Caleb hadn’t thought of himself as special. He balanced between medical school and work, finding his own way to pay for his tuition without the guidance of his parents who assumed he would grow too exhausted by such an immersive profession that he’d decide against pursuing a life of medicine. With his sister’s encouragement, though, and the opportunity to prove them wrong, he was excelling in his classes and making enough money to afford an apartment and a dog. It was a shitty apartment, the sink leaked, the upstairs neighbors threw a ruckus any chance they saw, and he didn’t think inviting a roommate to share the costs was the most ideal situation. The lifestyle was lonely, Caleb wouldn’t convince anyone otherwise, but his own presence worked nicely.
However, there was one other person Caleb found enjoyment in their company any time the two met for a beer at their favorite bar. Noah. The two first exchanged greetings a few months ago and to say having a friend that hadn’t drifted due to the man’s hectic ever-changing schedule was a blessing in disguise is the world’s greatest understatement. Noah was the man who became a soundboard for his problems, always willing to let him unload the stress of the day without judgment. They cracked jokes, they teased, they flirted a little with a friendly manner that bordered seriousness, but nothing ever came of it. Caleb didn’t mind, he would just admire Noah’s features with appreciation, putting the notion away in case it would’ve ruined their friendship.
While Noah was the friend to lean on, Caleb never told him about his supposed stalker. Well, he couldn’t be sure it was a stalker, but having the odd sense he was being watched every so often might be considered stalking. He wasn’t sure how to exactly approach the subject or express the need to stay somewhere else since he no longer felt safe in his own home. “Hey, thanks for letting me come over.” Caleb tugged off his coat the minute he walked through the male’s door, resting it on the rack and moving to take a seat on the couch. A couple of texts and a drive later, he was at Noah’s apartment, grateful he was nowhere near his. “I have something to ask you.” He leaned forward, “And you can tell me if I’m imposing.”
@pennedbyrio









