The Unlikely Life of Dan [SAMPLE] [boyxboy]

two: bathrooms and bad moods

Whatever sleep I'd desperately hoped for, it didn't come.

The sheets were uncomfortably new, the room smelled like varnish and Cheese Puffs-courtesy of Quincy-and the murmur of voices and lively sound seemed to snap me awake every other minute. That is, if I even managed to get to sleep.

And yet, my exuberant roommate had crawled into bed and hit the hay as soon as he touched it. Before I could even mumble out a goodnight, he'd drifted off, and I was left to writhe throughout the night all by my lonesome.

Well, I can't say I fumbled around the whole night. After what felt like two hours, I shimmied out of my bed, grabbed my messenger bag, and hurried back, all without waking poor Quincy.

If he were a blown-out candle, I don't think anything could light him up again.

Except Mom's sandwiches.

Thankfully, she'd been flattered when I'd texted her about the stellar reviews of her PB&Js. After several messages regarding how to figure out whether Quincy was a hooligan, she said that he needed to come home for dinner sometime whenever I visit.

He'd accepted the offer gladly, but only if we had her sandwiches. She couldn't have been more delighted if I'd handed them out to the entire building, honestly.

Smiling, I slid back into bed, my bag resting at my feet. I pulled out my laptop and earphones, ready to unashamedly abuse the school's Wi-Fi to binge-watch the multitude of series that had been calling my name since the start of summer.

With everything, I couldn't find the time; if I wasn't shopping, I was packing; if I wasn't out somewhere with Noah, I was at home, attempting to coax my parents into getting us an apartment. And whenever I ran into Lexi-is it really 'running into' if you're in their house?-I was either attempting to salvage the conversation or lost in contemplating whether I'd finally forgiven her or not.

That issue still remains unresolved, and would stay that way until I had ingested every episode of Orange is the New Black.

I squinted as the screen lit up, not accompanied to bright lights in dark places. Except for Noah.

With my eyes half-shut, I searched for the lamp's light switch, finding it after the fifth try.

Shit, I need to pee.

"Great, Dan." I hissed, rolling my eyes. "Just when you get your life sorted out, you need to fucking pee."

Couldn't urination wait for a better moment to come around?

A pang settled in the base of my torso, and I cringed.

Apparently not.

Cursing under my breath, I sidled out of bed once more and staggered to the door, completely unaware of where I was headed. Pausing, my eyes dropped to my bare legs, the hem of Noah's old dark grey gym shirt brushing against my thigh.

Pants. I thought, spinning around. Pants would be advisable.

My bags were still huddled at the base of my bed, unopened and terribly full.

No pants it is.

I twirled around again, pulled the door open, and slid out, shutting it enough to creep back in without needing the handle.

The hallway, brightly-lit and unforgivingly cold, stretched into forever on either side, and I cursed silently, opting to head right. There were more lights on that side, and I silently hoped that one of them belonged to a bathroom of some sort.