MY ROOMMATE

      He watched as she gulped down shots of alcohol. He didn't know what to do. She won't let him come in, she was shutting him off. He had known her type, the type that shuts everyone off except you are really close or unless you have really made a lasting impact on her. He contemplated going to console her. He was pitying her, he pitied anyone crying. That has been his weak point and the women in his life had taken so much advantage of it. 

       He was still in Los Angeles because his mother had not cried yet. Once he hears her cry, he would be running back to San Francisco on the next available flight. That was the only reason he had always refused to answer her calls. Watching this strange woman crying at night and not being able to do anything was not typical of him. He had seen her cry other nights too, at least thrice and he had just stood watching her. This time around, whether she liked it or not, he was going to intervane. He wondered what or who was making her cry every day. 

        He took one step forward, she didn't even notice that he was in the kitchen. He took another step forward and finally walked towards her.  She poured another drink in the shot to gulp, but he went quickly and took the shot away from her, grabbed the bottle from her and threw them in the sink. 

        "Are you a fool," he asked her. She was glaring at him.  "Do you want to kill yourself? For what? You know how bad hangover is on you."

        "It's none of your business. I told you to stay out of my business. Stay away from me!" 

        "First, I'm breaking the rule number two because you have already broken the rule number seven when you put your drinks in my fridge. Second, I told you I can't stay away from you." 

        "How did you even have the numbers of the rules in your head?" 

        "Because, I'm a rule breaker." 

       "Whatever, just stay away from me." 

        "I can't stay away from you." 

        "Why?" Her eyes flared. 

        "If you want to die, go somewhere else and die, don't do it in my hands." 

        She sighed and stood up from her chair and went straight to the sink, she picked the shot and the bottle. He went over to her in quick strides, and hefted her off the ground, placed her on his shoulder and went away from the sink. 

      She kicked and wriggled.  "What the...bring me down right now!" 

        "I told you to stop drinking right? I don't like people that are disobedient." 

        "Where are you taking me to?! Bring me down!" 

       But Ethan was not even listening to her, he draped her over his shoulder and carried her to her room. 

      "I'm going to drop you here and lock this door, you are not going to come out here till morning." 

      "What?! Who are you? My father?" 

        "Whatever." He tried lying her on the bed and they fell together, with him on top of her, their eyes met and locked. Her mouth smelled of alcohol, but he didn't know why it smelt sweet to him, her lips that were red from booze and slightly parted attracted him and he had a sudden urge to kiss those lips. The next thing that happened left him both helpless and breathless.