Silence… As I opened my eyes, a sense of panic set in, and I jumped out of bed to check a clock. Waking up before work without an alarm is one of the most frightening things someone can experience. Did I oversleep or undersleep? Neither answer is preferable. Picking up my phone, I look at the time, and my fear escalates.
"Shit"
I quickly throw on a pair of pants and rush down the hall to Matt's room.
-bang bang bang-
"Matt! We overslept!"
"What?" Matt's voice rang out from underneath my beatdown of his bedroom door.
"We have to leave in 20 minutes. We overslept."
"Shit"
His reaction to finding out we slept through our alarms was almost the same as mine, but I didn't have any time to think about that. Making my way to the bathroom, I take the world's quickest shower, only bothering to thoroughly dry my body. My hair will have to dry on the way to work. Quickly putting my work clothes on, I step into the dining room to find Bell making something in the kitchen.
"How long have you been up for?" Glaring at Bell, I start wondering why he didn't wake us up if he heard my alarm go off and knew we overslept.
"About 15 minutes. The way you were yelling at Matt made it kind of impossible not to wake up. I figured both of you would be pressed for time, so I made you breakfast instead of going back to sleep. Although I'm sure it can't compare to whatever Matt would have made."
"Ah, thanks Bell." Matt ran up from behind me and grabbed a plate off the counter.
Beckoning me forward, Bell slid an egg cooked with spinach and cheese onto a piece of toast before spiraling ketchup on top and finishing the sandwich. As he held the plate out for me to take, I felt terrible for assuming the worst the moment I saw him in the kitchen.
"Thanks"
"Don't worry about it. Now eat it quickly. You need to leave in less than five minutes!"
Gulping down the food at record speed, I didn't even have time to register how it tasted. Bell's concerns about cooking something lackluster were nothing to worry about in the end. Maybe I'll ask him to make this for me again in the future, that way I can take the proper time to enjoy it. After shoving the last bite of food in my mouth, Matt ran to the sink with our dishes and immediately made for the front door.
"Can you rinse those and throw them in the dishwasher for us?" Matt called out from the hallway.
"Sure. Just get to work on time."
Smiling, I turn around before running after Matt. "Thanks again, Bell. And while you're at it, do you think you could take the trash out sometime today? It's getting kind of full."
"Yeah… Now go before you are too late."
Bell shook his head as Matt, and I rushed out the door. Running down the stairs and across the street, we managed to catch up with Charles, and the three of us made our way to the station on time.
[…]
"First they oversleep, and now they leave me a mess to clean up? That sounds about right."
Grumbling to myself, I return to the kitchen sink and begin rinsing the dishes left behind by Matt and James. Not that I'm unwilling to help the two of them, It's just an unpleasant task. So who cares if I complain when no one can hear?
-clink-
The light sound of floating plates bumping into each other is almost soothing as it breaks up the silence of the apartment. I don't mind the quiet. In fact, it's a nice contrast to the hectic atmosphere of last night. Yet the feeling of being alone bothers me all the same. Placing the dishes in the dishwasher, I enter the living room and turn the TV on. As ambient chatter fills the apartment, I sit down on the couch and start looking at my phone. Med school applications open up in a few days. I will need to get on that. Listening to the morning news, I tune out the rest of the world and no longer feel as if I'm by myself.
"Spray this around your trash can to make it smell wonderful!"
Huh? The news segment must have ended and transitioned into a product advertisement section. I don't understand how anyone can view these talk show commercials and become convinced to order anything. They are literally selling trash can air fresheners. Who even wants that? Trash can…
"Oh, the trash!"
That's right, James asked me to take out the trash. I would have forgotten to do that if not for daytime television. Although I'm grateful, I will still never buy anything they try to sell me. Standing up, I walk over to the kitchen and tie the trash bag closed before picking it up and walking to the front door. Sliding my shoes on, I step outside and let the door close itself behind me.
-Click-
"Huh"
I heard the door click shut behind me, but also to my right as well. Turning my head, I am greeted by a now-familiar face.
"Bell, this is a surprise! Looks like you are taking the trash out too."
Wearing a loose shirt and sweatpants, Lilac smiles and waves at me as she sets a trash bag down on the ground. I guess you can wear anything you like to work if you work from home.
"Well, James asked me to take care of it as he left for work this morning. So it's the least I can do to help him. Since I'm already headed there, I can also take your bag to the dumpster. If you would like."
"Thanks, Bell, you don't have to do that for me." Lilac's eyebrows raised in surprise as she picked up her bag and handed it to me.
"It's not a big deal. Besides, it doesn't make sense for both of us to make the trip at the same time."
Picking up both bags with my left hand, I wave goodbye with my right and start walking down the stairs and across the parking lot.
[...]
As he picked up my trash and carried it to the dumpster, I leaned on the doorframe to my apartment and watched. My first impression of Bell was less than favorable, with him blaring noise from the television without any concern for those around him. But honestly, after last night, my opinion of him could not have changed more. Sure the way he reaches for his goals may be a little different than everyone else, but he is just as kind-hearted as James and Matt. Watching him go out of his way to make my life easier, I feel bad for judging him the way I did.
-thump-
The sound of trash being tossed in a pile echoed across the parking lot as Bell nonchalantly lobbed our bags into the dumpster. Turning around, he looked up and made eye contact with me. With a concerned look on his face, he slowly made his way across the lot and back up the stairs to where I was waiting.
"Is everything ok? Or…"
Bell's voice trailed off as he tried to ask me why I was watching him throw the trash away. It was a fair question, and I have a reasonable answer, but I need to be careful how I respond. Otherwise, I could end up accidentally offending him.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Thanks for throwing that away for me."
"Oh, sure. Don't worry about it." Turning around, he started walking past me and towards his apartment.
"I uh… heard about your job situation from James last night."
"..."
Staying silent, he stopped in his tracks and shifted uncomfortably. I guess that got his attention, although I wish he would turn around to face me. I can't blame him though. He probably thinks I'm about to shame him for being lazy or accuse him of living off his roommates.
"I think it's admirable that you are chasing after your goals this hard, and I certainly understand the feelings behind refusing to work in an environment that you don't enjoy."
Bell slowly lifted his head and turned around to face me as I continued to ramble on in an embarrassed panic.
"I also think that if you find yourself willing to experience different scenarios outside of your current goals, you may find that your goals shift and align with something that will make you happier in the end. I know you aren't looking for a job right now, and I don't want to pressure you into anything… but the place I work for is currently hiring, and I think you would be a good fit. It's a consulting agency for coding and tech-related issues, and from what I remember, you have the same degree as Matt and James, so you would be more than qualified for the position."
Standing up from leaning on the door, I smile and look to Bell for a response. Surprisingly, he smiles back. I guess that means I said everything without offending him.
"That's really kind of you, but I'm not sure I want to commit to anything like that right now. I'm currently doing everything I can to get accepted into a professional school since that is what I truly want to do more than anything else."
"Of course, and that's more than ok. I just thought I would let you know."
Reaching into my wallet, I pull out my business card and walk forward, handing it to Bell.
"If you ever change your mind, just go to that website and apply through the careers section at the bottom. Of course, that's totally up to you to decide. But if you go through with it, you can list me in the application as someone who recommended you the position. I will make sure to put a good word in for you."
"..." Quietly looking at the card in his hand, a faint smile crept onto Bell's face as he looked at me once more.
"Thank you, that means a lot to me."
"Oh, sure. Don't worry about it." Turning around, I face the door to my apartment step inside.
-Click-
The sound of the door shutting was louder than normal. He must have entered and closed the door to his apartment at the same time I did.
Listening to the muffled sound of the morning news through the wall separating our homes, I thought back on my first impression of Bell. I'm glad I managed to move past that mindset last night instead of holding small grudges over insignificant things.
"..."
Slowly, the TV volume faded until I could no longer hear it. As I walked back to my bedroom to finish getting ready for work, I couldn't help but smile. He really is a good person. Slipping on a button-up shirt, I look at my phone and almost drop it in shock. The conversation outside took longer than I thought it had. If I don't hurry, I will be late for work.
-ring ring ring-
Clutching my phone, I rush to the kitchen counter and open up my laptop to a long line of clients waiting for help. Answering the call, a wave of exhaustion washes over me as I realize it is going to be a long day. I wonder if Charles, Matt, and James experience the same feeling when they walk into the office.
[...]
As I lean back into my seat on the train, the panic of this morning's rush starts to fade away. We all made it to the station on time, so I have nothing to worry about anymore. Nothing but the workday to follow, that is.
"Hey James, I just want to thank you again for inviting Lilac and myself over for dinner last night. I haven't been able to relax with friends like that in a long time."
Turning to look at Charles, I smile and lightly pat him on the back.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. That makes the whole thing worth it to me."
"Yeah, it's great that everyone was able to come together like that. You know, before we left, Lilac was worried that she had upset Bell in the past. She was reluctant to talk to him at all last night. But after we got home, and before we went to sleep, she told me that she felt bad for thinking about him like that in the first place."
"Haha" As I started to chuckle, Charles turned to me with a look of confusion on his face.
"Sorry, it's just… Bell was worried about the same thing. But the fact that they are on good terms now is great news."
"That's for sure." Smiling, Charles stood up as the train came to our stop.
Making our way across the street and up the elevator, feelings of excitement start to build in my chest. As the three of us walk to our cubicles and place our things down, I look at Matt and smirk.
"Are you ready for another long day of work?"
Turning around in his chair, Matt returns my smile and throws the question back at me.
"I guess that depends on if you are ready or not."
Opening up my laptop, I pause and think for a second before responding. One week ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to follow through with another sarcastic response. Is one week enough to change my entire outlook on life? Definitely not. My answer won't change so quickly, although the meaning behind it will. One week ago, I would have responded with sarcasm. Today this response is genuine.
"You know what? I think I am."