Page 69 of My Roommate from Hell
It’s been about a week since our first hangout. Zarmenus and I have been spending a lot of time together, and have had dinner together basically every night. Even if it’s fake, it’s been enjoyable.
Tyrell has told me people have noticed we’re spending more time together, which is good.
According to the plan I wrote, now is the time we need to start being more affectionate in public. After a little more of that, we will be ready to post that we’re a couple online.
It’s something that was easier to plan than it is to execute. I’m already freaking out about it. Do I really want my face on millions of phone screens all around the world?
Zarmenus and I are both in our room. He’s been playing a shooting video game for the past few hours, and I’ve been in bed, rereadingThe Sanctuary. It was first published in the sixties, which makes it harder to sink into than most books I read. It’s a sad story about a wife deciding she’s going to divorce her husband. The book ends the moment she sits him down to tell him, because she gives up on him changing and finally decides the only way for her to be happy is to try her luck elsewhere. It’s a downbeat ending, but still somewhat hopeful, as there are hints throughout the story that both characters will be happier apart than they are together.
“We have to do something,” says Zarmenus. He’s only in his boxers and a pair of socks, something I’m trying not to notice too much. Another thing I’m trying not to notice is the creepy doll thatcame to our door. It’s now on Zarmenus’s desk, and it feels like it’s watching me.
I close my book. On this second read-through I’ve been going slower, leaving sticky notes in the margins while writing the quotes down on my side of the notebook.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Word isn’t spreading about us,” he says. “We need to do something drastic.”
“We’re following the plan.”
“It’s not working fast enough.”
“If we tell them now, they won’t buy it,” I say. Tyrell might’ve bought that I had a crush, but it still feels too soon to tell anyone we’re together.
Or maybe I’m dragging my feet because as soon as we do, the real test will begin.
“You humans have such strange rules,” he says. “In Hell if two people like each other, that’s all that matters.” He puts down his controller. “Dad will have one of his minions check on us soon. And if he asks around campus and nobody knows we’re dating, we’ll be in for a world of hurt. We could make an Instagram post? It’ll take two seconds.”
“We should go on another date first,” I say. I’m stalling because I’m freaked out about going social media official, but Zarmenus doesn’t seem to pick up on that.
“Tonight?”
I shake my head. “I’m going to a Gaymers meeting.”
“Oh. Can I come?”
He doesn’t appear to be joking.
“You want to?” I ask. “You know it’s a board game night, right? You said it sounds like torture.”
“Yeah, fun,” he says. “Plus, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t support your interests?”
“Tons of couples are into different things,” I say.
I think Zarmenus would hate board game night. Yes, people drink, and some people seem to care more about that than the gamesthemselves, but still. Zarmenus belongs at a frat party, not at a game night.
He crosses his arms. “All right, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say. “If you want to join, you can. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”
“I do,” he says. “And if you’re up for it, we can test the waters and tell a few people. If they buy it, we should post.”
I blanch at the thought. I’ve complained to them about Zarmenus. There’s no way they’d buy us as a couple this early. Or will they?
For our plan to work, we’ll have to start telling people eventually.
Why not tonight?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
