“Fine!” I yelled back at Lily who was telling me to hurry up because today is the day that I will be sent to NewArc Academy, my new school.

I took my time because this is the last morning that I will be waking up in my room here in Lexington.

The knot in my stomach grew with each step to the bathroom and by the time I turned the shower knob on, it’s nearly unbearable.

My weekends were spent drinking with my friends, wasting my time and intentionally jeopardizing my future and Lily didn’t mind at all. She only wanted to get rid of me, throw me out of our house that dad bought for me.

The hot water cascaded over my body, loosened my strained muscles, and made my head spin more from the hangover.

I hurriedly washed my hair and body and dried them with the white and soft towel after.

“Ashley!” my mom called again and I rolled my eyes as I walked down the stairs. “What took you so long? And what the hell are you wearing?” her big green eyes widened as it raked over my body wearing short shorts and a black crop top.

“None of your business!” I snapped. “Bye Lils!” I waved my hand at her and walked my way to the black BMW that was waiting for me.

“Ashley!” she screamed but I already signaled Lance, our driver, her lover to drive off, leaving Lily with an annoying smirk and a beauty queen wave. Bye bitch!

.

.

.

.

.

“Are you kidding me? You fucking old man!” I yelled at Mr. Smith, my supposed to be landlord. I can’t fucking believe this!

His already white eyebrows narrowed, glaring murderously at me. “Watch your words Miss Anderson! I am not tolerating you speaking to me that way here in my own house!”

I laughed out loud at his face, standing up and pointing at his face angrily. “Do you even realize what you have done? You dirty old man!” I hissed and he glared at me. “I am going to report you to the goddamn officers!”

“Can you just lower down your voice and listen to me?!” Mr. Smith raised his voice but I didn’t budge. I stood still acting like a shiver didn’t crawl up my spine when he shouted.

“No! You gave my apartment to someone else! I already booked that last month, but still, you gave it away! I already paid you! How is any of that okay!” I gritted my teeth looking at this old man with a fire burning in my gaze.

Mr. Smith’s expression softened slightly and he stood up too, his trembling hands caught my shoulders, gently ushered me to sit. “Listen to me first, will you?”

I obeyed and sat back down. My knees shook with silent anger and I kept my hands on them to keep them from doing so.

“Please have a heart. I already told you what happened, right?” he said and I glared at him.

He called me this morning while I’m inside the car, on my way here. He told me that a pregnant teenage girl came to his doorstep looking for a place to stay and he didn’t think twice and gave it to her. He didn’t even consider me in making his decisions.

“Won’t you give the apartment to her? To see her baby grow up in comfort and luxury?” he was emotionally drawing me in and damn, it was working! I dropped my head in my hands and shook it.

“Fine, fine! I understand.” I mumbled and he genuinely smiled at me. “Can you at least provide me with a place to stay in this building?” I asked and he was silent for a minute, thinking and I continued. “You know why I chose to reside here. NewArc Academy is just 10 minutes away, and I don’t have a car.” Lance drove back to his lover, my mom, Lily, whatever!

“What do you think about sharing, sweetheart?” Mr. Smith inquired, placing a beefy right arm on the armrest and my eyes narrowed.

“Depends on the person I am sharing with.” I answered, picking my red fingernails.

I had no intention of sharing an apartment with someone bitchier than me or a creepy nerd girl who doesn’t want to talk about having her own world.

I want a roommate who is nice and funny and not one who constantly smells or cuts pieces of my hair while I’m sleeping.

I’m also okay with a hot guy or a handsome one but not with a creepy old man who watched porn at midnight. What?

“He is a young man in his twenties, and just like you, he studies at NewArc. A gem of a boy he is, he worked so very hard to achieve his goal. Drowns himself in his books and computers.”

He paused as he studied my reaction but I gave him a blank expression, waiting for him to continue.

“He already paid for the whole apartment but it was way too big for him, with 2 bedrooms, a hall and a kitchen. This morning, before you arrived, he came to ask me to advertise for a housemate.”

I smiled slightly in relief. “Sounds fine! How much will I pay?” I asked as I pulled out my wallet inside my bag.

“You can give your payment to him because I already told you that he paid me in full.”

“Fine! Fine! Can I see the place first?” I demanded, standing up and stretching.

“Okay then, I’ll show it to you. Uno is probably not at home right now, he’s a smart and a good kid you know—“

“Yeah, I got it! He’s an angel right out of church. Can we just go?” I cut him off.

“Okay, so he gave me the freedom to barge into his apartment if there is a client so, come. I’ll take you there.” Mr. Smith walked out and I followed him.

We walked silently through the hallways, my hands shoved into the pockets of my shorts as I looked around me. The walls were painted beige with painting hung on it. It was so cool to see and I could feel the hard brown carpet on my feet as we walked further until we reached the elevator.