Chapter 4: Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 : 2 BATHROOMS

I follow Carlo along twists and turns through the city. I couldn't remember how to get to his place, I'd only been there once and it wasn't for very long.

I can't handle how nervous I am, my palms keep sweating like crazy. All I keep thinking is how much I can't be weird, it doesn't seem like a huge ask but it definitely is for me. I've been awkward as long as I've been alive, I only out-grew it in the last year or two and even now I still say stupid things.

"It's up here.” Carlo says, pointing to a white house on the corner. A college house, the quintessential living accommodation for students across the nation. And in true college house fashion it was split up into three smaller apartments and I remembered that Carlo lived in the basement suite.

"I forgot the basement part.” I mumble and he chuckles.

"It's roomy, it's got really high ceilings and everything." He assures me and I follow him around to the side door.

I step into the space and I blink, looking around. He was right, the ceilings were pretty high for a basement. Immediately to my right was the living space, it had a huge leather sectional and a flat-screen. To the left was a pony-wall lined with shoes, on the other side of it was the front closet and dining table, behind the dinning space was the kitchen and straight ahead was a hallway of doors.

"So? It's not bad, eh?" He asks and I nod with a shrug. The floor could do with a sweep and mop and the walls were kind of scuffed but I didn't really mind.

"It's cool.' I shrug and he smiles.

"I gotta run to the washroom, you wait here and I'll show you the rest in a bit.” He insists, putting his hands out and I nod, watching him walk down the hall.

I look around a bit, not moving from my spot, but looking at all of the shit all over the place. The traffic cones in the corner and the beer boxes up on the walls. It was a college house, that's what you did in college. What would it be like sharing a space with men? I didn't really know, I did share the bathroom at home though with all three family members and I knew how to tidy up after myself. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"Hey." I hear one guy say, coming out from down the hall and into the kitchen. "I know you don't I?" He asks and I blow out a tense breath, I couldn't place him.

"I-um I'm not sure, we might have met once before.' I shrug. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, he could be any guy I'd ever met. "I'm Juls”

"Right! Juls, I remember you.' He smiles, snapping his fingers and going through the cabinets. "When we first met, we all played cards in the residence lounge.'

"Oh right." I smile back. I'd forgotten about the people we played with, but I was starting to remember.

"You look different, it's hard to recognize you." He tells me and I furrow my eyebrows.

"Different in a good way or a bad way?" I ask and he chuckles, setting down a box of frosted flakes on the counter.

"Good." He assures me, ripping the top of the box open and I feel my smile broaden. "I'm Kyle."

"Right." I sigh, remembering it better now. "Sorry, that was like two-and-a-half years ago.'

"No sweat.' He shrugs, opening the bag within the box and shaking some directly into his mouth. "So, are you and Carlo still good friends?" He asks, mouth full of food and I laugh.

"Kind of, we haven't kept in touch as much."

"So what's up? You two hanging out today?" He asks, chewing the mouthful and gulping it down.

"Um kind of?" I shrug. "I'm-um...I'm actually here to look at your open room." I admit, worrying his reaction wouldn't be too good.

"Really?" He asks excitedly and I nod. "That's awesome, we've been looking for a new roommate for weeks!"

"That's what Carlo said and I'm looking to get out of my house!' I admit and he grins, setting the box back down.

"Hey Mark!" Kyle calls from the kitchen. Mark emerges from the first door on the right of the hallway. Mark was good looking too, just like Kyle. Of course these would be Carlo's friends, of course they were all attractive. Was I even good-looking enough to live with them?

"Hey Dusty.' He says and then pauses, looking at me and looking back to Kyle. "Who's this?"

"Juls, you've met Juls before, dude." He insists and Mark arches an eyebrow. "Carlo's friend, she played cards with us the first year."

"Oh right,'' he says, looking more chipper about my arrival. Mark was shorter than Kyle, maybe five-eight was my guess. He had red hair which seemed fitting on him, freckles over the bridge of his nose. "Are you here to see Carlo?"

"No stupid, she's here to look at the apartment!' Kyle chimes in and resumes dumping the box of cereal into his mouth.

"Oh you're who Carlo texted us about."

"Yeah, it would be nice to be closer to campus.' I admit and he nods.

"Well we should probably wait for Kent to get back before we make any big decisions!' He shrugs and I nod, that seemed fair. "You met Kent before?"

"Nope." I admit. I felt the most nervous about that, at least I'd met the other guys before.

"You'll like him, he's a stand-up guy." Mark assures me. "You want to see the rest of our house?"

"Sure." I shrug and he smiles, leading me down the hallway. Kyle's trailing behind, cereal in tow.

The hallway has seven doors.

"This room on the right is mine.' Mark says, quickly giving me a peek inside his messy room. "The one across the hall here is Kyle's.' He says and Kyleg opens his door, showing me his mostly tidy room. "This is the full bath.' He continues taking a step to the next door on the right. It was relatively large, a shower, vanity with a good amount of counter space and a toilet. "And across the way is our laundry and half-bath.' It was closed and no-doubt Carlo was still in there.

"Two bathrooms!' I repeat and they both nod.