was it ever real?

02. but I got it first

vinnie's eyebrows twitched underneath his glasses and his eyes widened. he was just as stuck as i was. "what are you doing here?!" we both said at the same time with the same tone of annoyance.

"don't say it like that." i curled my upper lip at him and crossed my arms. "you said it the exact same way," he rolled his eyes, scuffing.

"so i take it you both know each other?" the lady interrupted, looking at him first, then me. "yes" "no," we said at the same time again, deflecting eye contact and huffing. "old friends," he spoke up.

"well, this was nice, but have you decided if you want to take the place, vincent?" she asked in a silvery-like and professional voice.

"i'm still thinking about it." he lowly scratched his neck, yawning.

"well, if you aren't just yet, then i guess my client should look around." milo intervened.

"there isn't much more i wanna look at. i want the place!"

"what!!?" both vinnie and his realtor gasped.

"but i got the place first!" he barked, twisting his face in disgust.

"however , that's where you're wrong. you didn't claim it until now." i sarcastically pouted, crossing my arms.

"that's exactly why i'm signing it right now. mai hand me the papers." he faced his realtor with a smug look on his face.

are you serious...?

"wait!" milo stopped him, "please give us a second." he got a hold of my wrist, dragged me into a room, and closed the door.

"jen, what in the hell was that about?" he placed his hand on his hip.

"nothing" i blandly replied, looking out the window.

"old friends? yeah okay..." he put up air quotation marks, side-eyeing me.

"milo, i can't let this place go...please help me out here?" i pouted, clapping my hands together and begging.

this apartment filled my dreams and fantasies. it would hurt me if i couldn't grab onto it, especially on a lucky chance like this. the balcony was so beautiful and the rooms were so spacy.

i could imagine sitting at my desk sketching my ideas or sewing my life away. mold-free, plant life everywhere, my fish tank, revived space, donate things away, and the ability to start over is in my hands now.

he gave me a playful-annoyed look, but then i plead again, "please!" with the puppy eye combo. he then sighed and walked into the living room with me following behind.

"i've got an idea," milo announced, gathering all of us to join him.

"what if you rented the apartment together since you're familiar with each other."

wait what?

"but i found it first?" vinnie darted his eyes at milo.

"but you didn't claim it first. you both want it and know each other somehow, why not share it? it's designed with a dining room in the middle and rooms on opposite sides of the home which means you both get privacy. there are locks on both bedroom doors and you'll each have to pay only half the rent for a huge place like this."

"then we'll have to split the brokers' fee." mai frowned.

"well, it all depends on both parties." milo warmly smiled, looking at me first, then vinnie.

he was right. even if what he said wasn't exactly what i wanted, i had no choice. there's a mold issue at my current place that i couldn't stand, it took me forever to find this a perfect place that included no pet fee for big dogs, i already put a notice in, plus i couldn't let a captivating place like this go.

the only possible downside was having to share a house with him.

"i don't care what happens. with a view and space like this, i'm not letting it go. you better be able to respect my privacy though." i squinted my eyes at vinnie, demanding it.

"good because won't let this place go either," he replied sounding mature.

"before you agree vincent, shouldn't you ask about any deal breakers?" his realtor forced a fake smile.

"right..." he cleared his throat. "i smoke sometimes...or pretty often-but it's not cigarettes or anything like that. it's just weed. i won't throw parties, my friends won't be over much, and 70% of the time i'll be gone." he stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking at me with a lopsided pout.

milo looked at me, hinting it was now my turn.

i sighed.

"i have a Doberman, but he's nice to everyone. all i ask is that you pay your bills on time and keep your things out of my way." i eyed him looking for any discomfort or any sign that this was a terrible idea.

milo cheeky smiled "then i see no problem,"

but problems were soon to come. lots of conflict in the future just from one incident. one small mistake from being at the same place at the same time.