Despicable Roommate

Lynn

The next Saturday was cold and rainy. I was curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee and a blanket. Kari and Jen had gone to a seminar and I was all alone. I couldn’t stop thinking about Alec. As the rain pounded against the windows of my apartment, I remembered all the good times Alec and I had shared. The way he used to make me laugh, the way we spooned when it was cold, the way he held me when I was upset and the way he always kissed me softly before going to bed.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I wished I could turn back time and fix things. However much I tried, I could not stop thinking about Alec. I buried myself in studies during the week, thinking that it would help get him off my mind but it did not work. I missed him, and I needed him. I couldn’t stop hating myself for ruining every good thing that came my way. I unlocked my phone and scrolled through the beautiful pictures we had taken together. Feelings of longing and sadness washed over me.

Deciding that I had had enough, I stood up and went to my bedroom. Getting rid of the heavy clothes I was wearing, I wrapped a towel around my body and hit the shower. An hour later, I was all made up and ready to go. I was going to try again. Maybe if Alec saw how sad I was, he would accept to talk. That was all I wanted. If he was really done with the relationship, I wanted to hear it and stop clinging to hope that he would change his mind. I wanted a heart to heart talk because I knew it would help me get closure easily and therefore make it easier for me to move on.

As I drove under the rain, it grew heavier. I slowed my speed and kept a firm grip on the steering wheel as I felt the car sliding on the road. The rain was a perfect distraction from my thoughts. As I navigated through the stormy conditions and struggled with poor visibility, I had no time to worry about Alec’s possible reaction.

When I reached his neighborhood, the rain reduced and the wind ceased. I pulled into the driveway, glad that I had made it safely. I sat in the car for a moment, before getting out and making my way inside. I spent about two minutes outside Alec’s door before knocking.

Alec did not seem very surprised to see me. Instead of asking questions, he stepped aside. “Come in.”

Glad, I stepped inside.

“It’s cold outside,” he said. “Why didn’t you wait until the rain stopped before coming over?”

“I couldn’t wait. I can’t wait any longer. Alec, we need to talk about what happened. I can’t stop thinking about you. I need to know what you think of me and if this is really over.”

“Coffee?” he said.

I nodded. He went into his kitchen and returned two minutes later with two steaming cups of coffee. We spent about five minutes in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts, not knowing where to start from. Eventually, I decided to go first.

“When did you first meet Jessie?” I asked. That had been weighing on my mind for a while.

Alec sat up straight. “She came up to me when you had gone for James’ funeral. She introduced herself to me, but I walked away from her. I could tell she wanted to flirt with me, and I was not interested.”

“You never told me about it.”

“Because I didn’t think it was important. I get hit on a lot, even at school. I’m sure you do too. I didn’t think we had to tell each other about every person that hit on us.”

“Makes sense, but you should have told me when she came to the apartment. If you had told me that she was interested in you, I would have understood why you didn’t want her around.”

“I didn’t want you to get stressed over things that I thought didn’t matter. But now I realize it was a mistake.”

“I’m sorry for not believing you,” I said. “I know that she was the one who kissed you now.”

Alec stood up and went to the window. “Is that why you are here. You had to hear it from someone else before believing It.” he returned and sat on the couch. “That shows just how you don’t trust me at all. A relationship cannot survive without trust. You will always think the worst of me. I cannot be with someone who sees me like that. This cannot work.”

I sighed. “I understand that. But I’m willing to work on it. I don’t want to give up on us. I admit I’m the one with the problem. i want to learn to trust you. I know you’re not the total jerk I thought you to be when we first met. I thought I stopped believing you were but clearly I hadn’t. The time we dated was the best time of my life. Please give me a chance.”

Alec shook his head. “I don’t think I can go through this again. Not being believed is horrible. What hurt me most is when you sent your friends to kick me out. That was very disrespectful Lynn.”

“I know, and I’m extremely sorry. I acted selfishly and I will do anything to make up for it.” I stood up. “I’m going to leave now because I don’t want to pressure you into forgiving me. I have said what I came to say, I’ll leave you to think about it. I’ll accept whatever decision you make.”

After speaking, I started to walk towards the door.

“Lynn, wait.”

I stopped and turned. Alec walked over to me and hugged me. I smiled weakly and placed my arms around his warm body.

“I missed you so much” he said.

“I missed you, too.”

When we pulled away, he looked into my eyes. “I think we need to start over again. Imagine I’m not the jerk who moved into your apartment and made your life a living hell in the first few weeks. I’m a random stranger you’ve just met.”

“I can do that,” I smiled

“Hi, my name is Alec Warton. Pleased to meet you.”

“And I’m Lynn Harris. Pleased to meet you, handsome.”

“Come here, babe.”

“Uhmm, who are you calling babe, perverted stranger. We just met.”

Alec chuckled. “I’m very sorry, miss Harris. Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?”

“Now that’s more like it.”