What Are Roommates For?

6. A Welcomed Stay

Frank's POV

I was carrying my bags, only having two that I brought with me, one being bedding and the other clothes. I was still depleted from the drive, Gerard having driven us the whole way and I stayed up with him to keep him awake. It was 4 am. He grabbed a key from behind the lantern on the porch and quietly opened the door, ushering me to follow quietly.

I went past dark furniture as we made it from what I assumed to be the living room to Gerard's bedroom. The lights flicked on, the basement being filled with a dim glow, the stairs behind us now as I looked around. I couldn't imagine his bedroom back at the dorm, only because he said it was messy; but this one was clean. Like spotless.

"Looks like Mikey has been in here."

Gerard pointed to an air mattress on the floor, the bed made perfectly. I shrugged tiredly, looking at him and giving him a thumbs up. I put my stuff where it was out of the way, sighing as I slipped off my shoes. I looked down at my attire, realizing that I couldn't strip down to my boxers and sleep, but I didn't have any loose clothing.

"... Gerard?"

"Yeah?"

"I um- I don't have loose clothing... With me anyway. Can I borrow a shirt or something?"

"Don't you have pajamas?"

"No... I usually don't wear anything. I didn't plan that far ahead."

I saw Gerard nod, rubbing his face in contemplation before nodding again and going to a closet. He disappeared, coming back with a baggy shirt and a pair of loose shorts. I grabbed them, being directed to a bathroom that was off to the side, going in and changing. I came back with my jeans and tight-fitting shirt in my hand, leaning against the door as I looked at Gerard. He was looking back at me, his head kind of tilting as we stared at each other.

"Well, at least the shirt kind of fits."

"The shorts aren't that loose, but in a way, they are. Ya know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I haven't worn those in a while... Probably why I didn't bring them with me to college."

"I don't see why not, they're comfy."

"Whatever, let's just get some sleep, today has been a long day."

"Tell me about it, geez, you think a drive like that would only be taken once a year, and to think we have to go back in a week."

"Shhh, sleepy."

I watched as Gerard curled up on the bed as I sat down on the air mattress, nodding and getting under the blanket that was on the bed. I was too tired to grab the blanket that I brought, but the one that was laid out was really soft, comfortable even. That's what I worried about though, so I always brought my own, it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience without a little piece of comfort in my opinion.

As soon as I lied down, I was still kind of awake, coming down from the coffee Gerard gave me about 4 hours ago. Yes, it was a bad idea, but it got us through the drive. Apparently, Gerard was scared of heights and that's why we couldn't take a plane; but we're also college students and it was a lot better financially if we drove to his house. I just hoped that after some sleep, I wouldn't have this looming feeling of the unknown, something was growing and I couldn't tell what.

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I awoke, the darkness around me making me panic for a second until I realized that I wasn't in my room. It was silent, no sound was being emitted, but then I heard a tiny creak from the stairs. I panicked again, not knowing who was on the stairs. I stayed there, paralyzed to the bed as the pair of feet walked past my bed, slight moving being heard.