Laura looked around her new apartment that she was sharing with her best friend. It was a nice apartment, with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a good-sized living room, and a kitchen. The living room was painted beige, with a simple couch set against one wall, a small bookcase resting next to it. A large armchair sat across from it, with a plain wood coffee table in the middle of the two, and a TV rested on a small table in the corner of the room, a DVD player perched on top of it. The bedrooms were equally simple, with just a bed and a bookcase per room. They still had a lot to do to really move in.

With a sigh, Laura pushed her black hair behind her ear so it hung straight down to her shoulders again, and she hauled a few boxes into the living room, setting them on the table for the moment. She still had a lot to do, but at least she didn't have to do it all alone.

Lori pulled her beat up old sedan into the parking lot of her new home. The back seat and trunk were filled to capacity with her things, most of it was in boxes. She grabbed a couple and headed into the apartment. "I'm back." She called as she entered. "I also grabbed some groceries while I was out. We can cook tonight."

Lori's dark red hair fell into her eyes and she tried without success to blow it out of the way. She strode to her room and dropped the boxes by the door. She pushed the strands over her shoulder and looked around. The boxes she'd grabbed were marked clothes and bed. Finally she could make her bed, but sleep was a long way away.

Laura nodded. "Sounds good. As soon as I get my work schedule figured out we can decide who cooks what nights, and if we get food out or things like that." She glanced around briefly, her right eye bright green and her left dark blue. After a moment she went back outside to pick up a few more boxes, carrying them into her room. She wanted to bring everything inside before she started putting things away.

"Maybe later today or tomorrow we can go get some more bookcases and things," she suggested. She would definitely need the bookcases, and she figured they would need some appliances too, like a coffee machine or a microwave.

Lori made another trip to the car, pulling out the groceries first. When she returned she put them away and started for another load. "I've got some more stuff coming in a truck tomorrow. Some more shelves and a couple dressers. Just some old stuff from my last place. If we still need anything we can go after her gets here. Ok?"

Lori made another couple of trips to the car depositing the boxes near the first couple she'd brought in. By the time she'd emptied her car she was sweating a bit. She flopped down next to her stack of boxes enjoying the coolness of the floor. "Should we have a party when we get settled in?" She didn't have to start her new job for a couple days. Lori hoped everything would be moved in and unpacked by then.

"Sure," Laura said with a little smile. "That sounds fine to me. Maybe we can meet some of the neighbors that way. Get to know some people." She glanced around to see if there were any more boxes that needed to be put away or moved to their appropriate places.

"Of course, we'll have to get stuff for the party. Food and whatnot." She plopped down across from Lori, relaxing for a few minutes. "And make sure everything is unpacked and clean by then."

Lori sat up and pulled a box closer to her. It was filled with books and she shoved it aside. Not important right now. "So much to do." She said with a sigh. She spotted the box she wanted and dragged it to her. She opened it to find all her sheets and blankets. She dragged herself up and dutifully made her full bed up. At the bottom of the same box was a couple of ziplock bags of toiletries and she put them in the bathroom.

"You know I really want to curl up on that bed and nap for a while. It's exhausting to move." She moved back to the pile and sorted them into categories. Books, clothes, nicknacks, cleaning supplies. If she kept moving she could forget about being tired. "Come on girl. Let's go. If we get everything done quickly we can have a day off to look around the town."

"That sounds good to me," Laura said, making her bed as well and starting to put aside empty boxes. She put all her books and things in a few boxes, putting those under the bed for the moment. She pulled out her iPod and portable speakers as she worked, turning on music. She always worked better with music.

Within minutes she was jamming to her odd, eclectic collection of music; one song was Daft Punk, the next was John Williams.

Lori started dancing as she unpacked the boxes she had. The books went on the shelves along with figurines and other items. When there was no more room she likewise shove the boxes under her bed.Boxes with clothes were opened and hung in the little closet and additional items were stacked below the hangers. All of the dvds and games were piled by the television. And soon Lori realized she was out of boxed until more came the next day.

"Laura, I'm starved. Do want something to eat?" She headed to the kitchen and flipped on the light. The daylight was fading fast and Lori was surprised she hadn't felt hungry earlier. She pulled out a box of mac and cheese and the additional ingredients. She dances around the kitchen finding the correct pots and pans to make dinner with.

"Food sounds good," Laura said, finishing what she could in her room and moving out into the main room. "Is there anything I can help with? Getting drinks out or something?"

Speaking of drinks, she got out a bottle of soda and also got out her Brita water filter, filling it up and putting it in the fridge to get nice and cool so they'd have good water to drink.

Lori spilled the pasta into the bubbling water and poured herself a glass of soda while it cooked. "Thanks." When the pasta was done she drained it in the sink, made the sauce and stirred all of it together. She grabbed a couple bowls from an open box, wiped them clean and filled them. "Here you go. Dinner is served." She handed the steaming bowl to Laura. "I'll go shopping tomorrow for better fare. I can't live on boxed food."

"Yeah, I know how you feel," Laura said, taking her bowl. "Thanks. We can both go, so we can switch off cooking every couple of nights, or however it works." She smiled at Lori. "And maybe get food from out once a week or something."

She moved over to the couch and sat down, starting to eat her pasta quietly while she planned what she'd still need to do.

Lori smiled and carried her bowl to the couch. "Maybe Friday nights? Pizza and movies? Or whatever we feel like." She took a big bite of mac and cheese. It was hotter than she realized and she clapped her hand over her mouth in pain. Once she was able to she swallowed and breathed out. "Ow. Careful it's hot." She said sarcastically.

The music was still playing and Lori bobbed along with the beat as as she ate. She loved noise. Lori could not stand quiet, there always had to me sound filling in the space around her.

Laura laughed quietly. "I noticed," she said dryly as she blew on a bite of her own mac and cheese, cooling it down enough to eat. She licked her lips. "Friday nights sound good to me. We'll have to find a good pizza place around, though."

She glanced out the window as she heard someone moving around outside. She decided she was too tired to get up and look, especially since they were in an apartment, and just wrote it off.

Lori ate the rest of her food a bit more carefully. When she finished she piled her bowl ans the pans in the sink and filled them with water. The flicked on the light in the living room as she moved back though the apartment. "I'm bushed. I don't think I can do any more today." She moved into the bathroom and took a quick shower.

She came out of the bathroom in her pj's and a towel wrapped around her hair. She sorted through one of the numerous boxes left to unpack and pulled out a book. Lori flopped down on her bed and began to read. Her friend Jack would be there early tomorrow with more of her belongings. This place was beginning to feel like home.

Laura took a shower after Lori was done, pulling on pajamas once she was done and glancing around. She had everything done that needed to be done tonight, and she didn't have anything else to move in. She'd have to make a few stops and get some more essentials, but maybe later in the week. After all, Lori had said she was supposed to be getting more things.

Settling down with a sigh, she closed her eyes briefly before she got her own book, turning her music down but not off. "You know your work schedule yet?"

Lori finished reading the page she was on before replying. "I start on Monday. The schedule is a bit odd. 7am to 4pm Mon, Wed, and Fri, and 11 to 8pm Tues and Thurs." She flipped the page and pulled her blanket up over her shoulders. "How about you? What's your schedule like? Any better than mine?" Lori really couldn't wait for the new job. It was one of the main reasons she had upended her life and moved to a strange new town. She'd be an intern/ receptionist at an advertising company. Hopefully she'd be making images for movies and billboards and other cool things, but more than likely she'd be doing coffee and lunch runs. Either was she'd get some experience.

"A little. I'm supposed to be there at 8:30 every morning, and I work until 6 every day but Wednesday. Wednesday I work until 9." Laura sighed to herself but shrugged. "It could be worse, I suppose. Oh well." She looked at Lori. "Hopefully your schedule will improve some after you get more established."

Lori yawned and halfheartedly coverd it with her hand. "Maybe it will. I can deal with it either way. I'll worry about it when I start though." She turned her head back to her book and read a little more. The music in the background was a nice mindless noise to her ears. Lori turned the page again and realized she couldn't remember what she'd just read. At that point she shut the book and tossed it onto the bed side table with a thump. "Goodnight Lisa." Then she lay back on the pillows and drifted off to sleep.

"Night!" Laura called. She retreated to her room, too tired to stay up and read for much longer anyway. She got into her comfortable pajamas and settled down for the night.

The next morning she got up and called her friend, who was helping her bring over everything she'd missed so far. She brought some more books, more cooking implements, and various other household items.

When the sun rose the next day it shone directly onto Lori's face rousing her well before she wanted to wake. She reluctantly rolled out of her warm blankets and dressed before stumbling to the kitchen for coffee. Her hands automaticly worked the machine, even giving it a few hard smacks, trying to get the thing to give her the precious brew.

Once she had a steaming mug in her hands properly sweetened she made herself beakfast. After a cup and a half of coffee she started getting the hang of the day. "Lisa! There's coffee and something like food." She called to the next room. Lori drained the rest of her cup and refilled it, and setting the pot to brew more.

Her phone rang froom her bedroom and she dashed for it. "Hello?" She asked breathlessly. "Hey Lor! It's Jack. I'm on my way. I'll be there in an hour or two." Lori smiled. It would be good to see him again. "Wonderful. Let me know when you get here and I'll let you in." She wandered back into the kitchen and said her goodbyes.

Laura emerged from her room, already dressed with her hair brushed and tied back. She smiled at Lori.

"Good morning. A friend of mine is bringing over the rest of my stuff today, so I'll be in and out helping her move stuff in." She glanced at the coffee pot and couldn't help but smile. She didn't get any coffee, however, heating up a mug of water and making tea for herself. She was more of a tea person, though she would drink coffee on occasion. Just not today.

"Is there anything you want me to help with? Any groceries you want me to get if I go out, anything like that?"

Lori smiled and took a long sip of her coffee. "Yeah, my friend Jack will be here soon with my things as well. I guess we'll both be in and out today." She ran her finder though herhair to dislodge any tangles. "We can go out this afternoon to shop for groceries, but I don't really need anything desperately." Lori took a bite of her toast and chewed shlowly. "I should put away, or at least organize the rest of my things before Jack gets here." She filled her mug for the fourth time and carried it into the living room. The few boxes left were scattered around in no order. Lori set her mug down on the table and took stock of the remaining unpacked items. It wouldn't take long to sort them and she set to moving them to their proper places to wait for the sheves/table/dresser that was on it's way.

Laura nodded. "Okay." She smiled a little and started on her tea, drinking it slowly. Her eyes closed briefly before she let out a conent sigh. Ah, tea. She loved tea.

"Grocery store this afternoon sounds good. I usually make a list, so here's some paper." She set a mini notebook down on the counter, as well as a pen. Then she went back to her room to make sure everything was somewhat ready for when the rest of her things would arrive.

Lori moved the boxes into a more organized pile. She found several with clothes or kitchen items she had missed before and ripped them open to sort the contents. "I'll be sure to write down a couple things before we go." She shoved an armload of rumpled clothes onto her bed and began to sort them into piles. She took a moment to dash back to her coffee and turn on her ipod to an upbeat playlist.

Lori spent the next hour puttering around the house putting away more items and occasionally refilling her coffee cup. By the time Jack was supposed to arrive she was bouncing around the living room moving the same boxes from one side of the room to the other.

By that time, Laura was helping to bring her leftover things into the house, working quickly and efficiently. She didn't talk much, more focused on getting everything done, but she did hum under her breath. She stayed out of Lori's way, too focused on her own tasks to chat much. She made a mental list of everything she needed to do, including finishing putting her books away and setting up everything in the kitchen.

By the time she had everything of hers back a few hours later, she was much more relaxed. She leaned back against the wall, just looking around to see how everything turned out.