Roommate Troubles

(Pictures from Pinterest!)

Ashton Campbell, according to everyone who has ever known him, was a kind man. At least, that’s what he thought. He tried his best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Even though there were people he has resented before, he still tried his best to think, and understand others, logically. At the end of the day, everyone was still cut from the same cloth. Or well, in his eyes, from the same god. 

That’s what he tried to convince himself but his roommates were making it extremely difficult. 

“Dina! Could you move for Divine's sake?!” Ashton jolts up from his deep sleep at the low, deep voice that came from his living room Before, he'd wake up with the bright sunlight making its way through his blinds. Nowadays? It never happens. “You’re blocking the TV. I’m watching!”

A sharp, feminine voice replies. “Zack, Could you get up from the couch and actually do something?! We’re heading to work in ten minutes!”

Ashton hears a scoff. “Egghead.”

“Bum.” He hears shuffling and whispered rants, seemed like Zack finally got off of the couch to get ready. He flops back onto the bed, his chest hitting the soft mattress as he resists the urge to scream in his pillow. It’s hard to believe that those two are in their mid twenties. They bicker like children. 

He shakes his heads to clear his head as he gets up to prepare for his shift at the Morningstar Casino. Being a bartender had its perks sometimes. Even if he wasn’t a heavy drinker, it was still a good perk to sneak out alcohol when he had a stressful day and wanted to unwind. Thankfully, Caleb didn’t mind. If he did, Ashton would have been been on his bad side months ago. 

He exits the room after he’s done changing into his usual forest green button up and brown suspenders, feeling slightly good about himself. He sees Dina and Zack who had also already dressed to leave. One look at their dull brown color schemes reminded him that he was rooming with professionals, a detective, a forensics expert and him, a lowly bartender. The feeling of inferiority started to crawl up his spine. It made him sick almost. 

Zack, slouching against the couch, looks at him and smirks. “Well, if it isn’t our beloved sleeping beauty! Campbell, looking as plain as usual. Did ya even brush your hair?” 

Ashton lets out a sigh in response. If there was one way he could describe Zack Anderson, it was that he was mean. He was like those guys who peaked in high-school, those guys who found joy picking on the little guy. He feels pity for those who had to deal with him at whatever school or university he went to. He remembers guys like him who walked over him during those times and any small piece of sympathy he’s ever had for Zack goes right out the window. 

Zack ruffles his hair. “Hey! That took thirty minutes to fix—!” All he got in reply was a smug grin. Ashton had to remind himself that the man messing with him was taller and stronger than him. It doesn’t take an expert to know that he’d be screwed if he lashed out or slapped the guy’s hand away.

Dina crosses her arms unamused. “We were waiting for you. You should get up on time or you’ll be as useless as Zack is.” She looks him up and down, ignoring Zack’s protests. “And you look horrible in that shade of green. You should go shopping more.”

He gapes at her, astounded by her audacity. “Actually, I doubt you have the fashion sense or competency to pick out something for yourself. I’ll do it.” She adds, dismissively. Like it was a burden he put on her despite never even asking for her help.

Zack was bad but Dina was even worse. Somehow she was even more intimidating to Ashton through her blunt yet cruel words. You would think that she doesn’t intend to be mean at first then she keeps talking and her words sink in. If Zack was a mean bully, Dina was the smart popular girl who could destroy you within seconds. 

Maybe I shouldn’t be comparing them to tropes. We are civilized adults after all. 

While he was spaced out, he notices that they had already left. He runs out of the front door to see Dina’s car already driving away and Zack jogging a couple blocks away.

Ashton scowls. No, I can call them whatever I want. They’re actually the worst. 

---

If mornings were bad, evenings were typically better. The way the stars shine in the night sky and the streetlights glow while he walks by in the streets. It was quiet in this part of Las Vides. The chirping of crickets was music to his ears, a symphony he’d gotten used to. 

Ashton wasn’t used to the silence. Not anymore since he had gotten roommates. Therefore, this was the only time where he felt like he could get the peace and quiet he deserves. He likes being alone with his thoughts sometimes when he isn't spiraling. At night, it’s like those thoughts were silent if only for a moment.

However, this evening wasn’t what he had hoped. In fact, it was the farthest thing from being a peaceful walk back home. 

Work was worse than usual. There were more elite pompous customers who kept asking for more alcohol even though they clearly drank enough to get amnesia. That caused him to work more hours until he could make a fruity cocktail in his sleep. 

Not only that, Mari managed to somehow get her cat to sneak in, causing his allergies to start up and he got scratched by her. 

Zack and Dina were following him all day which caused him to snap at them in front of a crowd of people. Not his best move, he admits but they had their jobs, couldn’t they let Ashton do his?

And if that all wasn’t bad enough, an alleged crime happened within the premises which made him clock out even later. He got asked what happened by the authorities until it was confirmed that the area was safe again.

Not even the crickets could save his sour mood. 

When he got home, he frowned at the scene before him. Dina and Zack bickering again about what movie they were going to watch for their newly established movie night. Ashton slams the door behind him hard. They look up, shocked then their expressions become unamused.

“There you are! We've been waiting forever- Man, What’s gotten you all worked up?” Zack asks, rolling his eyes as he places his feet on the wooden table in front of the couch. Ashton just cleaned that yesterday. He didn’t even take his shoes off. 

“You know frowning and squinting like that can cause wrinkles?” Dina adds to the conversation, adjusting her glasses. She sips her coffee before placing it on the table. It didn’t have a coaster. It left a mark. I just cleaned that yesterday. “It’s unflattering. You might have to start wearing makeup to conceal it.”

“Ha!” Zack cackles. “Yeah, cause that fits the princess perfectly. Doesn’t it, Ashton?” He sends him a mocking smile. 

All of a sudden, Ashton was back in high-school. After begging his parents that he preferred to be homeschooled. He was back in that building again. The same bullies who cornered him, followed him, mocked him. The walls feel like they’re closing in on him. It’s like nothing has changed. As if he was still the pathetic kid that needed help from his parents. 

Nothing changes.

Screw that.

He throws his coat on the ground. “You guys- you both- you-!” He felt tears prick in his eyes, like he was about to explode by how frustrated he was. No. He couldn’t cry. Not here. Not now. That was letting them win.

He could yell at them like he did before. He could snap at them for following him and overall, ruining his day before it even started. How it seemed like their primary goal was to make him suffer. 

Divine, he wishes he never met them at all. He curses his past self for accepting their offer. As if the faint sense of deja vu was anything more than a horrid feeling from his past. Why did he think this would be any different?

“You both are horrible people.” He says with a shaky tone. He knows they know it, judging by the way their expressions were awestruck. “And you know it. You just don’t care.” He fights his urge to scream, to cry. He’d just be mocked. Like they always did. “And I cleaned that table yesterday!” He points at where Zack’s feet and Dina’s coffee mug were staying.

At least they had the audacity to take them off.

I won’t be cleaning after them anymore.

He storms to his room. He feels as if he’s in the wrong. He shouldn’t have thrown his second tantrum today but he’s too tired to care. He flops on the bed, tired. He checks his phone, seeing texts from Mari who apologized that her cat caused him trouble. Her name was Lyra, he didn’t know she named it. 

Caleb sent him a text too, saying that he could take the day off if he wanted to. He wasn’t Ashton’s boss but he appreciates it nonetheless.

He replies to them before shutting off his phone, sinking deeper into the mattress like it can consume him whole. He closes his eyes, allowing the silence to attempt to calm him down.

It works for a while.

Until he remembers the cycle repeats again tomorrow. Again and again.