#the way she has so many real yet irrational justifications at not givin the key to jmeal

[diodellet]

AJLDKFJSLKDFJSKLJDFLSK?!?!?!?😭💥💥💥💕

thank you!!! for writing her so nicely! ++ just the shenaniganery of this entire scenario too, im sticking this into my hoardt💕💕

Keyed Up

A little Christmas present for @diodellet, hope you'll like it ❤️

And hopefully I did justice to Lou and your idea, thank you for trusting her in my hands for this 😊

Also very purposefully posting this on the 24th since where I live, that's the day when we start the Christmas celebrations and do the gift giving.

It was very normal to give a friend / a crush / an acquaintance the key to your place dorm, right? Right? Because it would be just useful, and convenient, and he could maybe use it, and–

Who was Lou kidding?

It would be so weird to offer this to Jamil.

Lou squeezed the key in her fist.

What could she even say?

“Hey, I thought you might like the key to Ramshackle?”

So presumptuous!

Besides, why would Jamil care about it anyway?

The first time Lou saw Jamil that day was at the cafeteria during lunch.

No way could she approach him like that, surrounded by people.

She managed to eat even less than usual, the key burning in her pocket.

She could just take it back to Ramshackle, it’s not like anyone even knew she’d thought of doing this.

Next, Lou saw Jamil in the corridors while changing classes. When Jamil was coming her way, Lou was so caught by surprise she rushed off into the bathrooms, suddenly bolting from the conversation she’d been having with Ace and Deuce.

The mental litany of curses and self-beratement only intensified while she hid out in the stall, only coming out just before the bell to wash the key-shaped rust stains off her hands.

Ace had mentioned the basketball club having practice today. Maybe, if Lou timed it just right, she could just chance upon Jamil by himself after they'd finished…

Which led to her spending the better part of an hour loitering around where she thought Jamil would pass through, trying not to attract anyone’s attention.

She only decided to head back to Ramshackle about 12 times before Jamil finally emerged from around a corner.

Casual. She could be casual about this.

"Hi. Jamil. I've got this spare key to Ramshackle, and I was wondering..."

Jamil blinked in surprise, gingerly holding the key that Lou had thrust into his hand.

Oh no the key had probably gotten all clammy from Lou keeping it in her hands all day this was so embarrassing-

“Me? I suppose I can hold on to it for you if you really want me to. Though I would hope you won’t be losing yours in the first place.”

He didn’t even get it, did he?

Inside, Lou felt like she could scream.

Outside, she was sure she was starting to resemble a tomato.

“Well… Also… If you need to. You can use it. To… let yourself in. If you needaplacetojustchillabitandge-”

“Slow down. I don’t even know what you’re saying.”

Oh, screw this. She couldn’t.

“Just… keep it! Gotta go! See you!”

She was definitely not running away. Definitely not.

Jamil stared at Lou’s receding back as she scurried off – a far too familiar a sight, her pigtails swaying with the frantic steps.

He ran his thumb over the key thoughtfully. He’d have to put it somewhere safe, and easy to get out if needed. 

With a shake of his head, Jamil tore his eyes off her – the key carefully pocketed until he could get it to the right keychain.