(21): A Roommate Thing

I'm disturbed from my slumber by the constant vibration of my phone. I retract it from my back pocket and swipe to answer with my eyes still closed.

"Hello?" I murmur half-asleep.

"Chelsea-Anne?"

My eyes snap open "Kyle?"

"Yeah, uhh, where are you?"

What? I remove my phone from my ear for a second to see that the time is 02:33. Oh my gosh.

"I'm so sorry" I hastily start to apologize "I must have fallen asleep at Kat's. I totally forgot to warn you that I wouldn't be back"

I normally do.

"Oh" He murmurs breathing slightly "Not that I care or anything but I just wanted to see if you were safe or something. Whatever"

Oh Kylie, you do care!

His voice over the phone sounds so husky and oh so deep. Mhmmm.

I can't help but grin "Yep, I'm very much safe, Chambers, no worries"

"Err, okay. At least I had some peace for the whole afternoon" He informs, his voice sounding lighter and playful.

I breathe a laugh "Well, don't get used to it cause I'll be back very soon"

"Unfortunately" He murmurs.

"Hey, guess what?" I blurt, not wanting the conversation to die down just yet "I'm single now"

I don't know why I'm telling him this.

"Uhh, weren't you always single?"

I can imagine that cute confused expression he always makes. The one with his scarred eyebrow raised.

"No. We were on a break and now that break is over and we decided to break up for good" I explain thoughtfully.

Why am I telling him this?

"That explains why you're at your friends then. I'm guessing you two spent the whole night crying and eating ice cream. Girls do shit like that"

I laugh really loud this time "We did that last time. There were less tears this time and there wasn't really any ice cream, just sleep"

"You do sound okay" He notes.

I shrug but he can't really see me "I guess"

"Why exactly do you tell me these things?" He asks the question I've been asking myself, sounding curious "We're not exactly friends, you know?"

"You're easy to talk to" I admit. "And you're a good listener. Literally. All you do is listen, you seldom respond"

I hear him snort "That does sound like me"

"See? It's a win-win. I like to speak and you like to listen" I grin.

"Who says I listen, huh?" He asks playfully.

I think he does.

I hum thoughtfully "Do you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know" He replies "I think we should sleep now. We still have class in a few hours"

"Okay, night night Chambers."

"Night, Chelsea-Anne"

I can't help the smile that plays on my lips when I collapse on the pillow and fall asleep again.

****

"Delilah, why have you been avoiding me?" I demand with crossed arms, when though I know the answer to that question.

I was coming from my previous class when I bumped into her. As always, she was goin to make a dash for it but this time I held her tightly by the arm.

She chuckles nervously "What are you talking about?"

"Seriously?" I deadpan scowling "You have to tell Winnie. I'm serious. You can't keep expecting us to lie to her"

"I will" She persists.

"When? You've had more than a week now"

She sighs dreadfully "I've tried, Chels, I really have but I just can't get it out. I can't hurt her like that"

"You should've thought about that when you did what you did, Dee" I say softly "Now the only thing you can do to redeem yourself is tell her the truth yourself, not anyone else"

"How? Have you ever had to break bad news to someone you love?"

I nod "I have actually. Just yesterday"

Confirming Noah's answer.

"Then you know how it feels"

"Yes but I also know that it's something that has to be done" I tell her.

"Oh hey you two" Comes Winnie's voice. Dee and I immediately fake smiles at the sight of her "Do you guys wanna grab a table at Kristy's cause I'm starving"

"No, uh actually..."

I interrupt Dee "Yes we do"

Maybe I can make some excuse when we get there to leave the two of them alone and then give Dee a look warning her to tell Winnie or else. I mean what better time to tell someone you cheated on them that when they're having some of the delicious milkshake from Kristy's? It probably won't hurt as much in the end.

I hope.

"Cool" Winnie grins as we make our way to the cafe. We make small talk there; mostly just Winnie and I. Dee is quiet half of the time; probably all the guilt and dread eating her up.

We get to the cafe to find that Kat, Nico and Nathan are already there.

Deja vu much?

Looks like my mission is going to have to wait a while longer.

Kat waves an excited hand when she sees us and we shrug before walking to join them. Winnie joins Nathan and Kat on their side of the booth on the couch, and Dee and I join Nico, with me sitting right next to him.

"We've got to stop meeting up like this" Nico jokes because this is the second time that the whole group (except Kyle) has shown up at Monet's without planning it.

I laugh "Tell me about it"

"You guys don't have to order" Kat tell us "We accidentally ordered 10 muffins and you know how big they are so you guys can have the rest"

"What do you mean by 'accidentally'?" I ask.

"Nate and I didn't know that Kathrine had already ordered for us so we ordered for ourselves" Nico explains.

"Sweet" Winnie grins shrugging.

Nathan looks at me since he's anyways sitting right opposite me "You know, Chels, you and I haven't had a one-on-one in long time"

"We've only ever had one" I snort.

"You guys should have another one" Nick advises because he's still convinced that he's Dr Phil when it come to Nathan and I.

"Can I be present this time?" Kat chirps enthusiastically.

"Babe, it's not a one-on-one if there are three people present" Nathan informs his girlfriend causing her to frown and the rest of us to laugh.

"Anyways, Nathan, we should definitely set it up" I tell the brown-haired boy. "I do miss the light in your eyes when you speak about my best friend"

He flushes embarrassed at my revelation. Mission accomplished.

Although my embarrassment is much nicer than the one he gave me the last time we were here. Oh well.

"I knew you guys spoke about me" Kat shouts.

"Yeah" Nathan says after narrowing his eyes at me for exposing him, but I know he's just playing "She's the one who helped me set up the date"

"That's so cute" Winnie coos joyfully.

"It is" Kathrine agrees with a huge and giddy smile on her face. She looks so love-struck at the revelation. I guess she's been waiting quite a while for Nathan and I to actually get along, let alone plan a date together for her.

Kind of.

"So which one of you idiots should my future girlfriend ask for help when she wants to set up our date?" Nicholas asks curiously.

I snort, looking at him weirdly "Nick. Guys do the setting up, not the girls. What world do you live in?"

"An anti-sexist one, unlike you" He retorts argumentatively "Why do guys have to do everything? Even during sex"

Winnie shakes her head laughing "Trust Nicholas Gill to bring sex into everything"

"And by the way, I will have you know that it's always 50-50 with me and the guy I'm doing it with" Kat chirps defensively, causing us to narrow our eyes at her very 'TMI' statement.

"Babe. No one needs to know what goes on in our bedroom" Nathan shudders and we laugh. "And I don't like how you said 'the guy'. That's very vague"

"Okay, fine then. Me and Nathaniel Isaacs always go 50-50. I do my share and he does his" She continues.

"Kat. We do not need to know that" I shriek.

Didn't her boyfriend just inform her to stop?

"I'm trying to prove a point" She defends exasperated "Nick. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"All I'm saying is that girls have to put in the work too" Nick replies "In everything else and not just sex"

"Like what? Do you boys want us to ask you guys out?" I rant, making hand gestures all over the place "And then when you reject us, you'll go around telling all your other boys and making us look like idiots"

"Amen, sister!" Winnie agrees loudly.

"This is why I'm lesbian" Dee speaks for the first time but we're all too lost in the topic to dwell on it "Boys are full of shit"

"Not all of us" Nathan defends.

"Oh really?" Winnie challenges "You're the one who acts like the hulk when just any guy looks at Kat. Even when you know she won't do anything with them"

True.

"It's cause I like her" He defends exasperated.

"Hey, don't attack my boyfriend. Nick started all of this. Attack him" Kat jokes playing with her boyfriends hair.

Nick puts his hands up in surrender when we all shift our gaze to him "Okay, I forfeit. Girls are vicious"

We laugh "Yeah we are"

Just then our warm muffins arrive and we start munching on them happily. We all order milkshakes which then come 5 minutes later. We're all too engrossed in the deliciousness to have any sort of conversation. Just us mostly scolding Nicholas to close his mouth when he eats.

Boys.

The waitress comes to collect our empty plates and glasses when we're done. I noticed her giving googley eyes to Nick. I don't think he did though, which is surprising considering the fact that Nick is an entire playboy and basks in any attention from the opposite gender. Maybe he's really serious about this abstaining thing.

I think we're all too full to move so we just remain seated.

"Kyle!" Nick suddenly hollers looking at the entrance. The ones sitting on my side of the couch snap our head back to be indeed greeted by the boy.

He is walking with some girl and quickly whispers something in her ear when he sees us, causing her to huff like a brat and then stomp out of the cafe.

Okay then.

Kyle slowly makes his way to us, looking to mutter incoherent words under his breath judging by his annoyed facial expression.

"Thanks. I really needed to get rid of that girl" He says taking a seat next to Winnie, on the opposite couch "But what are you all doing here?"

I shrug "Coincidence again"

Kyle scowls at me "You always have to answer, don't you, Chelsea-Anne?"

"You always have to ask, don't you, Chambers?" I retort with a smug smile.

Nathan shakes his head "Are you guys always like this?"

"Two days ago they were actually enjoying each other's company" Nick informs the group mischievously "They were going on about how much they missed each other"

"They were?" Winnie's eyes widen in disbelief.

Kat looks skeptical. Nathan and Dee look amused. Nick looks very much proud of himself.

"No!" Kyle and I screech at the same time.

"I swear to God, Nicholas" Kyle hisses at the same time that I say "Nicholas lies about everything"

"Why are you guys getting so defensive?" Nathan teases.

"Because Nicholas is a liar" I smack the boy next to me and he yelps loudly.

He grumbles rubbing his arm "I like it better when Kyle is the one on the receiving end of your hand"

"Okay so then tell us what happened" Kat suggests to me and the other nod as if to say 'we're all ears'.

"I was just telling her things so she could shut up" Kyle informs the group.

"No, that was only after I showed up" Nick immediately objects "Say what happened when you guys didn't know I was eavesdropping"

This boy.

"Okay fine. How was Kyle telling me that I speak too much and I quote 'more than the average human' enjoying each other's company?" I defend.

I actually don't know why I'm getting so defensive. We did enjoy each other's company. Why are we denying it?

Maybe I'm denying it cause he's denying it and I don't want to look like an idiot. Maybe he's denying it cause I'm denying and he doesn't want to look like an idiot.

Maybe.

Everyone starts to laugh.

"I wish I took a picture because they actually looked like real friends" Nick mutters when he sees that no one believes him.

It is hard to believe, isn't it?

Kyle shakes his head "It's like you were sent on this earth solely to annoy me. You and Chelsea-Anne"

I gape "What?! I did nothing! I'm also the victim here!"

"Why exactly do you call her that?" Kat asks.

"Cause it's her name" He deadpans.

"Yeah but you could just call her Chelsea" Nathan says "Or even Chels"

"Hey, that's what I said" Nick chirps.

"I don't want to call her 'Chels' or 'Chelsea'. I'm not her friend" He replies dryly.

My eyes widen in realization "That's why you don't call me that? Oh my gosh, that's so stupid"

"Yeah. Pretty lame" Nick agrees.

"I still called her 'Chels' even when we weren't friends" Nathan notes thoughtfully.

"You still aren't, genius" He says.

"We're getting there" Nathan defends and I can't help but smile. He's so cute sometimes.

"Kyle is so weird" Kat mutters.

Winnie nods "Yeah, just call her 'Chelsea'. Really?"

"Are you guys seriously arguing about my name?" I decide to ask "Kyle can call me whatever he wants with whatever reasons he has. I don't really care"

Plus, it's grown on me.

"Thank you, Chelsea-Anne" Kyle replies.

"You're welcome, Chambers" I say curtly.

"Yeah only the two of you understand your relationship" Nick sighs defeated after witnessing our surprisingly civil encounter.

Winnie nods "Yep. I think we should all stop trying to figure it out"

"We would really appreciate that" Kyle says and I nod agreeing with him "Let us annoy each other to hell and back in peace"

"Amen, Chambers" I nod and he winks at me.

Swoon.

Everyone looks so confused at us, causing the two of us to snort amused.

Yeah. Only we can understand this little relationship that we've got. And I like it just like that.

It's a roommate thing.

***

Kyle and Chelsea are getting so cute, riiight? 🤗