𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖗 | ᴄᴏʀᴘꜱᴇ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ x ᴏᴄ | ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴᴇ

The Housewarming Party

"Hey, um... do you have any plans for tonight?" Violet attempted a nervous smile that looked more like a grimace as Jack entered the kitchen for the first time that day. She'd finally gotten her mattress and frame in after the movers had gotten the sofa in. At her age, she knew better than to call any friends to help her move, it was much easier to pay the professionals. "Would you be down for like, a tiny little housewarming party?"

"Uhh..." She'd been pretty quiet organizing her room. So much so that he thought he could pull off a morbid Irish goodbye now that she was all set up. The less talk, the better. "Are you having some friends over?" Jack stopped in his tracks and closed the fridge door he had just opened.

"Um, I figured just you and me." She began fiddling with her hair, a tinge of embarrassment growing at the thought of spending more alone time with him. "I have friends in the area, but uh, they all have plans." Truth was, most of her friends in the immediate area hadn't responded to any of her texts that she was in LA. The ones who had were either busy with work or lived just far enough outside that spontaneous plans were out of the question. "Um, but you-you could invite your friends too, if you want." He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a deep breath as he considered her words. Just another day, that's not bad... certainly not with someone like her around. Just one more- I might as well... He glanced over at her again as he thought.

"Um- yeah" He cleared his throat. "Sounds like fun."He smiled as a small amount of embarrassment ran through him. "Most of my friendships are mostly online though. We don't hang out in person too often, at least we haven't because of Covid and all. What are you thinking though? Should I order some food or drinks?"

"Well, your friends are missing out. I have a shit ton of alchy though." She laughed and opened up a box full of liquor and bar tools.

"Alchy? I like that." He chuckled as he checked in the box. "Fuck you weren't kidding!" He laughed a bit harder as he picked up a bottle of whiskey and examined it, a grimace growing on his face as he recalled all his nights with the particular brand.

"Damn, I'm nervous now, the rate you're eyeing it, I'll be surprised if it lasts the night." She eyed him slyly before laughing.

"Am I that easy to read?" He laughed lightly and set the bottle down on the counter beside them.

"I'm just debating whether to watch the wine or whiskey closer." She winked as she washed out a bright pink tumbler to fill it with ice, a pleasant bubble rising in her belly at simply getting to know her new roommate further. That was one thing she loved about moving around, meeting new people, and talking with them; simply learning from their experiences and perspective. And alcohol usually made it a bit easier for her to open up. While she'd felt more comfortable with him than she thought, there were some things better kept buried.

"Fair point..." He smiled. "Usually it depends on my mood, but it can go either way." He pulled a whiskey glass down from the cabinet and poured a liberal three fingers neat.

"So since it's clearly whiskey tonight...what does that mean for this wine drinker?" She poured a bit of juice and vodka in before a red wine blend to mix together as a pre-gamer before she dared the much harder liquor in her new home.

"I don't know... I'm easy to read so you should already know I guess." He chuckled and took a sip. "I'm just nervous I guess, I feel like I'm terrible at initiating conversation. I'm not exactly the most outgoing or extroverted person, though I have gotten a bit better at it lately." He chuckled lightly.

"I'm not either, to be honest." She took her own sip. "Extroverts usually just adopt me," she chuckled lowly.

"Same with me... and then I have to fake it." He gave a joking smile. "Because anxiety."