Terrible Habits

Head Above Water, Barely.

I'm hauling the suitcase over my shoulder as I climb the three flights of outdoor stairs. I feel like I am climbing a metal, unstable fire escape. When I finally make it to the top and I mean the absolute attic of the building, I drop the bag, sending a vibration through the entire frame of the staircase. Glad, that's stable. I am already in a pissy mood when it starts raining. I roll my eyes and bang my fist on the door three times, but before I can get the fourth one in the door swings open to reveal no one standing there. I peer into the apartment when I hear a cough below me.

I look down to see a freckle faced ten year old smiling up at me.

"Sorry, I think I have the wrong place," I mutter, picking up my bag from the ground.

"Are you Lenny?" he asks, smiling, why is he still smiling?

"Y-yeah," I answer, unsure how he knows my name. "Sorry is this Hollis' apartment?" I ask looking through him to the apartment again.

"Yup," he nods. "You can come in," he opens the door wider and I step inside, wary of the situation happening before me, but eager to get out of the rain. "You're really pretty," he sways back and forth with his hands behind his back.

"Uh, thanks," I mumble.

The apartment is nicely furnished and decorated. The walls are painted a light blue and the ceiling is covered in skylights. I want to keep looking at the rest of the apartment, but the kid won't stop staring. I turn to face him once again.

"Sorry, do you live here too?" I guess I didn't really ask questions about my living arrangements after she told me I could move in. I was just all too pleased that someone was going to put a roof over my head.

He opens his mouth to answer but before he does Luke rounds the corner, stopping in his tracks.

"Hey," he smiles, lighting up the room and I feel obligated to smile back.

"Hi," I say.

"Well what do you think?" he gestures to the apartment.

"It looks great, um, are you two part of the welcoming committee or something?"

I watch as the kid puffs his chest out as if my sarcastic comment is something to be proud of. "Something like that," Luke laughs. "This is my younger brother, Sam."

"Oh," my eyes widen as I study the similarities and differences between them. They really don't look anything alike except for the golden brown eyes. Luke's dark features stand out against Sam's fair skin and freckles. "So he doesn't live here?"

"Can I live with Hollis too?" he turns towards Luke and starts jumping up and down. "Please, please!"

"I don't think Mom would be too happy about that," Luke answers, the humor in his voice is gone and I wonder what he is talking about as I watch Sam's eyes fall at the mention of his mother.

"Well, thanks for this," I say gesturing to the apartment space, distracting them both from the turn of the conversation. "So where is Hollis?" I ask, dropping my bag on the kitchen tile.

"She had to go to work, actually," Luke steps forward. "So I thought I'd stick around and let you in so you could move in today."

"Thanks."

"Anytime," he nods and we stand there, looking into each other's eyes until I hear a tone of disgust.

"Yuck," Sam makes a noise and I break away, laughing at his reaction.