Too Close

2

That was when the city came into view. Its skyscrapers high above everything else on the skyline. As Calypso entered the big city, every building towered over her. She felt like an insect trapped in a spider's web of intricately woven streets. She loved the architecture of each establishment. She was glad to be able to be surrounded by so much inspiration for her study to be a photographer. Calypso had to stop marveling at the city and keep her thoughts on track. Right. I'm looking for 5th ave. That's where school is. Then my housing should be somewhere around 9th Street. I hope. she thought to herself.

Calypso's father had arranged for her to live with his office friend Dave's twins, who were also enrolling in Parsons this year. She turned onto 5th avenue. Sure enough, there was Parsons University. While the tourists and regular city goers crossed the street in front of her, Calypso had a chance to adjust her coffee coloured hair. She could see 9th street; that's where she was headed. Her car inched forward in the heavy traffic as she turned slowly onto 9th street. Third house on the left, Calypso said to herself. After parking on the left side of the narrow street, she had built up enough courage to knock on the door of the apartment. She stood for a moment, the weight of worry fell upon her. Footsteps ran behind the door. The door to the building was thrown open suddenly, by a boy who looked not much older than Calypso herself. He had hazelnut skin and curly ebony bangs that fell over his bushy black eyebrows.

"Well, don't just stare at me. Who are you, what do you need?" He asked impatiently. Calypso realized that she was staring.

"Um... uh... Is- is this 221 West 9th street?" she said, fumbling with her words. The boy stared back at her for a moment.

"Yeah. You must be Calypso. You look a lot like your dad." he said a minute later, his voice softening considerably. Calypso blushed and pushed a few stray hairs into place. She heard a voice from somewhere within the house.

"Okay, Alex! I get it! I'm coming!" the boy replied. "Oh, uh, come in," he added, gesturing for Calypso to come inside. "I'm Ravi, by the way," he said as the duo stepped into the first floor of the apartment. The girl who was apparently Alex stepped out of the kitchen.

"Oh, hi! You must be Calypso! I'm Alexandra Bishop, you can call me Alex though and this is my spork of a twin brother, Ravi," she said perkily, extending her hand to Calypso, whose hands were full with her bags. Calypso smiled; she was glad to have friendly housemates. Alex had the same spice coloured skin and dark hair as her brother. They even had the same startlingly blue eyes. She had an eyebrow piercing and another on the right side of her nose, both of which held gems the color of blood. Calypso only had her ears and cartilage pierced and never dreamed of having her nose or eyebrow done, yet they made Alex look even lovelier.

"Our apartment is upstairs- all the way up in the attic. I'd help you get settled in, but I have to get groceries for the three of us. Maybe Rav will help you out!" Alex said, elbowing her brother.

"Um, yeah. I'll help you bring stuff up from your car," Ravi said awkwardly, rubbing his arm where he was hit. Calypso was a little reluctant to accept this offer, but she wanted to get to know Ravi. He was rather pretty for a boy. Calypso had a boyfriend back home: Aiden. He was strong and muscular- But he wasn't nearly as handsome as Ravi. "That would be great! I don't have a boatload of stuff, but the boxes are a little heavy," Calypso said to the twins.

As the trio walked out to the Calypso's car, she remembered that she needed to call her dad. And Aiden. And her best friend Eden. Not right now. I have a house to move into and a roommate with whom to make friends, she told herself.

"I'll grab the heavy stuff, you've got quite a climb up those stairs." Ravi offered, interrupting Calypso's train of thought.

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, thanks," she managed to stutter. "Here-" she said lifting one of the boxes out of her trunk. "This is one of the heavier ones." She plopped it into Ravi's arms.