It had been a long day of teaching, and Roderich had never been so glad before that it was a half-day, and he could get home to work on his latest composition. He parked his small car in the driveway, noticing an unusual car parked across the street. Roderich stopped and regarded it for a few minutes before dismissing it as a waste of money as he headed into the house. It wasn't the biggest home on the block, but Roderich felt that it was perfect for a couple who was still in the early stages of their marriage.
Five years – a brief smile flitted across Roderich's face as he entered the home. He could hardly believe it, and he hoped for at least another fifty. He felt that he loved his wife more than he'd loved anyone before – even Antonio, his hot, Spanish ex-boyfriend from his junior and senior years of college. But he shook those thoughts from his head as he went into the living room, hearing odd noises – was Elizabeta watching TV? As he got closer, the sounds became more...distinct, and a red flush crossed his pale face as he rushed to the living room, in fear that she was being violated.
Oh...
Oh my...
Roderich had never seen her bend like that before...but who was that man?
"Elizabeta Edelstein, what is going on here?" Roderich's voice was level, but a little higher-pitched than he'd intended. "Who's this man?"
Elizabeta's face paled quickly.
"R-Roderich...I didn't expect you home so soon!" She grabbed the blanket off of the back of the couch and handed it to the man, shoving him off of her with ease.
Roderich frowned.
"I told you that I would be home around 1:30 today because we had a half-day at school due to a staff meeting." Roderich cleared his throat, his voice going back to his normal pitch. "But that doesn't explain...him." He gestured to the stranger, who was currently getting dressed in what appeared to be workout clothes.
"Oh, um...this is Sadiq..." Elizabeta looked away from Roderich's gaze, at least having the decency to look downright mortified and ashamed at being caught in the act.
"...Sadiq. Sadiq...as in this is your dance instructor Sadiq?" Roderich shot him a glare.
"Yes..." Elizabeta's voice was barely a mumble. "Roderich...I think we just need some time apart. I love you, but...I just...I'm sorry." She looked at him, tears falling down her cheeks. "I think you should leave. I just need time to clear my head."
Roderich stood there, gaping, as Sadiq mumbled something into Elizabeta's ear and headed for the kitchen. It sounded like he was going to cook or something.
"Elizabeta..." Roderich felt so small at the moment, as if something had just been sucked out of him.
"Please, Roderich...don't make this any harder than it needs to be..."
Harder than it needs to be? Roderich clenched his jaw, anger bubbling up in his throat.
"Harder than it needs to be? It's easy for you to say – you just spread your legs and lay back! I'm the one who came home to find his wife cheating on him with her dance instructor!" Roderich snarled, heading for their bedroom. "Roderich, please!" Elizabeta pulled on a robe, and followed him. "I didn't mean to..." She stopped in the doorway, slumping against it. "I took the class because I wanted to be able to be sexy for you...but then...there was Sadiq. And you've been so busy lately, meeting demands that I just...his words..."
"You could've resisted." Roderich's tone was frigid as he packed the suitcase to leave. When he was done, he left the house quietly, stopping only briefly to run his fingers over his piano. "I want this to be left untouched. It's mine – you can have whatever else in this house." He left quickly, throwing his suitcase into the back of his car and calling up an old friend when he was out of the driveway.
"Hola?" A Spanish accent came from the other end.
"Antonio Carriedo? It...It's Roderich..." Roderich almost sounded calm, but Antonio knew his ex-boyfriend well enough to know when he was upset.
"Piano man! What's wrong, amigo?" Antonio asked, concerned. He and Roderich had split on amicable terms, and had chosen to remain acquaintances.
"Elizabeta...cheated on me. I need a place to stay..." Roderich was trying hard not to crack.
"I'd offer mi casa, but it's barely big enough for me and Lovino. I'm sorry." Antonio said, but then remembered something. "Hey, I heard Gilbert's looking for a flat mate...why don't you try him?"
"Gilbert...I haven't spoken to him in years...I wonder if he remembers me." Roderich mumbled.
Antonio laughed. "There's only one way to find out, specs...why don't you try calling him? I have his number right here..."
Roderich swallowed, feeling like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty – if he couldn't find a place to live cheaply, then he wasn't sure what he would do.
"Alright, Antonio...I'll call him." Roderich took down the number when Antonio dictated it to him, and ended his conversation with Antonio to give Gilbert a call.
Gilbert had been sitting in his flat, drinking a beer, when his phone rang. With an over exaggerated sigh, he hopped up and grabbed the phone. The number on the caller ID looked familiar, and he answered.
"Hello?" Gilbert sounded a little gruff, unhappy at being disturbed during his wind-down time.
"Hello, is this Gilbert?" The voice on the other end sounded familiar. "I'm calling about you needing a flat mate."
"Yeah, this is Gilbert Beilschmidt." Gilbert set down his beer, grabbing a pen and a piece of paper. "And who are you?" He started writing down a few things that the potential flat mate would need to know.
"Roderich Edelstein – we roomed together in college, before you graduated." Roderich replied.
"Oh, heeeey, Specs! How ya been?" Gilbert grinned. "The last I heard, you'd gotten married – so why are you looking for a flat?"
A sigh came through the phone, and Gilbert had a feeling that the man on the other end was having a rough time.
"I caught Elizabeta cheating on me...she kicked me out." Roderich replied. "I have a full-time job as a band director at the high school, so I could pay rent on time and take care of myself."
"If you have a full-time job like that, why not get your own place?" Gilbert blinked, but then let out a laugh that was so very familiar to Roderich's ears. "You're as cheap as ever, huh?"
"I am not cheap – I am just very frugal." Roderich replied, frowning. "Do you want a flat mate or not?"
"Sure, sure..." Gilbert's laughter died into chuckles. "Let me give you the address..." Gilbert rattled off the address, which Roderich jotted down on a discarded receipt with an old pen.
"I'll be there soon." Roderich told him. "Goodbye." He hung up, and headed for the flat.
After Roderich hung up, Gilbert stood there, shaking his head. An old ache shot through his chest, and he wondered if this was going to be a good idea. Gil headed for the living room, to finish his beer, and then clean up the empties.
