Spock now found himself getting an apartment in an old Victorian neighborhood where the former stately homes had been converted to apartments. Theirs was on the second floor and had two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen, and an even smaller living room. He wasn’t even sure he should have gotten the place. It had all been to get away from seeing Jim every day in their dorm, but since Jim was now coming with him, it seemed a waste to rent an apartment when they could just continue to live in their dorm together.
But to admit that would be to admit to Jim he really had intended to get away from him.
So, they packed up their few belongings, and moved to the rental about a ten minute walk from the campus. They’d had to get furniture too.
On moving day, Spock noted the appearance of Jim’s new friend, another cadet who was a doctor, named Leonard McCoy. Jim inexplicably called him “Bones”. At first Spock thought he might be a boyfriend, but after studying their interactions, Spock didn’t think so. Unusual though, considering Jim had declared Spock was his only real friend. That certainly didn’t seem to be the case, so that left Spock wondering why Jim would lie.
That night, after they’d all shared pizza on moving day, Jim said goodbye to “Bones” and turned to Spock with a stunning smile.
“Well, that’s it. We’re all moved in to our new place.”
“Indeed.”
“Feels pretty good, I’d say. I never even really thought about moving off campus before. I mean it seemed kinda cool to live just across the hall from other cadets.”
Spock pursed his lips. “You could have stayed there if that had been your preference, I did not intend to remove you from something you enjoyed.”
Jim waved this away and moved away from the door he had been leaning on after bidding goodbye to McCoy. “I’ll enjoy this too. I actually like the idea of it being just the two of us.” He laughed. “Well unless one of us has someone over anyway.”
“Mm.”
“Speaking of, do you want to have some kind of signal?”
“Signal?” Spock had moved into the kitchen to make himself tea.
“Well, you know, if you have someone over for, um, well, stuff you’d rather not be interrupted for. We could put a sock on the doorknob of our rooms or something. That kind of thing.”
For several heartbeats, Spock was aware he simply stared at Jim, unable to form a response.
“Spock?”
He shook his head. “I don’t intend to bring anyone of that nature over.”
“Are you sure because…”
“I am quite sure.” Spock poured his tea. “If the occasion comes up, I will visit their dwelling, which allows me to leave without the awkwardness of asking them to do so.”
“Oh.” Jim nodded, smiling tentatively. “That definitely makes sense. Well. I don’t know if I’ll have any, um, occasion to, uh, bring someone over, but if I do, I’ll put something like the sock on my door.”
“Very well,” Spock said simply.
This was Jim’s apartment too, after all, so he could hardly forbid his adult roommate from having paramours over. He wanted to, though.
But this was sort of a nightmare of his own making simply because he could not admit to Jim he didn’t want to live with him.
“All right, then, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go use the shower for the first time.” Jim grinned.
“I have no objection whatsoever.”
“Cool.”
And Jim disappeared to his room to get ready for his shower.
Spock stared at his communication device. Currently his mother was in San Francisco with his father. Sarek had ambassadorial duties that required him being present there at the moment, and Amanda had chosen to come with him to see Spock and other family members and friends. She’d notified him a few days earlier.
He sent her a message.
“Mother, are you free to meet me for a late dinner tonight?”
A moment later, the response.
“What time?”
“Eight-thirty.”
“Bronson’s?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He closed his communicator. Some motherly advice might just be in order.
