TND: Cold
"These aren't working," Juliet softly said under her breath.
"What?" Emmy replied, lost in thought as she studied for the first major exam of the semester in her biological psychology course.
"Nothing," Juliet replied.
It was never nothing. Juliet Hartwell was incapable of making a nothing noise. But as Emmy was eyeballs deep in neurotransmitters, she figured she'd let this one pass.
It was early spring in Crestfield, which meant it was really still winter that wanted to call itself spring. A layer of frost welcomed them every morning as they walked from Hartwell House to campus, or Pemberton Hall if they'd stayed there that evening. Juliet and Emmy had more or less become inseparable these last few weeks, with no signs of them being pried apart in sight. Having two places to sleep was a benefit on the colder nights. They could simply crash wherever was closest to their last event of the day. Tonight they were in Pemberton Hall, Room 312. Juliet sitting on Julian's chair, Emmy on the bed. It was cold outside, and slightly warmer within.
As Emmy reread the paragraph on Serotonin once more, Juliet's words finally arranged themselves in her head, the brain taking a few moments to full process the utterance that Juliet had not wanted to repeat.
"Wait… what's not working?" Emmy asked, confused. Juliet was sitting in a chair, with a notebook and a pencil. Since she wasn't collapsed on the ground, sharpening the pencil, or drying the notebook, it didn't appear that anything was broken.
"Uh… my pants," she said, quickly.
Emmy looked at Juliet. Juliet was wearing a long-sleeved white undershirt, with a green short-sleeved top over it, that came down to mid-thigh. She was wearing black leggings, black socks, and shoes.
"Your leggings have a hole? Because otherwise they appear fine," Emmy observed.
"Do we really have to talk about this, it's embarrassing," Juliet replied.
"Jules… they're black leggings. They look fine. They seem to be doing their job. How is this embarrassing?"
"I got scammed."
This was getting way more interesting than Serotonin could ever be.
"You got scammed… by your pants?" Emmy asked, to be certain.
"Yes," came a quick reply.
Emmy sat up and turned to face her.
"You have my attention, go on."
"Fine… I found thermal leggings online. They were expensive but the manufacturer made specific claims about thermal retention. I have run cold consistently all winter. I took a chance and ordered some. They are not warm… just furry."
"You have furry leggings on?"
Juliet stood up, pulled up her green top, and gently rolled down a bit of the waistband of the leggings. Sure enough, a black synthetic furry lining revealed itself. Emmy just sat there.
"Go ahead, make a comment about your girlfriend in the furry pants," Juliet said, "Maybe you can roast me enough that my lower body at least feels some warmth."
"Come here," Emmy said as she gestured to her side, "We'll pull the throw over us and warm you up. No extra charge. Just don't touch my feet - you know they're always icicles, I'm used to it."
"You don't think I'm a fool for believing in furry leggings?" Juliet asked as she sat down next to Emmy.
"Stranger things have happened, Jules, in this very building."