Chapter Four - Out Of Routine
940 Words
The shrill buzz of Vincent's alarm broke the silence at six o'clock sharp.
Unlike yesterday, he wasn't the first one awake.
William sat on the windowsill, dressed in grey joggers and a university hoodie, absentmindedly spinning a football on one finger while watching the sunrise over Ashton University.
"You know," William said without turning around, "you're officially rubbing off on me."
Vincent blinked.
"I woke up before my alarm."
"I noticed."
"I think I'm ill."
Vincent set his backpack on the desk.
"I don't think that's how illness works."
William sighed dramatically.
"I've become responsible."
"That's definitely a medical emergency."
William laughed.
"There it is."
Vincent frowned.
"What?"
"You made a joke."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Vincent looked away, pretending to organise his notebooks.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You smiled too."
"I definitely didn't."
"Liar."
For the first time in years, mornings didn't feel lonely.
The engineering building was already busy when Vincent arrived.
Students hurried through the corridors balancing coffee cups, folders and half-finished assignments.
Jake waved from halfway down the hallway.
"There you are!"
Vincent walked over.
"You look unusually cheerful."
Jake narrowed his eyes.
"You've changed."
"I have not."
"You have."
Jake folded his arms.
"Last week you would've walked straight past me."
Vincent thought about it.
"...Probably."
"And now?"
"I suppose we're friends."
Jake grinned.
"I've waited four years to hear that."
Vincent couldn't help smiling.
After the lecture, Jake nudged him.
"So..."
"What?"
"Your famous roommate."
Vincent sighed.
"What about him?"
"You've mentioned him three times this morning."
"I have?"
Jake counted on his fingers.
"'William said this.'
"'William likes that café.'
"'William has football practice.'"
Vincent stared.
"I didn't realise."
Jake smirked.
"Exactly."
Before Vincent could respond, his phone vibrated.
Will
Lunch today?
Vincent looked at the screen.
Jake leaned closer.
"Speak of the devil."
"It's just lunch."
Jake smiled knowingly.
"Sure."
Vincent ignored him.
Vincent: Okay.
Almost instantly—
Will: Meet you outside Engineering at one?
Vincent: Fine.
Will: You sound excited 😂
Vincent rolled his eyes.
At exactly one o'clock...
William was already waiting outside the building.
He wore a black football jacket over a plain white T-shirt, his backpack hanging from one shoulder.
Several students greeted him as they walked past.
He greeted every single one back.
"Ready?"
Vincent nodded.
"You actually came."
"I said I would."
"I know."
William smiled.
"I just wasn't sure you'd keep your word."
Vincent looked surprised.
"I always keep my word."
William believed him immediately.
Instead of heading towards the cafeteria, William turned left.
"Where are we going?"
"I know a better place."
Five minutes later they stood outside a small family-owned café just beyond the university gates.
It was quieter than the campus cafeteria.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Vincent looked around.
"This place is nice."
"I told you."
William held the door open.
"After you."
Vincent hesitated.
Nobody had ever done that for him before.
"...Thanks."
They ordered.
William chose pasta.
Vincent ordered grilled chicken with rice.
When the waitress arrived with their drinks...
She smiled.
"You two make a lovely couple."
Silence.
Vincent nearly dropped his glass.
William blinked.
"Oh—"
The waitress laughed.
"I'm sorry."
"I assumed."
"We're not..."
William scratched the back of his neck.
"We're roommates."
The waitress apologised again before walking away.
Vincent stared intensely at his plate.
His ears burned.
William couldn't stop smiling.
"Well..."
"What?"
"That wasn't awkward."
Vincent buried his face in his water glass.
"I'd like to leave the country."
William laughed so hard that people at the next table turned to look.
Later...
The sky darkened unexpectedly.
A loud clap of thunder echoed across the city.
Rain poured down within seconds.
Students ran for cover beneath shop awnings.
William looked outside.
"We're trapped."
Vincent checked the forecast.
"It said there was a ten percent chance."
William looked at him.
"Only you would trust percentages over clouds."
They laughed.
Neither of them noticed how easily it came now.
The rain finally eased.
As they stepped outside, Vincent stopped suddenly.
A small stray kitten shivered beneath a bench, soaked to the bone.
Without saying a word, Vincent crouched down.
"Oh..."
The kitten meowed weakly.
William watched as Vincent carefully removed his hoodie and wrapped it around the tiny animal.
"You'll catch cold."
"It's just a hoodie."
William smiled.
"No."
He looked at Vincent with quiet admiration.
"It's who you are."
Vincent looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You pretend you don't like people."
William nodded toward the kitten.
"But you've got the softest heart I've ever seen."
Vincent didn't know what to say.
Nobody had ever described him like that.
Back at the dorm...
William disappeared for a few minutes.
When he returned...
He placed a small paper bag on Vincent's desk.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
Inside was a dark green notebook embossed with tiny gold chemical formulas.
Vincent stared.
"...William."
"You've nearly filled the one you have."
"How did you know?"
"You've been writing on the back pages."
Vincent ran his fingers across the cover.
It was beautiful.
"I can't accept this."
"Why?"
"It's expensive."
"It wasn't."
"You shouldn't spend money on me."
William shrugged.
"I wanted to."
Vincent looked down at the notebook.
Then quietly whispered—
"...Thank you."
This time...
William noticed Vincent wasn't thanking him out of politeness.
He genuinely meant it.
That night...
Long after William had fallen asleep...
Vincent opened the first page of the notebook.
He wrote only one sentence.
"Maybe letting someone in isn't as frightening as I thought."
He stared at the words for a long time.
Then closed the notebook before anyone could ever read them.
- Writer
