Page 45 of Entwined

Ten minutes later, I’m staring at a bright red door with a brass snarling lion’s head for a knocker. The building itself is pretty with wrought iron gates out front and two emerald topiaries on either side of the stoop.

“Here goes nothing,” I exhale, wrapping the knocker twice.

The door swings open.

She’s everything I hated in California: perfection. She’s petite with pale blonde hair women pay hundreds to emulate but somehow, I think hers is natural. Her deep brown eyes are framed by lush eyelashes. Her nose is thin and pert. Her lips are a perfect cupid’s bow. She’s a beautiful angel. Even her shoes are perfect with no marks. She would fit right in with the social scene in LA or Malibu. More than I ever did anyway.

“Bloody hell. Are you into women?”

“No,” I laugh quickly. “You are the opposite of Gretchen.”

“You were assigned 403? And survived?”

“You’ve heard of Gretchen?”

“Who hasn’t? She’s the stuff of legends. I bet in twenty years incoming students will still talk about the things that happened in room 403.”

“Not much besides a lot of raunchy sex.”

“That’s it? She’s calming down. Last semester she dissected a cat from the bio lab on her roommate’s desk. The roommate’s cat had just died a week earlier.”

“She’s such a bitch. But I don’t want to talk about her. May I come in?”

“Of course.” She sweeps an arm wide. I walk past her and up a few steps to the main living area. The hardwood floors are freshly waxed, fresh flowers sit in a few vases, and expensive velvet couches are set up in an L shape by a bay window across from a fireplace.

“I can’t afford to pay for half of this…”

“You can. The owner remarried and is living in France. She owned this flat prior to her marriage and wanted to keep it. She’s a friend of my Mum’s and gave me a break on the price.”

“Can I stay here over the summer? I need to take a few courses in order to graduate on time.”

“That would work. Do you want to see the room?”

I follow her up another set of stairs. She turns left stopping outside a door. “My room is across the hall, with a view of the back garden. This one can be a bit noisier since it faces the street…,” she trails off seeing the look on my face. The room is larger than the lower level of my parents’ house. There’s a sitting room of sorts with a fireplace on one end of the room and a four-post canopy on the other. These Brits like their canopy beds.

“When can I move in?”

“Did you bring your check book?”

“I did.”

“Great. Can you swing two months’ rent… like a first and last type of arrangement?”

I do the math in my head. I could but it’s going to drain my account. But I can’t go back to Gretchen and I can’t stay with Ben. Phoning my parents or Alex for money is out of the question.

I lower my backpack, unzip it and take out my check book. I write out the proper amount, handing it to Jecca.

“Welcome roomie. I’ll be right back with your keys.”

“I’ll move in tonight after class. My friend Ben will be here helping me.”

“I’ve heard of him. He moves one circle above me.”

“Ah, so you are a member of the “set” too?”

“I was. Until my father divorced my mother and I rebelled. He retaliated by cutting me off. No more ski trips in the Alps or shopping trips in Paris. All my “friends” deserted me. The ones who didn’t are studying abroad in the States.”

“I don’t know why. I prefer here.”

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