Page 2 of Shut Up and Bite Me

Some people need constant social interaction to be happy. I, myself, am not one of those people.

Even more so when it comes to my roommate, Steven Johnson. If it wasn’t for the lease, I would have moved out the week after I signed it because he’s the absolute worst person to live with. He’s messy, lazy, selfish, and can’t take any accountability if his life depended on it. Aside from running into him in passing, I avoid any interaction because all it does is piss me off.

The second our six-month lease is up, I’m out of there and finding a place of my own. The only reason I even agreed to move in with him was that I was tired of living in the dorms and wanted to save a little money by splitting rent with someone instead of paying it all myself.

I’ve put up with a lot of his shit over the last couple of months, but today was a breaking point. My day was already shit from almost being taken out via vehicular manslaughter, to dropping my phone into a muddy puddle, and then coming home to a trashed house from him throwing a party in the middle of the day. I tried avoiding it and going into my bedroom in hopes of isolating myself in there, but that panned out horribly because I found a couple passed out in my bed.Naked.

Fuck, I swear I’ve never felt anger pulse hotter in my veins like it did at that moment. I wanted to beat the living fuck out of him for letting people into my room. But I didn’t have any energy left and stormed out instead. He was drunk and a mess. I wanted him completely sober when I came back to deal with him.

Who knows when later is going to come, though, because I haven’t stopped walking since I slammed my apartment door behind me over two hours ago, traveling the quiet streets of Saint Eldritch.

Running in the evening and nighttime has always been a way to center myself and relax, since I was young. I like feeling the wind blow against my skin and watching the night sky darken and illuminate with stars, the ones we can see in town, at least.It the one thing I have complete control over.

The cool breeze flitters through my long-sleeve flannel button-up, flinging it open and exposing my tan hoodie beneath. Taking a slow and deep inhale, I step through a puddle, my Converses soaking through from the surprising depth of water.Great. Add it to the list of shitty things that are happening today.

I’m fine.

Everything’s fuckingfine.

Running my hand down my face, I sigh. I’m tired of being just fine. I want to be good, great even, ecstatic if that’s even possible. I can’t tell you the last time I felt adrenaline pulsethrough my body. I can’t tell you the last time I feltaliveand not like a robot going through its preprogrammed motions.

For a long time, having afineday was the goal in life. Having a day where I ate enough food, drank enough water, and slept in a safe and comfortable bed. It may sound like the bare minimum, but to little dreaming Greyson who slept beneath his bed to avoid the real-life monsters, this was all he ever hoped for.

Guilt rakes down my chest from the mental complaint of my mundane life, knowing that so many others have it worse, including my past self. My palms sweat for taking a decent day for granted.

But that guilt is battling the burning desire for somethingmore. Something that makes my heart skip a beat, my lungs sharply inhale. I crave excitement and passion, and for the longest time, those were two things I never knew I could have. But I think I finally realize that I’m well within the means of creating my own adventure. I just need a reason to jump off of the edge and chase it.

“Greyson, is that you?” a voice calls out behind me, sounding vaguely familiar.

Turning my head and peeking around the side of my hood, I spot one of my classmates, Ben Davies.

“Hey, Ben. What’s up?” I ask, stopping and turning completely around to face him and his friend walking beside him.

“You alright?” Ben’s brows furrow. “Rough night?”

“Is it that obvious?” I chuckle hauntingly, wishing I had shielded my emotions better, a pit deepening in my stomach. I’m usually very good at hiding my thoughts, aside from right now, I suppose.

He nods and thankfully changes the subject. “This is Joey Holmes, my best friend. We’re going to grab a drink. Are you heading somewhere?”

Joey extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, man.”

I take it, shaking once before releasing it. “You too. And no, I’m just walking, clearing my mind.”

Ben walks forward, passing by me without a word as Joey hurriedly catches up. A good ten feet stretch between us as I stay rooted in the cement, and they charge forward a few more feet before Ben spins around with a smirk on his face.

Ben chuckles. “Well, let’s go. Clearly, you need a distraction. C’mon, what are friends for?”

Friends.

I don’t know if I would consider us friends because we don’t see each other outside of class. But he’s a cool guy overall, and we joke around in lectures occasionally.

Taking a slow inhale, I force the air out in one quick breath as my heart tries to break through my ribcage.

I’m done playing it safe, and I mean it.

I’m craving excitement like a hunger so deep in the pit of my stomach, in a wretched and dark corner that’s never been fed. I’m starving for something more in life, and I’m finally going to take it.

Fuck it.

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