Chapter 4
Quinn
October, Freshman Year
Sundays were technically supposed to be Quinn’s rest day from working out, but she usually still woke up early and went for a walk across campus, unable to stay still.
Most weeks, when she got back to the dorm, Liv was up and getting ready, so Quinn took the time, prior to another study session, to tidy up her area of their living space.
Even with the few boxes Liv’s parents had sent, Quinn’s things still vastly overwhelmed Liv’s, but her roommate seemed fine with it, comfortable with her taking up so much space.
Quinn tried her best not to let her things sprawl too much, and she was considering having her parents take a crate full of stuff that she’d already deemed unnecessary when they came up to visit on a Saturday in early October.
On the Thursday before their scheduled visit, Quinn dragged herself back to the dorm and poured herself into her bed after one of the most difficult practices she’d ever attended.
Her favorite stroke was the backstroke, which had come easy to her since she started swim lessons at six years old.
She’d made the university team for her 200-meter backstroke.
It was her best event; she even held her high school record.
But her coach also thought that her butterfly had potential, particularly in the shorter distances, and she wanted Quinn to consider training for the individual medley races, when a single swimmer swims a designated distance for each of the four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
She appreciated that she was on a team that believed in her, and she didn’t want to rest in her comfort zone, but she was drained.
“Butterfly drills today,” Liv assumed, peering over at Quinn’s form, melted as she was on top of her bedspread.
Okay, well, that brought a smile to Quinn’s face.
She knew, of course, that she was diligently collecting facts about Liv.
Her roommate had to wear a fresh set of matching pajamas every single night.
She only used a special tablet style toothpaste and brushed her teeth at least three times a day.
She was absolutely pained at the idea that Quinn didn’t believe that socks, strictly speaking, had to match.
But Quinn was still somehow surprised that Liv was paying such close attention to her .
“Exactly,” Quinn confirmed. “I never want to dolphin kick again for the rest of my life.”
“Did you have dinner?” She had a plastic food container on her desk next to her laptop that she was still nibbling out of.
“I guzzled a protein shake on the way over here,” she answered. “I don’t think I can walk to the cafeteria.”
Liv laughed and tossed a blue Gatorade, objectively the best flavor, over to her. When Quinn started to protest, she threw her hands up. “It’s not a gift! It’s just an extra one I didn’t drink after run club!”
“Mmhmm,” was all Quinn said before she opened the drink and took a sip. “You should have shared your Gatorades with Joel. He might propose!”
There was a senior in run club that had walked Liv to the dorm a few times. When Quinn bumped into them, it was abundantly clear that he was trying to make a move on Liv.
Liv’s ears went pink. “I’m not dating here.”
That was all she would say about that. Quinn had tried multiple times to get her to open up.
Not prying, per se, but sharing more about her own limited dating history.
Liv had mentioned that she was part of a tight friend group, mostly made up of people that were connected to her father’s company in some way, but she was completely tightlipped about other elements of her social history.
“I’m going to shower. Do you want the rest of my dinner?” Liv asked her.
“Yes, please,” Quinn said, reaching out her hands in a grabbing motion. She didn’t want Liv buying her things, sure, but she also wasn’t about to waste food. “I’ll happily be a garbage disposal for your leftovers.”
Liv rolled her eyes again but shot her a smile as she handed over the food and then walked out, toting a shower caddy, a towel, and floral print pajamas.
“Thank you for feeding me,” Quinn said as soon as Liv walked back in the room. “I should’ve stopped on the way, but I almost passed out in the shower. Promise I’ll get you back.”
Again, Liv rolled her eyes, sitting at her desk and turning away. “Whatever.”
“Oh, actually, that reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about Saturday,” Quinn said, sitting up quickly in her bed, though she winced and wrapped her arms around her abs.
Liv turned back to her, mildly concerned, but Quinn waved her off.
“My parents want to take me out to lunch off campus. We’ll probably just pick whatever chain restaurant is closest, but they told me to ask if you’d like to join? ”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Liv said, shifting uncomfortably before she turned away.
“I mean, no pressure at all, but I promised them I’d pass along the invite,” Quinn told her.
“I’m sure you want that time with your family,” Liv said.
“Liv, look at me for a second,” Quinn said, and though it took a moment for Liv to turn her head, she eventually did, meeting Quinn’s gaze.
“I would not have invited you if I didn’t want to.
You don’t have to come. Like I said, no pressure at all.
My family is a lot. But don’t say no because it’s what you think I want. ”
Liv appeared to ponder that for a few seconds before she nodded. “Is it okay if I let you know?”
“Of course,” Quinn agreed.
Saturday morning, they went about their usual early routines.
Quinn’s family was scheduled to arrive around 10:30 AM, in time for a quick tour of campus and then lunch.
Quinn was waiting on a bench outside their dorm building by 10:15 AM, equal parts excited to see them and on edge that they were going to act up.
Her parents were pretty chill, but they loved to tease, and she was nervous to have them in her new space.
Plus, they were very different from the entirely imagined idea of Liv’s family that she had in her head.
Quinn’s dad was an electrician who liked to joke that he was “half-giant” because of his height (which he’d kindly passed along to Quinn) and her mom had been a stay-at-home mom since the first set of twins arrived.
“Quinnie!” She heard her father’s booming voice, and she was already blushing as she noticed several students watching the commotion, especially when her sisters started screaming and running towards her.
Juliette made it first and leapt into her arms, followed shortly by Everlee, carrying a large gift bag.
She switched out one twin for the other, and then her parents sandwiched her in a giant embrace.
Quinn had only been at school for six weeks at this point, but it was the longest time she’d ever spent away from them in her life, and she was struck by how emotional she felt seeing them for the first time.
“The boys stayed at home,” Quinn guessed.
“Yeah, tremendously important thirteen-year-old boy business,” her mom said, before assuring Quinn that their neighbor would be keeping an eye on the house to ensure it didn’t burn down in their absence.
“Will you show us your room, Quinnie?” Everlee asked, pulling on her arm, still clutching the giant bag. “I’m excited to see where you live now!”
“Of course, girly,” she replied, bumping her hip against her sister. She led them inside the building, towards the stairs that would take them to her dorm room. “Is that gift for me?”
“Maybe,” Everlee answered, giggling, as they made their way upstairs.
“I’m excited to meet the roommate,” her mom said, shooting Quinn a sly glance.
“You do talk about her kind of a lot,” her dad agreed, pretending that this thought had just occurred to him, though it was clear to Quinn that this discussion was premeditated.
“Well yeah. She’s my roommate ,” Quinn said through gritted teeth. She didn’t think she talked about Liv all that much, but she’d be more aware of it on future calls home. “Other than the swim team, she’s the only person I’ve really met since I’ve been here.”
“Mmhmm,” was her mom’s complete reply.
“Can you guys please not embarrass me,” Quinn begged, but she regretted the request as soon as she made it, because both of her parents lit up.
“What could we ever possibly do to embarrass our sweet baby?” her mom said.
“We would never,” her dad added, holding his hand over his chest to feign offense .
“I hate you both,” Quinn muttered under her breath, propping the door open so that they could go in, feeling the blush take over her face, and hoping, on one level, that Liv had decided against joining them.
“No, you don’t, you love us,” her dad said, and he literally reached to pinch her cheeks, though he did let her swat his hand away.
Small dignities.
“Good morning,” she heard Liv say, and Quinn quickly followed her family into the room.
“Well, aren’t you the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen,” her mom said, adopting a faux Southern accent, taking Liv’s hand and actually twirling her, the skirt of her simple orange jersey dress flaring out with the movement. Quinn noticed that her face wasn’t the only one on fire.
“Thank you,” Liv said with a small smile.
Quinn mouthed STOP to her mother, though she knew it wouldn’t do any good.
She was well aware of how pretty Liv was.
She tried desperately not to think about it, to not notice her shiny, bouncy dark brown hair, her hypnotic blue eyes, or how her teeth were currently nibbling into her perfect, round bottom lip.
It’s not normal to notice your roommate’s lip shape , she chided herself. Especially your probably straight—Quinn wasn’t one to assume, even considering how Liv had reacted to her sexuality—and definitely not interested.