Chapter Two - Unexpected Company
686 Words
Vincent woke before his alarm.
It was a habit he had never managed to break.
The dorm room was still dark, the early morning light only beginning to creep through the curtains. Across the room, William was fast asleep, one arm hanging over the side of the bed while his blanket lay in a crumpled heap on the floor.
Vincent stared for a moment.
How does anyone sleep like that?
Shaking his head, he quietly slipped out of bed.
By six o'clock, he had already showered, ironed his clothes, packed his laptop, and reviewed the day's lecture notes.
Routine.
Predictable.
Safe.
As he reached for the door, a sleepy voice called behind him.
"You're leaving already?"
Vincent turned.
William was squinting at him through messy black hair.
"It's six."
"I know."
"Nobody should be awake at six."
"I should."
William groaned dramatically before burying his face back into the pillow.
"I've officially been assigned the world's most responsible roommate."
A tiny smile crossed Vincent's face.
"I'll try not to make too much noise."
"You could try making coffee."
"I don't drink coffee."
William lifted his head again.
"...You're an engineering student who doesn't drink coffee?"
"I prefer tea."
William stared at him as though he'd confessed to living on the moon.
"We're going to have to fix that."
Vincent chuckled quietly.
It was the first genuine laugh he'd had in weeks.
The engineering building buzzed with students rushing to morning lectures.
Vincent slipped into his usual seat near the front of the lecture theatre, opened his notebook and waited.
He preferred arriving early.
It gave him time to think before the room filled with conversation.
"Mind if I sit here?"
A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.
A young man with curly brown hair smiled down at him.
"I'm Jake."
Vincent nodded politely.
"Vincent."
"You always this early?"
"Usually."
Jake laughed.
"My mum always said people who arrive this early are either geniuses or serial killers."
Vincent looked up.
"...Which one do you think I am?"
Jake blinked before laughing harder.
"I like you already."
Vincent couldn't remember the last time someone had said that.
Meanwhile...
William jogged across the football pitch as Coach Harrison barked instructions from the sidelines.
"Moretti!"
"Yes, Coach?"
"You're distracted."
"I'm not."
"You've missed three passes."
William rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've got a new roommate."
The team erupted into laughter.
"That's why?" Mason shouted.
"You've known the guy for one night!"
William shrugged.
"He's... interesting."
"Interesting how?"
"I don't know."
"He barely talks."
"He smiles when he forgets he's supposed to be serious."
Leo smirked.
"So you've noticed his smile."
William froze.
"...Shut up."
The team laughed again.
Coach Harrison blew his whistle.
"If you're done discussing your roommate, perhaps you'd like to remember you're here to play football."
"Yes, Coach."
But even as training resumed...
William caught himself wondering whether Vincent had remembered to eat breakfast.
Later that afternoon...
Vincent left the library balancing three engineering textbooks against his chest.
He barely noticed someone running towards him.
"Watch out!"
Too late.
A student collided with him, sending books crashing across the pavement.
"Oh no!"
Papers scattered everywhere.
Vincent knelt immediately, trying to gather them before the breeze carried them away.
Another pair of hands reached the ground at the same time.
"You alright?"
William.
He had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"It's only paper."
William handed him a notebook.
"You dropped this."
Their fingers brushed for the briefest second.
Vincent pulled his hand back almost immediately.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he wasn't used to someone being this close.
William noticed.
He pretended not to.
Once everything had been gathered, William stood and slung Vincent's backpack over one shoulder.
"Come on."
Vincent frowned.
"Where are we going?"
"You skipped lunch."
"...How do you know that?"
"I walked past the engineering building."
"And?"
"You were still studying."
Vincent sighed.
"I wasn't hungry."
William smiled.
"I don't believe you."
Without waiting for another argument, he started walking towards the campus café.
After a moment's hesitation...
Vincent followed.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
He didn't mind.
- Writer
