Difficult roomie

"Oh no this is so not gonna work out, I'll have to get a roommate. There's no way I can afford the rent on my own," Adam thought as he worked out his budget. The damn landlord had yet again pushed up the rent and although Adam had a fairly good job as psychologist, he couldn't afford the ridiculous rent for the next month. He's been saving for a new car for 3 years now since he has to rely on public transport to get to work. He had to get a roommate and fast too, before he gets kicked out the apartment he so dearly loves. So he did what he thought was best and placed an ad in the local newspaper and hoped that somebody responds…

"Hello, who am I speaking to? Miss Elizabeth Goulding is it right?' Adam began to get excited for the person he's speaking to might become his new roommate (and help him pay the bills of course). "Hmm yes I work as a psychologist not too far away, yes I do have a steady income but the" he lowered his voice to make sure his landlord didn't hear, she was known to listen at her tenants door to have something to gossip about, "dear old landlord of mine raised the rent, again, and I can't afford. I'm desperately in need of a roommate because I simply can't afford it on my own." He changed his tone to a pleading one, hoping that this Elizabeth woman can sense how desperate he really is. He heard her sigh and then smiled when she confirmed that she'll be his roommate from now on and that she'll meet him tomorrow morning at 9 o' clock and she'll let her brother bring her clothes and other essentials over at 10. "Sure" Adam replied and after discussing a few random topics they hung up. Adam relaxed in his swivel chair and smiled, very pleased of himself. He frowned immediately afterwards however when he remember how worn down the woman's voice was, she somehow sounded older than him, he hoped that wasn't the case. One thing is for certain though, she can never know his secret so he has to be extra careful when he splits himself that she'll never notice that something's odd about him…

Adam woke up the next morning at 8:30, cursed himself first for oversleeping and then he fixed himself a quick breakfast and coffee. When he finished he was still half-asleep however and was not in the happiest of moods when he heard the doorbell rang. "Who is it!" he said loudly, his headache even worse due to the sound of the bell. "Elizabeth Goulding, the landlord said that you live here." He sighed and shuffled over to open the door. "Good morning, I'm Elizabeth." Adam gawked at the sight before him for he sure as hell didn't envision the voice he spoke to yesterday on the phone as belonging to a young girl who looks barely 21 years old. "H-hi I'm Adam" he peeked around the door to check if he saw his landlord anywhere. When he saw that is was safe he invited the Elizabeth girl in. He was pleased to see that she seemed to like the place and felt his spirits lift. "It's…pleasant. Needs a few more things to spice it up but otherwise it's okay. I think I'm gonna like it here." She turned around to him and asked where her room is. "It's right next to mine, second door to the left" and followed after her. That room belonged to his ex-boyfriend, but after finding out that he cheated on him with one of his closest friends, Adam dumped the bastard and decided that he was to remain celibate for the rest of his life (the fact that his dark and light side are lovers doesn't count, it's with himself he figured).

When Elizabeth finished with her inspection of the apartment she joined him on the sofa. He noticed that she didn't seem to be that comfortable with him, but he figured that she was just nervous. "So uhm how long have you lived here uhm, what's your name again?" she asked. He smiled, "well I moved to this place about 5 years ago after I got the news that my job application has been accepted. It's been great actually, it's not far from where I work and the hangouts are less than a kilometre away. So what can you tell me about yourself, Elizabeth?" She nervously played with her hands before answering him "Well I've studied to be a teacher and because of my high qualification I've been appointed as the new teacher at Settler's Primary School. That's basically it." Adam could tell that she didn't want to talk anymore about herself, but he was extremely curious about him and made the mistake to question her further. "So how old are you Elizabeth? Do you have a boyfriend or something or are you single?" he asked, and was taken aback when she gave him a glance that he could swear were filled with hatred. "My personal life's none of your business Adam, I can date whoever I want. Just because we're gonna be roommates it doesn't mean that you'll get to rub yourself off on me." She stood up, her light blue eyes sparkling with fury "For the record, I'm 23 years old, single and I HATE men because all you guys are ever interested in sex, boobs and taking people's virginity, well I hate that! No man's ever gonna take me, not you, not anybody else, you hear me!" She screamed at him and ran towards her room where he could hear her flung herself on the bed. Now he finally understood why she looked so afraid and nervous around him, he had to reassure her that he had absolutely no interest in her in THAT way and that he was in fact gay. Then again, if he told her he's gay and she's homophobic, he's screwed either way. Why the hell did that bitch of a landlord had to raise the rent and why the hell did the only person who responded to his ad had to be afraid of men? Is it a non-mentioned part of that bloody curse, or is it just plain bad luck…

Next chapter: I'll help you for free

Adam puts his skills as psychologist to good use by offering to help his new roommate Elizabeth overcome her fear of men, for free of course. He finds that this patient will be the hardest case he's ever worked with because she absolutely refuses to cooperate. Will he finally break through to her, or will she forever have this intense fear of men?