***This is my first time posting in a while and the formatting seems really off. I'm sorry if this causes problems for you as a reader. I'm going to do a bit of research and try to fix it later. Thanks for reading!***
My roommate reminds me of a cat. When we first moved in together, I didn't think anything of the fact that he seemed to be a bit of a loner. He was quiet and that's probably what I liked most about him. We both go to college, though I'm three years older than him and he's only a freshman.
During the interview in which I was looking for a suitable roommate, I asked him why he wanted to share an apartment with me rather than just use a dorm and he said that he could afford an entire apartment all by himself, but that he couldn't find one so close to our college with such conveniences that was available any time soon. Then he asked me why I wanted a roommate and I told him that it was because my previous roommate had just moved out and I couldn't afford the apartment all on my own. All in all, it seemed like our needs lined up fairly perfectly.
So, I let him move in and - to be honest - I haven't really seen much of him. He really is a loner in that he stays in his room most of the time doing his homework, but when he's bored, he comes out and sort of haunts the apartment. I mean it's his home too, so there's nothing wrong with him wandering around it aimlessly, but it sort of makes me a bit nervous and I don't really know why.
Thankfully, the weirdest thing I've caught him doing so far is sleeping naked on his stomach on the floor in the sunshine. I had come home early from class, figured that he hadn't expected me home yet, and since he was asleep, I simply went to my room and did my homework before leaving for work. Still, I have to admit that seeing that surprised me. It's such a cat thing to do!
And so, it seems I have found myself a pet cat that can pay half the rent and his share of the bills. I suppose that if that's all I have to complain about, I should just keep my mouth shut. Still... would it kill him to actually talk to me at times?
Maybe I'll just have to, I don't know, initiate a conversation or something? Invite him to play GTAV with me? Maybe have a drink.
As a bartender, I tend to work late at night. I also tend to have a lot of girls interested in me. They're usually college students like me, and so I know them. Previously, I'd take them home when asked, but ever since I got my new cat, that has seemed weird. Almost like I was afraid he'd judge me, but still, I'm a healthy man with needs, and so, when I just couldn't take the celibacy anymore, I started bringing them home again. To my surprise, he didn't seem to notice, much less say anything judgmental.
Then again, he's so quiet, I'm not sure he'd say anything even if it did bother him. This is crazy! I need to stop feeling so awkward around him! I was going to get him to open up and become a proper friend if it killed me!
But how?
After my guest for the night left one morning - well probably more like afternoon, we had been up until dawn after all - I paced back and forth in my room trying to figure out a way to strike up a conversation with Elian until a decently brilliant plan came to me.
I wandered out to find him, thanking my luck when I found him staring into the fridge as if thinking that if he simply stayed there long enough, the perfect meal would make itself for him. Oh if only!
"Hey Elian?"
"Yeah?" He asked with mild interest even as he continued to search the fridge.
"I just wanted to warn you that I plan to have a bunch of friends come over tonight - since it's Friday. But don't feel like you have to leave or anything. In fact, I'd like it if you hung out a bit."
"Why?" He wondered curiously, even turning to look at me.
I shrugged. "Well they're my friends and I plan to have various combinations of them over from time to time. It would just be easier if you already knew them so that you wouldn't feel weird if they came over before I got home - for example." I explained, and even thought that was true, it wasn't the main reason - which was that I wanted to get him out of his shell a bit.
He gave a half shrug as he shut the fridge. "Whatever. I'll probably stay in my room for the most part, but I'll come out to meet everyone when the pizza arrives."
"Pizza?" I questioned stupidly. Honestly, pizza was the perfect food for an impromptu party.
He gave me a tiny smile. "Don't worry, it'll be my treat. How many people should I order for?"
I rubbed my chin as I thought this over. "Hmm... I think... about 12."
"Alright then," he stated as if this was now a fact set in stone. Then he grabbed an apple from the basket on the table and chomped into it as he returned to his room.
Crap! Now I not only have to invite people over, but I ALSO have to get out of working tonight! Lucky for me that one of my coworkers owes me a big favor.
Later that night, after the party was in full swing, the doorbell rang and I answered it to find a delivery girl staggering under a stack of a dozen pizzas. Elian emerged from his room to accept and pay for the delivery without even being told that it had arrived. I was surprised to find a nice variety: meat lovers, veggie, cheese, etc. Watching curiously, I was also surprised to see him act gracious as my friends all treated him like a conquering hero - or a popular celebrity.
Once he had a couple of slices on a plate (one chicken bacon ranch and one meat lovers), he took a step back and grabbed the cup out of my hand.
"Um..." I muttered, wondering if I should stop him. He was only 18 after all, and I could be legally liable if the cops were called out at any point. But he downed my long island iced tea before I could say a word. He didn't cough or make any indication that the alcohol bothered him.
"This is good," he said instead.
"Well, it's one of my favorite drinks, and being a bartender, I know a lot of them. I made it the way I like it best," I explained, not entirely sure why I felt off balance and didn't just say thanks and leave it at that.
My friends were having a blast, drinking and dancing to the music. They all made a point to meet and chat a bit with Elian, but then went back to fucking around as they got a bit drunker. Meanwhile, Elian stood off to the side, sort of drifting around a bit, watching them all with the fascination of a scientist conducting an experiment.
After winning an impromptu dance contest - since I was the only one still sober enough to remain on my feet - I finally decided that it was a good time to chat with Elian.
"Hey," I began as I gestured for us to sit at chairs around the table that were sort of in the corner and seemed to offer a bit of privacy even as we were able to see (and be seen by) everyone.
"Yeah?" Elian asked curiously.
"Can I ask you something?"
