Para Siempre

Chapter 5

CAMILLA'S POV

As soon as we got to our apartment we were rushing around like crazy trying to change our clothes as fast as possible. We needed to look a lot more professional than we normally do. Usually, with the heat, we just throw on a crop top or a tank top. But today we had to look as professional as possible since we were already at a disadvantage being Latinas. I got my outfit on which consisted of black heels, a pink plaid pencil skirt, and a black bell sleeve top, even though it's hotter than the fucking islands, topped off with a small silver necklace with a C pendant and small fake diamond earrings with a miniature black faux leather backpack. Vanessa is wearing plaid shorts similar to my skirt, she had a light pink top with a navy blue blazer/jacket (idk how to describe this it's the pic at the top from my tumblr vanessasexclusive sorry for the self promo but yeah back to the story) she has a hot pink necklace on and a silver necklace paired with hoop earrings carrying a tan bag. "Do you have the application?" I ask since I didn't have it with me and we had a copy that was made last night in case the realtor needed another copy "yeah I got it you ready to go?" "yep, we gotta get to the train and then try and stop by the alley in the fabric store and get some of the leftover stuff they throw out. Then get to the apartment." I say while she's opening the door and both of us are walking out. After a 10 minute train ride we run up the stairs getting pamphlets shoved in our faces by men while they eye us as if they are trying to undress us in their minds, which they probably are if I'm being honest, it happens everywhere we go outside of Washington Heights. We could be dressed in a hoodie and sweats and men would still be eyeing us it's happened before and it sucks. It's one thing if we're at the club dancing around having fun and drinking which we do a lot since we just need somewhere to display our outfits and have a little fun even if we have our bodies pressed up against people with our sweat mixing and together with a heavy scent always in the air and the guys there know we are there to dance and have a good time and it's ok to get a little touchy but not too much. Here on the other hand I wouldn't be surprised if one of us were alone these guys would be all over us or at least attempt it. I learned that the hard way when I was young and now I refuse to leave alone unless I have a taser or pepper spray with me. (is this character gonna be overly traumatized cause like I am but in different ways.besides the whole men with prying eyes thing. Yes, yes she is cause it's a way for me to cope without telling y'all my life story) they were making disgusting remarks and imitating Hispanic accents, all of them sound absolutely terrible, god why are gringos so annoying?! After we finally get past them and their disgusting remarks that I always tune out, we make it to the fabric store just as the worker was throwing out the leftover and supposed useless fabric. Me and Vanessa check if anyone is watching and run to the dumpster picking up as many beautiful fabrics that we could use for so many things. We stuff as many fabrics as we can in our bags Vanessa making sure to grab the apartment application so it isn't too hard to dig out once we get to the apartment and possible new home. God it would be amazing to live here in Downtown, New York. I've always wanted to live here even if I get on Usnavi for wanting to leave, pero that's different he wants to leave the damn country and we would never see him again like ever since we may not be able to afford visiting and I know damn well he wouldn't want to come back. "V what time is it?" I ask assuming we were running late. She pulls out her phone and checks the time "12:30" "shit we're a little late at least on the schedule we lined out." "Damn it we should get going zip up your bag while we walk ok?" Vanessa asks, slinging her bag over her shoulder, jogging slightly. "Ok," I say standing up jogging to catch up with her while zipping my backpack up "Yo it's crazy that we may finally be moving here and getting a better life, but at the same time it sucks cause we're gonna have to leave our friends behind even if Dani, Carla, and Cuca are also moving it's still hard y'know." I say while walking thinking of how amazing it would be to live here even if we're the odd ones out since we're latina surrounded by these people who don't get us or our culture. At least from what I've seen. But hey it's fun to be original sometimes. "Yeah I mean it's absolutely insane but hey it's gonna be a great time cause we could really get started and look for different jobs we can apply for and try to get our work out there. I mean who knows we could end up driving in limousines while people constantly asking us where we get our inspiration. Oh my god just imagine. The one downside to being here from the other apartments we've looked at no one seems to know each other or have any sense of community like we do." "Yeah I know it's so weird thinking bout not having some sense of community. But I guess that's a small price to pay to live where we have wanted to since we were kids and the amount of opportunities we would have living here." I say looking up at the sky praying silently that we will be able to get this apartment. "Well we're here" I say looking up at the building that could end up being our new home. We go up three flights of stairs and get to the apartment. I walk in first seeing the realtor I walk up to her and shake her hand Vanessa walking up behind me shaking her hand next "Hi it's nice to meet you I'm Camilla Santos and this is Vanessa Morales" "oh and here is a copy of our application unless you needed it!" Vanessa says with a light smile. She returns the smile glancing down at the application for one second before speaking "Ms. Morales, Ms. Santos I'm so sorry I meant to call you," she says I stood for a second slightly disappointed and then Vanessa speaks up "Oh.. Uh, we got bank checks first month, last month, and security good as cash" "It's just without a solid credit check there isn't much that I can do.Maybe one your guys' parents can co sign," at this my face visibly deflates Vanessa dad died her mom isn't in the picture and both of my parents are dead sadly "assuming they can prove income 40 times the rent," there is a small pause while she looks at both of us, "y'know what get it to me by five and I'll see what I can do." She says looking at both of us with a small smile. Just then a family walks in and she greets them a lot more welcoming then she was with us and she was showing them around. Then it hit me it's not just cause of our bank checks it's because of what we look like and our last names and probably where we're from cause she knows where we live isn't exactly the best place. After I realize this I run out not looking back I can hear Vanessa calling after me and I finally stop running once I'm at the train station Vanessa catches up to me panting slightly and I'm crying slightly it's not like I'm full on sobbing but still it hurts honestly. We took the train back to Washington Heights. I stopped crying after about 5 minutes.