Chapter 1
Zoey had unpacked the final box at her new apartment, her Great Dane, Goober was asleep in her room. The Meyer Grant paperwork said her roommate was pending so she still had time to enjoy her place before her roommate moved in.
Her room screamed organization, everything had a place and she was super particular about the placement of everything. It had taken a little extra time, but she was satisfied with the outcome. Emma, her best friend, had just left to go run errands. Before she left, they had a small spat about Zoey’s minor OCD tendencies.
...
Emma readjusted her black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail and then rubbed her face. “You can just put it anywhere,” Emma said as she handed Zoey the various pencil and pen holders.
“No, Emma, you can’t” Zoey groaned in frustration. “You put the pencil holder on the left side of the monitor and the penholder on the right side” she stared at her, starting to regret asking for help. “How will I know where it is if it’s not in its correct place,” she asked as she motioned to the desk.
“I don’t know, Zoey, maybe look? Use your eyes?” Emma snapped back. Zoey always had been overly OCD about the little things. Maybe her OCD had been part of the reason that she had gotten accepted into the Meyer program. No, Emma stopped herself, it was what pushed her to be the hard-working student that got her into the program. She worked for this; she can’t help her tendencies. Emma loved Zoey; they had been friends for over a decade but she knew Zoey had never taken anything easy. Never relaxed, not even with that boyfriend Emma resented.
“I’m sorry, I know you’re you and this is how you want things,” Emma said after a moment of silence. Zoey half-smiled, Zoey and Emma were complete opposites; Emma was a type to go with the flow and doesn’t care for the organization, where Zoey is stuck in her ways and everything has a place.
Zoey handed her the keyboard and Emma put it down in the middle of her desk, slightly crooked as she wasn’t really paying attention. She was looking around at the lavish apartment that the Meyer building provided for its accepted students, a slight twinge of jealously came across her but only for the apartment. Emma wished she could have an apartment as nice as this but had no desire to continue schooling, she had her degree and a good job with it. Zoey worked for this and wanted as many degrees as she could collect as if they were collecting cards.
“Emma, pay attention, it’s crooked” Zoey demanded. Emma threw her hands in the air and gave up.
“I swear to God, I’m done” and smacked Zoey with a pillow. Zoey gasped in shock and picked up a pillow and hit her back. They both laughed after a moment and then sighed.
“Where’s Sam,” Emma asked, half surprised that Zoey’s boyfriend wasn’t here to help with moving in. It was a big moment for Zoey, he should be here. But then again, it was Sam, he half supported what Zoey did, but it was like Zoey didn’t care. Zoey acted like the moments he did show was trying and it really wasn’t. Emma couldn’t stand him and has pointed it out multiple times, but Zoey was a brick wall when it came to him. She didn’t notice his half attempt effort on everything.
“Sam will show soon, he always does” and then changed the subject. “When are you going to start dating,” Zoey asked.
“When I meet one that’s not a fuckwit” Emma shrugged, and Zoey was slightly envious of her independence and confidence. She never settled and knew what she wanted and wasn’t just going to date, anyone.
“I bought some new stuff for him,” she said as she grabbed the bag still with the tissue paper inside. She pulled out a violet-colored lingerie set, and Emma’s brown eyes widened.
“Well look at you. I’m sure he will enjoy that...Whenever he decides to show” Emma groaned internally, accidentally slipping on the comment.
“Emma” Zoey groaned. She eyed her silk robe in the closet that she would wear over the lingerie, to wear until the big reveal for Sam. She had made this plan a few days ago, confidence slowly peeking its head out. She was terrified as she had never done this before, even though Sam was her first and only, but she had never worn lingerie or surprised him like this before.
“Sorry! Force of habit to insult him” Emma sighed. She looked at her best friend, Zoey was beautiful and deserved so much better. Her best friend had long legs and a porcelain complexion. Her thick curly red hair hung down to her mid-back and her blue eyes stared back. Zoey could literally have anyone, but she chose Sam who treated her badly and never was there. Emma didn’t understand how Zoey could be so blind.
Zoey shrugged and dismissed it, no longer wanting to argue. “I got to run some errands, I’ll be back in a few hours” Emma stated and gave her best friend a hug.
“I’ll be here” Zoey smiled and decided to get ready for Sam’s appearance. “Waiting” she muttered under her breath as Emma left the apartment.
...
Chris slid on his shirt as he got off the bed. He looked around and noticed she was still asleep. He began to walk out and then Chris heard her stir. Great. “Come back to bed Chris” she called out. She sat up and wrapped the blanket around her.
“Actually, I have to go,” Chris said and continued to walk out. He began to reach for the doorknob, but it was already turning. Uh-oh, he thought, dread building in his stomach. A big hulking guy came through the door. He had to be six foot six at least. Chris was six feet, but this guy had to look down at Chris the same way he looked down at children. The stranger had huge muscles, the same of probably a wrestler or those people who pulled semis with a rope.
“Why are you in my room?” The stranger’s voice was deep and husky, reminding Chris of Darth Vader.
“Room service?” Chris smiled and the stranger’s eyes narrowed at him, glaring and menacing. The stranger’s fists began to ball. “If it makes you feel any better, she wasn’t that good anyway.” The stranger paused and then hit Chris full on in the stomach. All the air escaped him, and his insides felt like they just got hit by a truck. He was about to hit Chris again, “wait! There’s a midget in the closet. Get him before he runs away.”
“Why is there a midget in the closet?”
“Your girlfriend is kinky.” Chris smiled and shrugged with what little energy he had left.
“Stay here.”
“No problem.” As he walked over to the closet, Chris opened the door and ran as fast as his legs could take him. Running down the hall, it seemed like forever before he was finally able to find a lobby where he finally saw the elevators. Chris could hear thumping behind him of the giant’s footsteps and desperately, he repeatedly pressed the button. The thumps were getting closer. “Come on, come on” Chris began to shake, and finally the doors opened with a ding. Chris pressed the 1 button and then the close door button rapidly. The doors began to close, and he was in sight. With a smile, he flicked off the intimidating stranger and then the doors closed before the giant had a chance to stop it. Chris let a breath out, feeling his heart beating through his chest and start to slow down as the threat of danger escape him, barely. He grasped the cold bars in the elevator and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The doors dinged again, and a petite blonde was outside the doors.
“Hey” Chris smiled, and she returned the smile. A man came around the corner and he was again more built than me.
“Hey” the guy mocked, and the smile immediately disappeared off Chris’ face. He just nodded and stared at the doors after the couple got on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they got to the first floor. He walked off the elevator without looking back at the blonde, for once learning his lesson. He walked outside whistling, grateful to make it outside alive. Opening the door to his black Challenger, Chris smiled as the thought today was going to be a good day. He sped off to his new apartment, pumped for whatever lied ahead.
Chris grabbed the box out the passenger seat and headed up the stairs. Upon entering the Meyer building, one of the first things he noticed was there was way too much gold. This was over the top, he thought as he walked to his floor, he understood wanting to be fancy, but this was overkill. He walked to the elevator and pressed the button awaiting the elevator. There was a ding before then the doors slowly opened. He hummed to himself as the elevator took him to floor 3, once the button was pressed. The doors opened to reveal even more over the top decorating. There was an Old Persian carpet that covered the floor; giving the hallway, to Chris, a bad impression of a want to be Mirada. He knocked on the door, struggling to hold the box. Chris assumed his roommate was here already and assumed right as he heard shuffling behind the door. The door opened and a striking redhead greeted me before flashing me some lovely lingerie. He didn’t know what dropped faster, his jaw or the box he was holding.
“Hey baby” she smiled as she looked up. The girl’s blue eyes widened, and she screamed in horror and rewrapped her thin pink robe.
“Hey to you too” he smirked, and attempted to make another comment before he could, she slammed the door in his face. “I assume I’m at the wrong apartment” he yelled through the door. He stood there and looked at her door number and saw her apartment number was 301, he swore that was his apartment number. He reached back into his back pocket to find his wallet that had his paperwork folded into it.
“No kidding!” she yelled back through the closed door. He shrugged and looked at the paper to see that it was 303. He looked around to see 302 across the hall and saw that his apartment was next door to the flashing redhead.
He picked up his box and started to head to his apartment when he saw another guy headed to the redhead’s apartment. “Just a forewarning, that chick is feeling flashy,” he said to the guy and the guy nodded, with a confused expression on his face.
He walked into his apartment and looked for his room, he saw all his stuff had been delivered into one of the rooms. He peeked into his roommates’ room, out of curiosity and to greet him but it looked as though he had just left by the food that was half-eaten left on the guy’s bed. He returned to his room, plopped the box down by his bed and laid down, relaxing.
...
“Sam, hey” her face was flushed and beet red, with the most embarrassed look on her face. Sam faked a smile and kissed her on the forehead.
“Should I ask why some guy said you’re in a flashy mood?” he asked before he plopped down on her violet couch. His facial expression hadn’t changed since he came in and a strange feeling came across her. He looked like he had just woken up, his blonde hair was a mess and it almost seemed as he was wearing yesterday’s clothes. She didn’t know what he was wearing yesterday, as he didn’t ‘have the time’ to help her pack or get ready.
“No, you want a beer?” she asked as she opened the fridge, not ready to say how she flashed a stranger. The first time, she had ever attempted to surprise him, and it was a major bust.
“No, listen” he started before Cassandra came barreling in, leaving the door open.
“Nice place Z” Cassandra announced before plopping down on the couch, right next to Sam, which was odd to Zoey. Frustration grew as she never cared for being called a letter and she had already expressed that to Cassandra. “Did you tell her yet?“, she asked as she touched Sam’s arm. Dread grew in Zoey’s stomach.
“Tell me what exactly?” Zoey asked, afraid of the answer but somewhere she had a feeling of what it was. She eyed Cassandra who looked like she had just had a walk of shame her hair a mess and wearing her baggy shirt inside out over her leggings. A long moment passed in silence, that had felt like an eternity, as they all stared at each other. “What? What is it Sam!” she snapped needing to know what was going on. He swallowed and sighed rubbing his face.
Chris silently appeared in the doorway, after having heard the yelling, that and he was bored in his apartment and wanted to introduce himself to his striking neighbor. He couldn’t get the lingerie moment out of his head and he smirked again remembering.
“I’m just going to say it and not sugarcoat it. It’ll be like ripping off a Band-Aid. I think we should date other people. You and I aren’t working anymore. I’m already dating someone else” Sam said so it was so quick that Zoey didn’t have a chance to register it. Chris stared blankly and part of him felt bad for her but then part of him was amused, wanting popcorn. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her friend get off the couch. Oh, no please don’t tell me, Chris thought as he watched from the doorway. For once, he was invisible, and he was secretly enjoying every minute of this train wreck. Chris wanted to look away so badly so that he wouldn’t smile but he couldn’t stop watching this soap opera.
“I’m sorry you had to find out about this, this way Zoey” Cassandra frowned as she looked at Zoey.
“My best friend?” And this was her best friend, priceless but savage, Chris was so amused but part felt bad for watching.
“I’m so sorry. I still want to be friends.” Sam said and tried to hug her. Big mistake, if he gets castrated, Chris would give him the ice for trying. She only pushed him away, kind of figures. A stupid move on his part, a courageous one, but stupid, even he would have known better.
“Just get out.” She didn’t even look up; she just stared at the floor. Probably from shock Chris thought as he observed the disaster in front of him. He wondered if he should still go, as it would only make the introduction more awkward.
“Zoey” her friend began. Really? Ah, so she’s stupid too, now I see the connection, Chris thought and smiled, I do need popcorn. Twiddle Dee, Chris looked at Sam, and twiddle Dum, he looked at her friend. And they said only opposites attract Chris thought silently still debating on whether to leave. But for some reason, his thoughts weren’t being sent to his feet as they would not move.
“Get out!” she screamed loudly at them. Chris’ ears rang a little at the sound. She turned to point to the door and saw Chris standing there.
“How long have you been standing there” anger dripped off Zoey’s voice as she caught Chris.
Shit, I’ve been spotted, he thought as he made eye contact with Zoey. He froze and for a moment, he was speechless, for once. That’s when she looked Chris from head to toe and boy, did she looked disgusted at Chris judging him. “Long enough” he gave a half-smile, and inside he yelled at himself. He knew he was wrong for attempting to make a joke after he just watched her love life fall apart but the judgment, she gave him made him even feel disgusted with himself. After she kept giving him a disgusted face, he started to feel less and less bad for her. He could tell that she was stuck up, and assumed she probably thought she was better than everyone. Chris narrowed his eyes at her as she looked at him like a piece of gum she stepped on. “I just wanted to come over and say I found my apartment and properly introduce myself. I mean it won’t be as spectacular as your greeting, but I figure, I could try to do a decent introduction” she didn’t find him funny. I’m hilarious, Christ thought as he shrugged, poking fun at one of the most embarrassing moments of her life.
She was still wearing the robe, but it was tied this time. She was slender, with curves in all the right spots, her rack was kind of small, but she was doable. She had a small nose and a somewhat small face. She had long skinny legs with some muscle to it, probably an athlete or at least someone who worked out. Chris originally thought was super-hot until now with the way she was judging him. Before he could say anything else, she was walking towards the twiddle dee and twiddle dum pushing them out the apartment.
“Get out, everyone get the hell out” she yelled. “That includes your nosey self too” she snapped at Chris; eyes full of anger.
“Is she always like that?” Chris asked, Sam, and he nodded almost instantly, and Chris began to rub his face with his hand.
The two twiddles stood in the hallway, not knowing when they were overstaying their welcome, Chris observed and shook his head. He leaned again against the doorway and smirked at Zoey. “My names Chris” he looked at her again, just to annoy her but also introduce himself.
“Cool story” and she slammed the door in his face for the second time today. He laughed at her and started to turn towards his apartment.
“Wow, Zoey, the least you could have said was thank you for being honest.” Ha-ha, truly, Twiddle Dee fits her. They waited, idiotically before finally leaving. My one girl best friend came off the elevator as the Twiddles got on. “Lexi! I can’t believe you’re on my floor!”
Lexi had her ash blonde hair pulled into a braid down her shoulder. She wasn’t carrying any boxes, so either she moved in already or had movers move her stuff in like Chris did. She headed to the same apartment as the judgmental redhead.
“Good luck,” Chris said as she fumbled with her keys, pulling them out her pocket.
“What’s up Chris” she smiled as she adjusted her snug skinny jeans.
“There was a bit of flashing and a soap opera going on in that apartment” she raised one of her eyebrows and shook her head. Lexi assumed it was another story of Chris’ shenanigans and brushed it off to open the door to find a girl curled up in a ball crying her eyes out in the living room. Not the tears, come on, Chris thought as he saw her, I cannot stand crying. Girls, all of them, emotional. For the moment they both stood there, she sobbed hard and it was like nails on a chalkboard. Goosebumps arose and the hairs on his neck stood up. My ears were dying, Chris observed; I’m surprised they haven’t started bleeding.
“Goodbye Chris,” Lexi said, “catch up with you later, I got a girl situation” she muttered, to prevent her roommate from hearing, although Lexi doubted that she would over the sobbing.
“Later Lex” he stated before heading back to his apartment to take a nap.
...
Thirst was the first thought he had when he woke up. Thirst hit him again, hard and he got up slowly. He walked to the fridge to find no beers, just water, and some sodas. He grabbed his keys off the counter and walked next door. He peeked his head in and shouted, “Vito’s bar, joining?”
“Yeah, be there shortly, I’ll catch up” Lexi responded from her room. With that, he headed to the local bar for a much-needed drink.
It didn’t take long to drive there, and he had just gotten his beer right as Lex showed up. He waved at the bartender and the bartender put another beer on the bar. Lexi sat on the stool next to him and took a big gulp. “So, what’s your roommate’s name? You guys bros now?” Chris joked around with her. She paused before responding to him.
“Zoey and we’re decent. She told me about what happened” Lex began. She raised an eyebrow at him before continuing, “what the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just tried to introduce myself after she flashed me, how was that rude? I didn’t want to interrupt, now that would be rude” Chris shrugged as he responded.
“You shouldn’t have stayed, you should have left and come back... when the coast was... clear" Lex snapped, in a condescending tone of voice.
“She’s stuck up and bipolar. Within five seconds she had already judged me.” Chris took another drink of the beer.
“How is she bipolar? She just got dumped” she shook her head at Chris. He was stubborn and sometimes not stupid but made stupid decisions.
“She was angry, then depressed and crying, then I’m assuming happy again when you got there?” Chris paused and then continued not letting her have a chance to respond “look, she’s bipolar. End of story. She may be hot but she’s cuckoo for cocoa puffs.” Lexi rolled her eyes at him
“You. Have never been dumped, never been rejected. You don’t know what it’s like” she responded to a shocked Chris.
“I have too!” Chris snapped.
“Oh, for the love of God. Melanie dumped you in the second grade” Lex sighed.
“It was third and it was traumatizing. I didn’t have anyone to give me fruit snacks” Chris laughed while pretending to be upset.
“Oh, fuck off” Lex rolled her eyes and drank some more of the beer.
“I think it was fun messing with her” Chris observed.
“Don’t start Chris” Lex responded.
“You have seen the way she looked at me or the way she judged me” Chris was baffled, Lex didn’t get it.
“Get over it” Lex responded, not wanting him to start another prank war like he’s done before.
“No” was all Chris said, and at that moment, Lex knew that there was no changing his mind.
“That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Really, you do this to her, you know the kind of karma that you’re going to get for this. Why don’t you be the bigger man and suck it up? Showing her the real person you are is going to be a lesson for her.”
“Nah, I like bothering her.” Chris already had made up his mind; there was no changing it now.
“Sounds like World War three,” someone said behind him. He turned to see Chase, Zack, and Ryan standing behind me. Ryan smiled at me after he said that.
“Ryan, I’m glad you said that, don’t you agree that I would win?” Chris smiled and looked at Lexi with a smug facial expression.
“Of course!” Ryan said as he gave Chris a high five and Zack shook his head. From looking at the way Zack was standing Chris could tell he was already drunk.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen” Zack groaned. Wow, way to support me and here comes the ‘pep’ talk, Chris thought to himself. “Someone is going to end up hurt. Is she really going to learn anything when you just act like the guy, she thought you were? What is that really going to prove? And to act like this after she got dumped the way she did? That’s childish and immature. The girl is already hurt, why don’t you not add to it. But that’s cool when it happens to you, one day when you end up just as hurt as she is? I hope that then you will learn your lesson.” Zack gulped down the rest of Chris’ beer, in frustration. Chris just rolled his eyes. I am never going to get hurt, I don’t like girls, I just have one-night stands with them, Chris thought, relationships are pointless, and love doesn’t exist. Chris wouldn’t be hurting her, just annoying her and it wasn’t going to faze him because it’s not going to affect him. Zack’s words never really influenced him when he was wrong or especially when he was as drunk as he is now.
“No one’s going to end up hurt, she’s just going to learn a lesson. Everyone needs to calm down. It’s not that big of a deal,” Chris sighed, tired of having to justify himself.
“You are going to at least like her. Two people who annoy each other can’t be neighbors without developing some sort of feelings. Especially when they like to annoy each other and not to mention, you said she’s hot, which are two more reasons why this will end up badly. You’ve admitted you found her attractive. Like I said before, two people living near each other with attraction and liking to get on each other’s nerves is a recipe for disaster” Zack finished his rant and another beer, thank god, I love him like a brother but I didn’t want parenting and to be lectured.
Who knew alcohol got the truth of how people really feel out? Shrugging it off Chris ordered another beer and they talked about anything other than his stuck-up neighbor. Chris didn’t think I could handle another one of Zack’s rants without punching him in the face. Friends got to love them.
