Rules

Back at the house, Lena stretched her arms and glanced at Jack and Samantha. "Alright, before we all get too comfortable, I think we need to figure out some ground rules and a schedule. You know, just to make sure everything runs smoothly."

Jack nodded, knowing it was necessary. Living with two new roommates meant they needed to set boundaries and ensure everyone was on the same page. He followed them into the living room, where they all sat down on the large, cushy couch. Samantha crossed her legs and leaned back, while Lena grabbed a notebook and pen from the table, ready to jot things down.

"First things first," Lena began, glancing at Jack. "Do you smoke or drink?"

Jack shook his head. "Nope, neither."

Lena smiled, clearly pleased. "Good, because we don't either. So that's one less thing to worry about."

Samantha nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I had roommates in the past who smoked, and it was a pain to deal with. Glad we're all on the same page there."

Jack grinned. "I'm definitely not a fan of the smell either. So, no worries there."

Lena nodded, satisfied. "Great. Now, about the bathrooms. There's one in Samantha's room, and then there's the shared one out here."

Samantha chimed in, "I'll mostly be using the one in my room, but sometimes in the mornings, if I'm in a rush, I might use the shared one. Just so you know because my room only have tub, no shower."

Lena looked at Jack. "Yeah, and we'll need to figure out the bathroom schedule in the mornings, especially on workdays. When do you usually get up and head out?"

Jack thought for a moment. "I leave for work at around 8:30, but I'm usually up by 7 to get ready."

Samantha nodded, tapping her chin. "I'm out the door by 8, but I'm usually up by 6:30. I like to take my time in the mornings, so that works for me."

Lena scribbled down some notes, then added, "I usually leave around 9, so I wake up at 7:30 or 8. If we stick to that, we should be able to use the bathroom without running into each other."

They all nodded in agreement, and Lena made a final note. "So, Samantha first, then Jack, then me. Easy enough."

Next came the issue of cleaning. Lena flipped the page in her notebook. "Alright, cleaning duty. I figure we rotate, one person every three days. Sound fair?"

Jack and Samantha agreed, and Lena continued. "I'll go first. Tomorrow, I'll clean the common areas. Then Samantha, then Jack. And we'll just keep that cycle going."

Jack grinned, relieved that everything was being settled so easily. "Sounds good to me."

Lena clicked her pen. "Now, if anyone wants to bring a guest over, just give the rest of us a heads-up at least a day before. And let's say guests can stay for a maximum of three days. That work for everyone?"

Samantha and Jack nodded. "Fair enough," Jack said. "No surprises."

Samantha added, "Yeah, it's only polite. We just need to make sure no one's blindsided by a guest."

Lena jotted that down as well, then tapped her pen thoughtfully. "Okay, two more things. First, if there's any big event or change—like you're going out of town or working late—just let the rest of us know. Communication's key. And second, let's keep shared spaces clean. That means no leaving dishes in the sink for days or dumping stuff in the living room."

Jack and Samantha both agreed immediately. "Definitely," Jack said. "I'll make sure to clean up after myself."

Samantha smiled. "Same. I hate clutter, so that's fine by me."

With everything settled, Lena closed her notebook with a satisfied smile. "Alright, I think we've got everything sorted."

Samantha stretched, her eyes starting to look sleepy. "That was easy."

Lena waved it off. "Yeah. It's better to get this all out of the way before it becomes an issue."

They all stood up from the couch, the night having settled around them with a peaceful quiet. Jack, feeling the weight of the day's events, glanced at the clock. It was getting late.

"Guess we should call it a night, then," Jack said, stifling a yawn.

Samantha nodded, already halfway to her room. "Yeah, I'm exhausted. See you both in the morning."

Lena stretched her arms above her head and smiled. "Night, guys."

Jack watched as they each headed to their rooms, then made his way to his own room, ready for a good night's sleep.