I stood in front of the apartment door again as I prodded around my pocket for the key as I returned from some quick grocery shopping. It came tumbling out of my pocket onto the floor earning a light annoyed noise to involuntarily echo from my throat as I bent over to retrieve it. I’d been living in that apartment for about a month at this point and it was a strange, but welcome adjustment. I had just returned from a quick grocery trip and the apartment was strangely quiet as I put away the products I’d picked up and placed a bag of chips on the kitchen counter
I headed slowly for my bedroom, “Robin, you here?” I questioned the open air as I placed my key on the nightstand next to my bed and brushed a brown curl from my eyes, “I got the chips you wanted…”
I paused in front of his bedroom door wondering if I should try again. I had quickly learned not to enter his room without knocking first as it often led to many images that couldn’t be unseen. He seemed to have a different partner every night and I couldn’t recall seeing the same face more than once. Even with the arrival of classes hadn’t seemed to change his behavior in the slightest. I couldn’t complain too much though. He was never too loud and agreeable enough. The sort of person who I could get along with, but not exactly the type that I would ordinarily be friends with. It was obvious at this point that he wasn’t home, so I gave a bit of shrug returning to my own room.
“Whatever…” It’s not like he can be here all the time, and he can get them when he gets back… I sighed lightly pulling out a notebook to study, “Just need to study…” I had just settled into my chair to get some work down when the front door slammed open, “What in the…” I groaned setting down my materials and hurrying back to the main part of the apartment, “Geez, what’s wrong?!?”
“Nothing much…” Robin muttered dejectedly paying me little mind as he slid the bag off his shoulder onto the carpet next to the door allowing it to spill out as he hobbled back to his own bedroom, “Damn it…” He muttered ignoring it as he continued walking, “My parents just came to visit nothing much.
Robin didn’t seem hurt, but rather exhausted by all means, “I got the chips you wanted.” I replied casually not knowing what it was safe to say to him at that point, “Can I get you anything else?” I’m gonna have to say that this wasn’t a very pleasant visit…
“Nah, thanks, Sully.” The red-haired boy slowly wrapped around his arms around me. Making me freeze for a short second before I returned the action bringing my hands around to his back, “You’re a good guy…” He walked sullenly towards his bedroom falling to his bed with a soft thunk, “I’m just going to rest awhile.”
“That guy…” I scowled lightly to myself as I found myself back in my room left alone to the voracious beating of my own heart, “Why does he have to hug me like that without even thinking about it…?”
. . .
I’d been trying to study without much luck, so with a grunt, I hoisted myself to my feet sending a wary look in the direction of Robin’s room. Was he okay…? He really hadn’t seemed like it. As rough as parents can be. It really shouldn’t exhaust a person to that degree. I bet my lip lightly considering my options. Could I really just leave him alone with how distraught he had seemed earlier. No, I couldn’t. That wouldn’t be like me, would it?
“Uh, Robin…” I froze in front of door once again knocking a bit skittishly awaiting his response, “I didn’t wake you did I…?” A light flicked on from the other side, “I’ll go away if you’re too tired…”
I had just turned to walk away when the door slowly creaked open and a light sniffling was heard from the other side, “You didn’t wake me…” A weak, wounded voice echoed with another sniffle, “Did you need something?”
I smiled and laughed a bit at the worry in his tear reddened eyes, “I was worried about you.” My face returned to normal as I pushed the door open just a bit more, “Are you alright? I couldn’t stop thinking about how you were acting earlier…”
“Oof, you couldn’t stop thinking about me, eh? How romantic…” He couldn’t help but smirk at this own joke and it did seem as though he was feeling a bit better, “You might make me blush if you keep talking like that. Want to give it a try?” The boy grinned even wider as he stood over me leaning on the frame of the door.
“Geez, I don’t know if I should laugh or not…” I rubbed the back of my neck unsure what exactly I was supposed to say, “You really look like a mess…”
“Yeah, sorry I use flirting as a defense mechanism…” His face fell a bit, “I really don’t want to trouble you any more than I already have. Just leave me be and I’ll be fine by morning…”
“You really think I can leave you alone after hearing that?” I shook my head pushing his door open the rest of the way, “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better. I’ll get you whatever you want, and I could just listen to you if you want.” Before awaiting his response, I started to walk away, “You could use a hot chocolate…”
“O…kay…” He muttered as I made my way toward the kitchen
. . .
“Alrighty, hot chocolate and a chat!” I plopped down next to him on the bed, “What do you want to talk about?”
“Uh, thanks, Sully…” He took the mug from my hands and took a sip, “You’re not going to make me talk about earlier?”
“Not if you don’t want to.” I shook my head, “We’re friendly with each other, but we’ve never really gotten to know each other, right?” He sat there blankly a moment seemingly at a loss for words, “I suppose you can’t come up with anything right off the bat like that, huh? Welp, I’ll start then. My name is Sullivan Myers. You can call me Sully, as you know. I’m eighteen years old and my birthday is February 19th. I’m gay and have been single for way too long. I’m a giant ass nerd and I’m your roommate who wants to understand more about you!”
“I see if that’s how it is…. I’ve still got a chance then, right?” I felt my face heat up a bit as Robin scooted a bit closer, “If you want to know more about me, I’ll gladly oblige.”
“Are you really that nervous talking to me???” I deadpanned ignoring the burning feeling in my both my head and chest.
“Sorry, I’m not used to this…” He let out a nervous chuckle before taking a deep breath, “Alright, I’m Robin Fletcher and you can call me whatever you like…” He paused a moment clearly suppressing the urge to make another pass at me, “I’m nineteen and my birthday is July 17th. And since you so kindly told me… I’m bi and well I’ve never actually seen anyone seriously before.” I blinked he’d never actually seen anyone before…? Probably had just slept with people, I guess? Not that it matters. I’m not the type to judge someone for that, “As for my parents… They don’t accept me, and they hate my lifestyle, but I still just want them to be proud of me. I just can’t seem to do anything right. I’ve tried to tone it down and it just never works.”
“I see… A complete 180 from my parents. Not that I don’t understand though. I’ve seen my own fair share of discrimination.” I placed my hand on his shoulder earning a light twitch from him, “I don’t know you that well, but I don’t think you should change yourself for them. They will come around. Just know that now you have me here to talk about anything, okay?”
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