CREEPYPASTA

The Roommate

"So what time you gonna be here?" Tyler asked me impatiently, his voice obviously frustrated. "Cause, like, the storm's gonna hit any second and I wanna get dinner cooked now in case the power goes out."

I glanced up at the gray sky from underneath my umbrella and saw a large front of ominous looking clouds steadily drifting this way.

"No joke," I replied loudly as I shouted over the sound of falling rain and thunder. "I'm on the corner of Eldred and Warren now so I'll be there in like five minutes!"

"Alright, I'll start the oven now."

I flinched at a particularly loud crack of thunder and quickened my pace. "What're we eating anyway?" I asked to keep my mind occupied and help me ignore the squishing of my soaking wet socks.

"Ehh, guess," Tyler responded and I could imagine his cocky grin.

I sighed knowingly. "Pepperoni pizza with black olives and jalapenos."

"Pepperoni pizza with black olives and jalapenos! Yes, sir, that is correct," Tyler began. "It is the ultimate comfort food as you get a little bit of everything. You got your vegetables and your dairy and your wheat and...are you here yet?"

I looked around, confused, in the rain. "No?"

"Oh, never mind then. Thought I heard the doorbell."

I shook my head. "You don't even have a doorbell! You complained about it yesterday."

The rainwater was collecting now, running downs the streets and sidewalks in a rapid torrent. I could see the stream break against my boots, carrying dirt and leaves and little twigs with it. I shivered as the wind blew harder and cast misty spray against my face and neck.

I slipped and caught myself against a fencepost. "Hey, man, I'll be there in a bit. I'm hanging up before I bust my ass and my new phone. See you."

"See ya."

I hung up and slid my cell into my pocket. A flash of lightning lit up the sky and I blinked away the afterimages as I trudged along the line of yards where the sidewalk ended. I grimaced as my boots slurped in and out of the mud with sickening wet squelches letting me know I would soon be filthy.

I cursed under my breath and silently berated myself for getting talked into this.

Should've stayed home. Walking three miles through the rain with a storm on the way just to hang out was a terrible idea. Should've just stayed in bed.

My curmudgeonly conversation with myself continued for several minutes until at long last, sopping wet and freezing, I found myself on the doorstep of TJ's new house.

It was old and weathered, with faded paint and windows so scratched they looked foggy. The grass, despite the rain this Autumn had brought, was yellow and dead. I walked up the cracked driveway and to the front door. I knocked on it loudly and shivered as I wrapped my arms around myself.

No answer.

I knocked again, banging my fist against the wooden door so hard flecks of chipped green paint broke off and flittered to the ground.

"Tyler, it's me! Open the damn door!"

The door swung open with a loud creak and Tyler's face smiled at me from within.

"Sorry, man, couldn't hear you over all the noise!"

He waved me inside and I kicked off my boots and threw my jacket in the corner to get the wet chill off of me. He looked me over and laughed, his green eyes crinkling at the corners as he guffawed at my current state.