He scowls and I grasp for a subject change. “I got your housemate agreement.”
“My what?”
I pull the A4 sheet from under a pile of mail and push it toward him.
“That? Just a list of shit.” Jem focuses on his phone again.
“I wouldn’t bring drugs into the house; you didn’t need to write that.”
He rubs his nose. “Cigarettes.”
“What?”
He points at the list with his spoon. “I didn’t write those down. I’m trying to stop, so no smoking in the house.” He catches my look. “I have a garden. Go out there.”
“Right.”
Jem scrolls back through what he was looking at and continues to eat. At least I don’t need to worry about him interfering; currently it appears he wants nothing to do with me. I should be happy this allays my fears, but the girl who craves attention lurks close by.
“I need to shop if I’m staying. Did you want anything?”
Jem blinks at me. “What do you mean?”
“Shopping. Groceries.” I point at his tub. “More yoghurt.”
I cringe. I shouldn’t have teased because pissing this guy off isn’t a good idea when he’s helping me. Jem makes a soft snort of amusement and shakes his head. “I’m good. I have plenty of yoghurt.”
Conversation over, I head out into the fresh summer air, dizzied by the surreal situation and on edge in case Dan lurks nearby. When I return, Jem’s no longer around and music filters from upstairs. The house has three storeys and Jem’s living area appears to be at the top. The second floor, where the other bedrooms are, also holds the kitchen and a lounge area, which includes a huge TV and the sofa I slept on last night.
I unpack the few groceries I bought. I don’t eat a lot, more than I did when I counted every calorie and obsessed about my weight, but now I’m skinny because I don’t have an appetite. I forget to eat much of the time rather than choosing not to. Alcohol fills the gaps, but I won’t be drinking any of that if I’m here.
I retreat to my room and pull out my guitar. Time to lose myself in my other world; in the place, I’m safe from Dan.