Settling In

(Hello Readers. I just wanted to give you all a fair warning. If you are here for some quick hot smut this likely won't be happening here. I suspect this will be more of a slow building love story with the occasional erotica along the way.)

The pair of you shake hands for about ten seconds too long. You finally let his small hand go and try to pull yours away.

You see another blush light his face through the curtain of hair as he lets your hand go. "Oh...sorry." He says as he pulls his own hand back. "Uh...I, uh...I'm just going to get dressed." He points towards some clothes piled on his bed. "I'm...uh...going to get dressed...in the bathroom. I'll get dressed in the bathroom." You can see him flinch as he knew how stupid that must have sounded.

You give him a long sideways look. "Yeah...sure, whatever dude."

He nods then rushes to grab the clothes. Taking them all up in a big ball then rushing back into the bathroom and slamming the door behind him. Man he was awkward, he didn't seem comfortable in his own skin. But you had taken him off guard and if he was indeed shy he probably didn't feel comfortable in the presence of a stranger. You were sure the awkwardness would pass soon enough.

You turn and zip open your duffel bag. Taking the laptop from the top you walk over and set it on your desk. Leaning forward you peer out through the leaves and branches at the green space just beyond. The area sat in the courtyard between three different dorm halls. Currently there was only one couple out there. The girl was sitting up and the guy was laid out, his head resting on her thigh. He looked up at her as she looked down at him as they spoke. They were obviously smitten. You smiled as your thoughts returned to Samantha.

Returning you start to unpack, mostly putting clothes away in various drawers. You really didn't have that much with you. Just clothes, computer, phone, everyday necessities, and some school supplies. In twenty minutes you had completely unpacked. You sit on your bed, it was firm, the bedding clean and soft. You look toward the bathroom door. Charlie was still in there. After all day on the road you seriously had to take a leak.

You speak up, confident your voice would reach him. "Hey Charlie, you going to be long? I really gotta go man. I've been driving all day and..."

You hear his voice on the other side of the door. "Sorry! Be right out!" The door opens almost instantly. Had he just been standing on the other side of the door? His floppy tussled hair was all around his head, that curtain of hair still covered his face. It looked like that was the look he was going for. He was wearing relaxed fit faded blue jeans and wore at least four layers over his upper body. Undershirt, t shirt, vest, and loose flannel over shirt. He wore a wooden pendant on a leather string around his neck. He had a bit of a 90's grunge look to him.

As the pair of you look at each other he flinches and shifts uncomfortably. He blurts out in his soft voice. "Uh...I have to wear compression shirts and vests. I've got a medical thing. In case you see them around and were wondering."

What the fuck? Why even say that? Dear lord if this guy could be any more ill at ease you just weren't sure how. Was this his first contact with humans? What a weirdo.

You just smile, you were okay with weirdos.

"Sure Charlie, whatever. None of my business my man." You make your way to the washroom in something of a hurry. The pair of you shuffle clumsily back and forth a few times as you try to get around him and he tries to get out of the way. Finally you just grab him by the shoulders and move him to one side. At 6' 2" you were at least a half foot taller than him and much more built, moving him was no problem at all. It was a bit rude...but nature called!

You rush in, leaving the door open behind you, and merciful relief comes to your over full bladder. "Ahhh." You sigh in relief as the yellow stream fell into the bowl. Calling over your shoulder you say. "I guess both of us couldn't wait to get here. I was surprised to see you here."

"Uh, yeah." You hear from the other room. You could barely hear his soft voice.

"You from the city here?"

"Uhh...no." He doesn't offer any more. You could already sense that keeping a conversation up with this guy was going to be tough.

You zip up and wash your hands before strolling back out. Charlie was sitting on his bed, his hands gripping the edge and his legs hanging over the side. He slouched forward. Grabbing your desk chair you spin it around and sit on it backwards, your lean muscled forearms resting along the back. "Not from the city huh? Me neither. I'm from a little town out of state. It's a flea speck, there's no way you've heard of it."

Charlie gives you a pained smile as he forces himself to engage. "Oh. That's cool. I...I'm from Canada."

"Oh wow! Really?" You say. "I've been up there a few times. Soccer tournaments. Toronto & Montreal. Nice country."

He looks at you a moment, you could barely see his face through the hair. That hair in your face would have driven you crazy.

Silence fills the room.

He finally says. "Never been there, I'm from out West." And with that he just leaves it hang in silence once more. Where out West? Nothing. He didn't want to share, that was fair enough you supposed.

You were about to move the conversation along when he sputters, conscious that you were waiting for him to say something. "B-b-but I've got some family down here somewhere." He laughs at something only he knew. "Long lost family. It's a big mystery. My Grandma said she has a sister...they were separated. She was taken up North. The sister stayed down here, was just a baby, probably doesn't even know."

"Oh, uh, that's interesting." You grin. What an odd mix of silence and over sharing Charlie was. "So...you're kinda American then. A few generations removed."

Charlie lets out a thin nervous laugh.

You chat a few more minutes. Telling him about the drive and how frustrating you found the city traffic. Try as you might you couldn't hide your bubbling enthusiasm about everything. He sat and patiently listened, hardly moving as you spoke. During a break in your chatter you pause to give him a chance to chime in.

Again the tension ratchets up as the silence fills the small space once more. Charlie just sat there waiting. He was obviously not a people person. Ah well, you didn't mind carrying the conversation. Besides, he was only your roommate. He didn't have to be your friend.

You stand up and stretch. "God, I'm starving. Have you eaten yet?"

He looks up at you like a startled rabbit. "Uh...uh no actually, but uh..."

You slap him on his slender shoulder. "Good! Come on. My treat. I could go for some pizza. Sound good?"

"Uhhh..." He says uncertainly.

Just then a knock comes to the door.