115 N Holmes Street: Fly and Float

This is from Louwin's perspective

Although she never won any popularity contests, Louwin was not accustomed to anyone outwardly or openly disliking her. This was especially an incredible achievement in high school when you created enemies by unknowingly wearing the wrong brand of jeans. Her secret to success was two fold: fly under the radar and float amongst the different social groups. Avoiding drama, controversy, and anything even remotely competitive seemed to always work in her favor. She was 100% certified non-threatening.

In theory what worked in high school should work at least on some level in college. There are these horror stories about college roommates, but Louwin didn't really have that issue. She kept to herself, which wasn't always easy, but in order to survive college life you need to not sweat the small stuff. The roomies that ate her food or had random hook-ups with strangers while she was sleeping in the next bed never really fazed Louwin. Obviously there were times she got annoyed or frustrated, but if you fight every little battle then you'll never get out alive.

Don't think she didn't have back bone because she did and still does. Enter Mike. For some unknown reason he took an immediate disliking to Louwin. Normally she wouldn't give a crap, but this was her housemate/resident handyman. Additionally there was already a pre-extablished harmony between him, Maggie, and Daphne. Louwin wasn't sure exactly how she fit into the mix.

The day she moved in he helped carry her stuff up to her room. This wasn't a kind gesture, more a strong prodding by Maggie. Like a child forced to do the chore he hates most Mike huffed, puffed, and grimaced the entire time. Louwin felt like some sort of ridiculous beauty pageant queen with all the smiling she kept flashing at him. She even tried the usual getting to know you tactics which were all rebuffed.

With an awkward smile she asked, "Did you grow up around here?"

"Hand me the wrench."

As she passed it to him their hands briefly touched. Louwin got caught up watching the muscles in his strong arms move as he assembled her bed. Sweat drops stuck to his short blond hair. Then she realized he had been saying something to her. In an aggravated tone, "Hello? Four year degree and you can't tell a hammer from a screwdriver?"

"Huh?"

"Exactly. I just asked you to hand me a screwdriver and you gave me a hammer. This isn't rocket science kid." He rolled his turquoise eyes.

Why does a guy think because he's incredibly hot that he has the license to act like a complete duesch bag? And what's with the condescending "kid" comment? He couldn't have been more than two or three years older than her. Maybe it was years of avoiding confrontation and just looking the other way, but Louwin felt the need to put him in his place.

"Don't talk to me like that."

"Actually PHD, I can talk to you any way I want since I'm the one doing you a favor. And from the looks of you I highly doubt you could do this on your own."

"How do you know?"

He dropped the screwdriver, stood up, and motioned to the bed. "Be my guest Alpha Betta Kappa."

"Do you have a problem with me because I am college educated?"


Mike walked out of the room without saying another word. Is it wrong that she wanted to punch him in the face and squeeze his firm ass at the same time? It's true good looking criminals are far more likely to get acquitted or at least that's what research supposedly says. Louwin sighed as she stared at her partially assembled bed. Her intelligence completely relied in the academic world therefore she had no clue how to build things. She took her mattress that was propped up on the wall and pushed it down onto the floor. This will have to do for now.


At "family dinner" that night she found herself sitting across from Mike. Apparently everyone already had their assigned seats after months of dining together. Louwin decided to do her fly and float method while observing her three housemates. Although Mike was far from a social butterfly he was friendly towards Maggie and Daphne. There were even a few times he cracked a smile. Louwin couldn't help notice that his smile was one of the cute boyish grins kinds. Damnit, why was she so attracted to him?!

She wondered if Mike and Daphne were sleeping together. Why not? Maybe it's the fact that she had watched too many incestuous TV shows like Melrose Place where everyone slept with everyone. Louwin discounted Maggie from the equation for obvious reasons, that was just gross. Well either way this was an older house with thin walls and creaky floors, if something was going on surely Louwin would find out soon enough.

Maggie touched Louwin's arm, "Everything okay sweetie?"

"Yeah, sorry. I guess I was just lost in thought." I smirked.

Mike snickered. I looked right at him, "What?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing. If you'll excuse me ladies, the basement isn't going to waterproof itself."

She knew better than to get obsessive over something so trivial, but why didn't he like her? She was easy going, friendly, and considerate. Isn't that a recipe for at least some basic level camaraderie? Well there's always an exception and that exception must be Mike.