"just" roommates

seven

I stand there horrified for a second as Clay waits patiently for a response from Sapnap.

There are a few more silent moments with no response.

"Clay, stop. Please!", I beg as he starts walking towards Sap's room.

There's no light under the door, so he must be asleep.

Oh, thank God.

"Just because he's asleep doesn't mean we're not talking about this.", Clay hisses before stalking back to our bedroom.

It's an awkward silence as both of us start getting ready for the night.

Sure, Clay and I have gotten into petty little fights before, but never like this.

We've never been able to go more than five minutes without immediately apologizing and making up.

This feels different.

And I don't like it.

"Clay?", I speak up as I settle down into our bed.

He doesn't reply just yet, and I can still hear the sink running in the bathroom.

I call for him again, but this time, he turns off the sink and just chooses to ignore me.

"Clay, please.", I beg him as he enters the bedroom.

He sits on the edge of the bed for a second before lying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

"Are you mad at me?", I ask him, not bothering to cuddle up to him like always.

Clay lets out a long sigh before wrapping an arm around my side and pulling me against him.

I think he can feel how tense I am because he slowly runs his hand up and down my arm in an attempt to soothe me.

"Not mad at you. Never mad at you.", he assures me softly, tilting his head just enough to press a kiss against my forehead.

"Why are you mad at Sapnap? He didn't technically do anything.", I attempt to remind him.

Clay just rolls his eyes while he tightens his grip around my waist.

I can hear his heartrate pick up from my head resting on his chest.

"I don't care. I'm still mad.", he retorts, an obvious bite laced within his words.

I let out a soft sigh.

"You can't be mad at him. You guys are best friends.", I try a different angle.

Clay scoffs.

"He's had a crush on you since the first time he flew out here. I'm not blind, and I'm not stupid.", Clay's hand starts tapping impatiently on my arm.

Okay, I didn't know that.

"So what? He's not the one I'm with right now, is he?", I gently pat Clay's chest.

"No.", he admits with a little grunt like I forced him to admit it.

"You promise you won't be mad at him in the morning then?", I raise my voice the slightest bit.

He takes a minute to reply before agreeing.

I fall asleep, satisfied with his answer.

In the morning, everything seems normal.

No one is being punched or being yelled at, so I count this as a win.

My phone starts buzzing, and I clear my throat before answering it.

"Hey.", I speak into the phone, smoothing my hair with the other hand.

"Did you just wake up? It's almost noon.", Hayden practically laughs at me.

"Shut up, I worked late last night. And then I had to deal with Clay when I got home.", I try to make it a joke, but she immediately groans.

I can almost see her rolling her eyes from where I am.

"What did that moron want?"

"Be nice!", I hiss, rolling over to check the clock.

Sure enough, it is almost noon.

"Seriously. What more could he possibly bitch about? He's the one that stays home and stares at a computer all day.", she mumbles.

Ugh.

"He thinks Sapnap's trying to make a move on me.", I try to downplay how much of a big deal it was to Clay.

"So what?", she doesn't seem shocked or even concerned in the slightest.

I sigh.

"I don't know. He thinks Sapnap's going to steal me away or something.", I slowly get out of bed, digging through my dresser to find an outfit for today.

Hayden laughs.

"Just date them both.", she giggles.

My eyes widen at her suggestion.

It sounds preposterous, but also appealing for some reason.

"Yeah, like that would ever work.", I scoff, shaking my head the slightest bit.

She laughs.

"What, you've never heard of polyamory?", she questions you.

"I mean, yeah, but I've never thought about it.", you reply.

"Well, you should. I have to let you go because I just got to work."

Hayden hangs up on me before I even get a chance to say goodbye.

I stare at my phone for a second to let her words sink in.

I guess I hadn't quite considered the possibility of a relationship of multiple people.

"Wil?", Clay calls for me from the next room.

"What's up?", I peek into his office.

"Can you go tell Sap to check his Discord?", he turns around just enough to tell me.

"Um, yeah, I guess."

I don't know why he can't do it himself, but I guess I'll do it for him.

I knock on his office door before opening it, giving him a second to be alerted of my presence.

"Hey, Sap?", I ask as I poke my head in.

"Oh, he-hey.", he immediately pushes his headphones off his ears to give me his full attention.

I'm a little surprised to see that he's so eager to talk to me.

I guess I have been cold-shouldering him.

"Clay wants you to check your Discord or something.", I tell him.

He smiles, stumbling over his words as he tries to tell me that he'll do just that.

"Okay.", I grin.

"Okay.", he replies with an equally big smile.

I shut his door as I leave.

That was kinda awkward?

But like, kinda cute?

Fuck, I can't fall for him.

It's not fair to Clay.