F'N FABULOUS (Completed)

The Roof is on Fi-Ya

Mel dropped Jessie at her apartment. Mr. Floofer raced up to greet her, lowering his head for a pet. She obliged with two short forehead pets then sat down on her futon. Mr. Floofer wasn't impressed by her two pet and done shenanigans. He hopped onto the couch next to her and put his head down again as if he was saying, "Groom me hooman."

"Fine." She said with a giggle. She grabbed a comb and spent the next hour giving him a thorough groom. Thankfully, he was stiller than usual so she was able to relax and think about the job offer. She had just swept up all the loose fur and was about to clean Mr. Floofer's litterbox when a loud fire alarm started blaring.

Immediately she ran to the door to see what was going on. People were doing the same. A few began slowly walking towards the front exit, but mostly people just looked around asking each other if they knew what was going on.

She frowned. To be safe, she went back into her apartment to grab Mr. Floofer. He had run into his carrier as if it was his den, thankfully. She closed the carrier door and slung it over her shoulder. She grabbed her purse and looked back at the hallway.

Someone shouted something, and everyone was moving much more quickly. The alarm pounded against her ears. She wanted to get Mr. Floofer out of this noise as quickly as possible. Poor ears.  A person behind her pushed her out of the way. It was Mr. Stanley from A6, a quiet but slightly pervy old man. Normally if he is coming by her, he always accidentally hit her butt. This time, his eyes wide with panic.

"Move people!" He yelled.

"It'll be okay Mr. Stanley." Jessie offered.

He dismissed her and kept shoving people out of the way. She tightened the carrier to her front so that Mr. Floofer wouldn't get jostled too much. She looked around. The faces were filled with anger, impatience, and some fear. It did not help her nerves.

When the crowd finally got outside, the residents gathered across the street where Mrs. Jadis was waving for everyone to go. The 50-year old woman was a no-nonsense person and literally taking the opportunity to get people's rent money.

"Seriously Mrs. J... the place is on fire. I'm not giving you anything until I see if my apartment is in one piece." One of the tenants told her.

It was a good point.

She sighed as fire trucks and police cars started to arrive. It was like it was a coping mechanism. This was her baby. Though she couldn't always keep the paint fresh or put in new carpets, she always helped Jessie. If Jessie was a few days late, Mrs. Jadis wasn't posting eviction paperwork same day. This apartment had been in her family since just after the 1940s and they struggled to keep it filled. Several moguls have asked her to sell her property, but she always held out. She told Jessie just last week that another buyer came up to her.

"I don't know why they keep thinking I would want to sell to their sorry asses. I'm not selling my family's property. I told them that. They can fuck off." Then always taking the opportunity to remind Jessie. "Oh, Jessie, don't forget rent is due in a few days." Mrs. Jadis had told her last week.

Jessie nodded and smiled. Mrs. Jadis would remind Jessie early so that she could make her payment on time. She always did.

Looking at Mrs. Jadis now, she wanted to hug the poor woman. She was literally watching her family's property burn. The fire now at full throttle poking out of the various windows. The fire trucks already blasting water as best they could.

Jessie's heart dropped. What would she do now? She sat down on the curb with Mr. Floofer in her lap and cried. All her things, gone.

JESSIE: Apt is literally on fire right now. ☹ ☹

MEL: What? Are you outside? Are you safe?

JESSIE: Ya. I got Mr. Floofer. We are outside across the street from the apt. Can I crash at your place until I figure things out?

MEL: ...

The response wasn't immediate.

Jessie frowned staring at her phone. She knew her friend really had a tough time last time she stayed from her allergies, but her apartment was on fire! She didn't want to have to call up her Mom and Dad without having a plan. Otherwise, they would beg her to come to stay with them in Chicago and that was not happening.

JESSIE: Please. Just a few days.

MEL: If you agree to take the job at the art school, I have a place you can stay for free.

JESSIE: TYSM!!!!! I ❤️ you!

She frowned at the fact her friend used that job as a bargaining chip, but she obviously couldn't say no now anyways. She needed the money more than for just her surgery. Now she needed to get her own place. She texted Jake on the number on the card.

JESSIE: I accept your job offer. Is there any paperwork I need to fill out?

JAKE: Wonderful news. Yes. Please stop by my office tomorrow so we can get you official. What time works for you?

JESSIE: I'm open.

JAKE: 10am. Metric Hall. 2nd Floor. Suite 202

JAKE: I have some students coming in before you, but it should be quick. See you then.

JESSIE: OK. Thanks again for the offer.

She pressed the phone to her forehead and groaned. Her tears dried up. Now she had a plan, she could worry about the rest later.

MEL: There are cops everywhere. Meet me at the Panera down the block. I can't get closer. They have it blocked off.

JESSIE: k

Jessie found Mrs. Jadis. She gave her a hug and made sure Mrs. Jadis knew where she was going to be. She nodded and gave another longer hug.

Jessie frowned and looked back at the roaring orange and red flames. The walk to Panera was a bit frantic. People were trying to figure out what was going on and getting a better look. She had to weave around the lookie-lous. When she found her friend, Mel's arms went around Jessie. She gave Jessie a bottle of water and they walked silently to Percy. It coughed and sputtered but surprisingly turned over quickly.

Mel whispered a thank you to the vehicle.

"Thanks for coming to get me and Mr. Floofer. I promise we will be out of your hair tomorrow. I already called up Professor Gillman to accept the job. Once I have the money, I can get a hotel or something. That way it's just for the night and your allergies aren't too bad." Jessie looked out the window.

"I'm getting you out of my hair tonight." Mel smiled.

"Oh.." She nodded towards Mel who was still smiling. Jessie continued, "I couldn't have you spend your money on a hotel. I'll pay you back as soon as he deposits the paycheck."

"I'm not putting you up in a hotel and I already told you if you took the job, you would have a free place to stay," Mel responded.

"I don't understand." Jessie then noticed, they were no longer going towards Mel's apartment. "Wait, where are we going?" She asked as they drove over the bridge and into Portland.

"Friend of a friend." She only said.

Soon after, she pulled up to a familiar upscale condo complex. "Mel?"

"Apt 1501. It's on the 15th Floor. They are waiting for you so get out. I gotta get to work and you are going to make me late." Mel shooed her friend.

Jessie sighed a relief that it wasn't Greg's as he lived on the 16th floor. 

Who did Mel know here?" She wondered.