Play.

By the time I even think to respond, Rose has waltzed over to the front of the room and shut the door. I'm trapped.

"Look, I'm just gonna play something really repetitive, cuz that's all I can do," I explain.

Rose clears her throat and replies, "That's fine. If you think about it, most songs are repetitive anyway. It's all about the rhythm. It's the thing that gets us humans going, ya know? Music couldn't be music if it wasn't evenly paced."

I guess that makes sense.

"Human beings are all about rhythm," she continues, "Hearts beating, lungs breathing, biological clocks, circadian cycles...

"Sex..." she adds with a giggle, "Now go ahead, Alexis."

I shoulder the guitar strap and immediately begin to play, although quietly. It takes me a few beats to get the nerve to play louder. Once I do, Rose starts to absorb the sounds, closing her eyes and humming gently to the tune. It's just a slow, even tempo of bass-ey tones set to repeat, with the riff only a few notes long. Still, my roommate seems to be enjoying it. Maybe a little too much.

"Mmmm, Alexis, this rhythm is beautiful...almost hypnotic," she says, her eyes still closed and her body swaying gently to the melody, "It's okay if you keep doing this riff; It'll give me more time to think of a vocal for it."

So I do as she asks, which-- in truth-- is about all I can do anyway, but minutes pass as Rose gradually stops humming yet keeps on swaying. Her mouth hangs open, too. With her eyes shut, mouth agape and body swinging like a pendulum, she looks more like a bored student trying desperately not to fall out of her chair in a sleepy stupor than a girl trying to sing a song. I think I need to stop. My hand hurts. And she's freaking me out.

"Rose? Rose?"

"Hm? Oh!" Rose shoots open her eyes and looks wildly about, as if she had been asleep. "Wow, that was really good," she adds, seemingly back to normal.

"Really? Not bad?" I ask.

"Um....-what- not bad?" she says, genuinely puzzled.

"The song."

"Song?" She pauses in thought. "Oh yah! The song! Um..." Pause. "You know, I'm sorry, Alexis, but I really don't remember it that well! But for sure it wasn't bad. For sure."

"I guess it must have been really boring if you fell asleep."

"Asleep? I didn't fall asleep!"

"Yes you did! I saw you dozing off right where you stand!"

Rose laughs aloud, clearly not believing me. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm not in the least bit sleepy! And your song did -not- make me 'fall asleep where I stand!' I'm not a horse!"

I just shrug and put the guitar away. It really must have been as bad as I think, or else Rose wouldn't have to fib to make me feel good. Well, I think that's the last I'll be playing for anyone.

"Soooo anyway," Rose says, stretching, "you wanna go meet some people? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of people in this dorm who play guitar and other stuff. Hey, maybe we can start a band!"

I'm not sure if I'm ready to go out and meet a lot of people all of a sudden. Rose might have to go without me.

"Ummmm I don't know; I kinda wanted to get settled and sign up for classes and things like that..."

"Oh c'mon, Alexis! Maybe you'll find someone you can practice with!"