The Unexpected • Pedro Pascal

1.5

'Sorry?' Mira asked Pedro as he seemed to word vomit. Sentences spilling from his mouth, all jumbled.

He decided to slow down and take a seat on a set of steps nearby. 'I've been looking for someone to apartment sit while I'm away for work but I have two spare bedrooms so I'd happily have you as a roommate while I'm actually in New York, what I'm trying to get out is, well, would you like to be that person?'

It was still a lot to take in, it seemed too good to be true. 'I think I should probably think about this, I'm sure my mom won't like me living with a guy.' She frowned and looked up at Pedro.

'Yes, definitely, take your time. Would you want to accompany back to my place and you can have a look around at what could possibly be your future place?' Pedro was sure he'd blown it and come off as some weird creepy old man who wanted the company of a young girl to look after him. The thoughts possibly going through her mind would probably give him shivers.

'Um sure, I wouldn't feel right leaving you here to carry all these bags back, anyways.' She replied and took hold of two of the bags whilst Pedro carried the remaining 3. 'How come you aren't happy to leave your place empty while you're away?'

Pedro flinched slightly, the memories of the break in still quite fresh for him. 'I was robbed recently and had a lot of valuable things taken, some were valuable in financial terms but I also lost a lot of sentimental stuff. Of course I've asked for better cameras to be installed in the lobby and asked for a new doorman but I think someone being there would be that extra personal sense of security for me. Ah we're here.'

The pair stopped in front of a pair of grey doors which had now been opened by a tall gentleman who rushed to help Pedro with his bags.

'Oh Mr Pascal, you should've just left them at the store and I would've sent someone to collect them!' He shook his head and began leading the two into the lift.

'Wait do you have a loft? It's a yes immediately if you do.' She excitedly rolled from her heels to her toes.

'Oh, Mira I'm sorry, this is John. John, this is Mira.' Pedro facepalmed before he introduced the pair.

'It's a pleasure Miss Mira.'

'Likewise, John.'

The top floor bell dinged and she smirked at Pedro. John stepped aside and let Pedro lead Mira inside.

'Welcome to my humble home, feel free to take a look around while I put the stuff away.'

John had left and Mira slowly began walking around the open plan loft, the kitchen to the right at the end of the space and a set of winding stairs at the very end on the left. The gloriously cloudy view of Manhattan greeted Mira and she walked closer to the large floor to ceiling windows and gazed out.

[begin playing empire state of mind...]

As she looked out at the busy city she couldn't help this incredible feeling of belonging. Mira had heard the call of this magical city and she wasted no time in getting herself out here. Was this truly the city trying to help her work things out by pulling Pedro and herself to that same bench this morning or was it just coincidence? Her thoughts were broken by a mug entering her vision just at the corner.

'It's great right?' He asked as he handed her a mug filled with coffee. He had guessed she liked it with milk, while he took his black.

'Thank you, and it's not just great it's incredible. To think you wake up to this view is just... I don't even want to ask what my rent would be should I decide to take you up on your offer.' Mira looked down into the caramel coloured liquid in the mug, I knew it was too good to be true.

'We can sort that all out later sweetheart I'd just like you to have a tour of the upstairs and a genuine think and if it's something you'd consider we can iron out the wrinkles later, okay?' He smiled warmly and it began to chip away at the guard that Mira kept up. 'Come on, let's go have a look at the mess Lux has left me to clean.'

'Lux?' Mira questioned, a girlfriend or wife would definitely not want Pedro to be asking a young girl to stay in his home and be his roommate.

'My sister, she loves to drop by unannounced, stay a night after partying in the city and then disappear. She's a whirlwind but she's my younger sister you know.' He chuckled as they got to the landing of the first floor.

'This place is just incredible, did you have an interior designer do this place up?' She questioned, he was relatively well dressed, sure, but this place was decorated artfully and everything matched or mismatched in an almost perfect balance.

'My other sister, she does this stuff for fun. I'll give her your compliments, maybe she'll finally take my advice and launch her own business.' He chuckled as he opened the door to the bathroom. 'So this bathroom is pretty much unused except for Lux because I have one attached to my room and I live alone, so.'

The bathroom was a decent size and looked like it needed a dust, maybe his whirlwind sister liked using his bathroom contrary to his belief.

'And this is one of the rooms with the possibility of being yours...' Pedro continued but Mira zoned out as she took cautious steps around the room, trying to visualise how she'd make it her own.

'It's such a lovely view. Is there anywhere that doesn't have a nice view in this place?'

He scratched his head and chuckled 'not really'.

Pedro showed her the adjoining rooms and she had to say she could probably see herself in the first room he showed as it meant they wouldn't share a wall. She didn't know if he was single but better safe than sorry.

They walked down the spiral stairs and Pedro gestured for her to take a seat on the couch. 'So what do you think?' He joined his hands together under his chin and leant towards her.

'I think it's a great opportunity Pedro, and regardless of what I decide I really want to say thank you-'

'It's no trouble, you seem like a genuinely lovely young lady and I hope that you do say yes, and even if you say no, I hope we'll be great friends. You could be my young New York padawan.' The pair let out a hearty chuckle as Pedro let his goofy side slip slightly.

'That sounds good to me, what is it that you do for work?'

'I'm an actor.'

Oh.
Uh oh.