***

Ros didn’t adjust well to change. She knew this about herself. Having Cameron living in the apartment was proving to be a bit of a test. He’d found a home for his bike in the underground car park but other items of his kept popping up. They weren’t out of context like Darla and her odd socks on the sofa or mugs in the bathroom but it was still a big reminder that Ros was sharing her space with someone she knew little about. She quite liked the pot plants he’d introduced and she’d overlooked the Hula Hoops appearing in the tinned food cupboard and the tube of squeezy garlic in the fridge but when she walked in on Saturday afternoon to face a life-size cardboard cut-out of a Doctor Who Cyberman she felt a line had been crossed.

‘Cameron?’ she called.

He appeared a few moments later. ‘Hiya.’ He pointed at the Cyberman. ‘I see you’ve already met Cyril.’

‘Please tell me he’s only a temporary guest.’

‘I won it,’ he said proudly. ‘Are you not a Doctor Who fan?’ He looked shocked.

‘I watched it occasionally as a child but quite frankly it creeped me out. Especially things like this.’ She jabbed a finger at the Cyberman.

‘Cyril’s not creepy.’

‘He is a bit,’ said Ros. ‘I can’t believe you’re scared of sharks and ghosts but not this.’

‘He’s not real. Sharks definitely are and they can take a big chunk out of you, which is definitely something to be scared of.’

‘Not likely in Southampton though. And ghosts aren’t real.’

Cameron wobbled his head. ‘I’m in two minds on that one. My gran swears she saw her old PE teacher walk through the wall of Aldi, which was built on the old school playground.’

Ros wasn’t sure how to respond to that. ‘Not a particularly scary encounter. Unlike me bumping into this chap in the dark.’

‘He won’t come to life you know.’ Ros was alarmed at the prospect, which likely showed on her face. ‘I can put him in my room if you’d prefer,’ added Cameron.

‘Yes please.’

Cameron picked up the cut-out. ‘Perhaps I should have chosen the Ant and Dec one instead. Although it was smaller.’

‘Goodness, no. That would be far more terrifying,’ said Ros with a smile. Cameron grinned at her and took Cyril to his room.

Ros put the kettle on and Cameron joined her in the kitchen area. ‘What did you get up to today?’ he asked, getting out two mugs.

‘I went to look for a new bedside lamp because mine appears to be faulty but I couldn’t find any I liked.’

‘I could see if I could fix it for you,’ he said. ‘No promises though.’

‘Thanks. How was your day?’

‘Good,’ he said, nodding. ‘I spent some time in the uni library mapping out some ideas I have for my dissertation and I walked Gazza.’

Ros was instantly concerned. ‘Why did you walk the dog? Did Dad call? Is he okay?’

‘He’s fine. It was a nice day and I thought it would save your dad taking him.’

‘That was thoughtful of you,’ said Ros. ‘How was Dad?’

‘He seemed good. He did suggest he come with me until I pointed out that that defeated the object. We had a cuppa when I got back and a chat.’

Ros’s jaw tightened. She busied herself with making the drinks. ‘Anything in particular or just small talk?’

‘You’re okay; we didn’t talk about you,’ he said, passing her the milk from the fridge.

‘As long as you’ve not gone off script.’

‘It’s all good. Don’t worry.’ She handed him his tea. ‘Although at some point we’re going to need to tell him that I’ve moved in.’

The situation was playing on Ros’s mind as she got ready for bed and she decided to have a chat to Cameron about it. He was one of only two people she could discuss her concerns with although he was increasingly becoming her go-to for other things too. She found Cameron in the kitchen.

‘Are you hungry?’ she asked, watching him load bowls with popcorn, mixed nuts and crisps before putting them onto a tray.

‘No, this is vital preparation. There’s a rundown of the best Doctor Who episodes as chosen by the public and I’m here for it.’ He raised the tray. ‘Hang on, no dips.’ He put the tray down and went to the fridge.

‘Right. I can see you’re busy. I’ll speak to you in the morning. Goodnight,’ said Ros, feeling that she’d now be mulling over her worries into the small hours but that couldn’t be helped.

‘Hang on. Is everything okay?’

‘Er it was just . . . actually it’s nothing. Don’t miss your programme,’ said Ros and she went to leave.

‘Come on, Rosanna. I know you well enough now. There’s something bugging you. Here,’ he said, handing her a bottle of milkshake and picking up the laden tray. Ros ferried the milkshake to the sofa and waited for Cameron to get settled before handing it to him. ‘Sit down.’ He indicated the space next to him.

‘I was going to bed.’

‘But you wanted to talk. You know you won’t sleep so you might as well join me. We’ll watch a bit of Doctor Who and we’ll solve whatever it is that’s bothering you too. I mean it can’t be as bad as being caught in the middle of a Dalek and Cyborg altercation now, can it?’

‘I do feel like I’m torn between competing forces,’ said Ros as Cameron waved her into the space next to him. She sat down and he pulled the throw off the back of the sofa and laid it over both of them, making her feel quite cosy.

‘You’re worrying about our situation, am I right?’ he asked, wriggling about so that his body was against hers, not an altogether unpleasant sensation, Ros noted.

‘It’s more the development that we now appear to have taken quite an important step forward in our relationship by moving in together.’

He tucked the throw around them and balanced the tray on top of their blanket-covered laps. ‘I get it. It’s a big commitment and not one you would make lightly.’

‘Exactly.’

‘But then,’ he said, offering her a tortilla chip. She hesitated. She’d need to redo her teeth. He waved the bowl a second time and she took one. ‘Circumstance has presented us with the opportunity to live together. Me moving in now could be a chance to see how we manage because dating and living with someone are two very different set-ups.’

‘That is true.’

He thoughtfully munched on a tortilla chip. ‘I think we’re the sort of couple who would seize the opportunity and view it as a test bed. I’d still be moving into new student digs come July because I’ve made a commitment, but we would have a fun few weeks living here and we’d know each other better at the end of it. Both the pluses and minuses. What do you think?’

It did make a lot of sense. ‘I think it’s actually far more sensible than moving in with no end date,’ she said. ‘That’s always very awkward. There’s implications that it is indefinite and relationships rarely are. Also as you say seeing each other casually is very different to sharing a home.’ She dipped her tortilla in the proffered dip.

‘Shall we tell Barry that?’ he asked, snuggling under the blanket. ‘Then we’ll be sound.’

‘Yes, I think we will be.’