ethan & emma: talking with you.

In the Apartment, When Everything Changed

Emma and Ethan pulled up to her apartment complex, and Emma stared out of the windshield in dread. It was still pouring outside, the water hitting the roof of the car in waves, bouncing up off the pavement before settling into the deluge that was swamping the parking lot. Los Angeles had one of the worst drainage systems she had ever seen, since it was hardly ever even cloudy here.

"Should we just wait for the rain to die down?" Emma asked. The parking lot was around the corner from her apartment building, so it would mean at least thirty seconds in the rain before they could get inside.

"Maybe. Why are the parking lots so far away from the entrance? Who planned this shit out?"

Emma shrugged. "I only signed the lease on this apartment because it was my mom's favorite. I actually liked another one better in west Hollywood, but it was a little too out of my price range."

"You could afford to move now, though. Why don't you?" Ethan asked. His tone wasn't judgmental, only curious.

"I'm already settled in. Once I get attached to something, I never want to let go." She put on a high-pitched voice. "Abandonment issues, what can I say?"

"Gray and I had an apartment near James' old one when we first moved here and stayed there for years, but we fucking hated it," Ethan said. "It was downtown, the complex was sketch, my parents didn't even like it.

"But weren't you having your house built? It makes sense that you'd stay at your apartment until then."

Ethan leaned his head back against the headrest, just looking at her. Emma wished she could reach out and touch his cheek. "Yeah. We wanted to invest in someplace that we knew we'd be happy living in for years. I'd say that's the best plan if you wanna stay in L.A." 



"Maybe that's what I'll do. But having a giant house built for just me? I feel like I'll get really fucking lonely."

"You'll have Dorian," Ethan pointed out. 

Emma laughed. "True." 



Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

[4:17 p.m.] Bryant: Hey Emski you still down to hang out?

"It's Bryant. He keeps promising he'll make his family's tamale recipe for me but hasn't had enough time yet. Maybe if he comes over he'll cook for us."

"I'm down," Ethan said. "I'm a fucking awful cook, so that'd be really cool."

"Me too. Actually, I can make great burritos, but that's it."

[4:19 p.m.] Emma: ya come over !!! we just got back 2 the apartment

[4:21 p.m.] Bryant: Already on my way.

After she read his message aloud, they both looked out the windows again. The rain hadn't let up at all.

"Who knows how long this rain is gonna go for?" Ethan asked. 


"You're right. Should we just fucking go?" Emma looked at him, and he started to grin.

"Yeah, let's just do it. Who cares?"

"X games mode," Emma said, tugging on the strings of her hoodie until it cinched tightly around her face.

"Ready?"

Emma nodded, and at the same time, they both bolted out of the car. Ethan turned around quickly to click his keys until the doors of the Jeep locked, before following her down the sidewalk. Water was undulating across the porch in front of her apartment, and she had to splash through it to reach her front door, fumbling with the lock.