Roommates (A Conan Gray x Fem OC)

millie's pov

after we close, the sun hangs low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. it feels like the kind of evening made for an adventure, the kind of evening where you just know something good is going to happen. emily is practically vibrating with excitement as she links her arm through mine and practically drags me to her car.

"mall time, baby!" she announces like it's the most important event of the year. she jingles her keys dramatically before unlocking the car. "we're going to shop like there's no tomorrow. conan's gonna feel like a king by the time we're done."

"you're really hyping this up," i say, sliding into the passenger seat. she's already blasting her playlist—a chaotic mix of upbeat pop and throwback hits that match her energy perfectly.

"obviously. i mean, this is my specialty: shopping, snacks, and solving problems. plus, you can't tell me a pretzel won't fix everything." she throws me a grin as she taps the steering wheel to the beat of the music.

by the time we pull into the mall parking lot, she's practically bouncing in her seat. "here's the plan. we find something that'll make conan feel better. something that says, 'hey, i care about you' without being, like, overwhelming. thoughtful but chill. got it?"

"got it," i say, laughing as we step out of the car. the mall is buzzing with life—families with strollers, groups of teens, the faint hum of pop music blending with the chatter of shoppers. it's comforting in its familiarity.

our first stop is this cozy little boutique that smells like lavender and fresh cotton. the shelves are lined with candles, blankets, and mugs with cheesy sayings. emily picks up a mug that says "you're the zest" with a little lemon illustration and shows it to me.

"for conan?" she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

"yeah, no," i say, snorting. "but it's cute."

"fine, fine. focus time," she says, diving into the racks with a determined look. i wander over to a display of hoodies, my fingers brushing the fabric. one in particular catches my eye—a deep navy blue, soft to the touch, with a small embroidered constellation over the chest. it just feels right.

"what about this?" i ask, holding it up for emily's approval.

her face softens as she reaches out to touch the fabric. "oh, that's so nice. it's subtle, but it feels, like, really thoughtful. he'd love that."

"okay, adding it to the pile," i say, smiling. next, we're drawn to a section filled with plushies. emily immediately grabs an oversized llama and hugs it like it's her long-lost friend.

"look at this guy!" she says, muffled by the plush fur.

"you're going to scare people," i tease, picking up a small koala plushie instead. it's adorable, with soft gray fur and big, round eyes. there's something about it that feels comforting, like it belongs with the hoodie.

"cozy koala for conan?" emily asks, peeking out from behind the llama.

"definitely," i say, adding it to our growing pile of goodies.

then we're off to the blanket section, which is honestly overwhelming with how soft everything is. emily insists on testing each one, wrapping them around her shoulders like a queen. "this one is too scratchy. this one is good but not great. oh! this one is perfect!" she says, holding up a muted gray blanket with subtle stripes.

"soft enough?" i ask, laughing as she dramatically hugs it.

"it's like a hug in blanket form," she declares. "conan's gonna love it."

"it's perfect," i agree, adding it to the pile.

by the time we're done, our arms are full, and we're ready for a food court break. the smell of warm pretzels hits us before we even see the stand, and emily practically skips to the counter. "two large pretzels, please! and extra cheese sauce—that's non-negotiable."

"you're ridiculous," i say, but i'm laughing as we sit down with our snacks. she tears off a piece of her pretzel, dips it dramatically, and takes a big bite.

"see? dipping is life," she says, grinning with her mouth full.

"you're such a child," i say, but i'm smiling as i take a bite of my own pretzel. it's warm and buttery and perfect.

after the pretzels, we head to the bubble tea stand. emily immediately zeroes in on the lemonade option.

"you're really getting lemonade at a bubble tea place?" i ask, raising an eyebrow.

"uh, yeah? it's called variety, mills," she says, placing her order. i get a classic milk tea with tapioca pearls, and as we wait, emily keeps up a running commentary on everyone around us.

"look at that guy's hat," she whispers, nodding toward a man in a cowboy hat. "do you think he's lost? this isn't texas."

"maybe he's starting a trend," i say, trying not to laugh as i take a sip of my tea. it's sweet and creamy, the tapioca pearls chewy and satisfying.

then we wander through the mall for the next hour, weaving in and out of stores. emily spots a rack of sunglasses and dives in with an exaggerated gasp, immediately picking out the most ridiculous pair—oversized frames shaped like stars. she slides them on and turns to me, hands on her hips, striking a dramatic pose. "what do you think? new signature look?"

"you look like a cartoon character," i say, trying not to laugh.

"perfect. exactly the vibe i was going for," she says, pushing them further up her nose with a smug grin. she tosses me a pair shaped like hearts, and i reluctantly put them on. she bursts out laughing. "oh my gosh, millie, you look adorable. we're buying those."

"absolutely not," i say, but she's already snapping a picture on her phone.

in another store, we find a wall of hats, and emily grabs a floppy sunhat that's almost comically large. she plops it on her head and tilts it dramatically, pretending to peer over the edge like a mysterious celebrity. "darling, where is my yacht?" she drawls, her voice dripping with exaggerated sophistication.

i giggle, shaking my head as i try on a simple beanie. it's actually kind of cute, but emily insists on adjusting it, pulling it down over my ears with a satisfied nod. "there, now you're ready for winter."

she moves on to the scarves. "oh, this one is so soft!" she exclaims, wrapping a chunky knit scarf around her neck. "feel this!"

i reach out to touch it, and she's right—it's ridiculously soft. "okay, that's nice. but you don't need another scarf."

"need? no. want? absolutely," she says, throwing it into her growing pile of potential purchases.

by the time we're done, we're both carrying multiple bags, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. as we head back to the car, emily links her arm through mine and starts humming a random tune.

"see? retail therapy works every time," she says as we load the bags into the trunk.

"i'll admit, this was a good idea," i say, leaning back against the car. the evening air is cool now, the sky streaked with pink and orange as the sun sets. it feels like the perfect end to a perfect day.

"obviously it was a good idea," emily says, grinning. "now go get these to conan before i'm tempted to keep that koala plushie for myself."

i hug her goodbye, and catch a cab to the apartment.