iris (sally face)

housewarming

⚠️TW: mentions of domestic violence/abuse

Addison Apartments. I've only spent one night here at my Aunt's apartment, which is going to be my new home for the rest of senior year. It's a place for those with an acquired taste, that's for sure. It's quaint. It's humble. It's homey. It's... definitely fucking falling apart.

Okay, it's not a hovel or anything. But there's only so much light flickering and floor shaking that can occur during one elevator ride before the occupant begins to worry that they're a split second away from plummeting to their death. Or that the place is seriously haunted. Which wouldn't even surprise me at this point, given the things I've already seen in just my first day here.

Yet I can't find it in myself to dislike it. The hum of air conditioning and fluorescent lights follows me through the barren beige hallways, cream-colored carpet absorbing my footsteps comfortably to the point I feel like I'm sleepwalking. It's one of those places that fills you with a sort of odd nostalgia and familiarity. Like maybe I've been here before in my dreams.

May as well make the best of things and learn to love it as it is- it's my new home. And an improvement to my old home, anyways. Anything's better than that.

So far the halls have been pretty quiet; sometimes I'll catch the occasional snatch of conversation, or muffled shout from a neighbors television. I passed one room and thought I almost heard what sounded like a goat bleating, but quickly wrote it off; although I wouldn't put it passed someone here to keep a goat as a pet.

I've just picked up the mail for my aunt on the ground floor; we're on level two, so it's a quick trip to and from. I offered to go grab it for her as an excuse to clear my head for a second, and to familiarize myself with my new home a bit. I haven't explored the outside as much. Maybe I'll get around to that tomorrow.

As I walk past the door of the owner of the apartments,  Mr. Addison, the clink of a mail slot opening stops me in my tracks.

"Hello, young miss! How are you doing this evening? Settling in okay?"

I smile politely down at his eyes peering through the slot, still slightly unnerved. I've met him one time before already; Aunt Claire introduced me yesterday when I first arrived. I haven't seen him outside of his room yet- and don't think I will anytime soon, from what Claire's told me. "I'm doing fine, Mr. Addison, thanks! Everyone I've met so far is really nice."

"Wonderful, wonderful!" He cheers jovially, eyes squinting with glee. "I assume Lisa's already given you the run-down about the place?"

I think back to the pretty brunette woman with kind eyes that had greeted me when I arrived, introducing herself as the building's caretaker. "Uh-huh. She's a sweetheart. I look forward to meeting the rest of my neighbors."

"I'm sure they'll be more than happy to meet you, miss! I reckon you'll see Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fisher around here soon. It may be nice to make some friends your age."

I give him another polite smile and nod, wondering who Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fisher are. "Nice to see you, Mr. Addison,"

. . .

"Pizza sound good for dinner, Iris?" Aunt Claire calls the second I open the front door. I lean against it, closing it with my back until I hear it click shut.

"Hell yeah," I stretch, yawning and looking down at my school clothes that I'm still wearing. I really didn't feel like cooking after today, and I still have a lot of unpacking to do, so that's a relief.

Claire comes up to lean against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed and a dish towel thrown over her shoulder. Her face looks drawn, tired, but she smiles kindly at me. Her smile mimics my mother's a lot, just slightly more lined due to my aunt being older.