Chapter Text

“Yeah, school is going great ma!”

She smiles at me, taking a bite of her food. “And how are your friends?”

“Great! Things are going well!” I'm lying.

I hope that my text book dries with minimal damage, after they threw it out of the window during today's rainstorm. My mother doesn’t need to know about it, as long as the school doesn’t charge for damage, I’d hate to worry her.

I did my best to grab it back, but they’re stronger and there’s more of them. The bruises I would have to conceal would’ve been more of a hassle than just letting the book go.

“How’s the hospital?” I ask, trying to move the subject along.

“Oh- There’s another outbreak, everyone’s exhausted-” With that, she breaks off into her own story. 

My skeletons stay safely in the closet.

1.

Other people have always possessed a certain skill that I never could seem to figure out.
It’s like being a goldfish in a round fish bowl and then being placed inside an aquarium, still in my bowl. Everyone else has a freedom that, if I could just break out of this prison, maybe I could obtain as well. I spent many years watching my peers become fast friends with one-another. I had no such luck, no social graces, and eventually became the target of relentless bullying.

I still don’t know how people do it, the thought of introducing myself to a stranger is enough to send my heart racing. I always manage to trip over my words enough to be dismissed, talked over, or mocked. I guess maybe I’m just not meant to connect with people in any sort of meaningful way.

None of it matters now. I’m finally going to be surrounded by like-minded people, far from the juvenile beliefs that would paint me as a target. I’ve worked rather hard to eliminate most things people could see as shortcomings, though there are some things that I cannot make bend to my will such as an awkwardly lanky body, horrible glasses, and acne scars from my overly-stressed high school self.

Now, though, I allow myself to revel in the excitement of making it into the medical school of my choice, and moving into an apartment next to the school. I’d answered an ad, the rent was cheap and I need the proximity to the college more than I need to be comfortable. I wouldn’t say I’m excited to live with a stranger, I’m far more apprehensive of that turning out well, but being so close to campus will help a great deal compared to my commute in the years prior.

The boxes I’m holding start to put strain on me and I set them aside, finding my key and letting myself into the place. It’s basic, a living room, dining room, bathroom to the left, kitchen to the right and then a door for each of the two rooms.
I lift my boxes, a grunt of effort escaping as I do, and start carrying in my belongings.
I spend the better part of an afternoon unpacking, listening to music and enjoying the solitude as I do. It startles me when I hear a key turning in the door handle and I quickly shut off my music.

I haven’t met my roommate yet, I didn’t even think about how I would introduce myself. First and last name? Just my first name? Wait, he knows my name, we corresponded to set up the rooming situation.
Do I give him a handshake? High five? Oh no, not that one, that’d be far too awkward. Maybe I'll wait for him to introduce himself first. 

I try to unpack quietly, I don’t want to draw any attention, but even with my best efforts there’s only so much anyone can do until something gets bumped or falls. In this case I knock over a box of miscellaneous things, mostly stuff I’d be storing on or in my desk. You wouldn’t think pencils and protractors would make a ruckus until you’re actively wishing them not to.

“Hello?” A man's voice calls from the other room, sounding slightly weary.

Welp, I have no other option. “Uh- Hello. Sorry, I-” I crack open my door, peeking out so I’m not trying to call through walls. “I just dropped something.”

“Oh!” He exclaims and I flinch slightly at the sheer volume of it. Then, from my left, a man emerges from the other room.

He is… Large, to put it simply. A build made from plenty of hours spent at the gym, an excess of height, and ginger hair pulled into a low ponytail with an orange beard to match. He grins and waves at me, the sheer height of him coming off as more intimidating than anything else. It’s hard to find anyone who can tower over me, but somehow I ended up with a giant for a roommate. 

He steps closer “What's up roomie! You’re Harvey right?” He grabs my hand in his own and is shaking it before I can even react. 

Cheese and crackers, this guy is loud and I feel as if my whole body is being shook in this handshake.

“Yes, hello- uh- Donald.” Will this handshake ever end? What is going on? This is the longest handshake of my life.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like Geronimo Stiltson!” He laughs boisterously now, finally relinquishing my hand.

“N-no…” What the heck does that even mean? His idea of being nice?

“Well! Now someone has!”

I let out an awkward and nervous laugh. “Thanks?”

“Anyway, call me Donny! We’re roomies now, no need to be formal!”

I swallow.
I’m sure he’s… nice enough. He just strikes me as the exact kind of athletic person who used to torment me, loud and large. It sends me back to the same primal fear, something twisting within my stomach.

I nod towards my bedroom. “Well, gotta get back to it. See ya!” I duck into my room and close the door, taking a deep breath.

Geronimo Stiltson? Was he trying to make fun of me or- oh jeez, he’s right.
I groan and settle onto my bed. I could’ve been wearing any other outfit, but of course today I look like a cartoon mouse the very first time I meet my humongous roommate.
He must think I’m weird already. Off to a great start, I guess.

I wonder what he’s in school for? I didn’t really picture any of the extremely bulked-up athletes going into medical, but I suppose I shouldn’t assume anything by how he looks.

This is a new start, I’ll do my best to give him a chance.

I resume my original task, setting up my room over the course of another hour or so.
I’m finally satisfied with my space, everything put in place and looking neat. I look out my window and realize it’s near evening time.

I have to leave my room at some point, especially if I don’t want to starve or miss classes. Hopefully he’ll be the kind of roommate who just sticks to his own space. 

I’m about to step out but I glance down at my outfit. Maybe I should change first. Something a little more casual maybe? What counts as casual? I don’t want to look like I’m not putting any effort into my appearance.
I stand in front of my closet for a little too long before I realize it doesn’t matter. I just need to switch out my green vest for…
I didn’t realize how much green I own. About forty-three percent of my closet is green sweater-vest, the rest being button up shirts and slacks with the exception of scrubs. 

Well, I guess I’ll just… uh- maybe I’ll just put a cardigan over it and nobody will notice.

I step out of my room, quietly closing the door behind me.
“Hey!” I physically jump as I’m yelled at from across the room. I turn my gaze slowly, trying my hardest to paste on a friendly smile. Donny stands in the kitchen, holding up a frozen pizza and pointing to it.

“Hi!” My response sounds a little more strained than I intend it to. 

“Glad to see you out and about I-” Oh biscuits! I can’t eat a meal with a stranger.

I’m already halfway across the room, feeling slightly nauseous as anxiety prickles throughout my body. “I’m sorry- I’ve gotta go.”

“Oh, okay! I-”

I close the door behind me, maybe a bit too hard, and start striding away from the apartment.
I’m not sure where exactly I think I’m going but I just need to go, to be further away.
It takes a few laps around the apartment building before I finally feel the anxiety ebbing away and can take a calm breath.

I’m not trying to be rude but why is he so overly talkative? It’s overwhelming, to say the least.

I look around, trying to get my bearings. I guess I am hungry, though, I should try to find a restaurant nearby.
I pull out my wallet and flip it open, looking at the small amount of cash that resides within.
Somewhere cheap, for certain. Probably should look for fast food, all things considered. 

After an unsatisfying and greasy dinner, it’s time to head back, hopefully Donny will be asleep or otherwise occupied and I can just slip in and go to bed.
I make my way back to the apartment, purposefully going a little slower than usual in hopes that he has an early class which requires an early bedtime. I have no such classes, I opted for the late mornings to suit my study habits better.
I get to the apartment, standing outside the door. I place my hand into my left pocket, no keys, right pocket- oh no.

I start frantically patting myself down, then searching near the door in case I dropped the keys, but I know it’s no use.
I must’ve left them inside in my rush to get away. I stare at my only obstacle, the door, like if I look long enough maybe it’ll decide to open on its own due to my sheer willpower. However long I do this for, it’s to no avail. I swallow the nausea that's returning back into my stomach and raise my shaky hand in a fist to knock.

At first I give a light knock, three times in succession, then wait, holding my breath. When no sounds arise from inside I grimace and knock again, louder. More time passes, I’m about to knock a third time -even though everything within me is screaming don’t- when I hear shuffling on the other side of the door.

The door opens and Donny stands with bleary eyes, looking slightly confused. “Don’t you have a key dude?”

“I-I do- uh- I left them…” I try not to make eye contact, embarrassed to even be existing here at this point.

“Oh! You got locked out? No worries! Happens to the best of us! How was your night out?”
At least he’s not mad, all things considered it could’ve been a worse reaction. 

“Uh- fine. Sorry if I woke you.” He smiles at me and gestures for me to come in and I oblige, uncomfortable when I accidentally brush up against him. He’s so unbelievably large, seriously, is he a science experiment? He nearly takes up the entirety of the entryway. 

“It’s okay, happy to help.” He claps me on the back hard enough that my glasses go askew and I stumble. I adjust myself, trying not to look embarrassed. Why am I embarrassed about something he’s done? Ugh, I hate my brain sometimes.

“Well- I’ve gotta…” I point to my room, stepping towards it.

“Right! See you tomorrow roomie!” Donny makes his way into his own room, walking beside me as I try to escape to mine.

I set into my nighttime routine, gathering pajamas and brushing teeth, then I finally allow myself to lay down.
It’s okay, class will start and I’ll be far too busy to be subject to much social pressure from him.