The Precise Art of Pretending to Be Okay

Four

Hannah had been curled up beside her apartment for a while now, the note pounding through her head. 

"You have been evicted due to delay in payment. Don't worry! Once you pay I'll let you back in."

-Matt

On the bottom of the note, Jaylan had scribbled a message. 

"Hey Hannah. Meant to drop Lills off, but wasn't let in apartment. Lilly staying with me tonight. Don't worry. Go to my house."

Oh, Jaylan. Her saving grace. Hannah picked herself up and trudged the five-mile journey to his home. Jaylan certainly wasn't rich, by any means, but he never had to worry about money like Hannah. She rapped on his door, and his elderly mother opened it.

"Oh! You must be Hannah! Come in! I have the guest room prepped for you and sweet little Lilly!" Hannah almost snorted. Guest room? She had one room that served as her kitchen, living room, bedroom, and Lilly's bedroom, for that matter! 

Mrs. Hoffman (Jaylan's mom) led her toward it. She had a sort of bounce to her walk, as if there wasn't a care weighing her down. Hannah wished she could relate. 

Once inside, Hannah couldn't help but sigh. If only she had a room as nice as this. In the center of the room was a lovely white queen sized bed with clean sheets and pillows. Beside it was a small bedside table with a lamp. There was an inflatable mattress in the corner of the cozy room on which Lilly had already staked her claim.

"Lilly, why didn't you want the big bed?" Hannah asked confusedly.

"This one's cooler! It's plugged in!"

Hannah shrugged. "Mmkay then."

Hannah then realized all her stuff was within the apartment. Great. She went up to Mrs. Hoffman and asked her for a toothbrush and toothpaste. 

"Oh! Of course sweetie! And I'd bet you're about Sophie's size in clothing. I'll get you something from her closet! Follow me!"

Hannah followed the old woman up the stairs and through the hallway to Sophie's room. Mrs. Hoffman knocked on the door.

"What?!" Sophie was clearly in a bad mood. Well, that tracked. She usually was. Sophie was the stereotypical party girl. She was graduating college in a couple months, and would be moving out then. For now, however, her favorite hobby was stumbling home, slurring her words and collapsing on her bed.

In Hannah's mind, Sophie was notorious for the pregnancy scare that happened when Sophie was only fifteen. Her then-boyfriend, Don, had spread rumors about it that were entirely untrue (except for the "losing her you-know-what" part). 

However, the Sophie that opened the door was a completely different Sophie than the one Hannah knew. She was tall, slim, and beautiful, and definitely sober. Her long, brown hair tumbled down to her waist. 

In an almost somber tone, she asked, "What is it?" 

"Darling, Hannah here might need to borrow your clothes. She's staying here tonight. And," she said, turning to Hannah, "Will your parents be joining us as well?"

"Oh, no ma'am. They're away." Hannah said this nonchalantly, as if it were perfectly normal for a fifteen-year-old girl to be all by herself regularly.

"Okay, well, do they know about the apartment?"

Hannah grimaced at the memory. "Yes ma'am, I texted them."

Hannah lied. She didn't even own a phone! Like she could afford that. But she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. 

"Okay. Well, Soph, why don't you give me some pajamas and clothes for tomorrow for Hannah?"

"Kay." Sophie selected loose-fitted, lacy nightclothes from a drawer, and a t-shirt and jeans for the next day. 

Hannah silently took the clothes and walked to the guest room. One question burned in her mind.

What now?