Swirling Wind

Late night snacks

With smooth movements Alayne unlocked the door with her left hand while pushing against it with her foot. The door opened widely without much noise, stopping at the doorstop that prevented the door from colliding with the wall behind.

Their small apartment located close to the city centre had big windows, by night only covered by grey see-through curtains. As the streetlights were bright enough to spot the surrounding, Alayne did not have the need to turn on the light-switch immediately.

In half-darkness she took off her shoes and placed them on top of the shoe rack, next to some Sneakers. The clock over the kitchen sink made low ticking noises, while unstoppable moving towards three in the morning.

The large brown handbag she had used for the day was put aside at the kitchen counter and Alayne bumped down at the next chair. Alert, she kept her head up. Did she wake her flatmates? Only hearing her own soft breathing noises and the blue clock Alyne relaxed. Her head rested in her hands, supported by her elbows on the kitchen counter.

Her eyes directed towards the fridge. Before she left for the evening at Alex´s place, she had cooked a tasty leeks-cheese soup. The leftovers would still be on her shelf in the fridge if neither of her flatmates had taken it. She also still had half a jar of sweet speculoos spread.

Slowly but with familiar movements she grabbed a small spoon and opened the fridge. The bright fridge light immediately made her feel less tired and she stared at her shelf. It was as empty as expected: a small bowl of leftovers and more in the back the jar of speculoos spread. Alayne was just about to grab for the bowl, when the lights were turned on. It was too bright for her eyes and she felt the need to close them at least for a short adjusting period. However, she turned around to look for the late night kitchen intruder.

“Did I wake you up?”, she asked with low voice, in order to at least let Rosy sleep. The walls inside their apartment were ridiculously thin and therefore an awful lot of noise was carried from one room to another without anyone having the intention of being heard.

He shook his head: “I was still up playing video games.” Instead of grabbing the soup, Alayne reached for the speculoos spread and closed the door to the fridge. “So, what are you doing in the kitchen? Was the game not thrilling enough?”, she asked casually. While answering, Benjin entered the kitchen area, also towards the fridge: “Just wanted to know, who of you was coming home so late” Unlike Alayne, he did not open the fridge, but his shelf on its right side. It was fully packed.

When Benjin moved in three days ago, his mother went to the supermarket with him, so that her dear son would not have to starve. Looking at his shelf he would not starve for the next months without needing to leave the house for re-stocking ever. He grabbed a package of HoneySmacks and sat down on the counter, opposite of Alayne.

“It´s mostly me, coming home late.”, Alayne explained smiling, still with her voice down. She took a spoon full of her midnight snack, before adding: “Rosy only goes out at Saturdays, mostly.”

“So you are the party-girl, then?”, he asked. “Not really”, Alayne shook her head: “Tonight, for example, I only was at a friends place to hang out”. “Your boyfriend?”, Benjin asked, while grabbing into the kellogs package with his hand. “No,”, Alayne smiled involuntarily.

Alex was definitely not her boyfriend. More like friend-with-benefits-friend. He was by no means boyfriend material. The first thing she remembered him asking their tutor in business class was, whether he would need to attend all classes. Followed by a 'Do we need to take notes?' and 'Can I eat my sandwich or is that disturbing?'. Alex rather slept until 13:00 instead of going to his courses and rather attended a party than anything work-related. By no means Alayne could imagine them as a pair. She was ambitious, driven. A boyfriend of hers would need to be able to keep up.

Aside from their eating noises, the kitchen was silent again. Alaynes spoon occasionally scratched at the glass jar and Benjin chewed loudly. “We should do something together, sometimes.”, Benjin suggested after a while. “Like, a people living in the same flat dinner, or something”.

“Sounds good”, Alayne answered. Mary, who had lived in Benjins room before, had only stayed with them for 2 month, Alayne remembered. The chemistry between Mary and Rosy had somehow been off from the beginning on.

Hopefully it would be more harmonious with Benjin. While searching for a replacement, she had preferred another female flatmate but it turned out to be harder than imagined to find someone suitable. Rosy and her had invited 20 applicants for the room. They had to find someone without a pet because of her allergy and Alayne was also strictly against smokers. After a few disappointing interviews Rosy suggested to allow male applicants as well. They finally agreed on a new flatmate: Benjin.

“We can ask Rosy tomorrow, when it would suit her”, Alayne added to her prior answer. “Maybe we could already find an evening this week.” Benjin shoved another hand of HoneySmacks in his mouth before he answered while chewing: “Yeah, sure.” Then he added: “Or we could do a initiation party first. For just moving in, you know!” Alayne nodded slowly.

The last party they had in their own four walls was already a while back. Their neighbours had knocked at the door three times that night and than the police had shown up. They cleaned up with a whole group of friends but it still took them a complete morning. There had been puke all over the shower and alcohol stains on the carpet.

“I am okay with a party..”, Alayne started, “.. but I will not be the one cleaning the toilet again!”. Benjin smirked. His smirk created a small dimple in his left cheek. “Oh come on: I will carry the heavy beer crates up the stairs and you girls can clean up the bathroom afterwards. That´s just fair!”, he stated.

Alayne raised her eyebrows at him. He smiled friendly. Remembering how late it was and not in the mood for an argument Alayne stood up wordlessly. She placed her jar back in the fridge and threw the small spoon into the sink. “I am going to bed, good night”. “Good night, Alayne!”, Benjin exclaimed a little to loud before grabbing another hand of kellogs. Alayne waved her right hand goodbye, while grabbing her handbag with the other. She walked the few steps towards her room, still hearing his chewing.

Once inside, Alayne got rid of her jacket and her remaining clothes, slipping in her pyjama and laid down on her bed. She could have stayed at Alex’s but felt more comfortable in her own room.

Her mobile phone vibrated, announcing the arrival of a new text message. Lazily she turned around, grabbing her mobile and sliding off the screen safer. It was a message from Alex, stating 'Nighty night, Layne'.