Page 11 of Walk the Line

My patience is thin as it is, but even for me it’s too early to be making an enemy out of my roommates.

She has a couple more days of trying that shit, before I finally let her know my thoughts.

With this Scholarship, I wasn’t able to get a place by myself but I mourn the guy who would have been in my element in a situation like that. It’s not all that bad though. At least this house is just walking distance from the Hockey rink, and even all my lecture halls.

“I gotta go rehearse now.” Damn, I forgot this guy was talking again. “Good conversation as usual because as usual, I’m the one carrying it,” Demetrius says and fair enough. Can’t argue with that.

“I don’t want to steal your spotlight, you know that.”

“It’s a good thing you don’t talk much, because a lot of shit comes out of your mouth when you do.”

I break out into laughter. “Why do you keep starting on me?” I say through it.

“Sorry. In my head, we’re still kids.”

“It actually hurts, man.”

Now he’s the one who’s laughing. “Yeah, remember the point I just made.”

“Get off my line.”

We don’t take each other serious enough to get offended about any back and forth we have, but we always fall into line at the end, which is why he says, “Love you, bro.”

“Love you, too.”

That’s just one of the many things I appreciate about my family. I might be the more withdrawn one, but they’re always made me feel comfortable to show and receive the love we have for each other.

CHAPTER FIVE

KAYLAH

I’m seriously going to lose it.

I’m overthinking all the time. It’s not the best life approach I take, admittedly, but it’s something that comes naturally to me. I can’t say I particularly like to be in my thoughts, but right now it’s better than being anywhere else for me. I don’t have to make the gruelling attempt to travel anywhere for this.

If only it wasn’t being made so difficult by the insufferable prick that moved in a month ago.

It was bad enough having to come to terms with the fact that he’s my new roommate, but if that wasn’t torture enough his room just so happens to be directly under my room.

And he won’t let me forget it.

There’s probably only a few short minutes of the day that I can feel a semblance of…as much peace as someone like me can feel, because the sound coming from his room has briefly been put to rest.

The remaining minutes are filled with nothing but either his vapid music draining through the speakers and draining my life while it’s at it. And if that’s not cutting it for him, I’m blessed with catching up alongside him on whatever the hell is going on in the show or movie he’s watching.

Then just as soon as he’s done with that, it’s time for his phone call.

Which is exactly what’s happening right now.

I’m irritable. It’s been coming easily for me since the summer before university began least year, and since my antidepressants don’t seem to be working, I guess I just have to deal with it.

But I’ve been trying to keep in control of my actions, and starting what is probably unnecessary conflict seems like it could have long lasting effects that I just don’t have the energy for.

I’ve been telling myself that for weeks.

But now I’m starting to think this particular conflict might be necessary.

I’m feeling a headache creeping along, and it’s now hitting me that I’ve been granting this guy way more respect than he deserves, considering the fact that he’s not granting me any at all.