HIS ROOMMATE

BEST FRIENDS SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER

CHAPTER 16

KAI'S POV

It has been two weeks since I left Adrian's house and two weeks I last spoke to him. The bruises on my arms are fading, but the ache in my chest isn't. Not entirely from what Edward did, but from watching Adrian choose between me and Valerie. He shouldn't have had to.

Yes, Adrian has been a great friend and person. He helped me a lot and worried about me even though it wasn't his place to. I appreciate all that, but I think it was time we told each other the truth.

Me sticking to him would only make things difficult for him. I never wished for his relationship with Valerie to fall apart. I know how much he loves and cares about her. I've seen it a lot of times... how he looks at her when she laughs, how he knows exactly what to say to make her smile.

I don't like Adrian the way Valerie thinks I do. But she doesn't listen, so it was best I ignored him completely and let him figure things out with his girlfriend.

The movers finished unloading my stuff in the new apartment. It's small, but it's mine. I can lock the door and pretend the world outside doesn't exist.

When I left his house two weeks ago I actually lied, I had not find a place then. I moved in with Nathan's sister Nancy for a while until I got my own place. I sigh and nodded in satisfaction. From now on wards I just need to focus on my studies, finish college and leave this place for good.

But first I will have to go back to my step father's house, I still need to take back the things the belong to me and my mother.

Just thinking about it made my stomach twist. The last time I was there... I shook my head. I wasn't that scared kid anymore. I was stronger now. I could do this.

I started unpacking boxes, the rhythm of it calming. Phone on the counter, it buzzed again. Nancy.

"Hey girl! How's the new place? Need help with anything?"

I smiled for real. "Got the essentials unpacked. Thanks for letting me crash with you while I sorted this out."

"Anytime, boo. You know that. But seriously, you okay going to your stepdad's tomorrow?"

I paused, hand on a box of books. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Just need my stuff and I'm out."

"Want me to come with?"

I hesitated, then typed: "No, it's okay. I need to do this alone."

Nancy sent a thumbs-up emoji. "Alright, but call me the second you leave. And don't let him push you around."

I smiled again, feeling a spark of determination. I wouldn't let him. Not anymore.

Tomorrow. I'd face him. Get my stuff. And move on.

I was taping up an empty box when there was a knock on the door. Three soft raps, hesitant. Like the person on the other side wasn't sure they should be here.

My heart jumped. Nobody had my address except Nancy and the landlord. Who could it be? It was already late for Nathan to show up here..

I peeked through the peephole. Adrian.

Of course it was Adrian. He stood in the hallway looking worse than he did two weeks ago. Hair messy, same hoodie, holding a paper bag that smelled like the dumplings from that place near campus.

I opened the door but left the chain on. "What are you doing here?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Nancy told me. Said you moved. Said you might need... food. And maybe to not be alone."

I stared at him. "You talked to Nancy?"

"I had to, even though it wasn't easy getting her to talk. She also said you hadn't eaten all day." He lifted the bag a little. "I swear I'm not here to fight. Or to make you feel guilty. I just... I wanted to check you're okay."

The chain felt stupid suddenly. I unhooked it and opened the door wider. "You didn't have to come."

"I know." He stepped in, eyes taking in the small space. The boxes, the bare walls, the single mattress on the floor. "It's nice. Small, but yours."

"It's mine," I echoed. The words felt good saying them.

He set the dumplings on the counter. Didn't push. Didn't come closer. Just stood there, like he was waiting for permission to exist in my space.

Two weeks of silence sat between us. Two weeks of me pretending I was fine. Of him pretending he wasn't.

"Valerie was right," I said quietly, not looking at him. "I should've let you go. You didn't deserve that fight."

Adrian didn't answer right away. When he did, his voice was rough. "You didn't start that fight, Kai. I did. I should've handled it better. But it's okay now, Valerie and I are cool now."

I finally looked at him. "You always try to fix things that aren't yours to fix."

"Maybe," he said, and a ghost of a smile touched his lips. "But you're my best friend. And best friends show up with dumplings when you're too stubborn to eat."

I laughed. It was small, rusty, but real. The first real laugh I'd had in weeks.

We sat on the floor, backs against the wall, sharing dumplings from the paper bag. No big speeches. No fixing. Just quiet.

After a while he said, "So... you're really going to your stepdad's tomorrow? Alone?" I looked up at him surprised, how much did that snitch Nancy tell him?

"Nancy!!" I groan.

"She was just worried you can't blame her. By the way were really planning on going back there alone?" he asked.

"Yes... I think it better that way," I answered.

He rolled his eyes immediately. "Stubborn much. I'm coming with you," he said simply. "Not to fix anything. Just to stand there. In case you need someone to stand with you."

I wanted to argue. To say I could do it alone. But the thought of walking into that house again made my hands shake. So I just nodded. "Okay. But you're carrying boxes."

"Deal," he said, and bumped my shoulder with his. For the first time in weeks, the apartment didn't feel so empty.

"You lied that you found a place when you left the house," he said after a short silence.

"I had to, I knew you were going to insist I stayed back," I answered.

He chuckled, nodding in agreement. "I would have, but you shouldn't have done that."

"I know. By the way, did Valerie know you are here? I mean I don't want you two getting into a fight again," I said.

"You don't have to worry about that, Valerie is cool with it."

I stared at him for a while, not fully convinced. You can't blame me, Valerie was ready to strangle me to death two weeks ago and now she is suddenly cool with her boyfriend showing up at my place?

"You better be telling the truth," I said with a serious look.

"I'm serious, we have a talk after you left and I made her understand everything. And we worked things out. Valerie is not really a bad person, she's just really... Possessive about the things and people she loves."

I found it very hard to believe that Valerie isn't really a bad person. But I'm happy he solved the problem and they're cool again.

"So you're back together then?" I asked, picking at the dumpling container.

Adrian hesitated. He scratched the back of his neck. "Not exactly. We're... talking. Taking things slow. She needed space, I needed to think. But yeah, we're not fighting anymore."

That made more sense. Possessive people don't go from 0 to 100 in two weeks.

"She texted me, you know," Adrian said quietly. "After you moved out. She said she was sorry for how she acted. Said she was scared of losing me and took it out on you."

I didn't know what to say to that. An apology from Valerie? That wasn't what I expected.

"She's not a bad person, Kai," he repeated, softer this time. "She's just human. And scared. Same as us."

I nodded, even though I wasn't ready to forgive yet. Maybe I never would be. But if Adrian could trust her again, that was his choice.

The silence that fell after wasn't awkward. It was comfortable. Like old times, before everything got messy.

Adrian stood up and stretched. "It's late. I'll crash on your floor if that's okay. Just so you're not alone tonight. I'll leave early before you wake up, promise."

I looked at the thin mattress, then at him. "Fine. But you actually have to leave early. And you still owe me box-carrying duty tomorrow."

He grinned. "Wouldn't dream of skipping it." of course he won't.

TBC