I took a swig of the beer and let it wash over me. This was a good movie. If I could just watch it.
A few swigs later, I looked down and realized I’d drunk the whole cup.
I cleared my throat and tossed the empty cup over towards the desk. It missed and soared over to the floor instead. It landed and rolled a few feet.
“Um?” Keaton said.
I looked at him. “What?”
“You just littered on our floor.”
“I’ll clean it up later,” I said. I resisted the urge to repeat what I had said only cleaner this time. Why did my words sound funny?
“Right,” Keaton sighed. He was so annoyed with me. I just kept fucking things up.
“It doesn’t matter for you, anyway,” I said. “You’re moving out.”
I shouldn’t have sounded so sad. Damnit. Why did I sound so sad? Now he was going to know…
“Actually,” Keaton said. “I decided I’m not going to move out until you’re better.”
Until I was better?
Wait – he wasn’t moving out?
“You’re going to stay?” I asked.
“For now,” Keaton said.
I thought about it for a moment and then heaved a sigh. “Whatever. Just go, if you’re going to go.”
“You need help right now,” Keaton argued. “I’m not going to leave you while you need me.”
“I’m always going to need you,” I blurted out.
Keaton stared at me. Something was rushing in my blood. That beer had really gone to my head. Which didn’t make sense, because I’d had pizza.
“Why do you need me?” he asked. The movie was still playing but it was like we had both forgotten about it.
“Because you help me,” I said. “And you’re nice. And you’re neat and tidy. And you know what to do and what I’m supposed to have and you tell me. And if you move out – if you move out someone else will come in. I might not like them.”
Keaton took a breath. “I don’t think you should have drunk that beer,” he said. He put the laptop to one side and paused the movie. “You never normally talk this much.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I talk enough. And you don’t make me talk. If someone else moves in they might talk all the time. And they won’t be you. I like having you as my roommate. I like spending time with you and I like watching movies with you.”
Keaton opened and shut his mouth about a dozen times. I was beginning to be worried that my hearing had gone. Or maybe I was drunker than I thought and seeing things.
“Okay,” he said finally. “Okay. I’ll stay with you for the rest of the year.”
“You’re staying?” I asked. I felt tears spring to my eyes. He was going to stay. I was so happy.
Keaton broke out into a grin. “Yes, you doofus jock. I’ll stay.”
I laughed and reached out for him, grabbing him. I didn’t even think about it. I pulled him into a hug, squeezing him tight until he gasped. Then I let go and looked him in the eye. I held him by the shoulders. I was so happy.
His gaze flicked down to my mouth for just a moment.
I leaned in and kissed him.
