Chapter 2

Your Best Friend

The next morning found Frisk tired and cranky. Her sleep had been less than pleasant. With a frustrated sigh, Frisk rolled out of bed. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep again after those nightmares, plus the neighbors were yelling at each other - again. Frisk grumpily turned on her radio and turned the volume up a few notches out of spite. It wasn't obnoxiously loud, but she hoped her neighbors would hear it and get a hint.

Frisk walked into her tiny bathroom and turned the shower on. The pipes rattled and whistled, but eventually came on full blast. While waiting for the shower to heat up, Frisk brushed her teeth. After rinsing her mouth out with water, she wiped her damp face on the towel and grimaced, it was still a little wet from her shower yesterday. What a great start to her day.

Frisk took a moment to listen to the smooth jazz tune emitting out of her radio. She tried to concentrate on the music and swayed a bit to the beat. She imagined herself in a fancy dress at one of those nice joints she always heard about celebrities going to. She imagined that she had nice shoes and her hair and makeup were absolutely perfect. She smiled and mingled with the finest of people. The live played continued their smooth jazz and couples danced slowly on the dance floor. Frisk laughed and smiled, truly happy. She didn't have a care in the world, the only thing that mattered was having a good time. A kind stranger came up to her and swept her onto the dancefloor. They slowly danced together. He paid her compliments and she returned the favor. He flirted, but only lightly. She could feel herself falling for him. She was about to ask his name when a pain shot up her foot.

Scowling, Frisk hopped around on one foot, clutching the other. She was back in her small apartment and had stupidly stubbed her toe on her coffee table. She sighed as the pain receded, it was a nice dream. She made her way back to the bathroom, happy to see that steam was rising from the shower water. She quickly removed last night's clothes and hopped into the shower. It was at just the perfect temperature. Frisk quickly washed her hair and body before turning off the water and stepping out. She frowned as she dried herself off with her damp towl before wrapping it around her hair to help dry it faster. She picked up her dirty clothes and put them in a pile next to her suitcase. She would take them to be cleaned later in the week. Frisk pulled out a pair of black slacks and a white blouse. She put on her underthings before putting on her outfit for the day. Once dressed, Frisk tussled her hair in the towel before hanging the towel back on the hook of her bathroom door.

Frisk walked over to her chair and picked up the current book she was reading. She didn't have to work until later in the evening so she settled in for a long day.

A few hours later, a knock sounded on Frisks door, causing her to jump. She quickly crept to her bathroom, leaving the radio on. She wasn't expecting any visitors today and she had already paid rent, so she had no idea who would be outside her door. The person knocked again, louder.

"Hello! Is anyone there?" A feminine voice called, "I'm your neighbor, I brought over cookies!" Confused, Frisk slowly made her way towards the apartment door. She looked through her peephole and saw a small woman standing outside. Frisk plastered on a smile and opened her door.

"Sorry, I was a little distracted." She explained. The small woman smiled up at Frisk.

"It's okay! My name is Emily! I live there," The woman explained, pointing to the apartment to the right of Frisks. Frisk felt some tension leave her body, this woman wasn't the one from the apartment with all the yelling. "I know I should have done this when you first moved in, but I've been so busy with work and family and I just got back from a trip to visit a friend the next city over. It was great! I haven't seen her in so long! Anyways we went to this amazing club and I saw Mettaton! Can you believe it? I couldn't! What were the chances of both of us being in the next city over and in the same club?! I couldn't talk to him, but I swear I was maybe 20 feet away! He's just as gorgeous as he looks in the pictures and movies! Oh, but I'm rambling again! I meant to say that I made these for you to welcome you to the building!" The woman explained, pushing the plate of chocolate chip cookies into Frisks hands. She spoke so fast that Frisk honestly had a hard time keeping up. "I spoke to the landlord and he told me you weren't from around this part of Ebott City. That's so exciting! Where are you from? I grew up on this block. My family still lives in our old apartment but I needed to get out of there, I'm sure you understand! I love my family but I'm an adult and I need the chance to act like one! Also, they were so strict! Living on my own has really opened up my world! Anyways, what I mean to say is that if you need any advice on what to do and where to go around here, I'm your girl!" Frisk took a moment to make sure that Emily really was done talking before she replied, a happy smile on her face.

"Thank you, I really appreciate them! I'm not a great cook, so I love when I can get home cooked food! I've actually been moving all around the city, this is my first time in this part though. And thank you, I also appreciate the help." Frisk replied. She extended her hand towards Emily, "My name is Ruby."

"Ruby? That's so pretty! Is that your birthstone? Is that why your parents named you Ruby? My stone is garnet but my parents named me Emily after my late great-grandmother. And you don't cook? What a shame, I think it's so fun! I love to cook! Oh! We should do dinner one night! I can cook it! I love having company over! It would be great! I love making friends!"

"It's not actually my birthstone, my parents just like the name. I think that would be fun, I'd love to do dinner with you. I work most nights though, so it might be difficult to plan." Frisk explained, happy to have a chance to hang out with someone nice.

"Hmmmm, what about lunch then? We could do a simple lunch! How about tomorrow? What do you like to eat? I'll eat anything!" Emily exclaimed, bouncing on the heels of her feet.

"I'd like that and I'm not a picky eater. I'll be happy with anything." Frisk said with a smile. Emily's eyes lit up.

"Wonderful! Oh I'm so excited you're my new neighbor! The last one here was such a bore! And he never talked to any of us! So rude! Well I'm going to figure out what to make for lunch! Plus I should get going, I have to go visit my family tonight! My little sister is going on her first date tonight and I'm doing her makeup! Tootles, Rubz!" With a cheerful wave, Emily practically skipped back to her apartment. Frisk smiled and retreated back into her own apartment, shutting and locking the door again behind her.

Frisk set down the batch of cookies on the coffee table and settled back into her chair. She eagerly grabbed a cookie off the plate and took a big bite out of it. The sound Frisk made when she tasted it was almost indecent. The cookie was incredible! The chocolate was still gooey and warm from the oven. Frisk swore on her name that she had never had something so delicious! She quickly stood up and went over to her fridge, luckily she still had a little milk left in the carton. She pulled out her only mug and poured the last of the milk into it. She shoved the rest of the first cookie into her mouth and sat back down. Normally she didn't interact with her neighbors, she prefered not becoming attached. That way it hurt less when she inevitably moved again.

Frisk gave a heavy sigh in between bites. She had no clue where she would move next or when. The longest she had ever stayed in an apartment was three months. She had only been here two weeks, but she always needed to think of her next steps. She didn't have much saved up, but once she did she was going to flee this horrible city. She'd go across the country, live in a different city. She'd go to school, settle on a good career, maybe even raise a family. Or at least get a dog. But for now she had to figure out the next step. Those were long term goals. Frisk groaned and leaned back in the chair.

"I can at least wait another week before I think about that, right?" She asked her empty room before taking another bite out of a cookie. The room did not reply.

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AN: Sorry about the short chapter, I'm trying to figure out how to develop the characters and I wasn't sure how to transition from this scene to the next without a chapter break. I'm worried I'm "telling more than showing" but I'll work on it! I have a really good plan for this story...but only after I build the world and certain characters develop more... anyways, please let me know your thoughts! And please let me know if I switched tenses, I find I'm really bad at that...and spelling...Thanks!