Adventures in an alternate dimension Book 2

Chapter 54 - Welcome to Apartment 302: First Steps into Adulthood

Renesmee's POV

The cardboard box felt like it weighed a ton, even with Uncle Emmett's help hoisting it up the three flights of stairs. The brand new, pristine white walls of the apartment building hallway seemed to mock the sweat clinging to my forehead. "There," Emmett huffed, setting the box down with a satisfying thud right outside my door, number 302.

This whole "adulting" thing was harder than anyone gave it credit for. Sure, I'd technically been an adult for a while now – a very long while, thanks to the whole vampire immortality thing – but living with Aunt Ashlynn after graduating from college had been a breeze. Now, here I was, Dr. Renesmee Cullen, OBGYN extraordinaire, moving into a one-bedroom shoebox of an apartment.

Taking a deep breath, I reached into my purse and pulled out the key – another new experience, having my own key to my own front door. With a satisfying click, the lock yielded, and I pushed the door open.

The apartment itself wasn't much bigger than the living room at Aunt Ashlynn's, but everything was brand new. The smell of fresh paint hung heavy in the air, mingling with the faint scent of sawdust. Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows, illuminating the light hardwood floors that gleamed like a polished mirror.

Uncle Emmett, ever the enthusiastic one, bounded in first. "Whoa, Renesmee, this place is cool! Kinda reminds me of that time we..."

I cut him off with a swat on the arm. "Emmett, not everything needs to be a Carlisle-approved hunting story." He chuckled, that booming laugh that always seemed to fill a room, even one this small.

Taking a step inside, I let my gaze sweep over the space. The living area, though small, had enough room for a futon that doubled as a bed, a small coffee table, and a TV stand. The kitchen, a galley affair, was compact but well-equipped with stainless steel appliances that gleamed under the recessed lighting. A tiny hallway led to a bathroom with a walk-in shower and a surprisingly spacious closet.

It wasn't much, but it was mine. A strange sense of both excitement and trepidation bubbled in my chest. This was a new chapter, a chance to finally step out from under everyone's wings and forge my own path.

The first order of business: unpacking. Uncle Emmett, bless his eternally energetic heart, took charge of the heavier boxes, while I tackled the lighter ones. Soon, the apartment started to resemble a living space. I wrestled the futon into place, its worn leather a familiar comfort from my college days. The few framed photos I owned found their places on the mantle above the (gasp!) electric fireplace – a concession to modern safety regulations.

Exhaustion finally hit me around lunchtime. Uncle Emmett, sensing my flagging energy, declared it pizza time. We ordered from a place down the street, the aroma of melted cheese and pepperoni filling the tiny apartment with a sudden sense of homeyness.

As we ate, Emmett surveyed the place with a critical eye. "You know, Renesmee, this place could use some... pizazz."

I snorted. "Coming from Mr. I let Ashlynn have fun when it comes to decorating."

He grinned, unfazed. "Exactly! You need some color, some personality. Like that painting you did in art class, remember? The one with the purple flowers?"

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. The memory of that painting, a vibrant explosion of color on a dull canvas, brought a warmth to my chest. "Yeah, I still have that somewhere."

The rest of the afternoon was spent brainstorming ways to personalize the space. We decided to paint an accent wall in the living room – a calming shade of blue, Uncle Emmett suggested. Maybe some throw pillows and a colorful rug would liven things up. We even made plans to hit IKEA next weekend for furniture shopping.