DIRTY LAUNDRY

02

You do something to me,
that I can't explain away •

We sat down at the closest café on the campus, since neither of us knew our way around. The weather was nice and sunny, not too hot, so I also ordered some coffee. Jack was wearing sunglasses and that gorgeous smile while I was trying to stay and look chill.

"So, you from around here, San Fran and all?" He asked me while he was lighting his cigarette.

"Yeah, I live all the way up north, like almost an hour and a half away. You?" I answered, watching him take a puff. I hate cigarettes but I swear it suited him, he held it with such class. He caught me staring at his fingers.

"Yeah, I know... nasty habit." He said, sticking out the pack, offering me one. I shook my head.

"No thanks, I don't smoke..." I actually really hate smoke being blown in my face but I said nothing. If people want to smoke, it's their choice.

"Yeah, me neither. I quit like a year ago, but I can't imagine having coffee without lighting up at least one." He chuckled.
"Oh yeah, I live like 30 minutes away..." He answered my question.

"Yeah? Why aren't you living at home?" Then again I would stay in a dorm regardless.

"I needed to get away, we have a very crowded house, sometimes it can be a bit too much." He laughed.

"A big family?" I asked. It's just me and my mom, including my grandparents that live next door.

"Yeah, I have two brothers and a sister and for a while there we were all staying in one room, bunk beds and all." Wow, I said to myself.

"Zero privacy, huh? Well I don't have any siblings but my grandparents live right next-door so sometimes my grandma would check up on me when I was alone in the house and it was annoying." I chuckled.

"Yeah family is great but sometimes you just gotta get away and do things yourself." He took another puff and blew out the smoke. Then he put it out.

"So Alex, what's your major?" He asked me.

"It's management. And yours?" It rolled off my tongue so easily, this is how excited I was about college.

"Nice, I could totally see you as a manager, being sassy and all that." He chuckled. "Mine is kinesiology."

I knew he was into sports. "Cool! Do you play any sport?"

"Do I? Yeah! I play football, basketball, baseball and I go to the gym three times a week." Oh jesus, so much physical activity.

"Do you play anything?" Yeah, but no sports.

"I do, yes. A guitar, both acoustic and electric. I'm also learning how to master the piano." I proudly stated.

"A music dude, that is super cool. I always wanted to learn to play but I guess it just wasn't my thing." He replied.

"It can't be harder than football, I'll show you sometime, if you'd like." I offered and he nodded back, smiling.

"It's a date." He said and I felt my cheeks getting instantly flushed. I just gave him a sour grin. We were sitting there for another hour, talking about all kinds of things. Jack told me a bit about his siblings and his parents, how very supportive they are, we talked music and he impressed me even more when he said he likes rock and alternative music best. The man has no flaws, I swear. We also talked about video games and food, mostly agreeing on everything. I had a really good feeling about rooming with him.
When we returned to the dorm, we made a grocery list then Google-mapped the closest mall and went off grocery shopping for the week. Hanging out with Jack was really fun and it seemed to me like we've known each other for quite a while, not just a day. Now I know a person shouldn't be that excited when they meet someone new but I've never had any real friends in middle school or in high school so naturally I was glad that Jack is my roommate. I could really see us being friends. I always wondered why relationship and friendships in movies were so cliché; you know two people meet and instantly, they fall for each other or they click and become friends but once it happens to you in real life you understand why movies are made that way. I have to admit that I never believed in true love as it is presented by the society, also love at first sight... I kind of think that's bullshit. I mean, yeah you like someone when you look at them but that doesn't mean that you automatically love them.
When I first saw Jack I liked everything about him, but I still don't know him very well so that's just the first impression I had when I looked at the guy. Let's just forget the fact that he makes my knees weak. I often told myself don't fall into it that fast, just chill. After thinking about it, I usually did the right thing, but if I'm completely honest, I don't know what the right thing with Jack is.

🌹

Days went by and me and Jack got along great. We started our classes, which were mostly scheduled at the same time so we got to hang out quite a lot. We met some new people but when we wanted to get a drink, we went by ourselves. Some people would call this bromancing; us clicking instantly and developing a great friendship. I even told my mom about him when we skyped. Of course he had to show his face on camera and she wrote very handsome in the chat that only I could see. I face palmed but she did have a point.

Thursday, 4:30 pm
"Put Always on." Jack said to me. He was by the stove, cooking dinner. We were both done with the lectures for the day and we were invited to our very first party by some guys from the room across the hall and we said we'd come. Party was on Friday.

"You got it." I said and clicked on the song.

"God, I fucking love this song." Jack said, using the spoon as a mic and started lip-syncing. I of course joined him, pretending I'm playing the guitar. 
We were laughing and fooling around, having our own little private show.

"Oh shit, we'd make a kickass band." He joked, setting two plates on the table. I opened our mini fridge and took two cokes out.

"Done. Bring me the plates." He said. He put some grilled chicken and veggies on each of the plates and we sat down at our little table.

"Hope it's alright." He smiled. "It's been a while since I cooked for anyone else." Oh. It looked delicious so it couldn't be bad.

"Mmm, the chicken is perfectly done." I said while chewing on it.

"Yeah? Thank you. It's really no problem to cook." He said and I completely agreed; He can cook, because I'm pretty shitty at it.

After that I ordered Jack to go crash in the bed while I tidy up the kitchen, if we can call it that. I also did the dishes and put stuff that needs to be recycled in a plastic bag.

"I'll be right back, taking the trash out." I said before opening the door. The recycling containers were just down the hall so I took a turn to the bathrooms afterwards, to wash my hands and face.

I was whistling Always to myself, walking back to the room, feelin' good. Before I opened the door I heard giggling and it sounded like a girl. Jack is probably just watching a movie I though to myself. But when I stepped in, my worst nightmare came true. There was a blonde girl sitting next to him on the bed, holding his hand.

"Oh, there he is. Alex, come meet my girlfriend."

I felt my heartbeat in my stomach.
Am I dreaming?