Everyone will probably have a roommate at some point in their life. Whether you share a house with someone, share your room with a sibling, or go off to school and get one there- you will usually always experience it at least once. Sometimes it turns out great and you make a lasting friendship that will follow you through your entire life.
Or you'll get someone like Keith, who is paranoid, and grumpy, and weird.
I tried to think that maybe it is just because he didn't know me yet and wanted to give it time, but no- hidden behind that charming face is nothing but a moody emo who has social constipation.
And that is saying something considering that I tend to go off the grid as much as possible and have two friends in counting. Who may or may not be my siblings.
Anyway, by week three, somehow managing to survive in Garrison for that long, I had begun to get used to the social norms this facility played by. If you were new, you were road kill- and if you managed to get through that and keep your head down, you might just get somewhere.
Keith was already ahead of that game and walked through the halls like he owned the place. I admit to using him to make it to my classes, trailing behind him cautiously, at just the right distance to be left alone by others or ignored because of his passing brilliance.
It wasn't easy, but I was surviving.
I just wished I could get along with Keith more. If I were forced to share a room with him for an entire year, I'd at least like to be able to sleep at night without feeling a glare angled in my direction. My attempts were not met in equal by said mullet.
The distance only grew between us with the territory tape line that cut our room in half. Keith had put it there around day three, marking what side of the room was his and what side was mine. I did this once with my sister back when we shared a room. If history proved anything to me, it is that this line thing does not work.
I couldn't exactly go against it however with the way Keith pointed at it, stating clearly that if I ever crossed into his side, I was road kill.
This guy was such a jerk!
I wish I could say this to his face every second of the day, but getting all emotional and angry wouldn't help keep my secret hidden. So I stayed friendly, despite how much I didn't want to.
"Morning Keith," I offered a smile, only to have a scowl returned in my favor. Roughly shoved to the side so Keith could pass, I stumble, running right into the wall, "Hey!" I call to him. He doesn't respond, already closing the bathroom door before I could stop him. The jerk. He thought he was sooo great, didn't he?
I swear one of these days I'm going to knock him off this pedestal he's put himself on. Being top in the school didn't mean you could just do whatever you wanted and treat people like crap! I never messed with him, so he had no reason to dislike me!
We never talked outside of the dorm, and even then, our conversations were limited to "Move your junk" and "Turn off your stupid alarm before I break it."
So everything was going great. Can you hear my sarcasm? And if that wasn't enough… I'm pretty sure my roommate is a serial killer or something.
My proof? Exhibit A!
His wall.
For the fifth time since discovering Keith was my roomie, I stare at his strange covered up little secret. Saying I'm curious to what could be on the other side of it is an understatement.
A black sheet took up the entire span of his side of the room. It was constantly covered, like perhaps he had done something to the wall and tried to cover it up. I would have accepted this, but one time, in the middle of the night, I saw Keith move it a little to reveal something like pictures.
There was something legit and strange behind that sheet.
When I had questioned him about it, he downright threatened to rip my head off if I so much as peeked at it. Which did not help dissuade my interest by any means. He seemed serious about it, so I dropped the subject, and I knew it was in my best interest to just leave the wall alone.
But something deep inside pulled me in the direction of that sheet, begging me to reveal the secret content hidden behind it. Perfect little Keith had something he wanted to protect and keep hidden, and by the stars in the sky, I was going to figure out what it was.
I merely had to be sneaky about it and look when Keith wasn't in the dorms- which was hard considering we both tended to have similar schedules and always returned back at the same time.
If I wanted to look at it, I would need to wait for the weekend, when Keith would disappear to do who knows what. For our three weeks together, I have to come to learn that Keith spends his Saturday mornings training with Shiro or honing his piloting skills.
Then, when the afternoon rolls around, he runs off to do who knows what. I've never bothered to follow him to see where but… he always comes back at precisely 8 P.M sweaty, covered in mud, and muttering strange things. He straight up looks like he had just wandered out of a horror film, so I never ask what he was up to.
And Sunday was a bust cause that is when I'm doing all my stuff, so if I was going to do it, it had to be on a Saturday.
When Saturday rolled around, I went about my day, making sure not to act suspiciously. Keith's instincts were pretty spot on, so he tended to know when people were up to something.
Making sure to leave around the same time he did in the morning, I figured my best bet to look under the sheet was when Keith went on his afternoon outing.
I went to my training, took a stroll around campus, got in some time at the library- which was boring, and then I went to eat.
Once lunch was over, I just hung around, wasting time until it was later. When it was mid-afternoon, I headed back to the dorm. When I arrived Keith shoved his way past me, all in his usual gear. He grunted something about being back later.
"Well excuse you!" I snapped at him. He didn't even spare me a glance. I felt like giggling like a Disney villain, everything going according to plan~
Waiting a few minutes to make sure Keith was gone, I stepped up to the tape. I suddenly felt nervous as I looked up at the sheeted wall. It made my heart beat faster. What if he had wanted posters or something under there? Or people on his hit list? The thought made me shiver.
For all I know I could be roommates with a serial killer. I didn't think Keith was capable of any of that, but my mind tended to think of the worse when confronted with things like this.
I took a deep breath and set my backpack and other items on the ground, noting Keith's boots were on my side of the room again. I grumbled, annoyed how I followed Keith's tape rule but he didn't have the courtesy to do the same. Ignoring them for now, I stepped up to the sheet. With trembling hands, I grabbed the ends of it.
Inhaling sharply, I gave a quick count to three and yanked it down, exposing what was underneath.
It was a giant cork board, covered in pictures with red strings attached here and there. I gawked at the photos, the newspaper clippings, magazine articles and- a Crazy Cryptid membership card? There were fuzzy pictures of bigfoot?
I had come to realize something I could never forget, not in a million years.
Keith fucking Kogane… was a conspiracy nerd.
I put my hands together and took a deep breath, letting it all settle in. There was so much to look at that I didn't know where to start.
He had messy written notes scattered with maps pinned up. There were even sighting records of Mothman. I didn't know how long I looked at that board.
I started to laugh, and I wondered if I even had the right to judge Keith for his strange hobby he hid from the world when I myself have a secret just as insane as the rest of this stuff.
I didn't have time to figure that out before I heard something.
With a massive creaking sound, the door swung open behind me. A dark figure stood in the hallway, peering in. Turning, going pale, I drop the sheet. I swallow, facing my death.
"Keith…" I greet, my voice calmer than I expected. "You're back early."
"I forgot my flashlight." His voice was livid, "What do you think you're doing?" He was glaring at me, covered in mud. I smirked at him.
"You nerd," I said with a teasing smile. Keith flinches, eyes growing wide. He suddenly looked furious, storming over to me. I 'eeped' and jumped out of his line of reach.
He grumbled, snatching the sheet from the floor. Returning it to the wall where it was supposed to be, Keith says, "Stay on your side of the room, McClain,"
"Then keep your stuff on your side, Kogane," I challenge, kicking his boots back over the line. "Where do you even go? Cryptid hunting?"
"Shut it." He snapped too quickly, and I knew I was right. This was just getting better and better. I was unable to hold myself back from poking fun at him.
"Ooo, what are you gonna do? Hit me with your bigfoot tracker?" I sneered. Keith's face was turning red.
"Shut. Up." He growled. I snickered, stopping and getting into bed. Ok, maybe teasing was a little harsh. But seriously? A conspiracy theorist? Jeez.
It was nice to know that even Keith had a kind of cute side to him.
Keith didn't leave again after that, most likely not trusting me to keep my hands to myself. I was surprised he seemed to let it go so easily too. I thought for sure I would have a black eye by now, but Keith didn't do anything. So we went to bed in silence, Keith's eyes digging into my skull as the hours grew late.
When morning arrived, still amazingly unharmed, Keith gruffly snapped, "Don't touch my stuff," and left. I roll my eyes.
"Don't touch my stuuuff~." I mocked his words to myself as I packed my bag. Throwing it over my shoulder, I take a second to look over at Keith's sheet. I smile and turn to head to class, expecting it to be just like any other day.
Then something change. An event that would affect everything.
His name was Hunk.
He was new, transferred in a little late to the start of the year. He was a big burly kind of guy with warm eyes and a bright smile. He seemed shy as the teacher had him stand at the front of the room to introduce himself.
"Hello. My name's Hunk Garret." He said, fiddling with the hem of his uniform.
"Well, Hunk, tell us something about yourself." The teacher urged him on. Hunk nodded.
"I'm an engineer, and I like to bake." He kept his words short, nervous.
The teacher smiles. "Alright, take your seat next to Lance. Lance, raise your hand." My hand shot up, waving at Hunk and showing him the empty desk to my right. He nodded and sat next to me.
I glance at him a couple of .times before finding the courage to speak.
"Hey. I'm Lance." I say, holding my hand out for him to shake with an easy smile. Hunk took it, smiling.
"Hunk."
Not expecting our first greeting to go so well it only continued as the class carried out. Our shared assignment with the chemistry set in front of us surprisingly did not implode. Despite his large form, Hunk was delicate with his hands.
He murmured softly to me, explaining how he was nervous for his first couple days here in Garrison and didn't have any friends. I complied, agreeing with him that it was very intimidating here.
"I get gassy when I'm nervous. So no one hangs out with me." Hunk admits. He flushed the second he did, realizing that might sound embarrassing.
"No one hangs out with me either," I tell him, smiling. He seemed reassured.
"And here I thought it was just my 'Gassy humor' that had everyone running away." When he chuckled at his own joke, I felt this flutter of hope for a new found friendship.
"We need to hang out. You want to have lunch with me?" My fun side was stepping up, eager to make a friend. Hunk smiled with a nod.
"That sounds awesome."
We hit it off right away. We had most of our classes together, spending our lunch outside. Hunk was super cool! He wasn't lying when he said he knew how to bake. His chocolate chip cookies were to die for.
I took a large bite of one, groaning in ecstasy. "Ohhhh my goooddd… these are so good!" I exclaimed.
Hunk chuckled, "They're easy to make, man. No biggie."
"Shush! They're amazing!" I say.
Hunk gave me a bashful smile, his face lighting up with the praise. "I tried to give some to my roommate, but he didn't seem interested. What about your roommate? Think he wants some?" Hunk asked.
"He's too busy sucking face with a Mothman pillow," I grumble. Hunk chuckled.
"He's into that?"
"Yup. Pretty sure he goes cryptid hunting every night." I took another bite of my cookie. "Keith fucking Kogane. Bigfoot hunter." That made me laugh. Hunk laughed too.
"Is that the guy who's really popular?" Hunk asked.
"Yeah. All the girls are after him. Even a few guys." I sat up and swallowed my cookie. Of course, I wasn't included in that list, despite my thoughts on Keith's gorgeous appearance. I'm an alien creature boy after all- so obviously I don't count.
Hunk snorted.
"He seemed pretty cool to me," he said, handing me a small bag of cookies. "Give him some of these. From me, because I made too many."
"Thanks, I'll try. See you tomorrow, yeah?" I stretched, noticing the time. 7:15. "I gotta head back and deal with mister grumpy pants," I grumbled, already dreading it. Hunk stood and clapped a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Good luck, man. See you tomorrow." He said, waving as he left. I waved, heading back to my dorm.
I feel fluttery, this wave of acceptance washing over me. I hadn't felt nervous at all talking to Hunk. He was so approachable and easy to talk to. The idea of making a new friend felt kind of childish to be excited for, but I couldn't help it.
Giggling to myself, I pause at my door to see heavy mud tracks leading inside. I sighed aggravated. Taking a deep breath, cookies on hand, I walked in.
"Hey, Keith?" I asked as I opened the door. The sight I was met with made me stall, swallowing my tongue.
My roommate stood in his full natural glory in the middle of the room. Meaning he was bare ass naked!
Water dripped down his smooth skin, pooling in all sorts of lovely ways. His towel had been cast to the side, his boxers held in his hand like he was just about to change into them before I came in.
Keith's cheeks flushed brightly, his eyebrows narrowing to bark at me to get out.
I stumbled back, struggling to find where the door was again. My eyes are unable to peel away from those rippling muscles, smooth stomach, thick thighs!
My chest constricted painfully, shooting a mile a minute from embarrassment and pure attraction from this goldy boy in front of me. Hitting the wall, my heart stutters a warning, and I realize what is about to happen. I reach upward, feeling my marks appear on my cheeks and my ears point out just before I managed to cover them.
It's too late.
I can see the way Keith's eyes lock in on the movement, puzzled at what he just witnessed. Before he can question me, and knowing I wouldn't be able to hold the rest of the transformation with him butt naked in front of me, I turned and fled.
I shoot down the hall, desperate to get away, dropping the cookies without looking back.
I was so screwed!
Took a while to get this out, but here it is! I got a friend helping me out with this story so I want to give a big shout out to Maddie for giving me some ideas with this chapter! THANK YOU MADDIE!
In the next chapter: Lance's thoughts are in the gutter and Keith's thoughts are about pointed ears~
Reviews:
Anamilia: Aww, thank you! I hope you enjoyed this update!
Guest: HERE IS MOREEEEEEE
Wildatheart843: Oh my gosh, thank you so much. I hope you continue to like this story!
Resa: Hehe XD Hijinks~
Azun26: Oh my gosh, I welcome all moods~ Evil or not~ It will be fun having Keith as a room mate, I assure you of that!
Adrianna Agray: THANK YOU! You are the one who always makes my day friend! You are so sweet and nice and thank you so much for always being so supportive!
HibinoMirai: Blushing? Check. Adoring new reader? Double check. thank you so much for the sweet review!
Melancholy's Sunshine: OH my gosh XD That would be so funnny! I might just steal that and add it into the story once Keith realizes Lance's secret!
Ewink18: THANK YOU! Gahhh, you are always so sweet and I just fan myself and squeal cause I can't take it! Thank you!