A Question Of Roomates

Ch. 6

A few nights later and neither of us had mentioned the events that took place earlier in the week. We just went back to how things were before, the only difference was that Stiles wasn't as closed off as before. He'd make dinner for two, or buy things he knew I liked when he was out grocery shopping. It had surprised me the most because though we didn't speak it showed Stiles observed. He knew I preferred a specific type of sweet tea, and my favorite shampoo in the shower. It was nice.

Fresh from the shower I found Stiles over a pot reheating something on the stove. The boy liked to cook which fascinated me, since he could never get his mind to stop thinking, how he managed to execute a recipe.

"Is there enough for two?" I asked leaning against the kitchen wall. Stiles stop shoveling food into a bowl to just stare at me. He had an expression I couldn't quite place. Perhaps it was fondness that I was still there, I was still trying? Anger that I wouldn't leave? Or maybe it was confusion to why I was doing this at all.

"Help yourself"

"Smells good. What is it?"

"Chili" He tossed the word over his shoulder as he walked towards his room. He had taken to dining in his room most nights.

"Um... Do you want to have dinner with me? We could watch some tv" I could feel the debate the young artists was having with himself "I rented some movies"

Stiles chuckled, and the way his body turned was like he was leaning into the conversation "Yeah I seen that. The Notebook? Did you do that on purpose?"

The grin left my face, I thought I had put the dvd away in my room but it was still sitting on the coffee table. Even to Stiles I was somewhat embarrassed "I uh didn't know you saw that" I scratched at the back of his neck "I picked it up for Erica"

"Too bad, I love that movie"

He went to turn for his door before my mouth was flying open "Okay, okay it's mine. I'm a sucker for Ryan Gosling"

"See that wasn't so hard" Stiles chuckled and trudged to the sofa with me on his tail trying to balance a bowl of chili in my hand "Not a lot of straight guys are willing to admit Ryan Gosling is very attractive"

"Not straight, but you are still very right. I think Boyd has a soft spot for this movie"

He nodded slowly, spooning a bite of food into his mouth "Well pop it in"

And for a long time this was how our nights went. We'd eat dinner exchange some words and go our separate ways. I would try to push and pry, anything to get to know him better. But, perhaps because of me, the walls he put up to keep me out were layers thick.

At some point in time I would start to hear noises in the middle of the night. I'd listen for the floorboards creak then he front door would open and softly close. I didn't ask what he was doing, or where he was going, though it burned me up inside. We had made some progress and I knew I'd have to be happy with it for now. That was until one night he left and didn't return until the next afternoon. He mumbled soothing about falling asleep; maybe it was a new boyfriend? His sneaking had went on for a week before I broke. I assumed we had reached a point to where I was allowed to be at least a little curious "Where do you go every night?"

Stiles was at the sink rinsing off some old brushes as he packed his messenger bag full of supplies "Why do you need to know?"

"Just curious" I shrugged.

"A studio on the outside of campus. They leave it open for me to hang around and play my music. It helps me focus when I paint"

"Why don't you work here?"

"Because. I've lost enough roommates to know my living style isn't welcomed, but since you're here I am respecting your space and driving 20 minutes to 'express myself' as the teachers say"

"Stiles, you don't have to do that"

"It's fine" he said slinging the bag over his shoulder "I'll probably be back later, don't wait up" and he was gone.

No one had to tell me, I knew this was getting out of hand, but I just couldn't stop myself. I followed him. There was something about him, I couldn't stay away I wanted to know everything. So I followed him. I tried to stay a ways behind his Jeep but once he turned onto a seemingly deserted road I knew he'd quickly figure out the extra set of headlights behind him. So I went as long as I could then hoofed it the rest of the way on foot.

It was a towering building. The bricks it's was held together by looked to be years old but it only added that much more character to it. I slipped through the open door and followed the music to be met with a wave of art. There went from half finished drawings, to splatters of paint across the floor. When I stopped roaming throughout the room I could finally spot him. Stiles was on a latter working on a mural.

There was a table behind him, these pieces were much more delicate, cared for. The detail in the drawings really showed how much they had been cherished and kept away from stray paint or any chance of being destroyed. And without realizing what I was doing I shouted up at him "Woah, these are beautiful"

He whipped his head around almost falling from the latter "Derek! What the hell are you doing!" He fumbled for the speaker turning the blaring music into a dull roar.

"I'm sorry--I followed you"

"Yeah I gathered that much" he wiped his hands clean marching towards me "So?" The kid tried to sound annoyed but he was mainly just shocked which I could accept was my fault. He swiped swift hands at me, making a grab for the pictures but missed.

I looked back at the drawings in my hand when something familiar caught my eye "That's me"

A red blush crept up his cheeks as he tried to yank the stack of sketches from my grip and failed again "Yeah I draw whatever I see"

"This is... amazing"

He lowered his head, embarrassed by the compliment "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see" Stiles scoffed at the response. And it was pretty creepy on my end, but there was something about him, something that drew me to him.

"And now? Find what you were looking for?"

"Yeah" I sighed, and thumbed through the rest of the sketches "You're really talented"

He blushed, and still wouldn't meet my eye "Thanks"

"Would you mind if I stayed?"

"Why?"

I shrugged "I want to watch"

"O-Okay...Sure" I suspected him to put up more of a fight but he just backed away, turning his music back up.

And then we fell into a new routine, my favorite by far. I'd finish up whatever homework I was working on, we'd grab dinner together, then Stiles would invite me to the warehouse with him. At first I'd do work while he did, then I found myself focusing less on work and getting lost in watching him. It became my favorite thing to do.