Confessions of a Naughty Aquarius

I Spy

           Starting high school, my aunt and I moved in Long Beach for the 3rd time. This time it was finally just me and her after cutting ties with my uncle. I liked it this way; no obsessive uncle who won't leave or sign the papers, no cousin who you've clash heads with since you could talk and was almost never home once she got older and just my moms dog, Emmet. To be honest, me and her can go a whole day without talking to each other and it wasn't cause we didn't like each other but my life outside the house would clash with hers and when it did it was ugly. As a kid it was like Tom & Jerry, but as we got older we just got more physical, agitated and angry. She'd get angry at me weather I did something bad or I wore the same hoodie too many times in a row causing her great irritation and i'd get angry in private, not only did I get yelled at I also would have my phone confiscated like clock work. There was an opaque line between us that clearly stated that me and her were not friends. Maybe not the best relationship but we had our ways of bonding and that was good enough for us. She started seeing some new guy she met at my boxing gym. I wasn't too bothered by it, nor was I one of those teens who goes full on rampage. If anything it gave us that extra space we both needed.

The place is a historic landmark so the inside really hadn't been touched besides the usual maintenance check ups and mandatory repairs. There were two elevators— one was modern; Go in, press the number, door closes on its own. The other was very much old school. Open the door, open the gate, close the door, close the gate and watch the concrete as u move through the or shaft, repeat. We had just moved there so the apartment was quite empty. Despite the bare appearance from the outside, the inside was very much loud and decked out.

  *front lobby*
creaky amber colored door, wooden floors, teal blue walls with a white trim to match, windows that made up a whole wall and a kitchen with a marble counter top and an island in the center.

This tall building sat on a tattoo shop that (I'll get into later ) was probably my favorite part of "The Sovereign" Besides the roof. Wasn't the best neighborhood due to the homeless across the street and stores getting robbed or set a flame just a few blocks down. Yet is was better than the one bedroom apartment further up. Houses with a second story were turned into 4 one bedroom, small kitchen and one bathroom apartments.

It may not seem to bad, but sharing this between 4 people and 3 territorial dogs that didn't get along was most definitely suffocating.

           We needed a lot of help moving stuff in, since my aunt was trying to shove massive thousand dollar furniture into a tiny door frame . She called her boyfriend to see if he was free and willing to help. I remember overhearing how he didn't have a car so how he got to and from was a mystery, especially since the gym we went to was at least 2 and a half hours away. She had mentioned to me that he was bringing his cousin and in my mind I'm thinking two things; less work for me n his cousin is probably in his early 40s like him. The easiest way to bring stuff to and from was from the back alley where the tattoo shop was. I'm carrying my boxes labeled with my chicken scratch writing when I see a car pull around the corner, the tint is so dark the only person I can see is my moms boyfriend. I wave with my foot, balancing boxes and continue my way. Out of fear that the gated elevator would unluckily collapse, I took the other elevator instead.I reach the apartment, kick the door open and rush to put my stuff down before I drop them. I tend to get distracted when it comes to packing, cleaning and moving so I start rustling through my boxes seeing what's what. My phone vibrates abruptly in my back pocket causing me to jolt yelling "AH! shit- oh''. It's just my aunt calling me. I laugh for a second before answering the phone "Erin and his cousin are bringing the couch so stay up there just incase they can't find the apartment". she said it so fast as if she was in a rush, luckily I understood what she was saying. "Ok mom!" I state bubbly since the couch is my least favorite to move besides the dining table. She had said something else but I hung up too fast. "goddamnit she's gonna kill me" are the words I hear in my head and I call he back quickly. She only wanted to get me food so i got a pass- usually id hear the whole mouthful of being "too damn fast" or her cursing for a good minute or two. I hear the gated elevator clash, I spring up from the floor but before I can even get past the door their already coming in with my moms big red couch. Backing up quickly "what's good wit it " he mumbles while trying to maneuver this red monstrosity through the door frame. ( and yes he actually greets people like this- I know..) I greet him while pointing to where the couch can be put down, turn my head and then I get a good look at his cousin. sweating, tall, slightly darker than my moms bf with more of a glow, shorter than him and much much younger than I originally thought.. hair was short but had curls with volume- and those lashes.. "what's up how u doing?"he says before setting the couch down"Hi I'm good what about you" I reply quickly and go get some waters we brought up earlier because there's about 3 seconds before my gauging becomes noticeable. As I walk with my back facing them all I can think is "goddamn he's fine"....