To Be Young And In Love In New York City

Chapter 1: "I Have A Big Butt"

"Ready?" Niki asked Colette, her eyes filled with excitement.

Colette nodded enthusiastically, a big smile spread on her face.

Niki placed a key in the keyhole of a medium-sized, dark brown door and twisted it. The door unlocked and she pushed it open.

"Oh my God!" Colette squealed, jumping on her toes.

What lay in front of them was a large, spacey living room of their first apartment together. Dark wooden floor, big living area with two large glass windows that touched the floor, allowing immense penetration of sunlight and of course, giving them the spectacular New York City view.

Apartment 21 B was what Colette would describe as a "dream", at least from the pictures she saw online. Niki and Colette had always dreamed of going to college together in New York and sharing an apartment since they were teens. When they both got accepted into the same college in New York City, their dream had come true. College in the city demanded an apartment, so through thorough research and calling a bunch of friends, they decided to move into the perfect one, and Apartment 21 B was it.

The view given by the glass windows was the selling point for both of them. The flat came with two tiny bedrooms, but as Colette said, were "big enough to fill my heart". Niki never understood what that meant. It also consisted of a small kitchen, two walk-in closets, a bathroom, and a storage area.

Colette sprawled out on the living room floor, legs and arms widespread and looked out the window. "This is a dream." Niki was tempted to lie down beside her and admire the view, but instead rolled the suitcases into the room, one by one. She instructed Colette to pack only the essentials and leave the rest to the movers, but of course, she got three suitcases and a backpack with her.

"I don't trust the movers", Colette said when she was questioned for her excessive number of suitcases by Niki. "What if they're not on time?" But Niki got a reassuring text from the movers that they'd deliver their things the first thing the next day.

"Coco, help me out." Colette got up and helped Niki move a suitcase whose wheels were misbehaving. Pulling out the key from the keyhole, she shut the door.

"Unpack whatever you think is important," Niki said, sliding Colette's suitcases across the room to her.

The sun was setting when they finished laying out their sleeping bags, unpacking the toiletries, and basic food. Niki decided on making some instant ramen for dinner.

"What flavoured ramen do you want?" She eyed three different packets of ramen.

"Which ones are there?" Colette asked, pushing all of the suitcases into a corner of the room.

"Mushroom, corn, and chilli."

"Chilli." She pulled out a stool from the kitchen counter and sat on it. "I've unpacked the last of the essentials and we'll be able to survive for two weeks if the movers don't show up."

"Why can't you accept the fact that they'll show up on time?"

"I have trust issues, okay?"

Later that night, after they finished their ramen along with a Netflix movie, they moved their sleeping bags close to each other's and slept on them. They faced the glass windows, watching the tall buildings of New York City glistening against the navy blue night sky.

"If our furniture comes in tomorrow, we'll never be able to sleep with a view like this", Colette said, resting her head on Niki's shoulder.

"When", Niki corrected. "We still have our bedroom windows."