I meet one of my new neighbors for the first time in front of her steps. Only met the last ones twice. "It seems like it's hard to get to know the people around here," I say. "The neighbors never come outside." "Yeah, I know. Doesn't that suck?", she says.
A few days later I see her again in her backyard, this time with a fellow roommate. I approach and try to start a little conversation. It's awkward from the beginning. The girls say little. I tell them that we should have a cross-house party this weekend so we can all hang out and get to know each other. Why don't they give me their number so we can coordinate? The one makes a dash for the house to avoid having to commit to talking to me again. The other, probably out of pity, offers me hers. I text a joke to her a few days later. No response.
I hadn't seen my roommate in a few days. I decide to go upstairs and see him after I make my dinner. I had to work that night, but I wanted to take an hour to see how school was going with him. I wanted someone to approve of the new Indian dish I made. A conversation never starts. He bitches about school and asks if I want to watch TV. I don't watch TV. He turns it on anyway. Hulk Hogan's ex-wife wrote a new book recently. Great. My roommate proceeds to take a call from a girlfriend who is living abroad, one he speaks to all the time. He tries my dish. It's alright. He doesn't speak to me for the remainder of the time I'm in his room. I leave. He doesn't say goodbye.
I approach a few girls in the supermarket today. I say some random things about the music in the store. Ask if they've tried different ways of food preparation. I get one-word responses, strange looks, and nervous smiles that make me feel like I'm some sort of criminal. One turns her back on me within a few seconds. I walk home.
On the way into my room I see my roommate's door open. I hear what sounds like Starcraft 2.
I don't even bother.
A few days later I see her again in her backyard, this time with a fellow roommate. I approach and try to start a little conversation. It's awkward from the beginning. The girls say little. I tell them that we should have a cross-house party this weekend so we can all hang out and get to know each other. Why don't they give me their number so we can coordinate? The one makes a dash for the house to avoid having to commit to talking to me again. The other, probably out of pity, offers me hers. I text a joke to her a few days later. No response.
I hadn't seen my roommate in a few days. I decide to go upstairs and see him after I make my dinner. I had to work that night, but I wanted to take an hour to see how school was going with him. I wanted someone to approve of the new Indian dish I made. A conversation never starts. He bitches about school and asks if I want to watch TV. I don't watch TV. He turns it on anyway. Hulk Hogan's ex-wife wrote a new book recently. Great. My roommate proceeds to take a call from a girlfriend who is living abroad, one he speaks to all the time. He tries my dish. It's alright. He doesn't speak to me for the remainder of the time I'm in his room. I leave. He doesn't say goodbye.
I approach a few girls in the supermarket today. I say some random things about the music in the store. Ask if they've tried different ways of food preparation. I get one-word responses, strange looks, and nervous smiles that make me feel like I'm some sort of criminal. One turns her back on me within a few seconds. I walk home.
On the way into my room I see my roommate's door open. I hear what sounds like Starcraft 2.
I don't even bother.