What Are Roommates For?

3. A Misunderstanding

Frank's POV

I was sat on my couch, feeling bored as I waited for my roommate to come home. This morning was just angry spouts and I felt bad for yelling at him, the Tylenol bottle that came to his side was screaming the obvious that he had a headache. I shouldn't have yelled. The least I could have done was do as he said and keep it down. Geez, I hadn't even known the guy for a week and I already had my assumptions made up.

I was texting an old friend when I heard the door open, looking up and seeing him carrying bags. I assumed it to be food, seeing the Supermart logo and then being proved right as he was going into the kitchen. I kind of watched him, not in a creepy way, but I wanted to apologize at the right time when he wasn't putting away groceries. He was already spooked by me enough from this morning.

I got up from the couch, forcing myself to stand in the doorway of the kitchen. It wasn't much a doorway, just a space to walk past the kitchen island, and then there was the rest of the kitchen. It was kind of in a broken Ū, Just a little space to enter on the right side. I stood there, waiting behind him and then seeing something in his ear underneath his hair. Earbuds. Now I know why he couldn't hear me come up to the kitchen.

I stood there until he seemed satisfied with how he put everything away, turning around and screaming, jumping up on the counter. I found it kind of amusing to scare him, he did seem the type to jump during scary movies and yelp like a little dog. I didn't find pleasure in that fact, though it was kind of funny to think about.

"Would you quit doing that?! Geez, and you called me a perv!"

"For the record, I was in my boxers, you're fully clothed."

"Whatever, what do you need now? Wanna yell at me some more while I'm scared like a little kid?"

"Would you shut your mouth for a quick sec, kid? All I was gonna do is apologize for this morning."

I could see his guard was still up, though it was to he expected as the only proof that I going to give him was dropping a little protection. I put my arms down to show him that I was unguarded, looking up at him as he still sat on the kitchen counter. He dropped his shoulders, looking at me skeptically, but it was justified. I wasn't the most approachable or nicest person, but I hadn't exactly been shown that I had any reason to do differently.

"Um- come again? I- headache, hangover, I didn't even get the chance to apologize for walking in on you- which I am sorry about that-"

"I'm sorry I yelled at you this morning, I didn't get any sleep last night and I barely fell asleep before I... Heard you."

I saw his head tilt, but all I needed was to go back to my room. I never said sorry, why did I decide to start now? Especially with someone that hadn't done anything to deserve it. He kind of sat forward, leaning on his hand and looking me up and down.

"I have these sleeping gummies if you want them, that's how I would have slept if I didn't get dragged to a party and drank too much."

"Well, sure. Just- nobody sleeps well the first night in a new place, it's a psychological fact."

"Yeah, like hell, the couch isn't that comfortable... But I accept your apology, I'll try to keep quiet when or if I'm on the phone when you sleep."

I nodded, feeling relief I hadn't felt all day. I couldn't even go to my room in fear we would both miss each other when he came back. Now I didn't have to wait in here, my roommate came down from the counter slowly as if I was going to betray my apology and bite him. I did a little nod and turned on my heels, heading to my bedroom for the first time. I stopped at the entrance of the hallway, turning back and making eye contact with him, seeing fear.