Veto

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I watch my best friend in silence. Sipping the black tea I made not even five minutes ago. Her blue eyes widen with every line of the letter she reads. It's almost amusing how animated she gets, in fact I could almost laugh as her mouth hangs open but I don't. I'm too stressed by that very letter to muster anything but a huff as she slams the sheet of paper down on my rickety dining table between us. Her tea shuddering against its saucer.

"This has to be some joke!" Charlotte finally speaks.

"Oh, I wish it was." I take another sip of the bitter brew before settling it down to the table. "But unfortunately it's very legit."

"So what? They're just going to throw you on the street?" Charlotte asks and I shrug.

"Do they know about your agreement with your old landlord before he died?" She picks up the paper again, studying it for some loophole. The same way I had done for hours since it was delivered through my mail slot yesterday morning.

"I don't think they care. Plus my agreement with Mr. Hadley was verbal. Nothing contractual that these property investors would apply to." I massage my temple at my own stupidity. In my defence though, my living agreement with Mr. Hadley was made in full faith that the old codger wasn't going to cark it within eight months. I was meant to be living in the upstairs unit of his home for at least another two years. But unfortunately after his death his family sold the property to the highest bidder. Some scumbag property developer that wants me out as soon as possible. A week, to be exact. I am being given a week from this letter being sent to vacate the premises before they began bulldozing the place.

"But surely they have to give you longer than a week? Have you talked to a lawyer?" Charlotte asks, face still hidden by that wretched letter.

"No. There's no way I can afford a lawyer right now." I huff again and watch as Charlotte's large blue eyes peek at me over the paper. I already know what she's about to suggest as she says,

"You could always ask Li-" She begins.

"No way. I can't call him. I don't want to bother him." I shake my head and Charlotte puts the letter down once again, her lips pursing.

"I thought you guys were okay now?"

"We are." I insist. "I just don't want to bother him." I look down at my tea, eyeing the chip on the lip of my mug.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind. In fact he'd probably love any excuse to talk to you." Charlotte smirks at me but I shake my head.

"I'd rather not. Plus I think he's seeing someone new now." I don't think it's true, if Liam's constant texts are anything to go by. But at least it throws Charlotte off the idea of contacting him. Her brows raise and she shakes her head but keeps her thoughts to herself. We're quiet for a moment, me tapping my nails absentmindedly against my tea cup and Charlotte nibbles on an oat and raisin biscuit.

"Well shit." She speaks between chews.

"Yeah."

"You looked at anywhere to move to yet?" She asks and I shrug.

"Not yet. If I get desperate then I'll move in with mum." I chew on my bottom lip. There was no way I wanted to move back into that house. Just visiting was hard enough and when I did I couldn't be there long. I still refused to go into the back hall by that damned stairwell, even though it's been years. How my mother can even stand to continue to live in that house after that night I have no idea. But I think she has a hard time letting go of the more fonder memories that house holds rather than the bad which is all it reminds me of.