James froze, blinking at the girl's words.
Is she… talking to me?
Lucy squared her shoulders, her tone becoming sharp. "Roxy! Language!"
"Girl, don't shout at me." The girl bit back, jutting her lower lip out in a pout.
Lucy sighed and rolled her eyes.
James frowned, scratching the back of his neck. "Uhh… did I do something wrong?"
"Just ignore her," Lucy muttered, waving him inside.
The room was spacious and well-designed. To one side stood a large bed with clean, neatly made linens. Across from it was a comfortable sitting area featuring a main settee flanked by a few small, custom-designed sofas. A door on the far wall led into a walk-in closet, while wide windows let in the fading late afternoon light, keeping the space bright and open.
"Wow," James said, looking around the huge space with an almost envious expression. "Your room is huge."
Roxy's frown deepened as she shut the door behind them. She uncrossed her arms, her gaze fixed on Lucy. "Alright, Lucy, spill. What do you need? And why'd you bring a…" She gestured dismissively at James, her tone dripping with disdain. "...guy to my room?"
"Well," Lucy shifted her weight. "we actually need some help with a semester project. Prof. Rose assigned us this interview assignment, and we're kind of stuck."
Roxy gave her a dry, uninterested stare. "Mmm‑hmm. And you need my help, how?"
Lucy hesitated, then said, "I dunno… you're good with computers. Maybe you could help us build a website or a forum for it or something."
"Okay, first of all? Rude," Roxy said, planting a hand on her hip. "Second of all, major stereotyping. Just because I study computer science does not mean I'm a magical tech guru who spits out websites on command."
Lucy looked at her for a moment, then asked, "But you can do it, right?"
Roxy paused, then glanced away, muttering quickly in a low voice, "Yeah, I can. So what?"
Lucy leaned forward slightly, her voice hopeful. "So, will you help us?"
Roxy remained silent. Her eyes flicked toward James, lingering on him with an unreadable expression before turning back to Lucy. "Yeah, I guess I could do something. But—" She lifted her hand and pointed at them. "You'll have to pay."
Lucy and James let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, no problem." Lucy mumbled, reaching for her purse. "Just tell me how much—"
"Not you, Lucy." Roxy cut her off, shifting her finger to point directly at James. Her tone sharpened. "You'll be the one paying."
James looked at her, blinking. "Me?"
Roxy crossed her arms, her tone flat. "Yes, you."
Lucy groaned lightly, rubbing her forehead. "Roxy, we don't have time for this—"
But Roxy cut her off, her voice firm. "He either pays, or you forget about it."
James exhaled, and his shoulders dropped. "Alright… I'll pay. How much?"
Roxy's lips curled into a sly smile. "Three hundred bucks."
James's eyes widened in shock. "Three hundred bucks? Wha— I can't pay that much!"
Roxy shrugged, her expression turning cold. "Then scram. The door's always open."
James frowned. His jaw tightened in frustration at her continued jabs.
The hell is wrong with this girl?
"Roxy," Lucy urged, trying to hide her growing frustration behind a pleading smile. "please, come on. We really need to get this done or we fail the course."
Roxy folded her hands, her eyes narrowing as she looked at James. Her hostile glare softened just slightly into contemplation.
Lucy pressed on. "Come on. If it's the money, then I'll pay you when you're done." She hesitated, then added, "You'll help us, right, Roxy?"
Roxy huffed, tilting her head. "Fine."
Both Lucy and James exhaled in relief... again.
"But!" Roxy snapped suddenly.
Lucy groaned, irritation now creeping into her tone. "But what?"
"I'll need my PC to do what you want me to do," Roxy said flatly.
James frown deepened. "And?"
"And… it was seized by a professor," she replied.
Lucy's brow creased. "So?"
"So," Roxy said, her tone sharp, "I'll need to get it back before I can help you." She held her chin, pretending to think. "Or… maybe one of you could help get it back for me."
Lucy let out a tired sigh, completely exhausted.
But those words were the last straw for James. His voice snapped, his frustration boiling over. "This… this bitch! You weren't gonna help us in the first place, were you?!"
His tone startled Lucy and made Roxy flinch for a second before she scowled. "Boy, don't you dare shout at me!"
But James was past listening. "I've had it with you and your shitty attitude." He turned toward the door, his voice still sharp. "Go sort your shit out yourself."
And with a final hiss, he walked out the door and slammed it shut.
After James left, the room sank into an uncomfortable silence. Roxy stared at the door for a few seconds with tight jaws, still fuming. Finally, she muttered under her breath, "Men…"
Lucy turned to her, her expression hardening. "Roxy, you didn't have to be so rude to him."
Roxy snapped her head toward Lucy. "You're supporting him?!"
"I'm not supporting anyone," Lucy said firmly. "I just want to get my project done." Her eyes drifted toward the door where James had stormed through, and her voice grew quieter. "And so does he."
Roxy wrapped her arms around herself, her tone bitter but subdued. "No shit. All you care about is your project."
Lucy moved toward the door, her voice clipped. "I'll go find him and talk to him. Put yourself together till then."
And with that, she left.