shorts

short seven

The incessant knocking woke Amanda up. It was just three in the morning and she was just about to drift to dreamland. Groaning, she thought how life would be easy and uninterrupted had she stayed with her mother. Now, with the continous knocking that seems like it will go on forever, she thought of her fooliseh twenty year old self moving out to a small apartment.

She got out of bed, dragging her blanket with her. With one eye open, she unlocked the door and saw a brunette girl in her bathrobe, soap bubbles in her hair. She was about to slam the door shut when the brunette pushed her way in.

"Hey! My shower ran out of water and I really need to shower because my boyfriend is coming home soon but he doesn't know I'm home so I was hoping of surprising him Can I please use your bathroom?" The brunette said as she rubs her plams together, her eyes pleading.

Still half awake, Amanda pointed towards the direction of her bathroom and the brunette bolted for it. Amanda locked the front door as she sat on the couch. Realisation started to fill in. She had just invited a stranger into her house. What if she is a scammer? Why oh why did she let her in?

"Name's Mikayla. The one who gave you cookies when you moved in last year, remember?" The girl shouted from the bathroom. Amanda made her way in front of the bathroom so she could talk to Mikayla without shouting. It was three in the morning.

"Hey, know this awkward but we can talk right?"

"Yes please! It gets lonely when taking a shower."

"Who's in charge of your bills?" Amanda, now fully awake, knew the only reason anything would run out of water was that someone forgot to pay the bills.

"Like my money? I do that y'know. I usually keep my tens folded in half, my fives unfolded and my ones all scrunched up. Who's in charge of yours?"

Clearly both of them were on different pages.

"Not those bills. Utilities bills. Power bills or whatever you call them," She let out a sigh, "I keep my money straight at all times, big ones at the back and smaller ones in the front."

"Oh that bills. John does. Although lease is on my name but since I'm always flying around, I'm an air stewardess, he takes care of the bills. Hey, can I have some of you soap? It smells awesome!"

"Feel free to do so. Where is this John? And why were you showering at three in the morning?"

"I have no idea where John is. Probably buying food, he's a midnight snacker y'know. I just got back from a flight so obviously jetlagged but nothing a shower can fix. I hope."

"Okay whatever. Just be quick with that shower. I have to wake up in like three hours but I haven't even slept."

"Urm, do you have extra clothes? I kinda left mine when I panicked that I ran out of water. Or a bigger towel. Anything?"

With a huge sigh, Amanda went to take a pair of clothes from her donation pile. She had wanted to give them away but could not seem to find the time to do so. She picked an oversized jumper with a pair of sweatpants as she was unsure of Mikayla's size. She left them at the bathroom door and walked to the living room before hollering that she had out some clothes for her.

Mikayla came out, looking fresh from the shower. While Amanda looked like she had just finished a marathon.

"Wait a second... You're not Shasha! Oh my goodness!! I just took a bath at a random person's house!!! So sorry that I barged in because Shasha doesn't really mind me doing that! You look so like Shasha by the way."

"Shasha is my sister but she moved out last two months. I'm Amanda."

"Did you just moved in?"

"I moved in here with Shasha until she decided to ditch me for her boyfriend's apartment."

"Oh okay... I guess I'll be going now. Nice meeting you Amanda," Mikayla started to gather her things, "Your bathroom smells great and thank you for letting ne resuming my shower here. If you need company, just call me."

"Okay, I would call but then I don't have your number." Amanda didn't actually want Mikayla's number. She just liked living in the apartment without company.

"Here," Mikayla handed a piece of paper with some digits scribbled on it, "You sound so lonely so just call me, okay?"

And with that, Mikayla shut the door behind her. It was four in the morning. Two hours until she had to wake up. She hoped for the best and tucked herself into bed.

Both of them laughed as they recalled their first meeting. From strangers to friends. From knocking to barging in anytime. They sure are a peculiar pair of friends.