Hidden Feelings

Nyla

Long Beach, California, 5:32PM

    After that party a few weeks ago, everything has been a bit.. different. A good different.

    The feelings I have for Jay have only grown more than I initially thought they would've. Not to mention, I guess I'm more than sure that the flutter in my gut isn't just from the touching. It's from his laugh, his voice, his eyes, his gaze, everything about this man has me hooked. I can't believe I thought of him as such a player. 

    Jay has me wrapped around his finger, and I bet he knows it. He's probably had many girls wrapped around his finger, but it's not like he'd run like that. I know he isn't that type of guy, and it was wrong to think of him like that when I first met him. I was glad to give him a chance. It was smart of me. 

    That party has me feeling different types of ways about Jay too. I know damn well why he did it. I might not know the backstory about Ethan Blackwood and Jay or whatever, but it obviously isn't a good one. Not that Jay doesn't get mad easily, but he obviously was livid right then and there. Knowing that I was partially the reason makes me feel a little special to Jay. He did beat the bricks off of Ethan just for me because of the disrespect he gave me, talking to me like I was an object or something.

    I type away at my computer, translating things from English to French on a website they've put me in charge of. I've got Mr. Meowzer in my lap, curled up like a C as the rain outside of my apartment patters around. I love days like these, where it's me and my cat and my work. Nothing beats it, especially the rain sprinkling and watering all my apartment. 

    In all honesty, I do wander what happened to that guy who Jay beat up. Obviously he ran away, but where? Given how Jay probably hates his guts, I'm guessing he's a rich kid. Jay loathes them. That's one of the first things he told me when we got closer. I can see why, a lot of them are so depended on daddy's money or getting their own for unnecessary reasons.

   My fingers are dancing across the keyboard when my phone vibrates in the sheets, making me look up. My hand reaches for the shaking iPhone 14, before looking at the contact information. It's my sister. I swipe the accept button, a smile on my face as I click speaker. 

    "Hey Lana." I say as I multitask.

    "Hey dork." She replies without much hesitation where I can't say I really care. She's always been like this with me, and I don't mind. I've gotten used to it all the more. 

    "What'd you call for?" I ask as my hands go back to dancing across the keyboard.

    "Just came to check on you. You moved like, 20 states away." Which isn't a total lie. I didn't expected to move so far away from my home state. I left all my friends and family in Ohio, knowing that I would miss them and have to visit every now and then. And Lana was the one person who said she wouldn't miss me, yet she's the first one to call me for a bit.

    By the sounds on the other line, she must be working in her restaurants kitchen, though it's closed. She's always working extra hard i there, and I definitely don't blame her. Her dishes are literally the best. It's not like I can cook really well, but I always keep her recipes on hand. "Any cute guys?" She asks through the phone.

    Boy am I glad she asked. "There is, actually." I answer, a smile on my face as I think of all the things to say. There's not many people I can tell about my feelings for Jay. I have a lot to say, really, and she's subjected to listen to all of it. 

    "There is this one guy." I say with a little smirk, though she can't see it. "I met him at this bar, and no, I wasn't drinking." She knows I hate alcohol, and she does too. We're two peas in a pod, and our bond is stronger than most. That's why we have matching tattoos on our shoulders. "He came up to me. At first, I thought he wanted a hook up, but now we're literally the bestes of friends." I explain to her in one. 

    There's a moment of silence, probably her regretting that she even asked me that question. Even so, I don't care. I got to spill my feelings, she feel right for it. "So, what about his name?" Is the first thing she asks out of all of that. 

    I laugh softly. Guess I forgot the important parts. "His name is Jay Smith. He's, like, 6'3, black hair, dark eyes, and the best part," I lean into the phone, letting a small whisper creep through the other line. "He's a muscular and tattooed biker." Lana's ears must've perked up because I hear a satisfied hum from the other line. We always have had that type of similarity. Bikers and tattoos are always a weak spot for us.

    "Seems like you hit the jackpot." Lana snickers teasingly as the door to my apartment shakes with a knock. 

    "I know I did." I snicker back in agreement. "But I have to get going right now. Someone dare's to come knock on my door at such a time." I say with a little laugh.

    Lana replies with a little hum and an 'I love you' before I say it back and hang up the phone. Short, but I got all I needed to say out. I'll have to text her later about what she's been up to. I wouldn't have to finish this conversation so fast if there wasn't a person ringing at my door.

    I remove my sleepy kitty from my lap, and stand to my feet before slipping on my puma slides. I venture to the front door, opening it to notice my landlord Maria standing in front of me with a weary expression. She's about 52 years old, a really nice woman with slightly messy gray hair and about 5'7. From what I've heard, she's got a daughter who's dating this real rich guy. Typical around here, honestly. 

    "Nyla, hey..." She says in a low voice, something that doesn't seem top happy. I've never seen her in such a solemn mood before. Normally she's always so upbeat and kind and sweet, even though she's a little bit on the older side.

    My brows furrow in slight concern, tilting my head at her in confusion. That's when she sighs, giving me a look that isn't so promising. Out the corner of my eye, she slips me a paper that was behind her back that she must've been holding. Looking curious, I take it from her wrinkled hands, my eyes skimming it over.

    It's a 3-day eviction notice paper, with my name on it.

    I look at Maria with eyes narrowed in concern and disbelief. "What the hell is this?" I ask, trying to keep my naturally loud voice in containment.

    Maria looks at me with a frown, a solemn and guilty one. It makes my own expression harden. Not only do I check everything that's been going on in my apartment, the noise, the bills, the messiness. I don't deserve to be evicted. This can't be legal.

    I crumble the white paper in my hand, tossing it to the ground. "What is this? Huh?" I swat the paper away with my foot, a stern and upset look on my face. 

    "I'm sorry..." Maria mumbles in an elderly voice that I can't really stay mad at.

    I let my face soften for the smallest bit, but the anger is still bubbling in my chest. With a sigh, I rub a hand down the bridge of my nose, lifting my glasses. "I haven't done anything, you know I haven't done anything, so what the fuck?" I curse in a more maintained tone. I'm not one for cussing, but when the time is necessary, I could spew a poem of curse words.

    "I... I have to..." Maria says in a whisper, her guilty look facing the floor. The hell does that mean?

    "I need the money... I can't keep you here. Me and Ari already..." She stops, a deep breath coming from her. "I have to let you go." She confirms before turning on her heels, and walking down the apartment steps.

    I'm left baffled, angry, and confused. What is she talking about? Money? Ari? 

    Wait a damn second...

    Her daughter, Ari, has a rich boyfriend, right? And the guy that Jay had fought is a rich guy, right? And she saw me, with Jay, at that party. He must've paid Maria to evicted me on Jay's behave.

    This is the shittiest and most pathetic way to get back at someone. But where the hell am I supposed to go. I have 3 days to get my stuff out of here, yet I can't find a simple place to go. I'm still new here, and I need some time to get back on my feet for a while. 

    But, there is one place.