When You Least Expect It

8

I'm rushing as I leave my tutoring session, I'm gonna be so late to work. I grab my bag and curse under my breath as the zipper breaks off. I don't have time for this! Thankfully it's half way zipped, hopefully it holds. It's pouring rain as I leave the building sprinting towards the house.

The bag thuds when I sling it to the floor beside my bed. The zipper tears the rest of the way open. I'll have to deal with it later, I've got to get going. Pulling my work shirt on, I rush out of my room almost knocking Taylor over at the top of the stairs. "Hey dude, what's the hurry?"

"I'm late for work. Sorry, hit me up later about this weekend." I yell back as I run down the stairs.

The front door bangs into the stopper when I shove it open. I take off in a full sprint towards the store. Finally, I make it to the diner. I stop outside the back door, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. The back door opens, Jay walks out carrying a trash bag. "I'm sorry boss. I had to go to a tutoring session today, I'm struggling in one of my classes and I can't let my grades drop. I'll make up the time though. I can stay late tonight if you need me to."

"Ah, don't worry about it man. This is the first time you've been late and it's what," he looks at his watch, "ten minutes? Hell, that ain't nothing. To be honest I hadn't even noticed." He slaps me on the back and thrusts the garbage towards me. "But if you insist on making it up to me, you can take this over to the dumpster, that way I ain't gotta get wet."

I stand and take the bag from him. "No prob boss." I salute him and he chuckles, shaking his head as he slips back into the building.

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So, when I first heard I was moving into a co-ed housing unit I really thought it might be awkward. I had no idea what to expect honestly. Back in the group home, if we so much as looked towards the girls' side of the building we got a ruler to the knuckles. I mean, yeah, we're mostly adults here but still. I figured there would be some kind of rules, restrictions or something, I don't know.

But no one seems to care, and no one makes a big deal out of it. Girls walk around in their underwear; nobody gives a shit about privacy. We all shower and get ready in the bathrooms together. It's kind of awesome. I look forward to living here the next few years.

The music is bumping downstairs as people filter through the front door. I can hear Jason hollering already. I shake my head, he's a goof but I couldn't have asked for a better roommate. He gave me such a hard time when he came home and saw Whitney in my bed. I figured she'd be pissed about it but she didn't seem to care all that much. She hopped up out of bed, threw her clothes on before she kissed me and said she'd text me later. She's pretty great, her reaction even shocked Jason which was priceless.

I texted her yesterday asking if she was coming to the party tonight and she said that her and some of her girls were coming. I haven't seen much of her since our date last weekend. We bump into each other around campus but for the most part she hasn't been around. I guess maybe that was a one-time thing, I can't help but feel a little disappointed but then again maybe it's a good thing. I don't want to be tied to a relationship just yet anyway.

Taking one last look in the mirror, I fluff my hair and head down the stairs. I bump into Katie at the bottom, her drink sloshes spilling all over her. "Oh jeez Katie I'm sorry."

She wipes at her shirt, her cheeks flush red. "It's okay Derek. No big deal."

"No come on, I'll get you another drink. Maybe we can talk for a minute." I offer her my hand. Her eyes shoot to the floor but she takes it anyway.

I lead her down the hall into the kitchen where all the drinks are lined up on the counter. The floor is sticky already and people are everywhere. I love it. I didn't think the party life would ever be for me, and while I can't hang with Jason and some of the others that party all week, I love to go to a party or two on the weekends I'm not working.