Under A Paper Moon |N.H|

12

FOUR YEARS AGO

Niall Horan

"You need another drink," my best friend and roommate of a few months, Easton, says. He became my best friend pretty quickly. He was the first person who I met when I came to New York.

Easton had put out a post requesting a roommate, as his previous one had spontaneously gotten married to their girlfriend of six weeks and thought it was time to move out to live with her. From the stories E told me about him, I can't blame him for not necessarily being bummed about his departure, but what he was bummed about was now having to pay his rent alone.

That's where I came in.

My mother was on my ass about finding a place to live in the city. You would think that would be the first thing I did.

You would be wrong.

I bought the plane ticket before I even knew where I would be sleeping at night.

It was no surprise that the money I saved wouldn't cut it if I were to live in an apartment alone. It could last me maybe three months, but with other expenses, it wasn't ideal.

I went searching for someone to live with, checking out different sites and hoping someone wouldn't end up being a serial killer, and maybe I would become friends with them.

That was me thinking very highly.

The post I found read:

Easton Burns. Twenty-years-old. Looking for someone around my age to split rent with. If you're older, I don't really care, unless you have kids. No room here for drooling, mucus infested children. No pets either. I'm not cleaning up their vomit. Clean up after yourself. I'm not your babysitter either. I have people over to watch games and party, so if that's not your thing, sorry. Either deal with it or look somewhere else. I have a job. Not telling you what it is though because I don't need you thinking I make bank and can cover your ass if you don't have your rent money. Pay me on time for your half and we're good. Depending on how we get along will depend on how willing I am to be lenient, but I suggest you do your part anyway.

If you have read through all that and I haven't scared you away, feel free to shoot me a text at the number below with any questions or serious inquiries.

I didn't know what he looked like until I showed up at the door after a little bit of communication that confirmed that I would be his roommate. He opened the door and leaned against the frame with his arms crossed, eyeing me up and down before nodding his head inside.

Easton showed me everything I needed to see and told me everything I needed to know about the city. The spot we're at now is one that we call ours — a bar we find ourselves at every Friday night.

I look at how he reaches for my almost empty glass. I pull my hand away from his reach, shaking my head in denial. "I do not."

Easton's lip curls in disgust. "The fact that you're sober enough to say that makes me sick. You need another drink."

He's a persistent man. He always gets what he wants, and right now, he wants to get me another drink, and no matter how hard I fight him, I know he is going to swap my current glass out for a new one.

"One more beer," I give in.

"Your wish is my command," he grins as he takes my glass.

Easton leaves the table, and I'm left with my other friends.

Well, his other friends.