The New Roommate

I flipped through my Anatomy text book trying to ignore Rose's happy humming as she sketched the outline of a dog's heart labelling it from memory.

We were both pre veterinary medicine students so we had almost all the same classes.

I looked at Rose and her notebook and noticed her drawing actual hearts around the heart. Ironic, right?

"Earth to Rosie." I snapped. She jumped with a start and seemed to realise what she had done. She shut her notebook quickly and smiled at me.

"What's up?" She asked, a tinge of nervousness in her voice.

When it came to academics, Rose was almost if not more focused than I was. Which was saying a lot. I think that's why we got along so well, because we had both been the girls in high school who always had their noses burried in books.

“Are you okay?" I asked straight up. "I mean you've been acting weird since this morning."

Rose shrugged. "A okay."

I sighed. "Rose, I hope my brother didn't try to flirt with you last night."

Judging by how flustered Rose had gotten by that simple sentence, I knew I already had my answer.

"No. He was a perfect gentlemen."

Oh no.

I don't know what it was about Raymond but this always happened. He had a way of making girls feel special. Then he always did the same thing, he used them for sex and disappeared.

I always thought Rose was immune to his charms but clearly something had changed.

"Rose, I love you, that's why you can completely trust me when I tell you Raymond has absolutely no interest in you. If he called you pretty, I promise he does that with every single girl on campus."

Rose looked offended. "Geesh Sav, I get it, okay? I'm not stupid. Your brother wouldn't even be interested in a girl like me. He's a big shot football star and I'm just a loser."

I frowned. That's not at all what I said.

Rose took in a deep breath. "I'm gonna go to the library." She mumbled unenthusiastically. "See you later."

I remained seated alone as Rose gathered her books and left.

Great. My best friend was mad at me and of course it was all Raymond's fault.

"Rose? Please call me back when you hear this. Listen, I'm sorry about earlier... I wasn't insinuating Raymond would never be interested in you... it's just that... why would you even want someone like Raymond interested in you? He still can't figure out how a washing machine works... you know what? I'm probably not helping. Call me, please." I sighed and hang up the unnecessarily long third voice message I had just left Rose.

I guess she was still mad at me for the comment I had made about her and Raymond. But geesh, was I wrong? Raymond brought a new girl home every year at christmas. That alone was a red flag I wasn't willing to let my best friend run into.

How was I the villain for wanting to protect her?

I huffed as I took out my apartment keys and let myself in.

I was expecting to find Raymond and Nolan home then I remembered they both had football practice on Mondays.

Came with the territory of being D1 athletes.

So imagine my shock when I found a bunch of boxes right by the foyer along with some suitcases. Like someone was moving in. Or out, I guess.

I cringed wondering if my words earlier had been too harsh. Surely not enough to make one of them want to move out.

I heard shuffling in the kitchen and quickly started to make my way over there.

I froze and let out a scream when I didn't find my brother or Nolan there. Instead, there was a dark haired guy with tattoos all over his left arm scanning our fridge.

He jumped and turned around to face me the minute he heard me scream.

Then, to my shock, he let out his own frightened yelp.

"Why are we screaming?" He asked quickly looking around.

I paused and actually got a good look at the stranger in my kitchen. He didn't look like any of Nolan or Raymond's friends. Most of them were jocks or girls who gravitated around them.

This guy... he had dark messy hair that looked like he had just run his hand through it, the warmest brown eyes I had ever seen and there was an unmistakable glint coming from his lower lip, a lip ring.

All in all, he was kinda cute... well, super cute.

But that didn't matter right now. Why was he in my apartment?

"Who are you?" I asked slowly already wanting to back away in case this guy was like a burgler or a crazy person or something.

"Oh." He hit his forehead. "Where are my manners?" He stepped forward walking towards me and outstretched his hand. "Name's Trace. I'm your new roommate."

I just stared at his hand and tried not to get distracted by the fact that he had the smoothest and most attractive British accent I had ever heard.

"Roommate? You must be mistaken." I told him.

He dropped his hand when he saw that I wasn't going to shake it.

"Yeah, trust me. I was shocked too. I needed a place to stay after an... er... incident with my former landlord and boom! I bumped into this block on campus - Raymond and he said I could stay here. As long as I pay rent of course."

Rent? My head swam with lots of questions.

What the hell had Raymond done now?

As if on cue, I heard laughter and turned to see my brother and Nolan strolling in, gym bags on their shoulders.

Raymond was the first to notice me. "Oh hey, Sav, great you've met our new roommate." He spoke breezily as he dropped his bag.

Lord, if I murder my brother, please forgive me and let me into heaven.

"T'sup man." Raymond nodded at him casually.

I clenched my hands into fists and marched up to my brother. "Please tell me you're kidding and haven't actually invited a stranger to live with us."

Raymond scoffed. "Course not."

I let out a breath of relief.

"He's paying to live with us." Raymond added as if that made things better.

My eyes widened. "Are you crazy? You can't just do that Ray! He could be a thief or a serial killer."

"Hey, I'm standing right here." I heard the strangers voice from behind me but I didn't bother turning around.

"Make him leave, now."

Raymond shook his head at me. "No."

"No?" I asked incredulously.

"Yeah." He spoke firmly. "You're the one who kept complaining about us being more responsible. With Trace here, we'll have extra money for groceries and all that crap. And he offered to help clean up around the house from time to time. It's a win win."

I was this close to strangling Raymond.

"That's not what I meant." I spoke through gritted teeth.

Raymond groaned. "Gosh, Sav, you're never satisfied by anything. It's done. Travis is our new roommate, deal with it."

"Name's Trace." The guy corrected Raymond from behind us.

"Right." Raymond cleared his throat like he knew that all along. "Make yourself at home, man. I'm gonna go take a shower."

Raymond walked away and I remained glaring at Nolan.

"I can't believe you let him do this."

Nolan furrowed his brows looking offended. "I actually had nothing to do with this. I'm not as irresponsible as you think I am, you know." He spoke gruffly before storming off.

Wait, why was he mad? I should have been the one who was angry.

I turned to the cute British boy and its then that I noticed an electric guitar against one of the walls.

"You play the guitar?"

He lit up. "Yeah, I'm in a band actually. We're called the Riot Club. You should check out our music, it's..."

"No offence but I don't think it would be my type of music anyway." I spoke cutting him off before taking a step towards him. "Look, you seem like a... nice guy but there's no way I'm letting a stranger move into pur apartment. So I'm sorry, you're gonna have to pack up and leave." I spoke firmly.

The guy looked amused. He folded his arms and leaned back before letting out a quiet laugh.

"What was that?" I asked sharply.

He smirked. "Oh nothing. I just should have known that this was too good to be true, of courss right when I thought I had sorted out my accomodation issue I just had to meet a prejudiced princess."

My mouth dropped. Did he just insult me? In my own home? With that cute accent?

"I am not prejudiced!" I snapped.

"Oh?" He chuckled. "Then I suppose the reason you're kicking me out is not because you saw my tattoos and lip ring and immediately assumed the worst."

"No!" I sputtered. "Of course not."

"Trust me, I know your type. Miss 'I know everything' so everyone has tp listen to me."

"I am not that way!" I argued.

He rolled his eyes. "Based on how you just spoke to your brother and his friend? I'm guessing you are. You just love to tell people what to do. You just can't help it, can you?"

I felt my body heating up with rage. "That is not true. I am not controlling!"

"Prove it, princess." He spoke with a challenge on his face.

"Fine." I huffed and raised my chin. "Stay. Move into my room for all I care."

A smile grew on Trace's face. "My pleasure."

With that he walked past me and patted my shoulder in the process.

My mouth dropped.

Had I just been outsmarted?