The Roommate Assignment

10

Aspen

I thought that after the business dinner, I went to with Grayson, him driving me to see my dad in the hospital, and his blatant telling me he would want to possibly try a relationship, things would get less confusing. But, of course, everything just ended up even more complicated. The past few weeks have only confused what we were even more so. I don't remember being half this confused during the last situation we were in. We had reached December and no word of that Grayson had decided on what he wanted to do.

"I don't know, it's so confusing," I told Kate as we were walking back from our English class we had together, "Like at the dinner we went to, he told me I was the exact person that he would want and told me he can't imagine it working out with anyone else, yet he still hasn't made a move. I don't know I mean I'm fine with taking it slow, I understand why he wants to take it slow. I just want a little communication I guess."

"Well he probably doesn't even know how he's feeling," Kate responds, shrugging "He isn't the most in touch with his emotions, Aspen."

"I'm trying to be patient and understand, I just don't want to be wasting my time in case he ends up deciding he doesn't want anything with me," I explained to her, and she nodded. We entered my apartment, grabbing some snacks from the pantry before retreating to my room, "He said he would know what he wanted by Thanksgiving. It's past that. I'm just trying to make sure I don't look stupid waiting around for him like this."

"Have you guys had like one on one time recently? Like obviously you guys live together but I mean like hanging out, watching a movie, cooking together like you used to?" Kate queried.

"Mm, actually now that you mention it I haven't seen him much since we got back from break," I reply, sorting through the past few weeks. Before Thanksgiving break everything was fine, we were doing homework every evening together, cooking breakfast and dinner together, and he even got me to go to the gym with him a few times. After the break, I could feel a vibe change in the apartment. I had asked him if everything was okay with his break and he had said yes so I believed him. We haven't done homework together once since we got back from break and I haven't seen him in the house more than a few times, "Oh my god, Kate do you think he's avoiding me? I genuinely could count the times I've seen him in the house on two hands the past week or so."

"Oh shit, yeah maybe," She hissed in a breath, "Maybe text asking if he's okay?"

I pulled my phone out, and Kate shifted her position on the bed to look over my shoulder.

Me: Hey how are you? I feel like I haven't seen much of you recently.

"That's good," Kate approved, "I mean honestly Aspen, likely, he's just busy with classes and finals. Like I'm a strong believer in 'if he wanted to he would' but I mean even you haven't been home much and when you are you're studying in your room."

"Yeah," I sighed, "I guess."

"It'll be fine," Kate assured me as we pulled out our studying materials for our finals this week.

Later that evening I managed to catch Grayson in the living room as I exited the bathroom from showering.

"Hey," I spoke, wringing my damp hair in a towel.

"Hey," Grayson smiled, "What's up?"

"Um, did you get my text earlier?" I asked, slowly approaching the couch.

"Oh shit, I probably did I just haven't been on my phone much today," Grayson rubbed his eyes, "It's been a long few weeks."

"Yeah," I managed a laugh and sat next to him, "I was just making sure we were good? I just feel like things have been kind of distant with us recently."