‘EDWARD BRETT!’ I yelled up the stairs of our shared three bed apartment, ‘Get down here- right now!’ I walked into the living room folding my arms waiting for my brother to come tumbling down the stairs like a maniac. Soon the travelling earthquake arrived. He jumped into the room and spread out his arms as if to say ‘TA DAH! I’m here’. His arms dropped when he saw my face.
‘Explain this’ I screamed pointing around the devastated room with piles of… lord knows what they are… dotted around the floor. I raised my eyebrows, even though he’s my older brother, he’s more immature than me!
‘Well…’ Eddie began, I knew that face, and he was trying to think of something stupid to say. Instead he pointed to the different piles with a smirk on his face. ‘…that’s popcorn, that’s the packet of lightly salted kettle chips… that I accidently sat on and that’s diet Pepsi’ He took a deep breath sarcastically but I’d had enough.
‘I don’t care what it is!’ I yelled losing my temper, ‘just make sure that when I get back from shopping with the girls that it’s clean okay?’
Jesus Christ! I grabbed my handbag and walked out of the door, making sure I gave it a quick slam to let my brother know I was serious. I’m kind of glad my parents made me move in with him, I don’t know how he and some friend from school survived on their own! I was thinking about all the parties that could have happened in that apartment when-
‘Courtney!’ I heard a group of people call. I turned around to see my friends waving from the bus stop and ran to join them. We hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. I know we had only seen each other an hour or so ago at Ava’s house. The bus arrived and we jumped on, we all had so much new gossip already. I tried to listen to as many of the conversations going on around me as possible when Ivy sitting next to me tapped my shoulder.
‘You alright?’ she asked casually, her bright blue eyes like stars, ‘how’s it going’
‘Ugh my brother is such a pig!’ I said and she laughed, ‘No seriously Ive! I spend one night at Ava’s, get home to drop off my bags before shopping and the living room looks like a pig sty! It was disgusting’
‘I mean do you miss you parents?’ she asked her eyes going wide.
‘Nah, its kinda cool living with no adults’ I said. I was lying. My parents had only left last night for their trip around the world. They were going for a whole year! My dad works for a shipping company and he won the trip for two at the Christmas raffle. He and mum left New Year’s Day and now it’s the 2nd January. They didn’t trust me in our big house alone… yet they trusted for me to stay with Eddie! They are seriously delusional. But I love them to bits, and miss them already terribly. Tears formed in my eyes but I quickly wiped them away and smiled at Ivy. I hope she bought it. She didn’t, she just hugged me.
Shopping was great fun. I bought a purple and white Jack Wills hoodie for Eddie because I’m such a nice sister and I felt bad for shouting at him earlier. I bought myself some jeans from H&M and a blue stripy shirt in Hollister and a cute tiger print onesie with a hood and ears. Overall, I’d say it’s been a good trip if you exclude me tearing up on the bus.
I jumped on the bus and went home early, excited to give Eddie his present. I decided to take the lift up the twelve floors although usually I take the stairs for exercise. I’d done enough walking today and I was tired. I got to our flat, number 163 and started rummaging around my handbag for my keys, juggling my other bags at the same time. Damn it. I thought. I’ve forgotten my keys! I’d only had them cut yesterday and I was still getting used to having to carry them around everywhere I go. I had left them on the kitchen counter when I got back from Ava’s this morning. I guess I’ll have to knock. I did, but there was no answer. I tried again, still no answer. I was about to get my fist and bash the door like mental when it finally opened.
‘About time’ I moaned trying to juggle all of my bags.
‘Sorry we err… didn’t hear you’ an unfamiliar voice mumbled quietly. I looked up and realized it wasn’t Eddie, but some guy I’ve never seen before. He was dark skinned and wore a burgundy beanie hanging off half of his head. He was wearing those cute geeky glasses and wore a Jack Daniels jumper.
‘Sorry’ I said, ‘I forgot I now share my house with strangers’ He laughed and moved out of the way so my bags and I could get through. He closed the door after I said thanks and went upstairs to his room I presume. I called for Eddie and he came downstairs wearing only his boxers. I rolled my eyes at him, typical Eddie; I’m surprised he owns boxers at all!
‘Yeeeeessssss’ he said holding a can of beer in one hand and his guitar in the other.
‘First, I wondered when you are going to tell me who I’m living with for the next year.’ I asked
‘Oh yeah that’s Té’ he said bluntly as if I should know who he was
‘Okay thanks and I have good news!’ I said excitedly. Eddie smiled and nodded. I pulled his jumper out of the bag and chucked it to him.
‘Ooh thanks!’ he said beaming and put it on, it was a little big and baggy but he eats so much it will fit him perfect by tomorrow. His head suddenly popped up and looked at me ‘oh, I have good news too!’ He said doing a little jumping dance, ‘the rent it going down!’
I squealed and joint his dance (as this meant more clothes and spending money for me!). How come? I thought. The landlord’s a tight old bugger?
‘Because…’ Eddie said as if reading my mind, ‘someone else is moving in!’ I stopped dancing.
‘Eddie!’ I moaned. If this is how messy it gets from two guys, imagine what it was like with three! That reminds me; I looked around the living room. Spotless. I sighed happily- yes I am a bit of a neat freak. I mouthed a wow at Eddie, so proud of his achievement.
‘I know right! The new roommate’s moving his stuff in soon so stay out of the way’ that was quick! ‘He was round while you were out, he cleaned the living room for me’
I instantly felt bad, if I had just shut up and cleaned the room myself then maybe this poor guy wouldn’t have had to do it. I decided to freshen up and went upstairs to shower. Luckily, all the rooms are en-suite so I knew I wouldn’t be interrupted. I lay out my new onesie on the bed to put on when I got out and turned the water on. I love to shower, I could shower all day. I just stood there letting the warm water pour all over me. I’m sure we could afford this now since the rent will be split four ways. I had finally had enough when I realized I looked like a prune. I dried off with my towel and walked into my room picking up my phone. It was six o’clock! I had been in that shower for an hour! My longest shower to date.
I slipped on clean underwear and my onesie and went downstairs to the kitchen. There was a note on the side from Eddie. We’ve both gone out to get pizza, be back soon!- Ed x
I decided to make myself a hot chocolate. I waited in the kitchen until I heard a satisfying click and began pouring the boiling water in the cup quarter filled with cocoa powder.
‘Hey there’ came an unfamiliar voice from behind me, I freaked and sent boiling water cascading over my hands. I swore loudly and ran to the cold tap.
‘Oh my god I didn’t mean to make you jump’ the voice said getting nearer, ‘are you okay?’
‘I’m fine’ I said and turned around. Shocked by what I saw- the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen.
