging to the walls with cups clutched in their hands. They all grabbed a cup of flat cola from one of the girls handing them out and stood in a corner, watching people move through the room with matching disgusted looks.
"See anyone your speed?" Kiara asked as Violet glanced around the room with a disgruntled look on her face.
"No."
"Guess you're stuck with us a little longer." Elvis shrugged, then his eyes widened, "Do you have a place to live?"
He didn't even flinch as Kiara jammed her elbow into his side.
"I live in a penthouse on Madison Avenue." Violet smirked.
"By yourself?"
"Duh."
"That seems...lonely. It's your freshman year, don't you want the experience?" Elvis continues, ignoring Kiara's glares pointed in his direction.
"Experience?" Violet looked pensive, "What do you mean?"
"Roommates and frat parties and late nights on the fire escape talking about life and chugging from a bottle of wine?"
"I'd rather have my own bathroom."
"Suit yourself. Seems lonely all the way at the top."
"Elvis." Kiara snapped, "Leave it."
Violet raised her eyebrows, "What?"
"We find ourselves short on roommates." Elvis drawled, yelping as Kiara pinched his arm, "Would you stop attacking me? You bitch."
"You talk to your girlfriend like that?"
"We're gay." Kiara deadpanned, "And clearly we are far beneath this girl so obviously she doesn't want to live with us, okay?"
"Wait a minute." Violet tapped her chin thoughtfully, glancing at the pair, "I'm intrigued. Pitch it."
"Excuse me?" Kiara's head whipped around to stare at her, wide-eyed.
"You want me to live with you? Pitch it."
"I actually don't-"
"It's a three bedroom in central Manhattan, only about a 15 minute walk from here. It has a fire escape with a beautiful view of the city skyline, there's two bathrooms, an open living room, a kitchen, three alright sized bedrooms. Kiara and I both work four days a week so we won't be all in your space constantly and I feel like we all have a similar energy."
"You think I'm similar to her?"
"I'm going to ignore that last statement." Violet sent Kiara a glare, "Fine. I'm in. On a trial basis. If I am unhappy after a three month probationary period, I reserve the right to leave without any hidden fees. Also I get my own bathroom."
"Very professional of you." Elvis raised an eyebrow and grinned, holding out a hand for her to shake.
She shook it primly, grinning back, "My father is Martin Hastings. World class lawyer."
"Of course he is." Kiara rolled her eyes, "Let's just go. We got what we came for, I guess."
Violet beamed, clapping her hands and turning to walk out of the hall. As she did, Kiara leaned into Elvis and muttered.
"She won't last a week."
"We'll see." Elvis responded, sliding the Gucci sunglasses down onto his face.
And so it goes. You could trace this story back even further, to the rainy day Elvis met a rain-soaked Kiara, sobbing in the streets after being thrown out by her most recent foster family at age eight. You could take it back to the day Kiara was born, hell, you could take it back even further than that.
But you know as much as you need to know - some things are private, even in a story.