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, featuring a large leather sectional and a flat-screen TV. To the left, there was a half wall with shoes, and on the other side, I spotted the front closet and a dining table. Beyond the dining area was the kitchen, and straight ahead, a hallway with doors.
"So? Not too shabby, right?" he asks, and I nod, giving a nonchalant shrug. The floors and walls could use some cleaning, but it didn't bother me much.
"It's great," I smile as I shrug.
"I need to use the bathroom. You stay put; I'll show you the rest in a minute," he insists, holding up his hands. I nod and watch him head down the hallway.
I look around a bit but don't wander. I take in all the clutter scattered around—traffic cones in the corner and beer boxes against the walls. It's a typical college house, and this is what college students do. How would it be sharing a place with guys? I wasn't entirely sure, but back home, my family and I all shared a bathroom, and I knew how to clean up after myself. It might not be so bad.
"Hey," a guy emerges from a back room into the kitchen. "Don't I know you?" he asks, and I inhale tensely because I couldn't recall who he was.
"Um, I'm not sure, but it's possible we've met," I shrug. He's got blonde hair and blue eyes, resembling any other guy I've encountered. "I'm Julianna."
"Right! I remember you, Julianna," he beams, rifling through the cabinets while snapping his fingers. "We all played cards in the dorm lounge the first time we met."
"Oh, okay." I recollect that now. I had forgotten the people we played with, but it's starting to come back to me.
"You look different; it's kinda hard to recognize you," he observes, and I make a playful face.
"Different in a good or bad way?" I inquire, and he laughs, grabbing a box of frosted flakes from the counter.
"Good," he assures me as he tears open the box, taking a handful and munching on it. "I'm Kyle."
"Right," I sigh, recollecting more now. "Sorry, that was about 2 and a half years ago."
"No worries," he shrugs, popping more cereal into his mouth. "So, you still friends with Carlo?" he asks between chews, and I chuckle.
"We haven't kept in touch as much," I admit.
"What brings you two here today?" he asks, swallowing his food.
"Well, kinda," I shrug. "I'm actually here to check out your available room." I worry slightly about his reaction.
"Really?" he exclaims, enthusiastic. I nod. "That's awesome! We've been searching for a new roommate for weeks!"
"Carlo mentioned that, and I'm itching to get out of my parents' house!" I share, and he smiles, setting the cereal box back down.
"Hey, Mark!" Kyle calls from the kitchen, and Mark steps out of the door on the right side of the hallway. Mark was good-looking, much like Kyle. It was evident that these were Carlo's friends, and they were all quite attractive. Did I even meet their standards to be their potential roommate?
"Hey, Kyle," Mark greets him, then takes a moment to glance at me and back at Kyle. "Who's this?"
"Julianna, you've met Julianna before, man," Kyle persists, while Mark raises an eyebrow. "She was a friend of Carlo's, and she played cards with us that one time."
"Oh, right," Mark recalls, seeming more welcoming now. Mark was probably about five-eight inches shorter than Kyle, but his red hair suited him well, and the freckles on the bridge of his nose added to his charm. "Is Carlo here to see you?"
"No, you goof, she's here to check out the apartment!" Kyle chimes in, continuing to pour cereal into his mouth.
"Oh, you're the person Carlo texted us about."
"Yeah, being closer to campus would be nice," I agree, and he nods.
"Well, we probably shouldn't make any major decisions until Kent gets back!" Mark suggests with a shrug, and I nod in agreement. "You've met Kent before?"
"Nope," I confess. I was most anxious about that, but at least I knew the other guys.
"He's a good guy; you'll like him," Mark reassures me. "Do you want to see the rest of the house?"
"Sure," I reply with a shrug, and he smiles, leading me down the hall. Kyle follows behind, holding a box of cereal.
There are seven doors in the hallway.
"I've got the room on the right," Mark mentions as he quickly shows me his somewhat messy room. "Kyle's is the one across the hall," he adds, and Kyle opens his door to reveal a mostly tidy room. "This is the main bathroom," he continues, stepping one door to the right. It's quite spacious, featuring a toilet, a sink with ample counter space, and a shower. "And over there is our laundry room and a half-bath," he points, although it's closed, so Carlo is probably inside.
"Two toilets!" I repeat, and they both nod in agreement.
"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
Micheala, older than both Oliver and me, was fully committed to her job. She possessed an unwavering belief in the power of determination. "I'll support you with it, Julianna. You're an excellent guard, and I'm convinced you'd make a great instructor. I keep suggesting that you take the instructor's course to work with the teenagers who attend lifeguarding." "But I enjoy teaching the little ones," I murmured. "They're adorable, no doubt. However, I think you're ready for the next step because I believe you'll excel at it," she encouraged, and I let out a sigh. "Alright," I shrugged. It was time to stop letting fear hold me back. "Okay, now head home and get some rest. See you when you return," she smiled, and I nodded, picking up my bag and leaving the pool. I waved at Oliver, who was headed in the opposite direction, and began my walk back. Walking home at night like this was a new experience for me. The well-lit path was bustling with other students. I pulled out my headphones,