Chapter 2: Roommates
1487 Words
Sera woke to the sound of a cabinet slamming.
She opened her eyes.
For several seconds, she didn't remember where she was.
Then she saw the unfamiliar ceiling.
The unfamiliar curtains.
The unfamiliar lamp beside the bed.
Right.
Adrian's apartment.
She had actually done it.
She had moved in with her best friend.
For three months.
Temporary.
She repeated the word in her head like it was supposed to make everything less strange.
Another cabinet slammed.
"Adrian!"
Silence.
Then his voice came from somewhere beyond the bedroom.
"What?"
"Why are you destroying the kitchen?"
"I'm cooking."
"That's not an answer."
"I think it is."
Sera pushed herself out of bed.
She opened the bedroom door.
"Do you need help?"
"No."
She walked toward the kitchen.
Adrian stood in front of the stove, staring suspiciously at a frying pan.
He turned when he heard her.
His eyes moved over her.
Messy hair.
Oversized T-shirt.
Bare feet.
Something in his expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then his usual smile returned.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"You sleep okay?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She looked at the pan.
"What are you making?"
"Breakfast."
"It smells like something died."
He looked offended.
"It's eggs."
"Then the eggs died."
Adrian laughed.
Sera walked past him and opened the cabinet.
She froze.
Everything was organized.
Plates stacked neatly.
Glasses arranged by size.
Mugs lined up.
She looked at him.
"You reorganized your kitchen."
"No."
"You absolutely did."
"Maybe."
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"You needed space."
She stared at him.
"You reorganized your entire kitchen because I moved in?"
"I moved three shelves."
"Adrian."
"What?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
She opened the refrigerator.
Her favorite yogurt was inside.
She looked at him again.
He was suddenly very interested in the eggs.
"You bought that."
"Bought what?"
She held up the yogurt.
He glanced at it.
"Maybe."
"You don't even eat that."
"I know."
"Then why is it here?"
He shrugged.
"You like it."
Sera stared at him.
Adrian turned back to the stove.
"Breakfast?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're strange."
"I've been told."
She took the yogurt.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She sat at the counter.
For a moment, neither spoke.
It was strangely comfortable.
Almost too comfortable.
Sera looked around.
Yesterday, this had been Adrian's apartment.
Now there was a box with her name written on it beside the hallway.
Her shoes were by the door.
Her coat hung beside his.
Her toothbrush sat beside his.
Three months.
She reminded herself again.
Three months.
"You have your interview at ten," Adrian said.
She looked at him.
"How do you know that?"
"You told me."
"When?"
"Tuesday."
She frowned.
"I don't remember telling you."
"You were complaining about it while eating pizza."
"Oh."
He placed a plate in front of her.
The eggs looked surprisingly edible.
"Eat."
"I can feed myself."
"I know."
She smiled.
"You're very annoying."
"So you've said."
By eight-thirty, Sera was dressed and ready.
She stood in front of the mirror adjusting her blazer.
Adrian appeared in the doorway.
He leaned against the frame.
"Too much?"
She glanced at him.
"What?"
"Your outfit."
She looked down.
Black trousers.
White blouse.
Black blazer.
"Is it bad?"
"No."
He walked closer.
"It's good."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Because you keep staring at yourself like you're preparing for battle."
"It is a battle."
He smiled.
"You'll be fine."
She picked up her bag.
"I hope so."
Adrian's expression softened.
"You will."
She looked at him.
For some reason, she believed him.
"Thanks."
He reached toward her.
She froze.
His fingers brushed her collar.
"Your necklace."
She looked down.
The clasp had twisted.
"Hold still."
His fingers worked carefully behind her neck.
Sera suddenly became very aware of how close he was.
She could smell his cologne.
Feel the warmth of him behind her.
Her heartbeat changed.
She swallowed.
"There."
He stepped back.
"Fixed."
She turned.
"Thanks."
Adrian smiled.
"No problem."
Neither of them mentioned the fact that they had both gone unusually quiet.
The interview went better than Sera expected.
By the time she returned to the apartment that afternoon, she was exhausted but hopeful.
She unlocked the door.
"Adrian?"
"Kitchen."
She followed the sound.
He was sitting at the counter with his laptop open.
He looked up.
"How'd it go?"
"Good."
His face immediately brightened.
"Good good?"
"Good good."
He stood.
"I knew it."
"Don't celebrate yet."
"Too late."
He walked to the refrigerator.
"I bought cake."
Sera laughed.
"You bought cake before knowing the result?"
"I had faith."
"You are ridiculous."
"And yet you keep me around."
She smiled.
"Unfortunately."
He handed her a plate.
She took it.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved immediately.
Then Sera pulled her hand back.
Adrian looked away.
She looked down at the cake.
"Chocolate?"
"Your favorite."
She stared at it.
"You remembered."
He looked at her as if the question confused him.
"Of course."
Something about the answer made her chest tighten.
She sat down.
Adrian returned to his laptop.
For several minutes, they ate in silence.
Then Sera said, "I think I might actually get the job."
"I know."
"You don't know."
"I do."
"How?"
"Because you're good at what you do."
She smiled.
"You really never get tired of saying that."
"No."
She looked at him.
"Why?"
He met her eyes.
"Because you don't believe it enough."
The words landed differently.
Sera looked down.
She wasn't used to being seen that clearly.
Not by anyone.
Maybe not even herself.
That evening, Sera unpacked.
Adrian helped without being asked.
He carried boxes.
Installed a shelf.
Moved her desk closer to the window.
He didn't complain once.
At one point, Sera found him kneeling beside her suitcase, folding clothes.
She stared.
"You're folding my clothes?"
He looked up.
"You were taking too long."
"You could have left them."
"I could have."
She watched him fold another shirt.
"You don't have to do everything for me."
He paused.
"I know."
The answer was quiet.
Sera didn't know what to say.
So she sat beside him.
They folded clothes together.
It felt strangely domestic.
Too domestic.
She pushed the thought away.
After they finished, Adrian stood.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Groceries."
"I can go tomorrow."
"We need food."
"We have food."
He opened the refrigerator.
Sera looked inside.
There was almost nothing left.
She sighed.
"Fine."
The grocery store was supposed to be quick.
It wasn't.
Adrian put things into the cart that Sera hadn't asked for.
"Why do we need this?"
"Because it's good."
"You don't even like it."
"You do."
"Adrian."
He smiled.
"What?"
"Stop buying things because I like them."
"Why?"
"Because you're going to make me feel spoiled."
"You are spoiled."
She hit his arm.
He laughed.
They walked through the aisles arguing over cereal.
A woman passing them smiled.
"You two are cute."
Sera immediately said, "We're friends."
At exactly the same time, Adrian said,
"Thank you."
They both stopped.
The woman laughed.
"Whatever you say."
She walked away.
Sera stared at Adrian.
He looked back at her.
"What?"
"You didn't correct her."
He shrugged.
"I was being polite."
"She thought we were together."
"I noticed."
"And you didn't correct her."
He pushed the cart forward.
"You already did."
Sera followed.
"You're impossible."
"That's why you like me."
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because she didn't know whether he was joking.
That night, they watched television in the living room.
Sera sat at one end of the couch.
Adrian sat at the other.
There was a respectable amount of space between them.
Until Sera fell asleep.
She didn't know when it happened.
She only knew that she woke briefly sometime after midnight.
The television was still on.
The blanket was pulled over her.
Adrian wasn't on the other side of the couch anymore.
She turned her head.
He was sitting in the armchair nearby, reading.
He looked up.
"Go back to sleep."
She blinked.
"Why are you over there?"
"You took the whole couch."
"I did not."
"You did."
She smiled sleepily.
"You're lying."
"Probably."
Her eyes closed again.
She heard him turn the television down.
Then felt the blanket being pulled higher over her shoulder.
She didn't open her eyes.
But she smiled.
The next morning, Sera woke early.
She walked into the kitchen.
Adrian was already there.
He was standing by the counter, staring at his phone.
He looked troubled.
She stopped.
"Everything okay?"
He quickly locked his phone.
"Yeah."
She watched him.
"Adrian."
"I'm fine."
That was unusual.
He always answered her.
Even when he didn't want to talk, he usually found some way to make a joke.
This time, he didn't.
She walked closer.
"What's wrong?"
He hesitated.
Then smiled.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
She frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"I know."
He picked up his coffee.
"Come on. You'll be late."
Sera didn't move.
Something had changed.
Not between them.
With him.
She just didn't know what.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD