Megan
Hey, Sis, I have big news.
Allie
Let me guess — you found an apartment!
Megan
I did! And it’s really cheap.
Megan
But it’s kind of a weird set-up.
Allie
Oh no. Weird in what way?
Megan
It’s a studio, and it’s so small that I have to share a BED with my roommate.
Megan
But not at the same time!
Allie
How on earth is that going to work?
Megan
Well I work days and he works nights.
Allie
Wait. Did you say HE??!
Megan
Yeah, but we won’t ever be sleeping in the bed at the same time.
Megan
And I’ll be coming home on the weekends to sleep, so it’s perfect.
Allie
Are you sure this is safe?
Allie
What if he’s a serial killer?
Megan
He’s absolutely safe.
Megan
I found out about this through my BFF April.
Megan
She went to school with Jake — that’s his name.
Megan
She says he’s the most stand-up guy she’s ever known.
Allie
Well that’s a relief. What does he do?
Megan
He’s a security guard, and he works super long hours.
Megan
April said he’s saving for medical school.
Megan
Not yet. But I move in Monday.
Megan
This has to be the cheapest deal in New York City!
Allie
Hey Megan. How’s your new apartment working out?
Megan
The rent is so cheap I can go out and really enjoy NYC!
Allie
What’s your new roommate like?
Megan
I haven’t met him yet.
Megan
He must be really shy. Or considerate. Or both.
Megan
I think he deliberately waits until I leave every day to come in and go to bed.
Megan
And he’s NEVER here when I come home from work.
Allie
Have you communicated with him in any form?
Megan
A few texts here and there.
Megan
But it’s very businesslike.
Allie
Hey, do you change the sheets every night, or what?
Megan
No, we switch off washing the sheets at the laundromat once a week.
Megan
And I’m kind of happy about that.
Megan
Because I REALLY like the way he smells.
Megan
And I can smell him on the sheets.
Megan
I feel like he’s embracing me every night.
Allie
No. The way someone smells is SO important.
Allie
But I am concerned about one thing…
Allie
Have you fallen in love with your roommate?
Allie
Your roommate who you’ve never even met?
Megan
Every day, I look forward to going home to bed.
Megan
Just so I can be surrounded by his smell.
Megan
The thoughts I have before I go to sleep…
Megan
They make me blush all over.
Megan
I kind of feel like I’ve been to bed with him already…
Allie
This is crazy, Megan!
Megan
I know, but I’m kind of enjoying it.
Megan
And he REALLY knows how to build up the tension.
Megan
By always being here and never being here at the same time, you know?
Allie
Wait, what’s Jake’s last name?
Allie
I’m Googling him now.
Megan
I look for his new Snaps every day.
Megan
And I’ve studied all of his Instagram posts.
Megan
And I’ve read all of his 572 Tweets.
Allie
OMG. You’ve got it bad, Megan.
Megan
But I can’t help wondering if my fantasy Jake is better than the REAL Jake.
Allie
Well, there’s only one way to find out.
Megan
I know, but the way things are going, I wonder if we’re EVER going to meet.
One week later, Megan develops a high fever and feels extremely weak.
She texts her boss that she’s sick and collapses into bed.
She has a fleeting thought that she should set an alarm to leave before Jake gets there.
But then she falls into a deep sleep.
Two hours later, she wakes up and stares into the big brown eyes of…
She looks down at herself self-consciously.
During her sleep, she feverishly thrust off the bedding.
She’s wearing only a long cotton t-shirt.
Megan
But I’ll find somewhere else to go so you can sleep.
Jake
Don’t be ridiculous. You should rest.
Jake
What are your symptoms?
Megan
I’ve been burning up! It came on all of a sudden.
Megan
Wait, now I feel chilly!
Jake grabs the bedding that Megan has kicked to the bottom of the bed.
He tucks it gently around Megan.
Jake
There. Is that better?
Megan
But I have a sore throat and my body aches all over.
Jake
That sounds like a classic case of the flu.
Megan
Oh no! That’s what I was afraid of.
Jake
You’ll definitely need to stay home for a few more days.
Megan
But…where will you sleep?
Jake
Don’t worry about that. I’ll figure out something.
He goes to their tiny kitchen and comes back with a glass of water.
Jake
I want you to drink this down.
Megan takes the glass and drinks.
Jake
Now go back to sleep. You need plenty of rest.
Jake leaves the apartment.
Megan falls asleep to the memory of Jake tucking her into the bed.
When she awakens again, he’s sitting at her side.
Jake
Are you feeling hot or cold now?
He goes into the bathroom and emerges with a warm washcloth.
He places it over her forehead and keeps his hand there.
Heat radiates from the pressure of his hand over the cloth.
Jake gets up and brings over a paper bag.
Jake
I got you some chicken soup.
He takes out the soup and a plastic spoon.
He ladles the soup into her mouth until it’s gone.
Jake
Now go back to sleep.
Jake
And I’ll keep an eye on you until I have to go work.
Jake
If you don’t mind, that is.
Megan
But…you must be so tired.
Jake
I’m fine. Go back to sleep.
After a few minutes. Megan drifts back to sleep.
When she wakes up again, Jake is gone.
The next morning, he is by her side when she wakes up.
Jake
How are you feeling?
Megan
A little better, but you were right.
Megan
I can’t go in to work.
Megan
I’m still so tired and achy.
Megan sees Jake try and fail to suppress a yawn.
Megan
You must be exhausted after working all night.
Megan
And you didn’t get any sleep yesterday, because of me!
Jake
I have to admit I’m tired.
Jake
I might try to catch a few Z’s on the floor.
Jake
Would you mind giving me one of your pillows?
Megan
They’re OUR pillows.
Megan
And listen, I know this is a little awkward, but you can sleep with me.
Megan
I mean, not like THAT…
They both laugh awkwardly.
Megan
I’ll just move over and you can get in the bed.
Megan
I really don’t mind.
Jake gets into the bed, which is small for a double.
They face in opposite directions.
Megan
Can I ask you something?
Megan
I feel like you’ve been going out of your way to avoid me.
Megan
I mean, this is the first time we’ve met in person.
Then Jake turns in the bed to face Megan.
Jake
In a way, sleeping in the same bed as you made me feel like I already knew you.
Jake
Like…we were already sleeping together.
Jake
I could smell you all around me on the sheets.
Jake
And I love that smell.
Jake
I guess I developed a fantasy about you.
Jake
And I was afraid it might be ruined if I met the real person.
Megan
That’s so amazing. I’ve felt the same way.
Megan
And…now that you’ve met me?
Jake
I think you’re even better than the fantasy.
Megan
That’s what I think too.
Megan and Jake move closer, and their first kiss is even better they imagined.
A week later, Jake catches what Megan had, and SHE takes care of HIM.
The month after that, Megan stops going home to her family on weekends.
And she starts sharing the bed with Jake.
