Chapter 5
Otto woke up with who he assumed was Rosalie lying on his chest, one arm draped over his stomach. He thought she might have gotten spooked at night, so she joined him on the floor. Lazily, Otto ran a hand over Rosalie's hair, feeling the strands sift through his fingers. He stiffened when what he thought was her hair left his fingers a lot sooner than he expected. Otto slightly opened his eyes, squinting at the person lying on him. His eyes widened and breathing shallowed when he recognized Norman. Otto noted that Norman looked so sweet, curled up like this. When Norman sighed and stirred, stiffening up with a stretch, Otto stilled and he pretended to be asleep.
“Shit.” Norman muttered after adjusting his head. “Shit shit shit.”
Norman pushed off Otto, who suddenly felt cold at the absence of his roommate lying on him. He heard Norman move his sheets, then the light creek of the mattress as weight was put on it. Otto waited for a moment before opening his eyes. He looked over at Norman’s bed to see that Norman was facing away from him. Otto looked to the other side of the room, shooting up into a sitting position with a sharp breath. Panicked, he got to his feet and looked for a note. A ripped sheet of paper from one of his notebooks lay on his desk.
Otto
If I’m not back, don’t panic. I’ve gone out to get breakfast for you and Norman as a thank you. I’ll be back in a few minutes.
Rosalie
The sound of the door opening behind him made Otto jump in surprise. He whipped around to see Rosalie carrying two bags and a tray of coffee with an amused smile on her face.
"Sorry to startle you," she said, setting down the bags and tray on the table. “I thought you’d still be asleep.”
“Then why leave a note?” Otto asked, inspecting the bags. The styrofoam containers inside let out an unpleasant squeak as he gently took them out and placed them on his desk. “Afraid I wouldn’t let you back in?”
“I just wanted to be safe.” Rosalie looked over to the floor as she spoke, then Norman’s bed.
“Did you put Norman back in his bed?”
“Huh?” Otto asked, deciding to play dumb in case Norman was awake.
“He was… never mind.” She began inspecting the boxes. When she was satisfied with one of the boxes, she sat in Otto’s desk chair and began eating. “That one’s for you.” She said with a mouthful of food, finger pointing to the box closest to Otto.
Otto nodded, grabbing the box and sitting on the edge of his bed. He felt like he should say something. He wanted to say something. He wanted to assure her that he didn’t need her to thank him with breakfast, that he wouldn’t mind sleeping on the floor again tonight if she didn’t want to go home, and that he is sure that he doesn’t need any explanation, now or ever. But he remained silent, and so did she. Norman woke up shortly after, looking over at Otto and Rosalie with curiosity.
“Breakfast?” Rosalie asked, pointing to the last box. “There’s coffee too.”
Thanks.” He mumbled, stumbling out of his bed and over to Otto’s desk. He wrenched one of the cups out of the tray and picked up his breakfast before taking it over to his own desk. “Uhm, may I ask why I tripped over Otto last night?”
Otto looked over to Rosalie, unsure of if he was allowed to say why, or if she wanted to be the one to tell Norman. She took a long sip of coffee before setting the cup down and clearing her throat.
"I didn't want to be alone last night, so I came here," Rosalie answered.
"Ah, I see. Well, thanks for the breakfast." Norman said, looking down at his plate
"It's no problem," she said with a small smile.
When they were finished, Rosalie gathered her things, insisting that it was time she went home.
"Would you like me to accompany you home?” Otto asked, unsure if she should be alone.
“I live a long walk away, and I would feel better if you stayed here,” Rosalie answered.
Before Otto could protest, or even offer his bed once again, she was out the door. He knew better than to chase after her, knowing that once she has her mind set on something, there was no chance of changing her mind.
“So, you’re just going to let her leave like that?” Norman asked, judgment evident in his voice.
“It may not be obvious, but she is a very stubborn woman,” Otto answered. Norman just hummed in response, like he didn’t believe Otto, but chose not to say anything. “What, you don’t believe me?”
“No, it’s just… she kind of reminds me of you,” Norman said. “Well, if you trade your impatience for stubbornness.”
“Impatience?”
“I have to go, I promised to meet up with some friends in a few minutes.” Norman interrupted, grabbing his bag and leaving.
Otto wanted to chase after Norman, to tell him off and tell him that he was plenty patient. But instead, he stayed rooted to the spot, watching as Norman disappeared around the corner as their dorm room door slowly shut. Like Rosalie, he decided that it would be best if he stayed where he was. He suspected that “some friends” were just Emily. Though, there was one thing to come out of Norman leaving: writing in his journal without someone staring holes into the back of his head. He hated when Norman would do that, it felt like he was trying to read his mind.
March 8, 1978,
I woke up in the strangest of situations this morning. After Rosalie’s trouble last night, I thought she had decided to join me on the floor out of fear, but how wrong I was. Norman must have stumbled in late last night and fallen on top of me. I don’t know how that didn’t wake me up, but I’m glad it didn’t. I probably would have chewed him out as he did to me in ‘74, maybe even worse. But that’s not the strangest thing. I thought about how he looked when he slept. He looked sweet, almost as if he belonged there. Lying on top of me, using my chest as some sort of pillow. I enjoyed it, and I don’t know why. It scares me.
In other news, Rosalie brought Norman and I breakfast this morning as a thank-you for letting her stay here last night. I offered to accompany her home, but she insisted on going home. Before I could insist that she use my bed again tonight, she was out of the door. Knowing how stubborn she is, I decided not to follow her. Worst of all, Norman called me impatient. Then he left without any explanation, probably to spend time with Emily.
Signed,
Otto Octavius.
Otto rubbed his eyes, annoyed at how stupid he sounded in his own journal. He shut the book and set it on his desk, then decided to do some more work. He opened his textbooks and read up on the chapters he needed to know for his classes. When he reached the end of his notes, he was relieved to find that the sun was setting, and he had gotten a lot done. Otto knew he should head to bed, but he was reluctant to do so with Norman still out. But it wasn't like he was going to get much work done when Norman returned, and it was getting late. Reluctantly, Otto put away his notes and climbed into his bed, sighing as he fell asleep.
—
The following morning, Otto woke up to see a girl in Norman's bed. Correction, Emily is in Norman's bed. And Norman on the floor. Maybe they got home late last night. Otto didn't want to move too fast in case he woke the slumbering pair up. He did, however, crawl off of his bed and move over to his desk to find something to do, deciding on a book. He crept back to his bed, using the little sunlight from the window to read. He was lost in his book when he heard a groan. He looked over to see Emily sitting up in Norman's bed, rubbing her face.
"Late night?" Otto asked, not able to help himself. Emily jumped, then nodded.
"We didn't drink, well not that much."
"Wasn't accusing you of anything." Otto said, raising his hand and book in defense.
"I took him to meet my parents yesterday." Emily said. "Thanks for letting me stay."
"I don't mind." Otto said. There was a beat of silence.
"Would you like to go out for drinks later?" Emily suddenly asked. "Like a double date. Norman says you've started dating someone."
Otto's knee-jerk reaction was to say no. He wanted to keep his and Norman's relationships separate, but then he remembered Rosalie. She was distressed yesterday, and logically, she should be similarly distressed today. He wanted her to forget, at least for a little while, and the only way he could think to do that was if he accepted Emily's offer.
"I would like that." He finally answered.
"Great." She smiled. "I'm sure Norman will say yes, if you're wondering." Otto nodded and hummed. He picked up his book once more, glancing over to Norman. He was asleep on the floor, with his stomach and face buried in his jacket. He looked peaceful. Otto took a sharp breath and turned his attention back to his book.