Chapter Text
Chapter 1- Faye
Apartment hunting is hard.
I've been through five apartment buildings, two townhouses, and even a tiny rundown house in a back alley, but all of them were either too expensive, too small, too big, too high maintenance, or were just in a bad neighborhood. The second term of my second year in uni started in three weeks, and I had been searching for an apartment since my lease with my old roommates ended a month ago. Now you might ask me, "Faye, why didn't you just renew your lease with your roommates?"
Okay, they kicked me out for... having too many plants.
So what if I used a ton of water for them daily? I mean, my plants are my babies and I was paying a third of the rent because one girl went broke and couldn't pay her share anymore, doesn't that give me extra water privileges? It's not like I made the rent situation worse... Either way, I'm out of there now so I try not to dwell on the topic for too long because, as my father always said, you shouldn’t worry about things you can’t control. Besides, I've made so much money tutoring other uni students, and from my job at the florist shop, I've got enough money to get a small studio apartment comfortably.
Well, apparently I have the money but not the searching skills since I've been at this forever. I'm at the last apartment building of the day, the one I put aside for last since I've heard some bad reviews about this place. Something about the landlord being partial towards some people.. or whatever, I'm so desperate at this point I'm thinking of going back to that dingy hole in the back alley if this one doesn't work out.
Stopping my motorbike in front of the tall building overlooking the highway. I take off my helmet and stare up at the building, the setting sun shining behind it, making the structure glow. I squint my eyes and look at the exterior, noticing large windows and spacious balconies. Maybe it's a sign I've finally found the one? I lock my bike as I walk to the entrance of the building, taking my phone out of my brown crossbody bag as I give the landlord a ring. Something must be really shitty about this place if a building as gorgeous as this isn't full already, especially at this time of the year.
The landlord picks up the phone and tells me he's waiting in front of the apartment and gives me its door number- 555. As I step into the elevator, I glance at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing long flowy brown pants, a cream tank top, and my favorite white bike jacket. I notice my hair got messed up from being in the helmet so I tie it up again. I've been really loving my hair ever since I got it colored a few weeks ago, caramel hair with blond highlights.
The elevator opens and I find apt. 555 and see the landlord leaning against the wall, on his phone. Wearing a dingy black jacket over gray skinny jeans, he didn't seem like a landlord for a building as nice as this one. Seeing me approach, he shoves his phone in his phone and reaches his hand out to greet me, grinning perhaps a little too hard for a first encounter.
"Hayden, pleased to meet you."
I keep my hands at my side, politely smiling back at this man who looks too late into his 30s to be staring at my chest. "Faye. You mentioned you had a few empty apartments here?"
His obnoxious grin fades a little as he drops his hand, turning to unlock the apartment door. "Of course, you asked for the cheapest one and this is it."
He opens the door and motions for me to come inside. I look around and I'm instantly in awe of the orange glow from the windows flooding through the house. It's a studio, so the light touches every corner of the house. I take my time inspecting the kitchen and bathroom, but I instantly understood why there were so many bad reviews of this place, particularly women. I get up from my kneeling position under the bathroom sink after I check the cupboards for mold. When I turn around, I find Hayden standing directly behind me, a little too close for comfort.
This man is a pervert. And an unashamed one at that.
I slip away from between him and the bathroom counter back into the living space. I'm torn now, the place is amazing but I don't know how much more I can take of this guy trying to stare down my shirt every time I try to inspect the lower cupboards. I desperately want to walk away from this pervert and just try again tomorrow, but for how long am I supposed to keep sleeping on a friend's couch? My back to the balcony, I ask him:
"How much did you say this place was again?"
"10,500 for the year," he replies, licking his crusty lips as his eyes travel downwards.
I shift uncomfortably, pulling my jacket tighter around myself. "I'll take it for 8,500."
His dirty gray eyes finally snap back up to my face. "8,500? Are you crazy? I'll do 10,00. Final price."
I look him up and down, the piece of food on the corner of his mouth ticking me off every second I look at his sweaty face.
"9,000. I'll pay utilities separately."
He crosses his arms as he steps closer, his stale breath fanning my face. "Fine, only because you look really hot, sweetie. I'm sure we could figure out some sort of agreement to lower it more." His hand reaches towards my face, and that's when I take a GIANT step to the side.
"Great! I'll fill out the paperwork right now then." I lean against the kitchen counter, watching him leave the place reluctantly as I breathe a sigh of relief. I glance at the time and figure my father’s likely working, so I call one of my best friends instead.
"Hi, Kaia!"
"Heyy, Faye! Did you find a place yet?"
"Yup, just got one, I'm just waiting for the landlord to come back with the papers."
"Oooo I'm so excited for you, your first place by yourself! Let's not mention the other girls in that drama house from now on."
I chuckle as I walk towards the window to stare outside. "The place is great, but the landlord is creepy as hell. I feel like he's going to be a problem in the future."
"Yikes. Is the place that good that you decided to stay?"
"I'm tired Kaia, of searching the city for weeks, if the one place I find has some crusty musty landlord that can't keep his hands to himself, I'll bear with it."
"Fine, but be careful okay? I'll try to come over as often as possible, in case he decides to try some shit-"
"Speak of the devil," I interrupt her as Hayden walks back in, papers in hand. "I'll have to call you back later, see you."
As I end the call, Hayden places the papers on the kitchen island and hands me a pen. My mind swirls as I stand there, pen in hand. This doesn't feel good. My flight or fight response is really triggered right now, and I want nothing more than to kick this asshole's crotch and run out. But I also want nothing more than a place to myself. To be able to sleep in peace without worrying that I'm bothering Kaia while I crash at her place.
As I thoroughly read through the contract, I realize Hayden's probably the kind of guy who I should be worried about what he's going to do with this pen. Taking good time to read through all the clauses, my pen shakes as I feel him draw closer to me, his hot breath on the back of my neck. I finally face him, sign the papers, and hand them to him, stepping away to give myself breathing room as I think about the possibly HUGE mistake I just committed.
"All done. So how are my neighbors here?"
He chuckles, "Well, to your left side is some old lady who's been living here for years, and to your right, well, lucky you, I'm your neighbor!"
Fuck, no wonder this apartment was empty.