The song that changed my heart

Rody's Apartment

Rody paced nervously around the apartment. If Manon was really going to believe he had changed he needed to clean up. But his apartment was such a wreck that he wasn't sure what to do first. His mind pacing into a nervous wreck. The only thing he had managed to "clean" was just shoving his binder back under the couch. That still left vacuuming the floor, doing the laundry, cleaning the dishes, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom, and general organizing. He could feel his heart pounding once again as he could feel it happening again. "Deep breaths." Rody said to himself as he tried to. Yet it all seemed to be in vain. As his breathing continued to excel. "Vincent." Rody managed to say as he quickly scrambled to his coffee table. Nearly collapsing onto the floor. By now his hands and feet were fuzzy. He grabbed the paper Vincent had given him and reached for his phone. Dialing in the numbers as quickly as he could. The phone rang for a few seconds before it picked up. "Hello?" A familiar deep voice said. "Vince." Rody said through heavy pants. "Rody, are you alright?" Vincent asked. Concern laced his voice through the grainy speaker. "It's happened again." Rody replied as fingers began to feel tingly. "Rody. Follow me, deep breath in." Rody took a deep breath alongside Vincent. "Hold it." Rody held it. "Breathe out." Vincent said as both exhaled. "You're doing great. Let's repeat that. Breathe in." The two stayed on. Rody slowly but surely began to return to a steady breathing. "Are you doing better?" Vincent asked, his voice was gentle. A gentle Rody hadn't heard from him. "Yes." Rody replied, his breathing slower. "What's your apartment number?" Vincent said. Rody looked at the phone confused. "21, second floor?" "I'll be there in a few minutes." Rody shot back. "What?" "Goodbye Rody." The line went dead. Rody looked back at the phone. "Hello?" Rody asked. Only to get no response. Rody quickly hung up. Running his fingers through his hair. He didn't want to believe Vincent would be heading over to his place. Afterall Vincent had only ever dropped him off. Looking back up at the mess around him. It was almost hopeless to clean it up. Manon wouldn't believe he even had improved if he saw his place. Then a knock came at the door. That couldn't be Manon. They were to meet at the restaurant. Rody slowly got up. His legs felt like jelly. Shaking as he approached the door. Fearful of who may be on the other side. He probably should've checked the peep hole before willingly opening the door. There he was met with Vincent on the other side. "You were being serious?" Rody slowly, yet quietly said. "Yes I was. I wasn't going to leave you back to your own devices after that." Vincent said as he pushed his way inside. Though force wasn't really necessary as Rody willingly stepped aside. Though Vincent paused midway in. He looked at Rody and then back at the rest of the apartment. "You can not tell me you actually fucking live in this shit hole." Vincent said as he pointed at the apartment. Rody gave a sheepish smile and a slow shrug. Vincent sighed as he pinched his nose bridge. "I'll complain about it to you later. What do you think caused it?" Vincent asked as he approached Rody. Leaving barely any space in between them. Rody leaned back a bit. "I actually think I had it because of cleaning." Rody stuttered out. Vincent's face remained with the small bit of annoyance he had. Though it seemed to have built up. Rody half expected to be screamed at, but Vincent remained oddly calm. "You start with taking out the trash." Vincent said as he pointed to the overflowing trash bin by his couch. "Why that?" Rody asked as he walked over. "Because with the shape of your apartment we're going to need as much room in that trash can." Vincent said as Rody tied the back up before pulling it out. The bottom was still stuck on the edge. Vincent walked over grabbing the other end. "You lead the way to the dumpster." Vincent said with his hands still on the edge. Rody guided him out the door, down the stairs, and behind the apartment building where the big bulky dumpster lay. The two men chucked the bag in before returning to Rody's apartment. Rody went straight to a cabinet with the bags under while Vincent made a beeline for the sink. As he pulled a bag out he heard a gagging noise coming from Vincent. "Even your sink?!" Vincent exclaimed. Rody began to shrink into himself. Perhaps he should've done more to keep Vincent out of his apartment. "Where is your bathroom?" Vincent asked. "Down that hall." Rody said as he pointed behind him. "Just be careful when you turn on the sink, and don't turn it on full blast." Rody warned as Vincent's footsteps went from barely audible to noticeable from crunchy feet. He could hear the door open before the sound of a sink was heard. Rody moved to his trash can and placed the bag inside. "Have you not informed your landlord about your bathroom?" Vincent asked as he walked back into the kitchen shaking his hands. "I didn't want him to see the apartment. He'd yell at me for that too." Rody replied as Vincent shook his head. "Do you have any rubber gloves?" Vincent asked as he opened the cabinet under the sink. "Should be in that cabinet." Rody said as Vincent pulled out the yellow gloves. "Does this sink have the same problem as the other?" Vincent asked. Rody shook his head. "You start by picking up the floor." Vincent said as he turned on the sink and pulled dish soap out. Almost as soon as he did about five cockroaches crawled out. Rody screamed before jumping on the couch. Vincent muttered something under his breath as he slapped his hand down over one, and stomped one foot over another. Both being crushed with a splat. Vincent moved quickly and squashed another one crawling towards the bathroom. Before quickly slapping another one crawling down the counter. The final cockroach was crossing near the couch. Rody grabbed a shoe lying around. He slipped it on and began to repeatedly stomping on the cockroach until all that remained with guts splattered. He pulled his foot back slowly to see the guts of the insect. "For someone who lives in the equivalent of a rats nest you seem to have a very peculiar fear of bugs." Vincent commented as he grabbed the dish soap. Reached under the counter and grabbed a sponge and began to scrub. Rody sighed. "For someone who could deal with cockroaches I feel you would panic if you saw a spider." Rody muttered, hoping it would go unnoticed. "Excuse me." Vincent's chilling voice sent a shiver up Rody's spine as he picked up a discarded can. Rody turned around slowly to see Vincent's wide eyes staring back. He felt as if he were going to be murdered on the spot. "What. Did. You. Just. Say." "Nothing!" Rody shouted with a nervous grin. Sweat began to roll down his head. "That's what I thought." Vincent said as Rody remained frozen to the spot. Shaking back and forth staring at Vincent to make sure he wasn't going to attack or anything. When he was satisfied that he wouldn't, he finally spoke. "So what do you want me to do now?" Rody asked. "It's your house, you decide what needs to be done next." Vincent replied Rody took a look at the counter, and then the pile of clothes he had by the t.v. He would have to take them to the laundromat across the street, leaving Vincent alone in his apartment. Even though he knew Vincent was going to take a while cleaning the plates. He could still take a break, and be done by the time Rody returned. Rody's eye landed over his couch. His binder still tucked out of sight. Yet with how organized Vincent's apartment was it was likely he'd leave no stone unturned. Then he remembered his bathroom would also need cleaning. He walked over to the kitchen, pulled out spray, and some rags before making his way to the bathroom. Cleaning it even with a leaky sink, and crappy tub was quite easy. Leaving the task done in minutes. Returning to the living room he was left once again with laundry, and the kitchen counter. Vincent had gotten several of the dishes done, and left them on the other side. Having a towel underneath them. Rody decided to go with the counter next. Placing anything that needed to go in a cupboard, and then whipping down the counter. Now all he was left with was laundry. He took a gulp before looking back at Vincent. The wet dishes still remain to the side. He walked to a cabinet, grabbed a towel and began to dry the dishes. Vincent paused, seemingly surprised at Rody's approach. Yet went back to washing dishes. After drying a plate, he moved it to the right cupboard, and repeated the process. Eventually Rody's sink was dish free. That being said it was still a mess. Stains, and other junk lined the walls. "I got it." Rody said as he rushed over to the sink. He was about to grab the dish soap, and just as it was in his clutches his hand landed on top of Vincent's. Rody looked up to Vincent feeling a flush appear on his face. It seemed Vincent had a similar reaction. As a light blush dusted his face. The two quickly removed their hands from each other, and looked away. Rody reached for the soap again, but paused when he saw Vincent's hand reach for it as well. Rody moved his hand back as Vincent grabbed it before handing it over to him. Rody swore it became much hotter in his apartment as he took it. His fingers gracing over Vincent's. Rody quickly got to scrubbing the sink as Vincent walked over to the pile of clothes. "If you're not going to do your laundry today, at least move it where it won't be seen by guests. Do you have a hamper?" Vincent asked as he pointed at the mass of clothes. "No, but I have a laundry basket in the closet." Rody replied as he pointed down the hall as he turned back to the sink. Sweat was starting to pool at his brow, but then again the stains in the sink were stubborn. Even with the assistance of the soap it took a solid minute to remove. A door opened and the sound of the basket being pulled off a shelf. "And you have a vacuum." Vincent shouted before the door closed. Vincent returned into sight shortly after. Placing the pile of clothes into the basket before returning it to the hall. Rody heard the door open again before the sound of a vacuum rolled against the crusty, then soft carpet. Then the room became silent, before being filled with a loud hum. Rody didn't pay any mind as he continued to scrub away at the sink. The only indicator where Vincent was in the room was where the hum was loudest. Then the vacuum turned off. Rody got a sinking feeling in his gut. Vincent had not been vacuuming long enough to be done that quick. That's when Rody heard it. A soft thump. The hair on his arms stood up as he practically snapped his head in the direction of Vincent. He was bending down to look under the couch. His mind began scrambling for some way to get Vincent to stop in his tracks. "DON'T LOOK UNDER THERE!" Vincent looked over at him. Though he didn't have the murderous glare Rody knew from when he had back talked to him previously. It seemed more surprised. Rody almost immediately regretted shouting that. He should've tried to do something more subtle. Now he needed a good excuse for Vincent to not look under the couch. "I-I sleep on my couch. I can't really afford a bed. Though I've noticed a few times when looking for any papers that might have slipped under there that the bottom had flattened out." That was probably the stupidest excuse he could give. Vincent's eyes glanced down at the floor before returning to the vacuum. Rody didn't turn back until he saw Vincent going back to vacuuming. Rody turned back to the sink before letting out a silent sigh. Vincent couldn't know that he had written those things about men. Let alone stuff about him. After all, anything he had written getting out could be the death of him. By the time Rody was done cleaning the sink, Vincent was done vacuuming. "Thank you for helping me calm down, and clean." Rody said as he put the rag in the laundry basket. "I told you to call me if that happens again. Besides, your apartment needs to be cleaned." Vincent said as he leaned against the counter. Rody smiled as he stood up. Then he could see Vincent smiling. "You're smiling!" Rody exclaimed as Vincent quickly hid his smile behind his hand. "No I'm not." Vincent began to look away. "No, no, no. There is no hiding it. You're smiling." Rody said as he grabbed Vincent's hand and pulled it away. A big smile appeared on Rody's face as he could see Vincent trying to turn it into a frown. "Oh don't take it back, you're smiling." Rody exclaimed. Vincent sighed. "Fine, I'm smiling." Vincent said as Rody. Placed his hand on the counter and ducking his neck down. The two stared at each other. Their eyes sinking into each other as their faces began to grow closer. Rody could feel his heart pounded as his eyes glanced down at Vincent's lips. They looked rather smooth. His eyes looked back into Vincent's. By now he could feel Vincent's breath. Rody didn't know what they were doing. He should be pushing away from Vincent. Yet he was about to kiss him. Then the phone began to ring. The two quickly realized the position they were in. Rody pulled away. 'I-I-I'll get that." Rody stuttered as he sprinted over to the phone. "Hello?" Rody asked. "Hey, is your refrigerator running?" Rody slammed the phone back on the receiver. He was not going to fall for that dumb joke again. "I best get going." Vincent said as he began to walk towards the door. "Bye?" Rody said weakly as Vincent opened the door. "See you tomorrow!" Rody shouted as he walked to the door. "Bye Rody." Vincent said sharply as he walked out. Rody shut the door immediately. His body slumping to the floor as his face felt like it was on fire. He and Vincent nearly... His fingers graced his lips. He groaned, holding his face in his hands. He nearly kissed him. He got interrupted because of a stupid prank call. Not Manon, not Richard, not anybody else important, someone who knew he could get away with the same joke multiple times. "Manon." He whispered. He had a date with Manon in nearly an hour. Part of Rody now regretted asking her on the date. Perhaps she could fix him. Perhaps she could make him normal. He didn't want to admit it. He wanted to bury it in the ground, but at his point he couldn't deny it. He was in love with Vincent.     

Author's Note:

Y'ALL! IT'S RODY'S BIRTHDAY!