Chapter 3: Chapter 3

"Wait." He tells me, getting this weird look in his eyes and he pulls out his phone. "I have the perfect solution for your problem and mine.'

"What are you talking about?" I ask, worried Carlo's brain had worked out something ridiculous. I was the reasonable one between the two of us and I was the one that often questioned the things he did.

"My buddies, the ones I live with?" He says and I nod. "Well I'm leaving this year, I can't stay in my place."

"Okay?'

"They all renewed our lease but I bailed out of it.'

"Aren't all those guys your year too?" I ask, feeling confused. "Didn't they graduate with you?"

"No, I was a transfer student. I was in my second year living in the dorms, that's how I met them. Well, and we all played intramural basketball in the gym." He explains and I furrow my eyebrows.

"They're doing their fourth year like me?" I confirm and he nods.

"Yeah, and they can't find anyone to move into the fourth room.* He explains and my mind immediately jumps to the best part. Fifteen minute walk from campus. "They've been looking for weeks, since I told them I was taking that job in Jersey."

"There must be someone that wants to move in with them." I insist, wondering why it was coming to this. To Carlo selling his not-so-close friend on his apartment.

"They don't want some stupid first year or some kid that's hoping to party with the fourth years." He tells me. "Plus, they're looking for someone like you, someone who's not messy or loud.'

"But I've met those guys, they are messy and loud.' I point out and he chuckles.

"Last year, Mark tried to do a handstand drunk in the living room and kicked a hole in the wall doing it." He explains and my jaw drops. "Our landlord almost evicted us, they're on thin ice and they want someone responsible."

"S-so-"

"You should move into my old room.' He says quickly, immediately opening his phone and thumbs moving quickly over the screen. "They need someone to fill the room and you'd be so close to campus."

Is he serious? My mind is racing, I'd be able to do so many things, go out more than twice a year, sleep so much more than I am right now.

"Who lives there again?" I ask and he smiles.

"Mark and Kyle, you've met them before right?"

"I think so." I mumble, trying to place them in my mind. "Maybe once?"

"Cool and then there's Kent."

"Kent?" I ask and he nods. "I don't know him.'

"No, you wouldn't. You've never seen him before.' He explains and my mind starts to catch up with what's going on. It's not all closer walks to campus and fun.

"You want me to move in with three guys I don't know?" I ask and he sighs, but looks empathetic to where I'm coming from. "Carlo, that's a lot. I don't even know anything about living on my own and I don't think-"

"Please do it" He begs. "We can't find anyone else and the three of them are paying the sum of the rent until they can get someone else." He insists and I blink. "You know me, Juls, I wouldn't tell you to do something that's not a good idea.'

"Yes you would!" I insist and he rolls his eyes.

"Maybe in the ways of stealing traffic cones or doing drugs I would, but not in some way that's going to fuck up your life.' He assures me and I consider this, Carlo really was a softie, he'd never want me to get hurt or be upset. "I know these guys, they're good people and they'll like you."

"What if what if they hate me?"

"That won't happen." He assures me. "You'd be doing me such a big favour, I feel like I'm bailing out on these guys."

"Well, what do they think about it?" I ask and he shrugs.

"I could text and ask? We could go over there right now and look around.' He insists and I blink.

"R-right now?" I ask, feeling my stomach twist and he nods.

I couldn't meet them, I was too awkward with new people.

"Yeah, I just messaged them that I had a friend who wanted to take a look at the house.' He explains and I swallow the lump in my throat as he turns his phone around to face me.

I hadn't seen Carlo in months, I wasn't sure how well I knew him and now I was going to move in with his friends? That seemed too insane.

But it was so close to campus. Close to work, class, my extracurriculars. I wouldn't be able to find new roommates before this semester started and this was a great opportunity.

"Um..." I mumble and then I snap myself out of it. There's no harm in going to look. "Sure, let's go.'

He grins and messages something back to his friends and I return my attention to my coffee, trying to finish it before we get up.

"They want to meet you.' He announces and I smile, feeling relieved. I could do this, I could handle it. There's no way Carlo lives with awful people, he's too nice for it. "Let me just ask for a to-go cup for the rest of my coffee and I'll bring you over."

He stands quickly from the table as I finish my drink, I then sit back and take my fingers through my hair. Relax Juls, just be normal. It'll be fine and if you nail it you'll be out of your parents' house in no time.

"Ready?" Carlo asks, standing over me at the table and I stand up, grabbing my bag.

"Sure." I breathe with a weak smile, gathering my dish and number.

"You don't need to do that, someone comes around and clears the tables." He tells me and I roll my eyes.

"I just want to be helpful, I can at least bring them up to the front." I assure him and the bitter woman at the counter looks at least a little grateful that I'd bothered helping. I give her a polite smile and then head back to Carlo, waiting patiently by the door.

"You're going to love this place, Juls. I can feel it." He assures me, throwing an arm around my shoulder and leading me out the door.

I really hope he's right.