Despite the horribly hard mattress, Noah managed to sleep through the entire night without waking up once. For him, that's a rare event. Blinking his eyes open he feels well-rested for the first time in ages, actually appreciating the sun shining and brightening up the space surrounding him. The feeling felt foreign, but it definitely was not unwanted.
Once his vision is finally back to normal, his eyes finally adjusting to the harsh sunlight in the room, he's met with the sight of his roommate rummaging through a bag, seemingly trying to be as quiet as possible. It seemed as if he did have manners after all.
"You're actually unpacking." Noah yawns as he rolls onto his back, stretching out his stiff limbs.
"Well my laptop was in my car, so I just picked up everything when I went to get it."
Noah narrows his eyes as he looks at the other side of the room, taking in the small number of things over there. "That's all of your stuff? Didn't you bring anything to liven up your side of the room?"
TJ shrugs, "I have clothes and my laptop, I don't need anything else."
"You no have decor? No posters? Not even a lamp?"
"Nope," TJ says, clearly not seeing what the issue was. "Oh, here. Thanks again for letting me use it."
The cloud-shaped pillow is thrown into Noah's lap before he even processes the other's words. He turns it over in his hands, squishing the soft material as he debates with his own thoughts in his mind. "Keep it. You need at least something to bring some personality to your side."
"Clouds aren't really my thing."
"Do it for your roommate then. I can't stand looking at your boring grey bedding, this will help to improve my own living environment A LOT." Noah throws the pillow back with a sweet smile, something he hopes is too convincing to refuse. And, surprisingly enough, it works. TJ says no more words of protest as he positions the little cloud in front of his own pillow.
"So... want to get to know each other better?"
For some reason the question causes TJ heart to stop functioning properly, his mind instantly thinking there was some kind of hidden meaning behind them. Why was he even overthinking it? It was obvious that there were only good intentions behind the question, the other just trying to get the two of them to stop being strangers. He's had plenty of friends in the past, so why did getting to know Noah feel completely different?
"That is if you want to-"
"No. It's fine," TJ quickly says, snapping himself out of his thoughts before he causes his brain to burn out. "I'm not all that interesting though."
"I'm sure that's not true. How about we play 21 questions? But we both have to answer each question, that way you don't go stealing mine," Noah laughs. He shifts to the centre of his bed in order to get more comfortable, facing TJ. "So obviously I know your name, and I'm guessing you're eighteen as well so... hmm... what's your major?"
"Business studies. Dad wanted me to study it, it's kinda the entire reason that I'm here."
"Wow, overbearing dad. Got it. I'm an art major, don't you dare make any smart comments about it."
TJ shrugs, disregarding the warning. "I think that's actually pretty cool, your parents must actually care about what you want."
"Aunt and uncle actually, my parents aren't here anymore. And no, they don't give a single shit about me, they're just putting me through school with the promise I never contact them again," Noah explains. He's quick to move along with the conversation when he sees TJ struggling to say anything back to him, "your turn to ask a question."
"Oh, yeah... what's your minor?"
"Photography. Thought I could study a more realistic type of art, seemed more fitting than anything else they teach here."
"That's my minor too!" TJ says, reeling back into himself when he realises how excited he sounded. He awkwardly clears his throat before speaking again, making sure he was safe from any further embarrassment. "Photography is my real love. My mom managed to convince my dad into letting me take it."
"Well, looks like we're camera buddies then!" Noah claps happily. "Okay, my turn. Do you like goldfish?"
"Strange question... but, I guess I don't mind them."
"Great! We're getting one. I adore them."
TJ blinks in confusion, wondering how in the world he just got talked into getting a pet within two seconds. Noah sure was an interesting one. "Any siblings?"
"Nope, an only child."
"I have a little sister, she's eight, names Tiffany."
"I love kids! If you ever go home for the holidays then I'll tag along just to hug her," Noah softly demands, smiling straight afterwards to show that he was only joking. He didn't want TJ actually feel obliged to drag his roommate everywhere with him. "Biggest fear?"
"Tiffany getting hurt... I'm not there to keep her safe anymore so, yeah. Other than that, nothing really scares me."
"Wow, deep, makes my fear of heights seem like horse shit."
"Everyone has their vices," TJ answers, an attempt to clear the pout from Noah's face. There is no clear reason in his mind as to why it bothers him so much, but it does. "Sexuality?" His next question is said without thinking first, his mind still occupied. He immediately regrets it once it's out there.
But Noah doesn't seem bothered by it, doesn't even seem the slightest bit fazed as he shifts slightly and gestures to the small, rainbow flag on the wall behind him. "Gay. But don't worry, I'm not going to try and kiss you unless you really put the effort in first."
"How is it?" TJ really needs to train his brain to mouth filter to actually start working.
"How is being gay?" Noah laughs, amused by the strange question. "I personally think it's great, but sometimes the backlash I get for it isn't easy to deal with... why'd you ask?"
"Oh, no reason. Just making conversation, I guess."
The truth is that TJ wasn't exactly sure why he asked, didn't have the slightest clue actually. It was a weird question to ask, he knew that as soon as the words left his mouth, but that didn't seem to stop him from embarrassing himself. And once again, he's overthinking.
"You still haven't answered."
That stops TJ's inner turmoil from completely destroying him, realising that he hasn't in face answered his own question. "Oh, straight. I'm- uh- I'm straight."
"You don't seem so sure," Noah says, a teasing lilt to his tone.
"What?"
"I'm kidding, don't look so panicked. Anyway, It's my turn to ask a question."
The rest of the questions are tame, but TJ seems to have hidden back behind the walls he's built. His answers aren't as open, often only one worded and unexplained. Clipped tones. If he was being honest, he didn't mean to come off so cold, but his mind was too focused on other things. Because maybe he wasn't so sure, maybe he wasn't sure of anything anymore. How could he answer questions in such detail when he wasn't even sure he knew himself?