it's hard to keep my soul on the ground

[ reki knew his luck was too good to last. the roommate he was supposed to share his double with just never showed, so it's been almost a whole semester of not having to deal with that situation. the walls have been his to paper with his eccentric art, the extra bed stripped down to serve as a makeshift workbench, and monkey the iguana has commandeered the shared desk. (it's not like anyone was using it to study anyway.) it's been a dream—so of course he'd get an email notifying him that a new roommate is on the way. nothing good can ever last.

he tells himself he'll make time to clean up the room, but, as is always the case, shit happens. assignments pile up, his side hustles to keep the tuition checks rolling out consume the better part of his days, and the little time he has between those two things are nibbled away by visits to the park and ragers he's all but contractually obligated to attend. the new roommate is put out of his mind until reki rolls into the parking lot on the day of and spots an unfamiliar car, which reminds him, oh yeah, wasn't he supposed to get a new roommate at some point? what day was he supposed to come, anyway?

reki checks his phone, sighs in vain to the heavens, and then it's a frenzied rush up the stairs, his stomach sinking the whole way. the new guy is going to think he's an asshole, and while that sentiment is probably inevitable to begin with, it's never fun to start that way. he makes it to the door in record time, red-faced and out of breath, his hair still wind-whipped and cloudy from skating home. another great first impression. ]

Sorry, man. This, uh... Let me help.