Roommate Wanted

Chapter 16

Still Karlie's Point of View

I woke up and Shelby was still fast asleep. I looked at the clock and I knew she was working the night shift tonight, so surely she would sleep in. I got up slowly, threw on some clothes, and headed out the door. 

There was a florist and a donut shop just around the corner. I figured what is better than waking up to a dozen roses and a dozen donuts. Or maybe I should just get a few roses... Is a dozen coming on too strong? Screw it, go big or go home. It took me about 20 minutes to pick up the donuts and the flowers, then I headed back to the hotel.

 When I got to the room I walked in quietly and set up the flowers and the donuts on the dresser across from the bed so it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up. I turned around to take a peak at my sleeping beauty and that's when I realized she wasn't here. What the hell? I checked the bathroom, and she wasn't there either. I pulled out my phone to see if she had texted me at all, but no messages. 

I quickly packed up everything in the hotel room, checked out, and grabbed an Uber home. I was walking outside the building to go upstairs when I noticed Shelby's window was open. I could hear her talking to someone, but I couldn't see her through the window. I couldn't quite make out what she was saying but then clear as day I heard her say the name Charlie. She must have been talking to her ex on the phone.

"Charlie, you know I will always care about you," Shelby said. But then she must have walked away from the window because I couldn't hear anything after that. She liked to pace when she talked on the phone. She got a bit closer and I could hear more of the conversation. "I will get back...[inaudible]...you."

Oh god. She was getting back together with her ex. I couldn't be here right now. I had to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. I texted Elliot and told him I was coming over.

About 25 minutes later I was at Elliot's apartment. I told him everything that happened.

"Hm, so you are gay then?" Elliot asked.

"Is that really all you got out of this?" I responded. "Maybe, I don't know. I'm not sure if I'm actually into girls or if its just Shelby." 

"Well are you really sure that Shelby is back together with her ex? You only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, maybe you misunderstood," Elliot suggested. "Go home and talk to her, tell her how you feel."

"She left the hotel room, the morning after we kissed, went home, and talked to her ex on the phone," I recapped. "Whether she got back together with him or not, that cannot be a good sign. Please just let me lay low here the next few days while I let this all blow over a bit. I will figure out exactly how to talk to Shelby and tell her in a few days, I promise."

"Ok, what do I do if she asks me if I know where you are?" Elliot asked. "It's obvious this is where you will be if you are not home..."

"I know, just act like you haven't heard from me or anything. I really just need a few days to figure this out." I responded.

The next few days dragged on. Thankfully I knew Shelby's work schedule, so I only went to the apartment when I knew she would be at work. I packed a bag so I could stay at Elliot's for a few days while I processed everything and figured out how to face Shelby. After a few days had passed, I realized that Elliot may have been right. I only heard a portion of the conversation, maybe I misunderstood. I had to get back to Shelby and tell her how I felt before it was too late.

I went back to the apartment and Shelby was home. 

"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" I asked.

"Of course." Shelby responded.

I took a deep breath, I wasn't sure how exactly to start this conversation, so I figured it would be best to ease into it.

"So I realized recently that I am gay." I admitted.

Shelby had a weird look on her face, I noticed she blushed a bit. I couldn't tell if it was a good blush or if she was embarrassed and didn't know how the handle the bomb I just dropped on her. 

"Karlie, thank you for sharing that with me. I actually have something to admit as well..." Shelby started to say but then she was interrupted by a knock at the door. 

I walked over to the door and my mind immediately came up with two possibilities. She was going to admit that she was back together with Charlie, or maybe, just maybe she was going to admit that she had feelings for me. I opened the door and saw a bouquet of roses, there was a card on top and I could easily see that it was from Charlie. 

"It's from Charlie..." I said, handing her the roses. 

I should have been the one giving her roses, like I had planned days ago. But I am obviously too late. Maybe I can salvage our friendship and make it sound like its not specifically her I am into. Shelby started to say something, but I had to turn this discussion around before it was too late and our friendship was ruined.

"Um, back to what I was saying. I realized that I am gay.... and.....  I actually have a date tomorrow night." I said.

Perfect, now she knows there is another potential woman. Maybe she won't think this is about her. Only problem is I now need to find a date...

"So I just wanted to let you know, incase it goes well and we end up back here. I don't know the whole roommate code and wanted to give you a fair warning."

Shelby responded with a simple oh, then excused herself to her room. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I wasn't even sure what I was thinking, but I pulled out my phone and had to think of someone to ask out quick. Either that or I would have to fake a date. I started scrolling through my phone. There was Annie, but she comes on way too strong and runs in our friend group. Then I came across Cece's number. Perfect. I knew she was interested in me, so surely she would agree to a date.

I texted Cece and asked her out tomorrow, she responded almost immediately and said yes. I told her I would text her the details tomorrow morning. Then I went to bed.