"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, Julianna?" Carlo asks, and I smile.
"May I take a look inside the closet?" I inquire, and Carlo nods.
"Of course, feel free to explore." His reassurance makes me feel more at ease, so I step into the closet. It had a large window, high ceilings, and plenty of space. With my dresser, it would be perfect.
"You like it?" Carlo asks again, and I nod.
"Yes, it's great," I reply with a grin, making Carlo and the others smile. "But only if you guys are okay with it," I quickly add, extending my hands in a gesture of consideration, prompting everyone to chuckle.
They had to want me as a roommate too. My desire to live there wasn't enough. Despite the place not being perfect or upscale, my social life was virtually nonexistent and seemed impossible to resurrect. Most of my friends from my area had left the state for college, leaving me with the challenge of rebuilding my social circle. I was bored, lonely, and desperate for some human connection.
"Could we have a quick chat about it?" Kyle asks, wearing a friendly smile, and I agree.
"Of course," I reply, and they all head down the hall to discuss it, leaving me in the living room, deep in thought about what I needed to do next. I'd have to check my credit, review the lease, and buy furniture to complete the room. I really hope they'll accept me as their roommate. Despite the anxiety and nerves, it was a far better option than what I was currently dealing with.
As I pondered, my bag vibrated, signaling an incoming call. I shift the bag's strap to access my phone and see "MOM IS CALLING" displayed on the screen.
I answer, "Hello."
"Hey sweetie," my mom's voice comes through, with the faint sound of a car in the background, indicating she's on her hands-free device. "How's your coffee tasting?"
"It went well."
"Already done?" she questions, sounding surprised. I gaze at the queen-sized bed frame in the room, realizing I wouldn't have to get rid of it.
"Yeah, I'm at Carlo's place, and we're discussing some things." I sigh, realizing I should've waited to tell them about the potential move until I had more details.
"Well, I need to pick something up in the city. Do you want me to come get you?" Mom offers kindly.
"Sure, I'll send you the location." I inform her, glancing around the room. They had clearly tidied up the space before showing it to prospective tenants.
"Aww, that's nice. I'll see you in, what, twenty minutes?" She smiles through the phone.
"Okay, I'll see you..." I glance towards the hallway and notice a large figure standing at the entrance of a room.
Kent.
As he glances over his shoulder at me, I manage a faint smile. This guy is the definition of a perfect ten. With his dark brown hair and impeccably chiseled jawline, he's a sight to behold. Those bright green eyes with a hint of yellow are absolutely captivating. He looks like he's spent the entire summer basking in the sun, and it shows.
"Julianna?" My mom's voice snaps me out of my reverie, and I shake my head to refocus. "Julianna, are you still there?"
"Yeah, sorry, Mom. The signal's a bit wonky here," I mutter, tearing my gaze away. He's also remarkably tall and robust. This guy is way too intimidating and attractive to be a potential roommate. "Anyway, I'll see you soon."
"Alright, take care, honey," she says, and my phone emits a beep. I swiftly stow my phone back in my bag and muster up the last remnants of courage to glance back and see if he's still there.
To my surprise, he hasn't moved an inch; he's still standing there, looking in my direction. I inhale deeply and wipe my damp palms on my shorts. Once again, my hands are clammy.
"Hi," I manage to squeak out, and a faint smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.
"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,
I detested arguing, and Kent had a way of pushing my buttons. I reach home before him, descend the stairs ahead of him, and open the front door first. "Hey, Julianna," Mark calls out from the living room where he and Kyle are engrossed in a game of Call of Duty on the Xbox. My brother is quite the gamer, but it's not really my thing. "Hey," I sigh, unzipping my sweater to relieve the warmth and placing my bag on a dining room chair. I head to the kitchen and grab a glass of water from the cabinet. After taking a sip, I hear Mark instructing them to pause the game. "You're a lifeguard?" Kyle puts his controller down on the coffee table and looks at me. "Yeah, that's where I work. I also teach people how to swim," I reply with a casual shrug. "So, are you like David Hasselhoff from Baywatch?" Kyle teases, and I chuckle, setting my drink down. "Well, not exactly. Since it's an indoor pool, I mostly tell people to walk," I explain. "It's not as glamorous as you might think." "So you