"Oh, are you Jamie's brother?"
He chuckles as I look around the place. It's small. If I take five steps in any direction, I will hit a wall. I am standing in the living room/kitchen/dining room area. Peeking overhead, I see a stepladder leading to what I can tell is a loft style bedroom. Where is the other bedroom?
"No. I'm not Jamie's brother."
Great, it's her boyfriend. If she gets the loft then I will have to hear them having sex, ugh.
"Oh...uh, where is the other bedroom?" I open the one door in the place and it's a tiny bathroom with a white pedestal sink, single stand up shower, and freakishly small toilet.
"Stand in the kitchen." He walks to the corner of the room but points to the tiny oven, half-refrigerator, and one beige cabinet.
After I squeeze next to the stove and notice some clothes on the counter next to it, I see him pull at a bookcase and the wall falls down. Only it's a bed. A Murphy bed. I frown. Now I will definitely be hearing my roommate have sex.
"Okay then. I guess I can call it quaint. I'm used to a little more space in Chicago." I smile at him.
"Yeah I heard you lived there. I am hoping to move there after the program for obvious reasons." He pushes the bed back up and walks over to sit on the dark blue love seat, which gives the appearance of being huge in this tiny space. The white walls are sparse, but my roommate has already put up one poster of AC/DC.
I leave my suitcase in the kitchen and walk over to take a seat on the light wood floor. It's hard and uncomfortable, but the way Jamie's boyfriend takes up the couch, I don't think I can fit. He lifts his finger in the air with a look of surprise.
"Oh, I brought a few beers, you want one?" he asks as he gets up to walk the five steps into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator.
"Sure. That sounds good. So, is Jamie out grocery shopping?" I ask as he hands me a cold bottle of beer, already opened. I take a sip and it feels refreshing as it runs down my throat. I didn't realize how thirsty I was from the plane ride.
He chuckles again and shakes his head. “No, not at the moment.” He reaches across the small wooden chest acting as our coffee table to shake my hand. “I’m Jamie Novak, pleased to make your acquaintance Morgana.” My mouth falls open as I absentmindedly shake his hand, no doubt giving him a dead-fish handshake instead of the powerful, confident one I practiced on the plane.
Oh no. Oh yes!
I can feel my face burning as I try not to look directly at him. I study the one tall metal lamp next to the loveseat and then nod. Yes, that looks like a good lamp. Nothing out of the normal there.
Standing, I walk over to the black poster on the wall that I can now tell is being held up by red pushpins. Hmm, red, nice choice of color.
"Morgana! What are you doing? You just found out your roommate for the next six weeks is a hot guy, why are you staring at thumb tacks?" My Brain looks scared. Very scared.
"If I look at everything else but him this will all go away. La la-de da nothing bad will happen while I stare at the ripped black paper edges of a very old poster. Vagina can't win this time. Good will defeat evil!" I tell my Brain.
"Oh Morgana. The force is strong in this one." My Vagina smirks at me while glancing at Jamie.
The hairs on my neck stand up and I know he is behind me as his warm breath cascades down my neck.
"You like AC/DC? It was actually my dad's. One of the few possessions I have of him. He passed away from cancer last year. I hope you don't mind, but I wanted something here of his to remind me why I am working so hard to help my family," Jamie speaks as my heart begins to race until I feel it break.
"Holy shit! You must marry him Morgana! Don't listen to Brain, she's a cold bitch. This man needs you." My Heart is crying while looking up into Jamie's soulful hazel eyes. I see Vagina nodding furiously at Heart's statement.
"Shhh! I don't even know him. He could be gay for all I know. That is probably it. That's why I am roommates with a man, because he is homosexual and requested a female roommate. He's Gay!" That last part I said out loud. If my face was flush with pink before, it is now fire engine red.
"Is he? I don't know much about the band, but I didn't realize the lead singer was gay," Jamie's words vibrate in my ear as his cinnamon scented breath continues to envelop me, causing my nipples to harden.
"Uh...I...uh...I meant flamboyant and fun. You know the traditional use of the word. Ha! If you’re going to be living with me Jamie, there is one thing you should know… I…I like traditional words." I cringe as the ridiculous words leave my mouth. Thankfully, I still have my back to him so he can't see my reactions.
"Well, that's good to know. I think it is a good idea if we get to know each other a bit. Perhaps I should order some dinner and we can get to know each other a little better...Morgana," Jamie whispers my name into my ear.