You've missed this.

This, being time with Jordan. Quiet moments between classes and assignments have been scarce lately and even though you've been dating for a few months, the two of you haven't had much time alone in a while.

The air in Jordan's dorm room is thick with the smell of cheap alcohol, burning incense, and the faint trace of other substances that mean one of you really needs to crack open a window. Clothes, papers, and empty bottles are scattered across the floor, evidence of late-night study sessions and spontaneous hangouts.

Then comes the knock.

It's loud and insistent: three raps against the door that leaves you and Jordan looking at one other with plainly written confusion.

"Uhh… just a second!" Comes Jordan's voice, the clearly male sound startling you in opposition to their female appearance.

"It's my parents," Jordan hisses lowly, not even paying attention to whatever their parents are saying on the other side of the door.

The two of you scramble in what feels like an intense version of Tetris: shoving papers into drawers, hiding the bong behind the bookshelf, tossing clothes into the closet with no regard for how they land. Every moment is spent in complete chaos, adrenaline pumping as the sound of the knocking echoes louder.

When the room looks... less messy, Jordan steps back, breathing deeply as they shift into their male form. The transition is seamless, as if nothing had happened at all.

"Maybe we can convince them that you're my roommate," Jordan suggests as they straighten up, quietly enough that their parents won't hear from where they're stood outside Jordan's door, but you both know it's useless because their parents know that TAs don't have roommates.

"Or that you're a friend. A really good friend that's been crashing on my couch for... three months..." They trail off, realizing how stupid it sounds out loud, running their hands through their hair in an attempt to look more normal.