Honor: Helloooo everyone! Welcome to our first Lord of the Rings story! We're so excited!
Hope: We've never worked on a story together, so I guess we'll see how it goes. By the way, Justice! You're doing the disclaimer!
Justice: GAH! I get to make a disclaimer! Usually these things are annoying, but I've never made one before. :D Anyway, enough spazzing. We don't own Lord of the Rings, just the OCs! Enjoy!
Chapter One: Why You Shouldn't Have Tons of Sugar Before Bed
It was eight in the evening on a chilly Friday in October when Josie Michaels returned home from a long shift at work. The auburn haired girl was visibly exhausted, but since it was Friday she had plenty of reason to keep herself perked up. In an attempt to do just that, Josie had stopped at a convenience store on her way home and purchased a huge bag full of various candies and other sugary substances to share with her two roommates, Paisley and Rebecca, while the three of them enjoyed their weekly movie night.
Josie approached the front door of the shared apartment and quickly let herself inside.
''You're late,'' a blonde girl stated from her seat on the couch.
Josie sighed and dropped her keys on the table by the front door. ''Had to make a pit stop,'' she paused and held up the bag of sweets.
The blonde roommate, Paisley, nudged a brunette who was intently studying a textbook that rest in her lap, but could not gain the other girl's attention.
''I really hate working retail,'' Josie continued, stepping over and sitting down between her friends on the old, ugly-patterned couch. Sliding out of her shoes, she emptied the bag onto the coffee table and she and Paisley quickly grabbed up their favorite treats.
''Come on Becca. I bought plenty for everyone,'' Josie said as she unwrapped her pack of fruit chews. Rebecca pushed a piece of her dark hair behind her ear and her deep brown eyes flickered indecisively from her textbook to the sweets on the rectangular table before her.
''Yeah,'' Paisley chimed in between bites of her powdered doughnuts.
''You practically study twenty-four, seven. Plus you sat out last week's movie night,'' she paused here to pout. ''You deserve at least one night off.''
''I agree with Paisley,'' Josie encouraged. ''You're already at the top of like all your classes as it is.''
Rebecca smiled and casually pushed her heavy textbook from her lap. It landed with a loud thump on the floor and Paisley and Josie let out a cheer. ''I give! I give!'' She reached over and chose a small chocolate bar from the pile. ''So what movie did you pick this week, Paisley?''
The blonde in question gave a wicked smile and turned on the television set.
She had set up the movie earlier and the DVD's title screen was now displayed on the TV.
''Really Paisley? Lord of the Rings?'' Josie groaned in protest.
''Oh hush! I didn't complain when you picked that awful romantic comedy last week.''
''Come on, Jo. I've heard...mainly from Paisley...that these are good movies,'' Rebecca spoke up.
Josie just shrugged and turned her attention to Paisley. ''How long is this going to take?''
''Hmm...about four hours or so. Why? Do you have to work tomorrow?'' Paisley responded, looking past Josie and over to Rebecca, directing the question to both of them.
Josie shook her head, but Rebecca nodded. ''I have to give a lesson tomorrow, but it's not until two.''
''You don't seem very excited about that, Becca,'' Josie commented, giving the brunette a sideways glance.
''Well, I love playing my flute, and I love seeing my students learn, but..'' she trailed off searching for the right words. ''It's just a temporary thing.''
Paisley gave an understanding nod, but found herself unable to keep still. The desire to re-watch one of her favorite movies was too great and she found herself practically squirming in her seat.
''I don't know how I managed a day off from retail hell,'' Josie said finishing up her snack and leaning back into the worn, plush cushions on the couch.
Paisley fiddled with the remote and smirked. ''That's why I don't work on weekends.''
''Yeah, you're lucky. Working two days a week at the daycare,'' Rebecca replied taking a bite of her chocolate treat.
Josie stuck out her tongue in a playful and childish manner as she pulled her thick mass of red curls into a low loose ponytail and turned her blue eyes to the television screen.
Paisley silently counted to five and when no one else spoke, she deemed it safe to start the movie. She clicked the play button on the remote and the opening sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring began to play. She mouthed along with the lines she could remember and Josie shook her head, rolled her eyes, but smiled at her friend's quirks anyway.
Over the next two hours Paisley suspected both Josie and Rebecca were really getting into the story, but her suspicions were confirmed when the first disc ended and Josie demanded the second disc be put in immediately.
Paisley laughed as she stood to change the discs. Rebecca leaned over and selected another piece of candy from the nearly empty coffee table. ''So Paisley, which character is your favorite? You've seen all the movies.''
''Hmm...when you two finish all three movies, then we can discuss our favorite characters together,'' Paisley responded as she carefully placed disc two into the DVD player's tray and gently pushed it closed.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the girls paid no mind to it as they settled in to finish the movie.
Less than ten minutes after the second disc began, the thunder became cause for concern as a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky outside and the electricity went out.
All three girls gave a whimper of surprise at the sudden darkness and pulled out their cell phones in an attempt to shed some light into the room.
''Oh for the love of Gandalf!'' Paisley groaned, tossing the remote at the television screen. Despite the dimness of the room, the girl surprisingly hit her mark as the remote bounced roughly against the screen and fell to the floor. After a brief and awkward moment of silence the friends burst into laughter.
''Oh my God, Paisley!'' Josie struggled to get out. ''You're such a nerd!''
''What does that make us, Jo?'' Rebecca questioned giggling as well. ''We know who Gandalf is now.''
Josie's laughter subsided and she couldn't find anything to say, which caused Paisley and Rebecca to laugh even harder at the red head's realization. After a moment of embarassment, Josie joined in their uproarious laughter. Five minutes passed before the girls were able to calm down, struggling to regain their breath. Rebecca wiped tears from her eyes, regaining her composure first.
''What was that all about?'' she asked.
''It's the sugar's fault!'' Paisley exclaimed, failing to stifle a yawn. Josie yawned as well. ''Finish the movie tomorrow?''
''Sounds good,'' Rebecca answered standing and pulling her friends to their feet.
''Night girls,'' Josie said yawning once more as she headed off to her bedroom.
''Night Jo,'' Paisley and Rebecca said together, but their voices were drowned by another sound of thunder and the sound of rain pounding outside.
After the remaining girls bid one another good night and had settled into their respective bedrooms the apartment was void of all noise, except for that of the storm raging outside.
