### **Chapter 2: The Battle of Bathroom Etiquette (Continued)**

### **Chapter 2: The Battle of Bathroom Etiquette (Continued)**

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**Scene 6: Movie Night Mishap**

Later that night, after their laundry fiasco, Ethan and Alex attempt to have a peaceful evening watching a movie together. For once, they’ve managed to agree on something: a classic action-comedy film. The plan is simple—order some pizza, chill on the couch, and enjoy a break from their chaotic routine.

Ethan, ever the organized one, has prepared the living room. He’s even lit a candle on the coffee table to give the room a cozy feel. Alex, on the other hand, has turned up in his usual laid-back style: wearing mismatched socks, a bag of chips in hand, and ready to dive into a night of laughter.

- **Alex** (throwing himself onto the couch): “Ah, this is more like it. Just two bros, chilling. See, we can have normal nights, too.”

- **Ethan** (smirking): “As long as there’s no more ‘accidental fires,’ I’m happy.”

As the movie begins, Alex sprawls out on the couch, taking up most of the space. Ethan, squished awkwardly on the edge, glares at him.

- **Ethan** (raising an eyebrow): “Do you mind?”

- **Alex** (stretching further): “What? There’s plenty of room.”

Ethan sighs, nudging Alex’s legs to the side so he can sit properly. Despite their bickering, there’s an easy comfort that’s begun to form between them.

As the movie progresses, Alex gets overly involved, shouting at the screen during the action scenes and laughing loudly at the jokes. Ethan, trying to follow the plot, grows increasingly exasperated.

- **Ethan** (eyeing him): “You know you don’t have to *comment* on every single scene, right?”

- **Alex** (grinning): “Oh, come on! How can you watch this and *not* react? That explosion was epic!”

**Comedy moment:**

Just as Alex says this, he swings his arm in excitement, accidentally knocking the candle off the table. In slow motion, they both watch as the candle tumbles toward the floor, the flame flickering dangerously close to the carpet.

Ethan, ever the quick thinker, dives forward and grabs the candle just before it hits the ground. He glares at Alex, still holding the candle, his heart pounding.

- **Ethan** (glaring): “No more candles.”

- **Alex** (sheepish): “Right. No more candles.”

---

**Scene 7: The Closet Purge**

The next morning, after the disaster with his closet, Alex decides it’s finally time to clean his room. Well, more accurately, Ethan decides it’s time after weeks of passive-aggressive comments about Alex’s growing mountain of clothes and mess. In a rare burst of energy, Alex begins sorting through his closet, tossing clothes onto the bed and floor in an attempt to “organize.”

- **Alex** (yelling from his room): “Hey, Ethan! Do you think I still need this jacket from high school?”

Ethan, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and his textbook, doesn’t even look up.

- **Ethan** (dryly): “If you have to ask, the answer is probably no.”

Alex shrugs, chucking the jacket into the “donate” pile. As he continues, he finds an old box tucked deep in the closet—one he hasn’t opened in years. Inside are random knick-knacks from his childhood: an old action figure, a half-used sketchbook, and an embarrassing number of superhero-themed pajamas.

Curious, Ethan wanders into Alex’s room to see what the commotion is about. He stops in the doorway, raising an eyebrow at the mess.

- **Ethan** (sarcastic): “I see your version of cleaning involves moving the mess from one spot to another.”

- **Alex** (grinning): “It’s called the ‘creative process.’ You wouldn’t understand.”

**Comedy moment:**

Alex holds up a particularly embarrassing relic: a superhero cape he wore as a kid. Without thinking, he ties it around his neck and strikes a dramatic pose.

- **Alex** (mocking superhero voice): “Fear not, citizen! I’m here to save the day!”

Ethan, trying to suppress a laugh, shakes his head and turns to leave. But before he can, Alex lunges at him playfully, wrapping the cape around both of them.

- **Alex** (laughing): “Come on, join in! You need to loosen up!”

- **Ethan** (struggling to escape): “Alex, this is ridiculous! Let go!”

They stumble backward, tangled in the cape, and both fall onto the bed, laughing despite themselves. It’s a rare, carefree moment, with Ethan finally letting his guard down a bit.

- **Ethan** (catching his breath): “You’re impossible.”

- **Alex** (grinning): “And yet, you haven’t kicked me out.”

Ethan opens his mouth to argue but realizes Alex has a point. As much as he complains, Alex’s energy is starting to rub off on him. In a strange way, their chaos has become a new kind of balance.

---

**Scene 8: The Surprise Guest**

Just as they’re recovering from their fall, there’s a sudden knock at the door. Ethan looks confused—he wasn’t expecting anyone.

- **Ethan**: “Are you expecting someone?”

- **Alex** (getting up, shrugging): “Nope. But then again, my life is full of surprises.”

They both head toward the front door, Alex still wearing the superhero cape. When they open it, they’re greeted by an older woman with a bright smile on her face.

- **Woman**: “Ethan, darling! I thought I’d surprise you.”

Ethan’s face turns ghostly pale. It’s his mother. And standing next to her is his father, both clearly not expecting their son to be living with a cape-wearing, disheveled roommate.

- **Ethan** (panicking): “Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?”

- **Mom** (cheerfully): “We were in town and thought we’d stop by for lunch! Isn’t this nice?”

Ethan glances at Alex, who is still grinning stupidly in the cape. His parents' eyes scan the messy apartment and the general disarray that Alex brings with him. They look at Ethan, their expressions filled with thinly veiled judgment.

**Comedy moment:**

Alex, sensing the awkwardness, steps forward with a charming smile, extending his hand to Ethan’s parents.

- **Alex** (enthusiastically): “Hi! I’m Alex. Ethan’s roommate. Also, his personal superhero today.”

Ethan’s mother looks bewildered, and his father raises an eyebrow. Ethan is mortified, but Alex seems completely unfazed by the situation. His parents try to be polite, but their confusion is clear.

- **Mom** (awkwardly smiling): “Oh, well, that’s... lovely.”

Ethan quickly ushers his parents into the living room, shooting Alex a look that says, *please, for the love of everything, behave.*

As they sit down, Ethan’s parents attempt to make small talk, but the tension is palpable. Alex, still wearing the cape, lounges casually on the couch, offering them snacks and trying to make conversation, completely unaware of the awkwardness he’s causing.

- **Alex** (grinning): “So, you guys want to hear about how I saved Ethan from setting the apartment on fire? It’s a great story.”

Ethan’s parents look horrified, while Ethan buries his face in his hands, wishing he could disappear.

---

**Scene 9: A New Understanding**

After what feels like an eternity, Ethan’s parents finally leave, but not before his mother insists on straightening up the living room and commenting on the importance of “keeping a tidy home.” As soon as the door closes, Ethan collapses onto the couch, exhausted from the ordeal.

- **Ethan** (groaning): “That was a nightmare.”

- **Alex** (laughing): “I don’t know, I thought your parents were nice. A little stiff, but nice.”

Ethan shoots him a look, but he can’t help but crack a small smile. Despite the chaos, Alex somehow manages to make things... bearable. Even when they’re completely embarrassing.

- **Ethan** (sighing): “You’re impossible.”

- **Alex** (grinning, taking off the cape): “But admit it, life’s a little more fun with me around.”

Ethan doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t need to. There’s a small, growing fondness between them—an unspoken understanding that, despite their differences, they’re starting to balance each other out in ways neither of them expected.

---

**End of Chapter 2.**

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In this continuation of *Unexpected Roommates*, the comedy and chaos between Alex and Ethan deepen, but it’s clear they’re slowly finding common ground. From embarrassing moments with Ethan’s parents to superhero-themed mishaps, their growing friendship is filled with laughter, misunderstandings, and a surprising amount of heart.

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