The Dysfunctional Degenerates

Welcome To New York City, Baby!

"Jesus Christ, those boxes are so heavy. What did you put in there, Sean?!", Bryce groans exasperatedly, dropping the cardboard box overflowing with clothes labelled FRAGILE on the front door mat. 

Sean smacks Bryce on the back of his head before stepping into the apartment, floorboards creaking like they're 100 years old, "Don't drop my stuff, dipshit. I have designer perfume bottles in their that cost more than your life."

Bryce rubs the back of his head, glaring at Sean which earned him a middle finger to his face. Meanwhile, Sam--looking as innocent as ever--pushes both men apart from each other who were seconds away from having a full-on dog fight. 

"We still have a half-full U-Haul truck on the street. No time for this shit, you two.", Sam says with an I'm-done-with-this-BS type look on his face. Bryce reverts to his puppy-eyed expression towards Sam and hugs Sam's head close to his chest, ignoring the blatant muffling and struggling, "Sammy, this dumb fuck was harassing me first! Don't blame me..."

Before Sean could strangle the living shit out of Bryce, Kristian walks in with two boxes stacked on top of each other just barely missing the top of the door frame to their new apartment. Setting the two boxes down with ease, Kristian huffs, "If you two don't stop your bullshitting, you're both paying for tonight's Chinese takeout." 

Bryce and Sean groan, indicating a much-needed truce between them. Sam is finally let go from Bryce's death grip, gasping for air whilst clinging to the nearest wall. The arguing bunch hit shoulders on their way out to gather more things, leaving Sam and Kristian alone temporarily in an apartment that already seemed too claustrophobic for the two of them. 

"So, is this what home will be looking like now?", Sam asks, optimism present in his eyes as he turns to Kristian. 

Kristian smirks at him, a hint of playfulness in his tone, "That's if the landlords like us enough to not kick us out our first week here."

Sam chuckles halfheartedly, knowing that could definitely be a possibility for all 7 of them. Moving here would mark their first times ever living together. Those cabin trips or hotel stays did not count, especially if they're applying this to real-world housing. College was definitely no exception, as each guy had went on their own paths. Now, after gaining their needed degrees, they face the most challenging part; finding jobs as 27-year-olds in one of America's most populated cities. New York, the city of opportunity, they will soon find out to be the city of high job market competition, high population density and shitty living spaces. 

Keith struts in, carrying a beaten-up cardboard box that most likely belongs to him filled with his stank-ass boxers or whatever the hell he still keeps in that ancient relic.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Keith says mischievously, waggling his eyebrows at the two who give him an annoyed expression,  "but the guys need your help outside."

"And you, my glorious king Kristian, we are in desperate need of your strong muscles at the truck.", Keith adds on before turning to an empty bedroom straight across from the kitchen. 

I guess he claimed that room then..., Sam thinks to himself before starting out of the apartment to descend the stairs the 100th time. Kristian shortly follows, sticking his hands down his jean pockets.

On the street, where noise is at its maximum and people bustle by with purpose, Isaac stays on the back of the U-Haul, handing boxes to Kaiden one-by-one.

"Could you be any fucking slower?", Isaac grunts, lifting a box heavy enough to pop a vein on his bicep.

"I could if you kept handing me shit at the snail pace you're going.", Kaiden retorts, snatching the box and tossing it on the sidewalk. Who knows if the people passing by would steal those boxes, but judging by who is handling them, there's probably nothing valuable in their anyways...

Sam pushes the squeaking double-doors open and walks out towards the edge of the sidewalk, completely forgetting to hold the door for Kristian, who couldn't care less about it. Sam's eyes glow that obvious glow when they fall on Isaac, which Isaac catches and smiles back at him playfully. 

"Need a hand here, Sammy. This slow poke is slowing us down ten-fold.", Isaac says with a charming grin, to which Sam perks up at. Kaiden flips Isaac off, who is too busy being infatuated by his personal admirer. 

Sam's fingers brush Isaac's slightly as they exchange another cardboard box, pulsing an electric current of feeling straight through him. The smiles they trade with each other are caught by Kristian and Kaiden, who look back at each other with a knowing grin before continuing their manual labor with the packed boxes.

This is going to be a long day...