"Service!"

I spin on the spot and head towards the kitchen, piling the piping hot pub food onto a tray.

"Table fifteen, right?" I say to the chef.

The dwarf nods distractedly as he throws a pile of fries in the deep-fat-frier. I check the order and stride over to the table in the corner, not noticing any of them. Lunchtime service is usually busy with tourists to Skyton, but it's exceptionally quiet on this midweek lunchtime shift. I serve an elderly couple and head back to the bar, swiping my key card to update the order. It's a routine I know I could do in my sleep.

My colleague Blackwall is polishing glasses behind the bar. "You working all day?" he asks conversationally.

I shake my head. "I'm off at two - Josephine's the DM this evening."

"You at the cinema after?"

"Night off. Can't believe my luck," I admit. My second job at the cinema is easier than this work in the Herald's Rest Pub, but the pay is awful. The only real perk is getting free cinema tickets - a perk I wish I could take more advantage of, if I had the time.

I process the order on the till, my hands moving quickly over the touch screen as I tap in the additional order of garlic bread as Blackwall heads down the bar to serve.

"Excuse me?"

I look up and see a young elven woman with light blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun standing at the bar expectantly. I put on my bar mask (an expression where I pull a fake-but-believable smile to each and every customer).

"What can I get you?"

She smiles sweetly and pulls out something of her handbag. "I was just wondering if I could hand my CV in?"

"O-oh," I say, surprised. I look her over once again. She's about a head shorter than me, slender with bright green eyes that appear to be looking me over just as much as I'm looking at her. Maker's breath, she's pretty. I glance at Blackwall who is unabashedly staring at her.

"If you have any jobs going, of course. I've done bar work before," she explains hurriedly, placing her CV on the counter. I pull my gaze from her face and glance over the CV.

"Er-actually we do have a position open. Wh-what hours can you work?"

She smiles again, and it really shows in her eyes. It almost knocks me back, how genuine it is. "I'm starting uni in the new year but I've got my timetable already. Shall I write it down?"

I nod and grab a pen from my apron, passing it to her. Our fingers touch, and I swear she gave me a static shock. But she doesn't notice and starts scribbling dates and times over her CV. I watch her face as she scrunches it up in thought, before adding another note.

"So you've, er, done bar work before?" I prompt.

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind a pointed ear. "Yeah, in Redcliffe. I've just moved here and need a job."

"Can you do weekends?" I ask, my mouth dry, hating how blunt I sound.

"Yep. I'll pop that down here as well, shall I?" she says, glancing up at me.

"That… that would be great," I say lamely, crossing my arms. I'm fighting for things to say as she scribbles her availability, but I'm stuck. Maker's breath, if she gets this job…

"Here you go," she passes the CV back over to me along with my pen.

"Great, I'll give this to the General Manager now," I say.

"Thank you so much! It was nice to meet you," she turns with a small wave and leaves the pub.

There's a low whistle behind me. "Andraste's tits. She's cute."

"Blackwall," I scold. "Watch the bar - just going to pass this to Leliana."

"Mm, fingers crossed," he says, watching her through the far window as she checks her phone outside the door before heading down the street.

I ignore Blackwall and slide out of the bar and head up the stairs, taking two at a time, the elf's CV gripped in my hands. Normally I would hang on to a CV for a few hours, scrutinise it myself and then hand it over to Leliana. I don't know why I'm so eager to-

Of course I know why. I just don't want to admit it. I stand outside the office door and hesitate, actually looking at the CV in my hands. I commit her face to memory as I read her name and bio. Lyla Lavellan. Ok, must remember that. Says here she has got bar experience along with retail. But this catches my eye - she's starting 2nd year at Skyhold Uni after swapping from Redcliffe? My eyebrows raise at the questions, but I shake my head. Now I'm just being nosey, and I know it.

I run a hand through my hair and knock lightly on the closed office door at the top of the building, in the attic space. I push the heavy door open and hover over the threshold as Leliana sits at the cluttered desk of paperwork, files and cash. Her short red hair is all I can see as she hunches over her computer, her back to me.

I clear my throat and she glances at me over her shoulder. "Hello Cullen," she says, before turning back to her work.

Stepping into the office, I approach her desk and wait for her to finish typing. "Just wanted to give you this CV that was handed in to me."

She pauses and looks at me, an eyebrow raised. "Oh? And since when have you been so interested in potential employees?"

I rub my neck. "No reason! I didn't want it getting lost behind the bar."

Leliana takes the CV from me and reads with narrowed eyes. I wait as she digests before she looks at me. "What was she like then? Do you think I should call her in for a trial shift?"

I can feel my face warm. Maker's breath, if Leliana finds out that perhaps I'm only doing it because of such a pretty face, I will never, ever hear the end of it. Instead I turn my head and pretend to look at the rota for the week on the wall.

"She seemed friendly, quite smiley. She mentioned that she's got bar experience, which is a bonus."

"Yes, and her availability is really flexible. Alright Cullen, I may give her a call. Was there anything else?"

I try to hide my smile that's threatening to show and shake my head. I'm dismissed and I head back down to the bar and run idle errands around the pub as I wait for my shift to end. After working a night shift at the cinema last night, the caffeine-induced energy I've had all morning is starting to fizzle out and my tiredness threatens to show. And with that tiredness, come the headaches.

I busy myself with prepping the bar for a Saturday night and could not be more relieved when I see Josephine walk though the door. I pass her my handover notes for the day and could not be out of there quick enough. I throw on my thick jacket, grab my satchel and get out of the bar as speedily as possible, without seeming too eager from the other staff. But my eyelids are heavy and I want nothing more than to crawl into bed and let the fade take me.

It's three in the afternoon and I've been stretched out on the mattress on the floor for the last half an hour, sleep evading me. I peer at my phone vibrating from under the pillows and with a groan I sit up and scratch my head. Three missed calls, six texts and one voicemail. Maker's breath, can't they just let me sleep?

I scroll through the texts, ignore the standard fraud ones and open Cassandra's text curiously.

Cass P
[New housemate's moved in. Having a housewarming thing tonight, about 7. Nothing huge, just drinks and maybe a trashy movie. Wanna come if you're not working?x]

After working eighteen hours straight between both jobs, the last thing I feel like doing is heading to a small party to meet the person who's taken up my old room. I've been in this new house with other adults for the best part of a month, and I miss the banter and companionship of the old house. But uni was no longer an option and I had to go. I exit the message and pull up Dorian's.

Dorian P
[Hello you. Come over tonight and meet our new roomie. She's a cutie!]

Another message from him follows.

Dorian P
[It will do you good, and you know it. I know you're not working tonight or tomorrow!]

I groan and lay back down on my mattress. The most appealing thing I want to do now is to fall asleep, wrapped up in my duvet and possibly binge watch an awful, old Fereldan comedy. But my curiosity is hard to ignore. It would be good to see the old house and friends for a drink, and maybe I can pretend I still live there. Perhaps I can crash on the sofa - Maker knows it more comfortable than this mattress I'm living on.

I reply to Dorian first.

[Fine. I'll be there at 7.]

Then I read Cassandra's again before replying.

[Sounds good. See you later.]

At some point I do fall asleep in a light snooze, vaguely aware of it getting darker as the winter sun disappears. I wake up again and glance at my phone as my stomach rumbles. Its just before six so I drag myself out of bed, throw on a shirt and grab my towel. Blissfully, the house is empty so I spend as long as possible under the warm and calming heat of the water.

Thankfully, the headache which had threatened to emerge has been subdued by my snooze. I take some painkillers just in case and head into the cramped kitchen, noting with distaste the dirty dishes piled in the sink and the pungent smell of rotting food, hidden somewhere beneath the overflowing bin. My appetite's gone so I back out of the kitchen, only taking a few bottles of beer with me.

I step outside the maisonette and take a deep breath. It's absolutely freezing this evening, and more than ever I miss my cosy attic room. It was always warm and dry, not cold and stale like this new place. But I know reminiscing is not going to do me any good. I look up and down the street before heading uphill and around the corner to see the familiar red-brick end-of-terrace which I had once called home in some of my darkest hours. With a wry smile, I suppose that I still do think it's home - a place where my friends gather and happen to live.

It feels strange to head up to the front door and ring the door bell, when I once used to come and go as I pleased. And now I'm a little anxious - why did I agree to come and meet the person who has, effectively, replaced me? It's a ridiculous notion, but even so…

"Cullen!" Cassandra greets me warmly, throwing open the door. "Come in out the cold!" She ushers me inside and I am more than happy to oblige as I feel the warmth and the divine miracle that is central heating.

"I'm so glad you came. Feels like we haven't seen you in ages!" Cassandra is saying, leading me down the all too familiar hallway towards the kitchen. I place the beers on the counter and help myself to one, subconsciously going to the top draw for the bottle opener I know is there.

"It's so weird that you don't live here any more," she says, accepting a beer I offer her.

I chuckle. "You're not the only one." There's music coming from the living room along with the low hum of animated conversations. "So what's your new housemate like?"

A smile breaks out on Cassandra's face and I blink. It's so unusual to see her grin so genuinely like that. "Honestly? She's lovely. Sera has already adopted her as a new friend, Dorian dotes on her and I find myself enjoying her company so much when we're watching Enchante together."

I make a noncommittal noise, taking a sip of beer, trying to ignore the twinge of jealousy in my gut. I am pleased they have all found someone great to live with, but I cannot help but feel detached as I wish it could be me. I know it's selfish, but the last year living in this house had been some of my better times, despite everything.

Perhaps something betrays my thoughts as Cassandra's smile fades. "I… perhaps we should go in the other room?" she suggests, and I follow her into the living room. I grin when I see my old film posters still on the walls.

Dorian spots me enter and strides over, a pink cocktail in his hand. "And here you are! Fashionably late as always!"

I roll my eyes not giving him the satisfaction of an answer. I glance about the room, noticing a few familiar faces but also some new ones. There's a skinny young man with blond hair covering half of his face and sitting on one of the sofas, picking at his nails. I watch as Varric sits next to him and strikes up a conversation, but the boy is shy and I'm curious who he is.

There are a few people dancing and Dorian starts dancing in front of me, threatening to spill his cocktail. He walks over to the speakers and lowers the music. Cassandra makes some disgruntled noise from next to me as Dorian taps his glass for everyone to turn to look at him. I lean against the wall and watch with amusement as he picks on some attendees who are whispering.

"I thought I would just say a few words, as this is a housewarming after all!" There's a trickle of laughter before he continues. "If you didn't know, the latest housemate to live in this spectacular house with us fine specimens is this lovely little elf here - Lyla Lavellan!"

I freeze, my eyes flying to the blonde-haired elf squirming under everyone's gazes, her cheeks flushed. Oh Maker. It had to be her, didn't it? I rub the back of my neck and Cassandra peers at me curiously.

"You know her?" she whispers.

"Not really. Just met at work this afternoon."

She raises her eyebrows. "Oh really?"

I ignore her as Dorian glares at us both to be quiet. I glance at the elf and see that she is looking at me, just as surprised as I am to see her. So, this is their new housemate. I guess she remembers me then. I'm not sure whether to feel elated or embarrassed as I remember how I'd stumbled over my words. She flashes me a small smile and I look away quickly, feeling warm. I know Cassandra watching me also and it unnerves me just a little.

Finally Dorian wraps up his little speech. "Well I hope you can all give Lyla a warm welcome and be nice to her when she's up on campus in the new year! Anyway, enough chat - let's get drunk!"

Dorian finishes his cocktail with one mouthful and turns the music back up again. The dancing, chatting and drinking continues, but I now feel very out of place. My head threatens to throb as the painkillers do little to elevate the pain. Dorian saunters over again and glares at us both.

"Please tell me what you were talking about which was so important enough that you were interrupting my little speech?" he says quickly.

"It looked like Cullen knew Lyla, is all," Cassandra says, frowning.

"And? Do you?"

I sigh. "Yes. I mean no! I- look, she came into the Herald's Rest today with her CV and I gave it to Leliana. That's all!"

A look passes between Dorian and Cassandra and I don't miss it. "What?"

But Lyla is here, appearing next to me. "Am I missing something?" she says looking between Cassandra and Dorian and their almost smug expressions.

"Get used to it. They're always plotting," I say dryly, before turning back into the kitchen, downing the rest of my beer and looking for another.

I'm surprised that Lyla has followed me. She pulls open the fridge and pours herself a glass of white wine before sitting on the kitchen counter. "So you're the ex-housemate then?" she asks, taking a sip.

I open the beer bottle and ignore that she's here in the kitchen alone with me. I haven't nearly drunk enough beer to be bold enough to do anything about this situation. Instead I walk this fine line of curious glee and nervous apprehension. Finally I nod, bearing in mind that she could be working with me soon, if Leliana calls her.

"Yeah, that's me," I say, my voice flat.

Her face falls a little and I mentally kick myself. We fall into a strange silence and I think of going back into the crowded living room but she interrupts my thoughts.

"You were at the pub - the Herald's Rest, right?" When I nod again she grins. "I knew it was you!"

She slides off the counter and I watch as she comes towards me. I notice the way her hips sway, how tight her jeans are. My stomach twists painfully and I'm vaguely aware of how close she is. A small, light hand touches my arm, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"Well I ought to thank you then. I've got a trial shift tomorrow afternoon," she beams at me, her hand withdrawn far quicker than I would like.

"Lylaaaaa!" a sing-song voice calls out and Sera bounds into the room. "There you are! Come dance with me, yeah?"

Lyla laughs, and it's a lovely sound. I want to hear it more. I want to be the cause of that smile and laughter. What? No, I should not be thinking like that. I cannot think like this, not now. Not when I'm so unstable…

"I was just thanking…er…?" she looks back at me, almost sheepishly. I realise that I never introduced myself.

"Cullen," I supply weakly, covering it with a cough.

She tilts her head to the side. "I was just thanking Cullen here for getting me a trial shift at the Herald's Rest."

Sera's eyes widen and I rub the back of my neck. "Oooh really?" she looks as if to say something more, but then grabs Lyla's arm. "C'mon, we're going to miss the best part of the song!" Sera says, and drags her out of the kitchen so I'm just left standing here. Feeling like a complete idiot. Wondering if I can let myself think these thoughts… but we've only just met.

I take a swig of my beer and head back into the living room. For the first time in a while, I'm grinning and feeling relaxed. Maker's breath.