a heart's end

Nine

Monty

"Why don't you live with her, then?" I questioned Auden after his fifth time complaining about the twenty minute walk to his girlfriend's apartment. I didn't mind walking since the breeze felt nice. And I didn't have a car yet.

"Are you crazy? Her place is barely big enough for a bed, much less a whole other person."

"She must be broke."

"It's called the cost of living, Montgomery. Trust me, if she can afford to get an apartment 20 minutes away from Central Park, she isn't broke. Her plays have been put in many off Broadway shows. Not everyone has a big enough brain to get to New York for free." He looked serious but his tone was light.

"Many people have to work hard for their money. Like my girlfriend."

"Wait, she's a playwright? Like on an actual stage?" My heart started racing. All I could think about was how I could get in production with one of her shows.

"Yeah she's a playwright on actual stages." He mocked me playfully.

The rest of the walk was spent in comfortable silence, every so often I would look around and take in the sight of the huge building and the constant shade from the buildings that towered over us.

We arrived at Auden's girlfriends' place at around 8. Arno and Lucca were already there as they sat on the floor around a glass table. I could see the living room right though the front door. I could pretty much see the whole apartment through the front door. It was much smaller than I imagined, yet it was still beautiful. Paintings of abstract art hung on olive green and burnt orange walls, even the exposed brick wall had the twinkle of white lights placed around it. There were lamps of every shape and color placed around the apartment and the soft light was pouring out of them, giving the room a comfortable dim lighting. The couches were vintage and placed in a square around the glass table. And deep cherry hardwood flooring ran throughout the place.

"Hey guys!" Lucca got up from the floor as we entered the living room. Arno's eyes were pink as he smiled and waved. The room reeked of pot.

"Daisy should be in any second. She stepped onto the balcony to make a phone call." Lucca stars as he sat back down on the floor. I opted for a couch.

"I don't care what she's doing." Auden flatly stated and looked at me. Lucca shrugged his shoulders and starting packing what I was guessing was marijuana in a brown piece of paper.

"Who else is coming?" Auden asked Arno.

"Jon and Tybalt. Tybalt texted me saying he's bringing this really hot girl. So yeah, that should be fun." The more I am around him, the clearer his accent becomes.

"Ugh. Anyone but Ty. I hate that kid." Auden rolled his eyes and Lucca laughed.

"Why?" I questioned as Auden sat down from the couch opposite of mine.

"Auden doesn't like any guy who, as he quotes, 'toys with the emotions of other females'." Lucca took a puff of his blunt and offered it to me. I declined.

"Wait...but don't you do that, Lucca?" Laughter busted throughout the room. I didn't see what was funny since guys like that piss me off as well.

"I have exceptions." Auden chuckled. Before he could say anything a figure came busting through the balcony door.

"Guys! I told you no smoking in my flat! Some of these paintings are from the original artist!" I looked towards the girl and I could feel my eyes go big at the sound of her British accent.