𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 |𝟏𝟖+|

6

Etta Valentines POV

I'm hot. I'm sweaty. And oh my god is that the time?!

Sliding down the pole in the middle of my living room that also hosts my bedroom, I don't give myself time to cool down before rushing straight for the shower.

I'd lost track of time by practicing this new trick I'm learning and by doing so, the potential of being late for work is increasing.

Whilst I love my little studio apartment, it really is that. Little.

But it's also cosy and it feels like home.

Luckily for me, my landlord permitted the installation of my dance pole. And no, it's not a strippers pole and why would there be a problem if it was?

Pole dancing is my second favourite hobby after books, and I use it as my mode of exercise instead of paying ungodly amounts of money each month just to attend a gym full of testosterone.

But anyway, my apartment is the first place I've ever lived alone and I'm very proud of it. It was a bargain really.

With the exposed brick feature wall and the steel framework of the windows, I really did bag myself a good deal.

My bookshelves line the walls whilst my bed - glorified mattress sat on the floor - sits central between them. Little bits of me decorate the place and I thank my lucky stars that I live a safe neighbourhood. As safe as can be when living in a  city.

My kitchen is also joined to the open plan design and I have a breakfast bar that sits two people. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm also that girl who has miniature toadstools dotted around the place, not to mention the Polaroids pegged to the string lights that hang my walls.

So yeah, as cliche as the phrase is: it's not much, but it's my home.

"Meggypoo, how's Chicago going?" I answered the phone twenty minutes later as I walked out the front door to the apartment complex.

I somehow managed to have two minutes spare to leave with enough time to get to work at my usual pace. Fingers crossed it's a good omen for the day.

"Hey bestie! The pizza is unreal, convention is amazing, honestly Etts, you should see some of the tat designs here! Oh, and Carter is tolerable I guess." I laughed as I heard Carter fake cry in the background.

"I'm glad you're having a good time M. Did you get my parcel yet?"

Meg gasped into the mic, her dramatics making me smile as she deadpanned over the phone. "You didn't?!"

"Nope. I really didn't."

"Oh my god you bitch! Way to get my hopes up and then kick them to the wind. Some friend you are."

I laughed into my phone, amusing myself at how easy it is to get an albeit lighthearted rise out of my friend.

"All of those hurtful words over a muffin. Was it really worth it?"

"I regret nothing. Those words were valid and you had it coming." Meg and those damn chocolate muffins. "Anyway, I've got a favour to ask you."