Roommates (A Conan Gray x Fem OC)

conan's pov

it's been a week. one long, lonely week of millie coming home late and leaving early. at first, i tried to brush it off. she's working on her album—something she's been pouring her heart into—and i'm proud of her for it. i really am. but pride doesn't keep you warm at night. it doesn't make the hours pass any quicker.

at first, i kept telling myself it was temporary, that things would go back to normal once the album was done. but every time i heard the door click behind her in the morning or watched her drag herself home in the middle of the night, looking like a shell of the girl i fell in love with, the ache in my chest grew a little heavier.

and tonight, as i sat alone on the couch, the clock ticking past midnight, that ache became unbearable. the apartment felt too big, too quiet without her. i'd tried everything to distract myself earlier—cleaning, reading, watching movies—but nothing stuck. all i could do was sit there, staring at the door, waiting for the sound of her keys in the lock, hoping she'd come back to me sooner rather than later.

but she didn't.

the minutes stretched into hours, and my thoughts spiraled in a million directions. was i being selfish? was i asking for too much? or was she the one pulling away? i didn't know anymore. all i knew was that i missed her. i missed her laugh, her voice, the way she'd curl up next to me on the couch and steal the blanket. i missed us.

by the time the clock hit 1 a.m., i wasn't just sad anymore. i was restless, unsure of how much longer i could keep ignoring the growing distance between us. and when the door finally opened, and millie walked in, looking exhausted and distracted, i knew i couldn't stay silent anymore.

"conan?" her voice broke the silence, soft but surprised. "what are you doing still up?"

i stood from the couch, my arms loose at my sides, trying to keep my voice steady. "i was waiting for you." i forced a small smile, but it faltered. "millie, we need to talk."

she froze for a moment, her hand still on the strap of her bag. "can it wait? it's late, and i'm so tired. i just want to sleep."

"millie," i said softly, trying to keep my frustration in check. "please."

but she was already shaking her head, sighing as she set her bag down. "look, conan, i get it. we haven't had much time together lately, but i've been busy. the album's almost done, and i just... i can't do this right now. can we talk about it in the morning?"

and that's when it hit me. the irritation, the hurt, the loneliness—it all bubbled to the surface at once. i didn't even realize how tightly i'd been holding onto it until the words came out, sharper than i intended.

"no, millie." my voice cracked, louder than i expected, and i felt my stomach twist with a mix of guilt and anger. "no, we can't talk about it in the morning. because i never see you in the mornings! by the time you wake up and get ready, you're already off to the studio. i never get to see you!"

she turned around sharply, her exhaustion replaced by frustration. "what do you want me to say, conan? i'm busy! i've been working my ass off trying to finish this album, and you, of all people, should understand that!"

"i do understand," i said, my voice softening even as my heart pounded in my chest. "but i always make time for you while also doing work. we used to hang out everyday. we used to just sit around and watch movies. you used to make time for me. for us. and now it feels like i'm barely even part of your life anymore."

her arms crossed over her chest, and she took a step closer, her tone defensive. "i'm sorry i can't 'find time' for you, but this is my career, conan. this album means everything to me, and it's coming out in less than a month. i don't have time to drop everything just because you're feeling clingy."