"And then Mr Jenkins was all like 'grr Thea if you don't get this done you won't pass this class' and we both just sat there pissing ourselves laughing it was honestly so funny."

Aislynn's look of discomfort blew right over me as I recounted the events from that day's algebra seminar, which to my delight, Thea was assigned to be in with me. Poor Aislynn was adjusting to me having such a strong new friendship so suddenly, and I couldn't blame her. It was obviously so hard to have to share me after neither of us having anyone else for some time, and I understood that. I knew that my mind would have been crawling with jealousy had it been her with a new, close friendship.

It was almost the two week mark of us starting and I had decided to go home for the weekend. I didn't have any classes on a Friday, so that gave me even more time. Hopefully this would also give Aislynn some time to  see that I wasn't replacing her, and I never would, and I would finally see my dad again. It was also time for him to meet Aislynn, as I'd prepared a story about us meeting at Uni. Which obviously wasn't true but the truth was...

I was so excited to go home, I missed my dad dearly and our calls had decreased so much recently. I'd been busier balancing uni and my new job at a small bookshop. It was loud sometimes, but full of queer, neurodivergent folk - who are obviously the most avid readers - which made it an excellent environment for me to practice socialising some more.

A knock on my bedroom door cut off my conversation with Aislynn and I got up and tip-toed to open the it where Thea stood holding bags of shopping. "Help me pack it away?" She begged and I, of course, went out to help her.

She moved around me, making sure to not get too close as she was now properly aware of my relationship with physical contact, and once we were finished putting away the things, we flopped onto the dining chairs and sat together talking. I'd also told her about my dad and his issues with alcohol, which further explained my harshness with her earlier in the month. She hadn't held it against me, but I could tell it still explained a lot for her.

"Where are you going for the break?" I asked her, my face twisting in concern as she shrugged.

"Staying here." she sounded depleted, so I didn't press further. "You?"

"I'm going home." I didn't feel any of the envy that I expected to from her, she just quietly nodded. "I miss my dad, and I have to visit my mum too it's-"

"They're still together?" She interrupted. "Sorry, I've just never heard you talk about your mum before."

"Oh, she's dead."

I expected the usual response of 'oh i'm sorry' or any other sympathy. What I didn't expect was the sudden chortle that left her mouth, that she insantly tried to hide. It was refreshing, and made me giggle too.

"It's the five month anniversary of her passing in a few days so we're going to visit her grave then and have a picnic, I think." I explained, trying to remember what my dad had planned.

"That sounds really nice. I'm sorry I didn't respond in a very nice way, it was just awkward and you know how I get..." She explained. I nodded because I did know. I understood her, and in her way, she understood me too.

"You could probably come back with me next time." I suggested, to which she nodded slightly, clearly hesitant to agree. "I'll tell my dad about you this time and he'll want to meet you."

She agreed to come, which was good as I knew my dad would approve of her. Not that I needed his approval for my friends but it was nice to know that they had a safe place in my home.

"Y'know, I'm glad we ended up flatmates." She said over a bite of ham sandwich. I blushed slightly, not used to a compliment from another person - bar Aislynn.

"I am too. I don't think I'd have liked anyone else." She agreed with me, nodding almost frantically with a hint of a flustered expression.

I stood up from the dining table, suddenly uncomfortable, my chair squeaking across the floor as I pushed it away. I started to wash the dishes, clenching my hands between each dish as I hated the feeling of the dirt floating in the sink. Thea stood nearby, concerned at my reaction until eventually I started to gag at the texture. She instantly stepped in, taking my hands in hers and drying them off before starting to wash them herself. My hands burned from the contact, though not as badly as it has from others, and it was almost pleasant. Our eyes met, and for a split second I swore she glanced at my lips, but I looked away almost instantly.

I thanked her for looking out for me, and I sat up on the counter watching her finish off the dishes with ease.

"I can just do all the dishes." She offered, and I started to protest. "No seriously. Let me do this." Her tone was firm, but I still hesitated. It didn't seem fair, we were flatmates, we had to do things equally.

"You already do enough." She reassured me, before reminding me of all the chores that I did around the flat regularly. With a reluctant, but grateful, sigh I agreed. I really had lucked out with flatmates, I don't imagine any others would be this understanding of my sensory issues.

The three of us sat together on the couch, Aislynn in the centre but cuddled into me, not saying a word as we quietly watched Titanic. I flinched now and then, a nervous tic I'd developed that mostly just showed up at this movie. It was weird. And a strange shivering sensation accompanied it.

"Are you alright, Mayson?" Thea asked me, looking at me worriedly as I shivered again. "Do you need anything? A hug maybe?"

I stared at her blankly while leaning into my embrace with Aislynn. "I'm okay, thanks. Aislynn has me covered there."

She looked at me confused before nodding, turning her attention back to the movie. By the time it was over, Aislynn was asleep beside me, and I scooped her up silently before saying goodnight to Thea and going into my room. As I turned back to shut the door, I saw her gazing at me, a sadness casting over her face until she caught me staring and she just smiled.

The next morning, it was time for us to set off with our backpacks of things to return home. I left Thea a goodbye note as she hadn't woken up yet before exiting the flat and inhaling a breath of fresh weed. Wow. Stunning smell.

I choked back a cough, and ran down the flight of stairs and out of the door, gasping for a deep breath. Aislynn strolled out happily after me, breathing deeply the whole way.

"How can you even stand that smell?" I asked her, still savouring the morning outdoor air. She raised both eyebrows at me and smirked.

"How do you think?" She challenged suggestfully.

"Ah yes, my girlfriend the junkie." I rolled my eyes, starting to walk to the tram line. If I'd had a parking permit I probably would have kept my mums car here since obviously she couldn't use it anymore, but my dad just dropped me off on the first day. I was planning to apply for one soon and probably drive back from the Christmas break, but I had free bus travel until I was 21 anyway, so I could make use of that.

"Just two tram tickets, please. All day and return." I asked the woman at the stand. She gave us a strange look before handing me the tickets, peering over the edge of her counter as if checking for something. I thanked her before walking away, holding hands tightly with Aislynn whilst overthinking my outfit choice. Maybe my fly was down or something.

We hopped on the tram, cramming into the standing bit. Each noise from a conversation built up in my head, torturing my senses. I tensed my entire body, willing the journey to end while not moving because I could finally not feel my clothes. Aislynn noticed my discomfort, and instantly reached for my Loops, placing them in my ears. They helped with some noise, but not all of it.

After a long, overstimulating journey, we hopped off the tram at the same station as the people going to the airport. I covered my ears and glanced skyward to see a massive plane flying right over our heads. Aislynn gasped quietly, in awe of how big the plane really was. She hadn't been on one before.

As we neared the bus stop, it peered out from around the corner, and we squealed in delight while racing it to the stop. It was sometimes stressful running for a bus, but always quite fun.

Thankfully we made it on time, and hopped on, using our travel cards to skip the ticket fee.

It stopped straight across the road from the house, and by the time we got off, we were both exhausted. A day of travelling was always very overstimulating for me, but moreso for Aislynn who had to mask more to be our fearless leader and navigate most situations that I couldn't.

Crossing the road with a deep breath, we ventured into my childhood home.