The Starting Line (Reupload)

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  Eleanora loved hotels. Something about them seemed elegant, even if it wasn't an overly expensive room. However, she lived in this hotel room for almost two weeks and was tired.

The walls were brown and the carpet was too itchy underfoot. The bed was fine, but she hated the feel of the duvet. Oh, and she had to eat in her bed because she did not want to waste her funds on an expensive hotel room with a table. No, she wanted to save her money so she could buy an apartment she really wanted to live in.

Eleanora gave a small noise as she searched her dresser for her box of cereal bars. She had to leave the hotel in the next three minutes or else she would be late for work, and she refused to be late unless it was an emergency.

"Damn," She screamed, throwing her head back. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She quickly grabbed her purse and keys, put on her shoes, and ran out the door.

As she passed people in the lobby, she smiled at them and waved to some of the workers. When she walked out the lobby doors, she readjusted her purse and headed toward her car. "I need a place." She grumbled to herself.

____

Eleanora arrived at work at exactly the time she needed, quickly putting on her scrubs and pulling her hair into a ponytail before searching the halls for her friends.

A big smile appeared on her face when she saw George, Meredith, and Izzie talking. George and Izzie had pleading looks on their faces while Meredith looked bored.

"What's going on?" Eleanora asked slowly, arching an eyebrow. Meredith looked at her with eyes that screamed "Help me," holding a coffee in her hands.

"She's looking for roommates, and she won't even think about us!" Izzie complains, and George nods. Eleanora straightens her back, looking at Meredith with shining eyes.

"I'm a very clean person. I like to be tidy and I love to clean. I know how to cook real food, not just boxed stuff. My family has an amazing Carbonara recipe that people fight over. And I'm calm! I could do the shopping too!"

Meredith paused, looking at the girl. Then she sighed, shaking her head. "We're together 100 hours a week. Do you really want to live together? Anyway, I only have two bedrooms and a poorly ventilated attic, so only two people can stay there."

Eleanora opened her mouth, about to launch into a full-blown speech about how she could take the attic if she wanted her to, that she could fix it up and leave all the attic stuff behind a divider. However, Cristina appeared, staring at the coffee in Mer's hands with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, are you bringing bribes now?"

Meredith snorted, rolling her eyes. George continued to press Meredith, his voice high-pitched.

"I need a place to live. My mom irons my scrubs! I've got to get out of there!" He complained. Eleanora places a hand on his shoulder, giving him a comforting smile

"Scrubs need ironing sometimes. Especially ours. They are too light and you can see every line and wrinkle in them. So annoying." George raised his eyebrows as he looked at her, tilting his head.

"Really?"

"It's not a bribe," Meredith began, looking at Cristina with a sharp gaze. "And I don't think that it's a good idea." The last of her words were directed at the three behind her.

Izzie, George, and Eleanora quickly threw themselves into trying to get Meredith to change her mind. Cristina laughed, pointing to the coffee. "That? Totally a bribe."

Meredith snorted, turning to all her friends. "No! I just want two complete strangers that I don't have to talk to or be nice to, and it's not a bribe! It's a Mocha Latte."