"Do you like her?" Kent inquired, his attempt to conceal a smile evident. "Why? Does it matter?" "It'll give me an idea of how much I'll have to tolerate her in the future," I responded, feigning the end of our conversation. Kent licked his lips, and for a brief moment, my thoughts became muddled, my stomach churned, and the hairs on my neck stood on end. "You'd put up with her," he raised an eyebrow and asked, to which I sighed. "Well, now that you mention it, that sounds a bit too generous," I shrugged. "But yes, I would." "Why?" "I'd find a way to cope with it because we live together," I simply shrugged, gazing out at the lake's waters. "You're way too kind," he casually shrugged his shoulders. "Or maybe you're just mean," I retorted, and he merely shrugged. "That could be the case at any given time," he replied, and I took a few more steps into the water. Our proximity was making it hard to think clearly. Every time he responded to a question, I tried to decipher the mean
I'm running terribly late for work, having lost track of time at the library. I glance at the clock and realize I have just twenty minutes to make it to my job. I dash down the staircase and swiftly unlock the door to my apartment as I reach the top of the stairs. Given the late hour, I assumed the apartment would be empty. It was Wednesday, Mark had football practice, Kyle had a night class, and Kent typically wasn't home around this time. I was slowly discovering that Kent was quite the fitness enthusiast. He relished working out twice daily when possible, going for jogs, and adhering to a strict dietary regimen on specific days of the week. It all seemed like the work of a mind obsessed with routines and order, which left me feeling a bit uneasy. But as I'm about to close the apartment door, I'm greeted by the worst sound imaginable seeping from down the hallway: the rhythmic thud of a headboard against the wall, accompanied by the unmistakable squeaking and moaning of a mattress
My focus at work has never been so scattered as it is right now. I keep trying to concentrate on the water, but my heart rate seems to have a mind of its own, fluctuating without any apparent cause. I can't pinpoint what's bothering me. Part of my unease stems from overhearing a conversation involving one of my roommates when I shouldn't have. It's been on my mind every time there's a moment of silence, and I'm dreading going home to face Mark. I'm pretty sure I confessed to Kent during our car ride that I can be quite spoiled. Figuring out the right balance when it comes to intimacy has always been a struggle for me. I don't have a strong desire for it, but I also don't want to feel like a social outcast for not craving it. I'd rather not discuss it, but when I'm forced to, my thoughts become all too clear. Back in high school, I only engaged in it a few times with my boyfriends. When they wanted it, it was usually hurried and not particularly enjoyable. I never truly understood wh
I've made a colossal mistake. The atmosphere in the apartment has been tense for the past two weeks. I regret the argument with Kent, not just because I realized that day he was attempting to make amends, and I dismissed it. But also because my actions had soured the entire apartment's mood. Things were getting increasingly strained, and I felt compelled to do something about it. I put on a façade of indifference, avoiding eye contact with Kent and refusing to show any remorse. Yet, a part of me acknowledged that I had been right to call him out for his mistreatment. I never would have met him if we hadn't shared this living space, and I had always made an effort to steer clear of people who treated me poorly, dating back to high school. I believed he had once felt the same way about me, but I was mistaken. He had become moody, rude, irritable, and, worst of all, messy. He consistently left behind colossal messes for me to clean up. Mark and Kyle were also growing weary of Kent's b
"Isn't that much easier now?" I attempt to hide and escape from his playful torment. He's doubled over at the waist, continuing to tickle relentlessly, so I seize the right moment to nudge his leg with my foot, throwing him off balance. The bathroom isn't very spacious; it only accommodates a toilet, a small sink, a washer and dryer, and nothing else. Kent, who stands taller than six feet, still has his wet clothes in a basket within the room. He crashes down beside me, occupying the remaining floor space. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, and he chuckles in a brief, wheezing manner. "Julia, that was a cheap shot," he chides, while I laugh. "Don't you dare tickle me!" I tap his shoulder and retort, "Asshole." "You must have enjoyed it, right?" he retorts, prompting me to turn my head to look at him. His gaze meets mine, causing my throat to constrict, and I take a deep breath. "Um, Julianna?" My heart leaps when I hear Chase's voice from the dining room. "Is everything
"A frat?" Kyle shifts away from the table to place his dishes in the sink. "Yes, a fraternity," Piper insists, surrounded by her entourage, already dressed and gathered around the dining room table. Piper is making plans for the evening, although she hadn't informed me about it. In fact, it seemed like she hadn't informed anyone about her desire to attend a frat party. "I thought we were hitting up Apex," Mark says with a furrowed brow. Apex was a budget-friendly downtown club for students. Similar to a frat house, it was dimly lit, noisy, and offered cheap drinks. It didn't particularly pique my interest, especially knowing it would be packed with first- and second-year students on a Friday night in search of something to do. "I considered it, but my sorority got an invite to this frat, so I thought it might be a better plan," she says, wearing a cheerful expression. "At least there won't be any lurking at the door." "It might be okay for you," Kent mutters, folding his arms acro
"Did you really only need seventeen minutes, Julianna?" Piper's voice rings out before I've even crossed a few steps into the hallway. "I thought you'd need all twenty." Laughter follows her words. I take a deep breath, stand tall, and continue down the hall, entering the kitchen. "Are we all ready?" I inquire, sweeping my hair off my shoulder. Piper's smug smile fades, Kyle stumbles into the pony wall by the front door while wrestling with his shoes, and Mark accidentally sprays beer across Chloe, who recoils with a disgusted exclamation. "Ew!" Chloe shrieks, jumping up to grab a paper towel from the kitchen. The sudden silence makes me feel like all seven pairs of eyes in the room are locked on me. "Well, it seems to be effective, huh?" Mark coughs, giving me a thumbs-up when I ask. "Fantastic. Let's give it a whirl at the frat house." Everyone gets up, retrieves their coats and shoes, and starts heading out. Kent, however, doesn't rise immediately. We share a few seconds of mutua
"Alright, we have a couple of options," I propose, aiming to make sure our plan is solid before venturing into the party scene. "First, we could pretend I'm an exchange student from London looking to attend a frat party." He chuckles, seeming open to the idea. "That doesn't sound too bad," he agrees. "What else have you got?" "Option two: you play the 'I'm Kent' card and leverage your fame to get us as far as possible." He simply shrugs in response. "Piper wasn't kidding; those guys don't take well to challenges," he mutters, and I nod in agreement. "But let's keep it as a backup plan." "Alright, for option three, we can team up with a group of girls already waiting in line. It'll look like you're bringing about six girls to the party." "That seems like our best shot to me," he concurs, and I smile. "Let's give it a try." He lets out a sigh as he surveys the line of people. Our group of friends had been waiting for Abby and her friends, and now we found ourselves alone in this sit