I’ve been thinking about which five roommate candidates to pick as soon as I got home from hanging out with Yoni and Kieran. The guys were right, I need to pick a roommate and persevere until I can move out.

  One candidate blatantly told me he was going to bring people over all the time. Another was firm that he never cooks so he won’t ever be cleaning. Then one candidate was brazenly racist towards me. The other two? It might be pretentious, but I can’t live with a person who smells that bad.

  Which of these four would be the best worst option?

  It shouldn’t be hard to adapt to one of these guys… right?

  This isn’t hard, so why am I making it so difficult on myself?

  My phone had been getting texts all Saturday and Sunday from Yoni, I didn’t have the energy to talk to him. Nor the pride to tell him I still haven’t decided on a roommate yet. Yoni filled our group texts with pictures and rave reviews of the new bar he went to. So why message me privately about it?

  When I finally read his messages they weren’t what I was expecting, Yoni was excitedly explaining about how he found a possible new roommate for me.

  He met a roommate for me? At a bar? Is he an idiot? I couldn’t even respond to his lunacy and ignored him all together.

  To be honest, Monday was so calm that I was waiting for the inevitable Yoni storm. He’s going to give me an earful as soon as I see him at lunch. When I was walking towards the cafeteria I stopped, I could just leave. I’m done for the day… I don’t have to eat here…

  Ugh, procrastinating means Yoni spamming my phone or worse hunting me down on campus. Might as well get this over with. When I got to the cafeteria it was strangely quiet; it wasn’t exactly empty but there were barely any people.

  “What the…” I mumbled to myself.

  “I guess everyone is still trying out that new burger place,” I heard Yoni say from behind me. He elbowed me in the side, “why did you ignore me?”

  “Who finds a roommate at a gay bar?”

  “I’m trying to help! You’re so indecisive about this,” Yoni pouted.

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  I looked around and the few people in the cafeteria were staring at us, “let’s go somewhere more private.”

  “What’s wrong with finding a roommate at a gay bar?” Yoni asked with a raised eyebrow. Only looking at Yoni, I knew he was genuinely asking.

  “Well one of two things will be interpreted; the first that I’m a giant creep and the second that I’m looking for a hookup…” I paused when I saw the confused expression Yoni was still making. “I can’t even imagine what they thought when you asked them,” I mumbled to myself.

  “What?”

  “Hm?”

  Yoni glared at me, “so someone would think you’re a serial killer or slut if you asked them to be your roommate… at a bar?”

  “Obviously it’s not a given but that’d be the common thought,” I scratched the back of my head. “You didn’t give them my number right?”

  “Of course not,” Yoni frowned.

  “Oh thank you,” I exhaled in relief then felt a wave of annoyance wash over me. “I prefer manwhore over slut by the way,” I smacked Yoni upside the head.

  “Hey I don’t know all the terminology, don't be so mean!” He cried.

  “So you finally caught me, are you going to tell me about this person or not?”

  Yoni smiled sheepishly, “...well… that bartender I told you about, the one that’s your type… it’s him.” Yoni laughed nervously.

  “Ahh…” I let out, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Why would you do that?”

  “Well, you said you aren’t interested in that type of thing. Then I overheard from the other bartenders that he was looking for a place to live! I couldn’t stop myself,” before I could let another sound out Yoni stepped up to me. “Who cares if he’s your type? He’s quiet and hardworking. Sounds better than all your other options, right?” Yoni’s stare was fierce.

  “I-”

  “No, don’t make an excuse. Meet him once and if it isn’t a fit then pick one of those other guys,” it was becoming obvious that Yoni was out of patience. “Decide soon before they find other places to live.”

  Yoni’s words wounded my pride because he was right. Putting this off longer would mean it will be my fault for not finding a roommate; then I will really have to settle. Quiet and hardworking isn’t enough to judge this guy, I’d need to see him in person. Is it wrong to hope the guy is ugly as fuck?

  “What’s his number?”

  “I’ll send it to you right now!” Yoni grinned happily.

  When I went to add the number to my contacts my heart dropped.

  All I could hear is white static while staring at the name across my phone.

  The world felt completely still, I wasn’t sure if it was a dream or reality.

  What the hell is this?

  This can’t be real.

  The name across my screen read: Elijah.