Elise & Alyssa: The New Stress Comedy

Housing this year is going to be interesting.

And I'm not sure if i mean good-interesting or bad-interesting.

For one thing, my room mates are all pretty weird. I've told you about Rachel, the god-loving one who might up and leave us to become a missionary eventually. She's rooming with a girl who's in our six-person suite, but she was going to originally room with me. Her name's Stacy. I thought I would be rooming with her, and all was good until she suddenly decided she wanted to room with Rachel instead. I think I know why. Stacy and I weren't very close last year because she lived in a different building. She hung out with Rachel more than with me. In my defense, however, Stacy's pretty freaking weird. She has this really creepy giggling laugh that gets on my nerves occasionally, she's decided recently that she likes coloring like a six-year-old again, and she's best friends with a girl who I hate. Hopefully, the name of that person won't become important this year. Ugh. Can anyone see the massive slide down into drama?

My room mate, of course, is Elise, the crazy anime nut, and I was thinking until last night that things are looking up on that front. We were both talking about how excited we were. I thought to myself, "Maybe this year won't be as bad as I thought living with Elise." And that's when she said, "Uh, Alyssa? I have a problem, can I talk to you about it?"

"Sure..."

Elise is close with two people who kind of annoy me, but that's okay. Whatever. Her two bestest friends are Nico (Nicole, really, and she's a squealy anime nut like Elise, except tinier, which makes her much more high-pitched) and Matt (who's on crew team with us and not hot but Elise has a crush on him). Apparently, Nico and Elise have a crush on Matt, who may or may not have a crush on either of them. Yet he knows that Nico and Elise like him. Yes, as in like.

I was like, "Uhhh? What do you want me to do?"

It turns out that Elise really really really wants Matt (what was the phrase she used? oh yes, if she let Nico have him, she'd "loose her sanity". The typo killed me as well), but so might Nico. Maybe. See, Elise hasn't exactly talked to her friend about this. I told her she ought to talk to Nico and jointly decide who should go after Matt. She said, "Oh no, that would be so awkward." I was like "Wha? Have you never had one of those conversations?" She kept saying, "it would be so awkward, so awkward, blah blah" and at this point I realized she was thick. Probably thicker than Marlie because my yami and I have had this talk successfully. If you're in a similar situation to Elise and you don't talk it out with your friend, you're either going to lose your friend or the boy or both.

I finally asked if she wanted the truth given to her straight, and she said yes. I unleashed, as my mother says, my "full opinion without the mincing of words that polite people do".

(2:18:58 AM) Alyssa: this is what real friends do, they tell you the truth, and I'm going to deal it to you straight, girl
(2:19:02 AM) Alyssa: you're being a coward
(2:19:06 AM) Alyssa: an absolute coward.
(2:19:10 AM) Alyssa: it's easy to choose between two people
(2:19:14 AM) Alyssa: maybe not easy, but easier
(2:19:18 AM) Alyssa: than compromising with both
(2:19:25 AM) Alyssa: the choice here is clear-cut
(2:20:02 AM) Alyssa: 1. you don't talk to your two friends about the situation. you neatly avoid it and let it pass overhead. After months of agonizing wait and awkwardness, the situation blows up and you either lose one or both.
(2:20:32 AM) Alyssa: 2. you talk to one, or both, about the situation. I'd recommend talking to Nicole. You decide who gets him. That girls tries to get him. If he refuses, she lost and the other girl tries for him. Simple.
(2:20:38 AM) Alyssa: Those are the two choices.
(2:20:55 AM) Alyssa: you gotta choose
(2:21:16 AM) Alyssa: and I'd rather you choose the 'brave' option that will end better so that I don't end up with you crying on my shoulder, okay? that's the last thing I want.
(2:21:18 AM) Alyssa: : (
(2:21:35 AM) Elise: okay... I guess I'll work something out

Ugh. She guesses she'll work something out? This year may suck just because of all the drama Elise is bringing into my room. Theoretically, the room will be shaped where it's split by a closet. At least then I'll have my own space to crawl into and listen to Keane's song 'Crystal Ball'. "Oh, crystal ball, crystal ball, save us all- tell me life is beautiful..."

Then again, it's hard to criticize someone else's problems when you definitely have your own. At least Elise was brave enough to talk about it with me. I haven't told anyone but you guys. Aren't you just the lucky ones?

Question: Have you ever been in the type of fix Elise is in now? How did you proceed and how did it turn out? Did you lose a friend, gain a boy, or both or neither?