I am shaken violently awake by a horrific noise I can barely even describe. I reluctantly open my left eye in order to see the time. It was 4:43 in the morning. What the hell was this noise? I shuffled to the edge of my lofted bed and peered down. Holly had a pot and a wooden spoon and she was standing in the middle of our shared room dancing and banging it loudly, clearly to a song only in her head.

"What the fuck are you doing, genius? And might I add your dance moves are atrocious."

"Working out, cardio. Arms working to bang the spoon to the pot, legs used to dance. I had to get my work out in somehow. For some reason I was too tired to run. I'm not sure why I couldn't sleep…it could be because someone was blasting hideous music and singing horribly at top of her lungs. You wouldn't happen to know this asshole, would you? Also, I am a fabulous dancer."

"I can't imagine any asshole that would do something like that, no. It sounds dreadful. Now, if you don't mind, I'll be going back to sleep."

I plug my headphones into my iPod and turn up the volume until I can no longer hear her frightful noise. I smile a triumphant grin at her and then close my eyes. I open my eyes again in a small sliver to see that she has stopped dancing around with that stupid pan and smile to myself again. It feels good to win this small battle. One victory for Team Gail.

Then I feel my bed shaking. She's climbing up my ladder. I feel her crawling above me on my legs and when she gets to my knees she sits down with her legs crossed. I notice that she has brought some sort of nerdy medical journal up with her and she looks quite content to stay in this position for hours.

"You must love being in my bed with me, I keep finding you here" I groan out as her weight settles on my legs.

"Well, I find it is the easiest way of annoying since you're so lazy that you rarely leave it" she says nonchalantly as she flips the page of her journal.

"Clearly not due to laziness. I have to hide up here from the monster that lives beneath this safe haven that is my loft. Unfortunately, that monster has learned how to climb ladders. My life is a small slice of heaven."

"Mmm, the evolutionary prerogative to adapt is fascinating."

Did I mention how much she infuriates me? She just takes my jabs and either throws them back with a different spin or acts as if they don't bother her whatsoever. She's just sitting on the back of my legs like she has no cares in the world. I swallow hard while I consider a reply.

"Yes, you started off as an Australopithecus afarensis and evolved to Homo erectus. Either way, Holly, you're still thousands of years behind on the evolutionary scale."

"Now who is spewing nerd?"

"I read it in one of your nerd books."

"Ah, that would certainly explain why some of my books have orange cheese puff dust. I see you didn't take my tip on stealthier snooping."

"Like I would ever listen to anything you say" I mention offhandedly and shift under her weight. I roll over so that I'm lying on my back and in an effort to ride the wave I had created. Holly drops her medical journal down and clings to my leg with her right hand and her left hand brushes up my torso to the underside of my breast. I quickly manage to stifle a moan as the heat of her hand sends my mind spinning. I don't have time to consider what that means because Holly's eyes are burning holes into me and I know I need to come up with a reply quickly in order for her to break her eye contact.

"What are you, a professional surfer?"

"I have never surfed but I am positive I would be far better than you."

"What exactly makes you think you could ever be better than me at anything?"

"Gail, you're the most uncoordinated person I've ever met."

I am not even sure how to argue this point. I am really uncoordinated. She would just poke fun at me more for attempting to deny it.

"So…Holly…" you attempt cordially. "Are you going to sit on me all day, or what?"

"No, just until you have to get ready for class. I'd absolutely hate for you to fall back asleep. How would I pass the time before my first class without your own special packaged brand of difficulty and snark? Also, I've worked hard to keep you awake just as you so nicely did for me last night. Isn't karma a charming little creature?"

Holly picks her medical journal back up and continues reading as if she was in some sort of comfort zone. I groan and put my pillow over my face. In the little cocoon I had created for myself I was left alone with my own thoughts and the weight of Holly on top of me. I couldn't stand her, that much was for sure. She was an annoying, egotistical, bossy, know-it-all. How could anyone like somebody like that? Yet at the same time I felt as if I was drawn to her. It almost seemed as if she was something I knew was bad for me. It annoyed me that I appeared to be slightly addicted to her and it infuriated me that I couldn't get her off my mind. It was absolutely exasperating. How could someone who pissed me off so much have such a hold on me? I actually enjoyed annoying her. Most days, however, she was just down right annoying. This morning was definitely one of those cases.

"Holly, my legs are going numb"

"Oh, that sucks" she says yet continues to sit still on my legs and read her journal.

I lift the pillow off of my face and steal a glance at Holly. She is intently reading her journal but a small smile is tugging at her lips. She clearly finds great amusement in harassing me, I've deduced.

"What are you reading?" I croak out.

She flips to the title of the article.

"Fracture of the Cricoid as Potential Pointer to Homicide: A 6-Year Retrospective Study of Neck Structures Fractures in Hanging Victims"

"Again, I am forced to ask, why are you saying all these words?"

"You requested the title" she grins.

"Well, since I am evidently stuck with you, you could at least tell me what the hell whatever you just gushed out meant."

"Well, it is exceptionally hard to determine if a hanging was suicidal or homicidal. This study is looking at the cricoid cartilage in the neck to see if it can help identify strangulation by homicide. Out of all reviewed cases of suicidal hangings, the cricoid cartilage remained in tact. Yet in 65.4 percent of homicidal hangings it was fractured. They are, therefore, postulating that if the cricoid cartilage is fractured in an apparent suicidal hanging the police should consider it to be highly suspicious and look further into the case."

"Right, well, leave it to you to be reading about morbid things before six o'clock in the morning."

"Does it offend you that I like to educate myself? After all, isn't that why we are here?"

"No, Holly, we are here because you're an incredibly annoying person who decided it was a good idea to wake me up and then come sit on me all before six in the morning."

"Mmm" she smiles at me. "Well, I would be out for a jog but some rock star decided to party with herself until the wee hours of the morning like an inconsiderate asshole."

"Well, you shouldn't have yelled at me about the damn shower caddy. Get over it."

"Get over it, eh?" she says as she digs her nails into my thigh.

"Really Holly? Ow, stop!"

"Get over it."

"You know, we both live here. That means that we both have to agree on something when it comes to our room. I refuse to agree to your silly OCD commands."

"May I remind you, you did agree to the shower caddy."

"Whatever. Get over the shower caddy. It's not exactly going to cause an apocalypse."

I huffed and puffed as I struggled to get out from underneath her and she just laughed at my in-vain efforts.

"Holly, it's not funny. I need to pee."

She simply continued laughing at me as she focused her eyes back on her article.

"Holly, come on! I need to get ready and I have to pee!"

"Oh, alright, but only because you seem so desperate."

She flashed me her shit-eating grin and then worked her way off of me in what I imagine was the most painful way for me that she could manage. When she made her way down the ladder I reluctantly followed. I made my way to our small bathroom and completed my morning routine. I tossed her shower supplies as well as mine all over the floor of the shower on my way out, grinning to myself.

I made my way to my dresser to collect my clothes for the day. When I opened my panties drawer I realized they were all gone.

"Holly, what the fuck! Seriously? Where did you put my panties?"

She just grinned at me, winked, and said "good luck" as she left the room.