What Are Roommates For?

4. Unmotivated And Distracted

Gerard's POV

2 months later

I had all my art stuff out on the couch, some of it spilling onto the coffee table as well, but it was just some pencils; color, and charcoal. I didn't know when Frank was coming home since he said he was gonna go somewhere after his class, so I wasn't compelled to clean up yet. Though as I heard the door open, I shut my sketchbook and tried to clean up.

"Dude, what the hell?"

"Art, duh. Just got a little carried away... Again."

"What if I was having someone over? Or if your friend walked in behind me?"

"Ugh, then you guys would have to suck it up and wait, but Ray would understand. I just thought I had more time with you "going somewhere", ya know?"

"I do not, I just wish you wouldn't make a mess in the living room is all. We have separate rooms for a reason."

Frank was undressing from the winter layer, keys hitting the counter behind me and hanging his jacket before looking at me. I was frantically putting away pencils and other supplies, looking for my sketch pencil, and then putting it back in its box. I gathered the pencil bag that held the colored pencils, my charcoal box, my pencil box, and my sketchbook, bringing them to my room and putting them on the desk. It was a mess in my room, but it was an "organized" mess.

"I'm going out real quick to take a smoke."

"Really? Right after I cleaned up? Asshole."

I saw that devilish smirk as he went out into the hall, closing the door. We had sort of warmed up to each other, he just didn't like it when I made a mess in our shared living space. He'd freak if he saw my bedroom. We kept our doors closed at all times, not wanting an unexpected glance from either of us. The only time I saw his room was when I gave him those gummies a while back when we started college.

I sighed and went to the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle and drinking it down to curb my hunger for now. I couldn't eat until I finished that piece. I went back to my room, humming a song and sitting down at my desk. It was quiet, too quiet for art to be done, but I was already getting distracted. After turning on music, I heard a knock, which has now let me divulge in distraction. Once opening the door, I realized it was Frank, although it wouldn't be Ray since he was off-campus right now.

"Did I leave something in the living room?"

"No, was just wondering if you wanted to go out with me. On a trip to the store."

"Out with you, like-"

"Grocery shopping, don't get it twisted."

"... Sure, I don't think I could pay attention anyway, let me grab my list."

I shut my door, pulling on a pair of shoes and grabbing my list, though I was surprised that he asked me to go with him this time. As I turned off the lights, I went to the living room, seeing Frank waiting. He nodded, opening the door and going out to the kind of cold hallway, though I didn't want to grab a jacket and further inconvenience him.

"Okay, should we carpool?"

"I don't see why not. It would be better."

Frank grabbed his keys out of his pocket, hanging them off his finger from the carabineer and then heading towards the parking lot. I followed awkwardly behind him, eyeing the cars and trying to guess where we were going. He clicked a button, the headlights of the car flashing as it unlocked, getting up to the door and opening them.

"Buckle up or I brake check your face into the dash."

"Wow, so polite."

I rolled my eyes and put the seatbelt over my lap, hearing the click and then sitting back to make sure he knew I was wearing it. I felt the car starting to move, smiling a little and watching the scenery go by as we drove to the market. It wasn't long of a drive, though it was still off-campus and enough to sit in awkward silence.