Will let out a sigh as he stared at his computer screen. He knew this was going to happen, it was his own fault really, he shouldn't have left it so last minute. It was just with everything that had been going on lately, what with him coming out and all, finding housing for school had completely slipped his mind. Now, here he was, two weeks before the start of the new semester and completely homeless. His only remaining options were the two apartment listings on the Salem U website. The first add was from a guy named Keith, who, from what Will had gathered from the ad and a few opinions of fellow students, was a science major with authority issues and a hankering for pyrotechnics.
"Definitely not," Will muttered to himself as he clicked out of the ad.
Truth be told he had had the opportunity to rectify the situation a few days earlier when he had been offered a spot in one of the dorm rooms, but he had turned it down. It wasn't that he didn't need it, he most certainly did, or that the guy who offered it to him wasn't nice or anything, he had just come to the conclusion that living in close quarters with a man, any man, probably wasn't the best idea right now.
Ever since he had accepted his sexuality his senses had been on high alert. He was suddenly so much more aware of himself and those around him. The last thing he needed was to be cooped up in a dorm room with some guy and his ever changing hormones.
Letting out another sigh, Will clicked on the second and only remaining ad.
My name is Sonny Kiriakis and I am looking for a roommate for the fall semester. I live in a nice, well-kept apartment only minutes from the university. Rent is 250$ with utility's included. Both men and women applications accepted.
Reading over the ad one more time, Will began contemplating his options. He knew with the semester just around the corner he had to make a quick decision if he wanted to get moved in before classes started. Having already ruled out Keith, the pyromaniac, the only options he had left were this girl, Sonny, or his overbearing, and at sometimes quite crazy mother, Sami. After replaying a slide show of his life through his head, Will decided that living with his mother was simply not an option.
"Sonny it is," Will said, making his final decision and feeling quite content with it.
After hitting the reply button he quickly composed an email and clicked send.
"At least if I live with a girl I won't have to worry about there being any sexual tension," he mumbled to himself as he shut down the computer and ran to hop in the shower.
"Would you stop looking at me like that," Sonny asked, looking up at his mother who had the biggest smile plastered across her face.
"Looking at you like what?"
"Like you just won the lottery," he replied.
"Oh I'm sorry sweetie, I'm just so happy you decided to stay in Salem! We've missed you, your father and I."
Sonny had spent the last few years traveling abroad, visiting amazing place after amazing place for what seemed like a lifetime. After coming out to his friends and family he had decided that he needed some time away to figure things out…figure himself out. Traveling had done just the trick. There was something so thrilling about seeing new things and meeting new people. He had loved every second of it. However, over the last few months he had begun to get more than a little homesick. While he had always loved the vagabond lifestyle, he also had to admit that he missed the sense of belonging that came when you made a life somewhere. It was for this reason that he had decided to come back home and attend Salem U.
"I've missed you too," he finally replied, taking a momentary pause from the paperwork he was filling out to give his mother a loving smile.
"So have you found a roommate yet?" Adrienne asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Not yet," Sonny replied despairingly. "To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm going to. With school being just a few weeks away everyone has already found housing. At this rate I may end up having to live in my car…again."
"You know, you're always welcome to come stay with me and your father," she said, looking up at Sonny with hopeful eyes.
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll hold out a little longer. See what happens."
"Alright," Adrienne sighed "call me if you need anything."
"Will do," Sonny replied with a smile as he watched his mother lift herself from the stole on the opposite side of the counter and take her leave.
She had just shut the door when he felt his phone begin to vibrate. Sonny quickly patted himself down, trying to remember where exactly he had left it, before retrieving it from his back pocket.
He clicked on the icon showing him he had a new e-mail and began to read.
Hi Sonny, my name is Will Horton. I just saw your listing on the Salem U website and am interested in sharing the apartment. I know it's super last minute, but if you are still looking for a roommate I would love to come and see the place. You would seriously be saving my life.
Hope to hear from you soon!
"Finally," Sonny said, a sense of relief washing over him.
He clicked out of the e-mail and pulled up his messaging, sending a text to the number that Will had attached at the end.
"Things might just work out after all," he said to himself as he pocked his phone and got back to work.
Will pulled into the Common Grounds parking lot a few minutes after nine and turned off the ignition, the cars engine going from a loud roar to a soft hum in a matter of seconds. He had expected a few days to go by before hearing back about the apartment, which is why he was surprised to find a text message from Sonny waiting for him when he got out of the shower. After sending a few messages back and forth, he and Sonny had made plans to meet at the Coffee house later that evening to go look at the apartment. Though he hadn't been expecting it, he had to admit that he was grateful for the quick reply. Wills to do list had become a mile long of recent, so he jumped at the opportunity to cross something off.
Will slid himself out of the front seat and shut the car door behind him. The place looked pretty deserted, with only a few cars and a couple discarded coffee cups to keep him company. Starting to wonder if he had gotten the time wrong, Will pulled out his cell phone and clicked on the message Sonny had sent him earlier.
"Nope, the message definitely says nine," he whispered to himself, sliding the phone back into his jacket pocket.
After taking one last look at his surroundings he made his way towards the front door, pushing it slightly to reveal a rather empty coffee house inside. Will scanned the room for a moment before noticing a young man, an attractive one at that, sitting at a table in the back corner.
"Excuse me," Will said, making his way across the room. "I'm looking for Sonny Kiriakis? We were supposed to meet here at nine."
"That would be me," Sonny replied with a smile as he lifted himself from the chair and offered Will his hand. "You must be Will Horton."
Will stood frozen in spot, a feeling of panic hitting him like a wave at sea. Had he just said what he thought he said? Oh no. Oh please god no.
"I…I'm sorry…did you say that YOU'RE Sonny Kiriakis?"Will asked, hoping with all hope that he had heard him wrong.
"Afraid so," Sonny replied with a smirk. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm not who you were expecting?"
"Oh no, it's just…I, uh, I thought you were a girl for some reason. My mistake," Will replied.
"Oh I see. It's the name right? Some people get confused. I should have been more clear in the ad."
"Oh no it's coo…I mean, uh, it's totally fine," Will managed to say, stumbling over his words like he always did when he got nervous.
Sonny let out a laugh, obviously sensing his anxiety in the situation, and Will couldn't help but be mesmerized by the smile that overtook his face. Goodness he was attractive. With his dark eyes and chocolate brown hair Will was sure that he sent many a girl, and guy for that matter, into a love-struck frenzy.
"This is bad," Will thought to himself, "this is really bad..."