Page 10 of Strong Side
“That sucks, man. I’m sorry.” Bo speaks up. “She’s a nice girl.”
“It’s all good. I just want to be in her life, so however that looks is what I’ll be.” I give him a forced smile.
The conversation continues to discuss the upcoming season, but my mind is on Noelle.
CHAPTER
FIVE
NOELLE
There’sno doubt I got lucky getting an apartment this summer. Most places are secured at the end of the school year. I couldn’t stay in the same complex I was in last year. Too many memories with Trey, and I don’t think I could ever wash that visual from my mind when I walked into the apartment.
This complex is one of the newer ones off campus and fairly close to the school where I student teach. I’ll be spending more time at the elementary school this year, so it actually worked out for the best. In all ways.
My parents pay for the apartment, but I like having a roommate who can split the utilities with me. As luck would have it, my friend Chelsea Sullivan—a girl I became friends with my freshman year—reached out to see if I knew anyone looking for a roommate. She had been living in the dorms last year, but didn’t want to live in them this year. She’s an awesome girl, very studious, and we’ve always gotten along well.
I back my car into my designated spot and see Chelsea waiting inside her car next to mine. She looks up and waveswhen she sees me. After putting the car in park and turning it off, I get out and walk around to meet her.
“It’s good to see you. I’m so glad this worked out. I was low-key panicked about my living situation this year.” She gives me a hug and squeezes me.
“Same! I was stressing about living alone, so you reaching out was perfect timing. Everything happens for a reason.” I back away from our embrace and walk to the back of my car, where I have bins with my clothes and other personal items.
My dad and brother are following with a small trailer that holds my furniture. Casey and a few of his friends are supposed to meet us here and help get the big stuff moved in.
“Do you have stuff you need help with? My dad, brother, and my friends are coming to help with my furniture. They’ll be more than happy to help.” I open the trunk of my car.
“That would be awesome. My aunt and sister should be here any minute with my big stuff. I don’t have much since you had the couch and most of the furniture already, but I do have a bed that we could use some help with,” she says as she opens her own trunk.
We both grab a few things, close our trunks, and walk toward the building. We’re on the first floor, which isn’t ideal for safety reasons, but it was the best we could do. And today, in this heat, I can’t say that I mind not having to walk up and down the stairs.
I picked up the keys a few days ago when I came to campus to buy supplies for my classes this semester. When we reach the door, I set my bag and the small bin I was carrying on the ground and reach into my pocket for my keys. After I unlock the door, Chelsea walks in first, and I lift my things and follow.
The layout is a little different from my apartment last year, but I like it much better. The living area is open, and there’s a tiny kitchen toward the back of the space, but it opens to the living room. Looking to the left, I see the small patio that couldprobably hold a round table and maybe two chairs. Turning right from the door is the hallway that leads to the two bedrooms and a hall bathroom. I have a bathroom in my room as well.
“This is really great, Noelle. It’s the perfect size for us.” Chelsea walks over to the kitchen area and sets a bag on the counter.
“Yeah, I don’t love living on the ground floor, but we’ll take what we can get, right?” I shrug, then set down my bag and bin. I walk into the kitchen and take a look in the fridge to make sure we don’t have any surprises to clean out.
“Literally anything is better than living in the dorms this year. I really don’t think I could handle it again. The smell in the hallway alone was brutal.” She laughs.
“I don’t miss the dorms at all, but we did have fun our freshman year.” I smile at her.
“Oh, for sure. It was a lot of fun. I don’t really talk to anyone other than you anymore though. Do you?” she asks.
“Not really. Zoey was my roommate last year, but you know how that ended. And some of the other girls we became friends with … I just can’t talk to them right now, you know?” I walk out of the kitchen and toward the hall. “Come on. I’ll show you to your bedroom.”
She follows, and when we reach her doorway, I step to the side and let her go into the room first.
“This is perfect and honestly a little bigger than I thought it would be.”
“Yeah, they’re decent-sized rooms. I like that this building is newer too. Our apartment last year was older, and it seemed like something always needed to be repaired. When we moved in last fall, it was disgusting. It took us, like, two days to clean it.”
“That’s gross. No, this is nice and clean. My bathroom is across the hall?” She starts to walk toward me in the doorway, so I back away and she walks around me to the bathroom acrossfrom us. “This is great. Again, thank you for letting me be your roomie.” She reaches for my hand and squeezes it.
“Of course. I’m really glad this worked out.” My cell phone buzzes in my back pocket, and I pull it out to see my dad texting to tell me they’re outside. He hasn’t been here yet, so he’s not sure which unit is mine. “My dad and brother are here, so I’m going to go help them.”
“Okay, I’ll come out in a few. I’m just going to use the bathroom first.” She walks over to the counter and grabs her bag off it.
