"What are you doing?"

"Why do you always come in when I'm about to do something important?" Cecilio turned his camera off and turned around in his chair to look over at his younger sister Kiara.

"How am I supposed to know when you're busy or not? Anyway, I'm hungry, we ran out of Maruchan cups plus Dad isn't home yet either." Kiara gave her older brother a blank expression which Cecilio matched.

"Thirteen and can only make noodles cups so sad. Well, good luck with that." He turned right back around to his computer and camera. Yet, he was immediately spun back around by his sister who look like she wanted to kill him but in reality, she was desperate.

"Come on! Just make something for me!" Kiara cries as Cecilio pinched his nose causing his glasses to lift up.

"Why don't you just wait for Dad? Who knows he might bring home some pizza or tacos from Pollo Rico." Cecilio adjusted his glass back on his face.

"If he even remembers," Kiara muttered. "Will you please just make something? Did you also forget Mom will be pissed if there's no food?"

Cecilio sighed heavily, he didn't forget. How could he? He gets up without a word and heads downstairs to the kitchen with Kiara right behind him. He took in the dullness of the living room as they descended the stairs. Light only came from the small window panels on the front door and two small windows on the wall to the left. There was a larger window that let in the most daylight, however, his mother forbid opening the old heavy curtains thus making the room appear dim. Both he and his sister believed their mom had grown to like the dark.

"Hey! Let's go, we are getting McDonald's. What are you even doing?"

"Oh I just finished printing off my first draft of my novel." I smile widely I get up from my desk.

"You mean that novel you've been working on since you were in high school?"

"Yeah," looking down to my printed draft. "It took a while but I finally finished it."

I could feel my eyes burn as I hold back tears of joy. My roommate wraps their arm along my shoulders, as they look at the cover page. "Nice title."

"Well, it does fit the best," I let out a breathy chuckle.

"I'm proud of you." My roommate smiles at me as they let go and pat my head.

I return the smile as I playfully shove them away, "Let's get out of here." My roommate makes their way out of the room, with me close behind.

"You must really be dying to get your hands on them fries." I tease while I grab my wallet from the nightstand.

"Fuck yeah I am, everyone knows McDonald's fries are top tier"

"I beg to differ."

"Excuse me, your opinion is invalid here. You literally like Wendy's Fries like what monster likes those?" My roommate continues to rant as they walk further down the hall.

I laugh, as I take a pause. I look again to my desk with the printed draft and proudly smile. I shut the door behind me and sprint to catch up to my roommate.

"Did you close the door?" They ask as I approach.

I smile, "Yeah, I finally did."