Flatmates

Josh has turned strange, I fear. Resentful, maybe. I'm not sure. But he's been acting weird.

We had a deal that he could come and live with me for two months, as my friend, no problem, but if he decided to stay after that then he'd have to pay rent, which was from the middle of February. Everyone who lives with me has to contribute to the up keep of the house. It is only fair.

I told him how much the rent would be and I still remember his answer, Sure, I can do that.

He paid up some rent, a week ago, after I asked him about it (turning me into landlord ogre 1, demanding the rent) and when I asked, is this for mid Feb to mid March, he replied no just for March, I can't afford to pay for February. Then he said, I'll be earning great money when I return to Europe, though.

He's pretty much been masturbating and smoking pot and drinking beer and watching porn all night and sleeping all day, when he isn't working, on the very odd occasions. Which is fine, that's up to him. But to now go back on our agreement, so easily, saying he can't afford what was spoken about up front.

After that, he has avoided me, more or less.

I was lying down feeling unwell with my elbow at the time and didn't respond immediately. Stupid me.

I've thought about it for a while and stewed on it. Tonight we had this conversation.

Now Josh, the rent deal with you is that you are paying 3 months rent. (He leaves mid May)

Oh, said Josh. I don’t know that that was the deal.

That was what we agreed to in the beginning, I said.

I don’t know that that was what we agreed to in the beginning.

Yes, it was.

Is this a question, he said. Or why are you saying this to me?

(Draw breath) Well, I just wanted to be sure that we were thinking the same thing.

Well, if you are telling me that was the deal, well, then fine that was the deal.

Okay then, I said.

Now he's humming non-stop around the house, while ignoring me. Something I've realised he does when he is nervous.

Who was it who commented previously, Sounds like singe white female?

And all I want to do is live on my own.

Now, to compound the issue, I have a new flat mate moving in, David. I've known David for years and he asked if he could move in as a favour, before he moves interstate. Sure, I said.

Well, he is now in the process of moving his whole house into my house. I thought I rented him a room, not a storage facility. He's busy rearranging my life, so he doesn't have to put any of his stuff into storage. I'm a little surprised.

However, it is ostensibly my fault. I'm too generous, accommodating, soft, stupid, call it what you like, I'll answer to any of them. I started saying yes, of course, to a few things being put around the house, it's only fair. And those few things have now developed into, well, a whole house of furniture. And I have too much shit of my own, to start with.

Don't get me wrong, David is a gorgeous guy (of course, I thought that about Josh too) and I'm sure every thing will be fine, once I have a word.

But, why is it that it is me who has to have the word, when I'm doing favours for people? Why can't they see it for themselves?