Room 306, Friday afternoon

[tigerundercover]

Raven didn't have much by way of clothes, but after two years living in one room, she did have plenty of other stuff that needed packing up. Unlike some other folks who were packing and cleaning out their dorm rooms this week, though, Raven was only going two floors up.

She and Kathy were very soon to be actual for real roommates! She was going to have a roommate who was unlikely to just up and leave quietly in the night in the middle of the semester!

So this packing session was anything but gloomy. She was bopping around the room, playing a new song she'd heard on the radio full blast, and occasionally pausing to rock out or punch her fist in the air.

"I love me! Gonna love myself,
no I don't need anybody else!
Hey! Gonna love myself,
no I don't need anybody else!
Any time day or night!"

She'd apologize if someone came by complaining about the noise. Then probably try to make them dance with her, too.

[Door and post are open!]

Comments

[tigerundercover]

It was possible even a major Mexican film star couldn't help her.

"Mmmm," Raven said. "He does like a strong woman. . . ."

[spin_kick_snap]

It was Kathy's own fault for being so sincere.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Kathy asked. "...I mean, other than him getting shot and us expelled."

You know, apart from that!

[tigerundercover]

"You're determined to use me as an excuse not to graduate, aren't you."

[spin_kick_snap]

"If the shoe fits, sweetheart," Kathy said cheerfully, looking around for a box to start piling things into. "I mean, I'd prefer to not get expelled, but it doesn't seem right to get your brother shot and not face some kind of consequence."

[tigerundercover]

"Yeah, but you're the only one talking about getting kicked out."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You don't think that getting Charles shot by the principal isn't worth expulsion?" Kathy asked, hands full of bedding. "That's a little callous, Raven. Are you thinking more like a general suspension?"

[tigerundercover]

"I'm thinking maybe don't get my brother shot in the first place. That'd make me pretty sad. I'd have to pout at you, at the very least."

Or possibly join your crusade. One of those.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Raven, we're talking about the principal," Kathy chided patiently. "I'm certain that she wouldn't aim for anything vital."

Kathy had maybe about two more jokes about this in her before she had to pause and assure Raven that she of course didn't mean it and was only joking. Because even though Raven sure knew that, Kathy still needed to make sure it was explicit.

[tigerundercover]

"Well sure, but Charles is a rich white boy. They're fragile."

[spin_kick_snap]

"All the better. This is an object lesson."

Except now she was looking at Raven anxiously, asking, "You know I'm just teasing, right? I mean--obviously I'm just teasing. I would never want your brother to get hurt. Or expelled. I mean, us expelled, him hurt. All of that is bad."

It was probably good she was taking Lyman's speech class, too.

[tigerundercover]

Raven came over to sit down on the bed next to Kathy and leaned over to put her head on her shoulder.

"Kathy, you're adorable."

[spin_kick_snap]

"That means you're laughing at me," Kathy said, though she didn't sound all that bothered by it. Instead, she rested her head on top of Raven's. "I can just only tease so much, I guess. I just worry I'll take it too far, or something."

[tigerundercover]

"It means that I love you and you're amazing and I appreciate you worrying about me even when you have to know that I already know you're teasing."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Of course I know! And I know that you know. Just--still. I'd rather worry than be careless, you know?" And there was lots of knowing, apparently. "I don't have so many best friends running around that I can afford to lose any." She turned slightly to give Raven a hug. "Love you, too. Which was why even if I had a hundred other best friends around, I still couldn't afford to lose you. So there."