Hell To Pay

Killer Queen

"Sam, please pick up my phone. Let me talk to you."

"You have any rights to be angry, but I'm really sorry. I need to talk to you."

"Sam, please. I'm worry about you. You're not at Chad's house or anyone else. Where are you?"

Every single one of Taylor's voicemail can't change her mind. And she's actually don't want him to find her. At least not now. For now, she just need to be alone. Even Chad doesn't know and doesn't hear anything from her. She feels like if Chad finds out, his friendship with Taylor will be ruined. Same thing with Dave.

"Is there any unit left?" This is probably the third building that she went to since she was back to LA. And she can't find any apartments yet. All she can do is just go from one hotel room to another and she's getting tired of it. "I'm sorry. The last unit just been sold yesterday." The manager looks into his log and say the unhappy news to her. So she thanks him and leave to another building.

The next building is kinda fancy which probably much expensive than the previous. "Hi. Can I help you?"
"Is there any unit left? Small room is fine."
"Actually, the small rooms are full. But... There are some bigger room that you can take."
"How big?" She then takes out the catalogue and show Sam the room. "Ughh.. actually too big. And too expensive. Any medium size?"
"We don't have that. But if you don't mind, we are offering a sharing unit. Which we can guarantee you about the safety. But you will live with another person and so you can split the bill."
"What? This is real? How do you know it's safe?"
"We ran a very strick rule and a deep background checks here. If you're interested, we need to check your background too."
"Oh, okay. Can I choose who is I'm living with?"
"Too bad you can't, we will pair you with someone based on your forms, so we can find something that suits your lifestyle like wether they're smoking or not, or else."
"Okay. How long does it take?"
"Application will takes maximum 2 days."
"Okay. I'll take it."
"Please fill this forms, along with your social security number, records, and everything that's necessary." Sam get her purse and fill in the forms, which are a lot of forms. And after an hour, she hands those papers to the manager again. "We'll reach you out after 2 days. And in the meantime, you can cancel the application. anytime."
"Alright, thanks." For her, to be not having a staying place is annoying and she hopes to get this one.

After Sam left the building, the manager start to makes some calls for background check and while it's on process, she also make sure owners of sharing unit don't change their mind about renting half of their unit.

"This is Margaret. Do you still interested in sharing your unit?" She calls one of the owner that she found fits Sam's lifestyle. "Oh, there's a new people?"
"There's one person who just applied for the sharing offer. And I think you're one of 3 owners that match the applicant's lifestyle. But seems like the other 2 are not available for this sharing offer for now."
"Well, sure. I'm still interested. When will my roommate move in?"
"In 2 days, if the application isn't cancelled. But still you have to clear half of it before the due day. Is there anything that's confused you?"
"No, it's all clear. Thank Margaret." After the call ended, she mark this one owner on her big book before continue to checking Sam's background.

"Unit 207."

••••••

"Wait, really? I got the job?" Sam almost spill her coffee soon after she hear the good news. She applied a job as a sound engineer for a TV show yesterday and they interviewed her.  Today they call her to make sure she is willing to take the job. "Absolutely! I'm good with the fee..." They offered her not as much as Foo Fighters paid her, but close enough so it's not really a lose for her. "Alright. I'll come next Monday. Thank you so much."

But even though she already get that job, she doesn't officially quit her old job yet. She's in edge to tell everyone about her quitting the job. So she decided to call the most neutral member of the band, Chris. "Chris, it's Sam. You're busy?"
"No, just tidy up my space. Why?"
"Umm.. I don't know how to say this, but since you guys probably will have a tour after this new album finished, which is probably in a few months. I think you all need to find a new engineer."
"Wait, what? Why?"
"No, it's just I get a job offer at MTV. And I'm thinking to...you know, experience another thing."
"Taylor knows about this?" At the moment she feels hesitate to answer that, but she needs to. "Yes. Absolutely. So... The point is, I just want you all to have an early notice because I will start to work on my new job next week. So while you guys aren't on tour yet, you should find one to replace me soon."
"Okay. I get it. I'll tell others if Taylor hasn't done so. Good luck on your new job Sam."
"You too Chris. Thanks." Right after she hung up, she got a text from the building manager that she went into 2 days ago.

You got the unit. Would you deal to take it?

She replies with a very excited 'yes' and takes all of her belongings out of hotel's closet. "Ughh. I hope my room mate really not annoying." After collecting her stuff, she goes to hotel's parking lot where she parked her bike where she bumped into Taylor. "Sam..."
"What do you want?"
"You're not answering my call, not coming back to Chad's house...."
"Stop calling them!"
"I'm worry about you."
"None of your business. Get lost!" She grab her helmet but Taylor hold her hands. "I'm so...sorry. I'm not expecting you to forgive me. But please don't do this. I'm really worry."
"How the hell you can find me? Are you following me?"
"No! God! Sam! I.. I saw you from across the street when you went to this hotel. I was thinking about not bothering you, but you keep running. Also, everyone is wondering why you quit..."
"Isn't it obvious? You're not dumb! But, don't worry I told Chris that I quit because I found a new job."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. What? You want me to do nothing? Jobless? Hell no."
"But why?"
"I hate you, I hate what you've done to me..." All the effort that she did to look tough in front of Taylor is breaking down slowly. "I need to go." She put her helmet on, tighten the strap and start the bike. "Sam... At least talk to me..."
"No. I've got something to do. Which is more important than you. Bye Taylor." She hits the gas and took off. Leaving Taylor, stoned at the parking lot.

•••••

"207. Here is your card. Unlock the door with that, also to access the elevator."
"Just like hotel, huh?"
"Exactly. So if your card is missing, you need to contact my staff and provide them your driving license."
"Alright. I can go now?"
"Yes, you can go."

She walks to the elevator, and goes to the second floor, the unit is right at the end of the right corridor. A nice signage with the unit number are put on the white door. "Do I need to knock the door? Umm... No, dummy. I have the card." She talks to herself while reaching for her card and then use it to open the door. She open it and the unit is quite tidy, all split out into half. She can see the difference and also some personality on the other side. Each of them will have their own bedroom, storage room, and bathroom. But they have to share the living room and the kitchen. There's a paper on the dining table and Sam manage to look on that.

Welcome home. Sit tight, I'll get you some food to celebrate.

"A celebration? Such a nice room mate." She smiles and then put the paper back and start to smile a little bit. Guessing from the stuff on that living room, she assumed that the owner is a man. Which kinda curious her of  how does he look like. There are mails and she can just look up the name, but it would be an invasion of the privacy. No pictures on the wall, seems like all were taken out. After there's nothing she can look into, she goes to her room and store her stuff into the storing room. "This bedroom is huge to be honest. For an apartment." She didn't expect that even after the unit split into two, the half still big enough for her. And after half an hour she started feeling sleepy and closes her eyes. It was comfortable, and a very nice room which makes her even sleepier. But then she hear someone enter the unit. "Geez. That must be my room mate." She quickly wake up and go outside the room. "Holly shit. Sam? What are you doing here?"

"Chris?"