The Roommate

I followed the small signs that were set up to make my way to the East Dorms. Once I found my dorm I inserted the key nervously and twisted. The door opened and I threw my bags inside. It was basically empty. 

There was one bathroom which consisted of an extremely small shower that looked as though it was made for a man who only stood about 5”2 it had a tiny sink with a mirror above it, and a toilet.  Then one room that had a single bed on each side and a desk bellow each of them. Two single beds both pushed up agains opposite sides of the room, two desks, two dressers, and a bookshelf. There was enough room for extra things but only if you were strategical as to how they were place. 

“Might as well not waste anymore time,” I said aloud figuring if I wasn’t quick my soon to be roommate would be in claiming his space and I’d get the short end of the stick. I began to unpack my clothes and placed them neatly into the dressers, I then started to realize the heat. The room must’ve been warmer than the air outside. Sweat trickled slowly off my face. There wasn’t a single fan to be found in the place. Great, maybe it gets cooler here faster or something. I thought praying that was what it was. 

I had unpacked my bags of clothes I pulled out the sheets and began to make my bed. I claimed the left side of the room after assuming it’d be cooler. The white sheets were now laying over the bed and it was neatly made- one thing I learned back at home was how to make a bed. I threw the pillows on it and both the thin blanket and thicker one. 

Sitting down I could feel each droplet of sweat trickle down my face, So hot. It was horrible at least my room in Cali was cold down by an air conditioner. I had left the door open in attempt to get the room even a little cooler, no use. Suddenly, I heard whistling and the sound of car keys jingling as if they were being spun around. The sound was drawing closer and I grew curious of who it was. My new roommate, possibly? 

That’s when things got awkward.

There he stood those same deep brown eyes that could easily cut into my soul (and not in a good way might I add), that shaggy black brown hair that was style the same, and the same exact clothing. 

It was the taller man from the airport who I had a stare off with...and was now having a stare off with again. “Ha,” I heard him breath as though he was trying not to laugh. The awkwardness grew heavier as he continued to stare at me. Was this a joke? It had to have been. 

Though, there laid his bags right next to his feet. He must’ve dropped them when he saw me; I wasn’t really paying attention. His next words were rather sarcastic, “Hey, it’s the creep from the airport,” he chuckled then walked to his side of the room. 

His voice was deep...but not too deep. I wasn’t what would’ve expected to hear when the man who stood at least six foot was watching me like a hawk at the airport. The irony in this all was unbearably sickening.

“Um...hello to you too,” I said sarcastically while smoothing the sheets with my hand to make it seem like I wasn’t just sitting there doing nothing...which I was.

“I already said hi,” he spoke briefly while now shoving his clothes into his dresser carelessly. 

“Oh, really?” I said now trying to figure out when he said hello or even greeted me. It all just sounded like a sarcastic statement to my ears.

He turned and glanced at me, “I said hey...didn’t I? That’s a way to greet someone, or at least that’s what I’ve been told,” he said in a defensive tone. 

Great, I’d be sharing a room with a complete and total a*****e. So far Pennsylvania was filled with nothing but pricks and b*****s. I sat there quietly, unable to find anything to say that would fill the awkward gap between us. Luckily I didn’t have to because he did.

“What were you looking at?” he asked bluntly. 

I sighed, honestly I could even remember what I was looking at. The day had swept me away so soon that well...that event was only a blur in my mind. “I don’t know honestly...I was just looking around and you caught on to my glance,” I lied...or well I think I lied. He only nodded and continued to unpack his stuff. I guessed it was my turn to ask the questions, “Who were you with?” I questioned out of pure curiosity. 

His deep brown eyes again cut into me as if I had just asked to know his deepest darkest secret, “My friend,” he breathed.

This guy wasn’t much of a talker was he? From what I was seeing that would be a negative, “Does he go here?” I pushed the question a step further.

Turning he looked at me, “You fucked up the game! It was my turn to ask the question...but to answer yours, yes. He does go here,” he stated. Now I was confused we were playing a question game and I was uninformed? And now I supposedly fucked it up? That was just great; before I could even get a chance to open my mouth to speak he spoke up again, “Since you ruined the game I guess I should just tell you my name,” he said then ended his sentence. The room fell silent again. He completely stopped talking not even a sound. 

“Well are you going to tell me your name or what?” I asked after about ten solid minutes of silence. 

The tall man who had yet to tell me his name smiled. His dark hair fell over his eyes as a Cheshire Cat grin grew on his face, “You never asked and couldn’t ask because you ruined the game,” he sighed and sat down on his bed then looked at me and grinned wider he fell to his side and began to laugh. 

Okay, so I take back that he didn’t talk much, he did talk, but he was also a psycho. He realized my confusion and exhaled calmly before speaking, “Name’s Milo,” he said.

“Anthony Marlow,” I replied.

Tilting his head he smiled, “Last names aren’t important really, but if since stated your I might as well return the favor; Johnston.”

I was assuming Johnston was his last name and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Johnston was such a generic last name especially for someone who didn’t appear very generic. The silence returned once more and we sat there almost as if we were clueless as to what to do.

Milo stood up and looked at him, “Come on, we have stuff to do,” he said quickly. I was thrown off by his sudden demand in what I’d do, but I didn’t bother to protest. The room was simply too hot, and I had hopes that maybe he’d lead me to a room that was cold by an air conditioner.

“Okay,” I said while standing up and following him. Maybe that was the moment I should’ve realized I was making a big mistake. The boy smelled heavily of smoke and alcohol and was leading me to somewhere unknown. Regretting that moment would’ve been a lie though, because Milo didn’t just lead me anywhere, he guided me to an angel.

Author's Note

Ignore grammar and spelling mistakes.