"Wait," he says with a peculiar look, pulling out his phone. "I've got an idea that could solve both our problems."
"What's on your mind?" I inquire cautiously, fearing Carlo might have come up with something reckless. Between the two of us, I was usually the more level-headed one, often needing him to clarify his ideas.
"My buddies, the ones I share a place with," he begins, and I nod along. "Well, I won't be sticking around this year."
"Alright?"
"They all renewed our lease, but I didn't."
"Aren't those guys all from your school?" I'm a bit puzzled, so I ask. "Didn't you graduate high school with them?"
"Nah, I wasn't a freshman then. I met them during my second year of dorm life. We used to play basketball together at the gym too," he explains, and I raise an eyebrow.
"Are they in their senior year like I am?" I confirm, and he nods.
"Yeah, and they've been hunting for someone to take that fourth room since I told them about my job in Jersey," he says, and my thoughts immediately zoom in on the best part: just a 15-minute walk from campus. "They've been searching for weeks."
"Surely, there's someone out there willing to move in with them," I persist, unsure why it has come to this point—Carlo selling his room to a friend he doesn't see all that often.
"They don't want some clueless freshman or someone who'll party with the seniors," he tells me. "Plus, they're looking for someone like you—neat and quiet."
"But I've hung out with those guys, and they can be pretty noisy and messy," I point out, and he chuckles.
"Last year, Mark got drunk and tried to do a handstand in the living room. In the process, he kicked a hole in the wall," he tells me, and my jaw drops. "Our landlord nearly kicked us out, and they want someone to blame."
"S-so—"
"You should move into the room I used to have," he suggests quickly, immediately pulling out his phone and tapping away. "They're desperate for someone to take the room, and it's so close to campus."
Is he serious? My mind races a mile a minute. This could open up so many opportunities—going out more than twice a year, getting more sleep, and having more freedom than I do now.
"Who are the roommates?" I inquire, and he grins.
"You've met Mark and Kyle before, right?"
"I think so," I mumble, trying to remember where I've seen them. "Maybe once?"
"Cool, and there's Kent."
"Kent?" I question, and he nods. "I've never crossed paths with him."
"No, I don't think so. You've never really come across him," he explains, and my mind starts to catch up. It's not all fun and short walks to campus.
"You want me to live with three guys I don't even know?" I express my concerns, and he sighs, seeming to grasp my hesitation. "It's a lot, Carlo. I've never lived on my own, and I don't think—"
"Please consider it," he pleads. "We can't find anyone else, so for now, the three of them are covering the rent." He persists, and I relent. "You know me, Julianna, you know I wouldn't steer you wrong."
"You sure about that?" I tease, raising an eyebrow as I press him.
"Well, maybe if it involved stealing traffic cones or doing drugs, but not if it messes up your life," he tells me, and I agree. Carlo might be a bit carefree, but he would never want me to be in trouble or unhappy. "I know these guys, they're good folks, and they'll like you."
"But what if they don't?" I worry.
"That won't happen," he reassures me. "You'd be doing me a huge favor by helping out. I feel like I'm escaping their clutches."
"Alright, what do they say?" I inquire, and he shrugs.
"I could shoot them a text. We could even swing by and check the place out right now," he suggests, and I relent.
"What's the deal?" I ask, and his response makes my stomach churn.
I'm too shy around new people to meet them in person.
"Yeah, I just texted them, saying a friend of mine wanted to take a look at the place," he explains, and as he turns his phone screen toward me, I swallow the lump in my throat.
I hadn't seen Carlo in months, and I wasn't sure how well I knew him. Now I was going to live with his friends? That didn't make any sense.
But the campus was so close. Close to work, school, and my other activities. This was a great chance for me because I wouldn't have been able to find new roommates before the semester started.
"Um..." I mumble, and then I come to my senses. You have nothing to lose by going to look. "Sure, let's go.'
He smiles and sends a message back to his friends. I go back to my coffee and try to finish it before we have to get up.
"They want you to meet them." When he tells me, I smile and feel relieved. I could do this and take care of it. Carlo would never live with bad people, he's too nice. "Let me just get a to-go cup for the rest of my coffee, and I'll bring you over."
As soon as I finish my drink, he quickly gets up from the table. I then sit back and run my fingers through my hair. Relax Julianna, just be normal. It will be fine, and if you do well, you won't have to live with your parents for long.
"Ready?" Carlo stands over me at the table and asks, "What's up?" I stand up and grab my bag.
"Sure." I take a weak breath and smile as I get my dish and number.
"You don't have to do that, someone comes around and clears the tables." I roll my eyes when he tells me.
"I just want to help. If nothing else, I can get them to the front." I tell him yes, and the angry woman behind the counter seems at least a little glad that I helped. I smile at her and walk back to Carlo, who is waiting patiently by the door.
"Julianna, you will love this place. I'm aware of it." He tells me not to worry, puts his arm around my shoulder, and leads me out the door.
I really want him to be right.
I stick close to Carlo as he leads the way through the city. I couldn't recall the route to his place very well; I had been there once but only briefly. I'm incredibly nervous, my palms sweating profusely. All I can think about is how awkward I am. To others, this might not seem like a big deal, but for me, it's a huge step. I've always been somewhat socially awkward. While I've improved over the last year or two, I still blurt out silly things from time to time. "It's up there," Carlo points to a white house on the corner and says, "That's it." Like most college houses, it's divided into three smaller apartments. I thought Carlo lived in the basement suite. "I forgot about the basement part," I mutter, and he chuckles. "It's spacious, with high ceilings and everything," he reassures me, and I follow him to the side entrance. As I step inside, I glance around, blinking in surprise. He was right; for a basement, the ceilings were quite high. The living room was right next to me, fe
"Two toilets!" I repeat, and they both nod. "Yes, if someone's showering and you need the bathroom, it's a lifesaver!" Mark chuckles, and I nod in agreement. "The one at the end is just a storage space. That's where we keep our cleaning supplies." He explains as he opens the utility closet. "Kent owns this room, but I shouldn't have opened the door without his permission," he says, touching the door in a respectful manner. I didn't know Kent, and he didn't know me, but it seemed like the polite thing to do. Mark playfully drums on the wall and announces, "And this..." He opens the door to Carlo's room, revealing only an iron bed frame; even the mattress and box spring were gone. "It's spacious," I comment, and they both agree. It was much larger than the room I had at home. It featured beautiful wooden floors and unassuming white walls. "Hey, are you guys giving her the grand tour?" Carlo interrupts as he emerges from the half-bath, and both Mark and Kyle laugh. "What do you think
"Hey," he greets with a friendly tone as he steps out of his room. "That metal bed won't cut it if you're aiming for an Airbnb," he quips, laughing, and I chuckle along, my gaze glued to the floor. "Uh, no, I'm actually friends with Carlo," I reply, working to keep my heart rate steady. Why can't I just stay composed? "I'm Julianna." "Julianna," he repeats, walking with me into the room. I offer a nod and swallow the lump forming in my throat. "I'm Kent," he introduces, extending his hand. Taking a deep breath, I mirror the gesture, carefully shaking his hand, trying my best to control the nerves. "Nice to meet you," I manage, cursing myself for the slight stammer. I withdraw my hand a tad too quickly, wary of sweaty palms. "Why are you in Carlo's room when it's empty?" he queries with a smile, and my stomach twists in knots. "Well, I'm checking it out," I explain. "He mentioned you guys are looking for a fourth roommate." "Ah, got it," he grins, putting me more at ease. Thankful
"Mom, what do you think of Carlo?" I asked as we drove into our neighborhood. "I like him," I replied with a sigh, running my hands over my knees. But I still hadn't told her about what happened this afternoon. I had left in the morning to meet a friend, but when I returned, I had a lease for a spare room in my bag. Living at home made it hard to distinguish between being a child and an adult. My parents were respectful of my age, but they still treated me like a kid, asking where I was going and when I'd be back every time I went out. Whenever I mentioned moving out, they'd bring up the expenses and suggest waiting until I finished my undergrad. I had saved up a good amount of money, and my original plan was to wait until I finished college to get a nice apartment or maybe even buy a car. But now, I was glad I hadn't, because I had more than enough money to make moving out a reality. "He lives in that house on the corner," my mom asked, pointing. I nodded, confirming that Carlo li
"Henry, she wants to move in with three men!" Mom exclaimed, clearly upset, and stormed off to the kitchen in anger. "She came up with this plan without even discussing it with us." "Colleen," Dad interjected calmly, which managed to stop her outburst. She was visibly distressed and surprised, but I had anticipated her reaction. "Please, Julianna, tell me the whole story." I began to explain, "One of my friends is relocating to New Jersey. He currently shares an apartment with three roommates, and it's just a 15-minute walk from campus. However, since he's moving, he didn't renew the lease. His friends have been searching for someone to take his place in the apartment, and Carlo offered it to me. I met his roommates today, and it seems like a suitable place for a student to live." Dad asked, "How much does the rent cost?" and I responded with a shrug. "It's actually not that expensive; it's $643 a month," I informed him, to which he simply nodded and shrugged. "The location is conv
I grab my phone and search for Mark's number so I can get in touch with him. [ME 15:58] "Hey, Mark! It's Julianna. I wanted to say thanks again for today. "My dad is reviewing my lease, and I'm getting things organized. Do you think I could move in next week?" "That is if you still want me to and everything." I wait anxiously, and I see the typing indicator pop up almost immediately. [MARK 16:00] "Hey Jules" "We definitely still want you to move in." "That sounds good; no need to rush." I smile and send a response. [ME 6:01 PM] "Awesome, I'll keep you updated." "Also, my dad wants to check out the place before I sign anything, I hope that's okay." [6:01 PM MARK] "That's more than fine! Thanks again, Julianna; you've been a lifesaver." I almost shout with excitement and nearly fall out of bed. Finally, something positive is happening. I'll be moving into a college house and making new memories. I still talk to some of my high school friends, but they aren't as important
"Hey there!" Kyle enters my room and calls out. "Is there anything else you need help with?" His cheeks are red, his hair a little damp, and he's carrying a bag. It's clear he's just returned from the gym. "I think my dad is bringing in some boxes. Do you want to help?" I give a shrug, and he nods, but his response seems a bit odd. I'm in the middle of moving my bed right under the window when I hear a door open across the hall. Kent has arrived. Even though he's sweaty and disheveled, he's still very attractive. In that tank top, I can clearly see his muscles and shoulders. God, I don't know how I'm going to handle this. "Hey," I try to be polite and say something, but he doesn't respond. Did he even hear me? "How long are you planning to live with your family in our apartment?" He asks me rudely, and my whole body freezes. My hands stop in mid-air, my body straightens up, and my eyebrows furrow. Why is he talking to me like this? I don't even know how to respond. "Um, I'm not su
My first job shift ends late in the day. I've never worked a shift this late before, and I can't wait to go to bed when it's over so I can finally get some sleep. Even though I'm sleeping in a new place and bed, I've really been enjoying the extra sleep. It's great. Even though I've been in my new apartment for three days, I still don't feel like it's mine. I always feel like I need to ask permission to use the kitchen or be in the living room, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is now my place, too. I've been very clean because I was afraid they would dislike me for making a mess. So I always clean up after myself, don't leave anything out in the bathroom when I get ready in the morning, and regularly sweep the entire apartment. It seems like they like me, but I'm not entirely sure. Since that first night, we haven't hung out much, and I haven't even seen much of Kent. He's either in his room with the door shut or out doing something. "What's up?" I hear it from where