Rain.

Chapter two

"Welcome to your new home, Paige." Alyssa sings, bursting open the double doors and dancing into the apartment like she's in a fucking musical.

I've been here a hundred times before but it shocks me every time. Fuck, her family are rich. It's so spacious and clean and bright, as the last bit of the daylight tugs through the blinds from the floor to ceiling windows. It smells of vanilla and pomegranate and- scratch that, it smells of rich.

I'm not friends with her because she's got money, I mean, I was friends with her before I even knew what money was, but the fact I get to stay here? For free? Added bonus to our friendship. Big bonus.

We collected my things from my apartment on the way, and it was pretty quick, since there wasn't much to bring.

A lot of it ended up in the bin or, some of the salvageable things like my mattress, I gave to my next door neighbour, Mr Fred.

Mr Fred is literally the nicest old guy I've ever met. I teared up a little when I hugged him and said goodbye. I promised that I'd visit regularly. I'll definitely keep that promise because since his wife died he's been pretty lonely. I hate that I'm leaving him all alone in that rough neighbourhood, but when I was leaving, I shoved some money in his hand and ran away before he could protest. I know he's struggling to pay his rent, so hopefully that'll help.

With tears in my eyes whilst thinking of Mr Fred, I hit something.

Not something, someone.

I have to restrain myself from rolling my eyes as I step back from the wall of muscle that is, you guessed it, Ro Ro.

He's in his football kit, and whew, if it isn't attractive. His big tan arms are practically bursting from the short sleeved jersey he's wearing, same with his thighs, they're so fucking thick (thick thighs, she about 5'5, or about 5'6, pretty- no), I'm suprised his shorts aren't ripping at the seams.

But then he opens his mouth...

"What's she doing here?" He asks disgusted, pointing at me like I'm a piece of dirt on his shoe whilst talking about me like I'm not here.

Then I roll my eyes, not holding back this time.

"Ro Ro," I pat his chest, not being able to stop my eyes from flicking down to the bulging veins in the arm that is pointing at me.

But whilst I'm looking at his arms, he's glaring at my hand on his chest.

I decide to layer it on extra thick with my happiness just to annoy the shit out of him even more. "I live here!" I smile. "How exciting.... we're roomies! Yay!"

His eyes flick to Alyssa in accusation. And confirmation. As if I'd lie? But apparently he thinks so, because it's not until Alyssa nods that he gets mad. Like mad, mad.

"She's not staying here." He grits out, slamming his football helmet onto the counter so hard that I'm surprised when it doesn't crack.

Alyssa looks shocked, but nods.
"She is."

"She's not."

"She is."

"I am," I chime in.

He turns to me, like he's only just remembering I exist. "I thought I told you to leave me alone."

"One, Ro Ro, this ain't about you-"

"My names Roman." He grits out.

"Secondly, Ro Ro" Emphasis on his fucking nickname because I'm never calling him Roman, because that's what he wants and I hate him. "Seriously what was that about? You just came up to me and told me to leave you alone? That was so random-"