New beginnings

My new apartment looked odd. The lack of furniture felt so different compared to my old room at my dads house. Most of the walls looked freshly painted and the whiteness of the place made me shiver. Even the kitchen cupboards looked like they’d been coated in salt or snow.

Jules stared at me lazily from floor.

The little bastard. Adorable furry little bastard.

“Come here you.” Sticking my hand under his belly and tickling I try and get a reaction out of him , but Jules doesn’t care. All he seems to care about these days is eating and sleeping. Can’t blame him though, that’s exactly what I’d do given the choice.

Jules was one of the few things I brought along from my old home, one of the few things I couldn’t stand the idea of parting with. And since college dorms don’t allow students to keep pets I had to look for accommodation elsewhere.

“Its tolerable. Maybe a bit small, but you so are you.” My dad pats me on the head.

“My very own Bag End.” I smile back at him.

“I’ve no idea what that is, but theres only one box left in the car. Why don’t you go grab it while I rest a bit.” My beanbag chair gives a little whiff under his weight. “Here, catch.”

The keys miss me by a lot. Dad shrugs at me.

“Remember to lock the car doors, we don’t know what the neighbourhood is like.”

My dad had promised to help carry over what little luggage I brought with me. And seeing as Jules and my bean bag chair were already inside, the only thing left in the car were my personal hygiene products and other “fun” things I don’t want others to see.

I pick up the keys and give a little sigh. Jules flops over in the sunlight and keeps dreaming about sleeping. He doesn’t seem to mind the change of scenery.

“I’ll be right back.”

My new apartment is on the fourth floor, just high enough so that I can see the shore in the distance. For a moment I wonder what the view is like on the upper floors and then realize my dad and I would have to carry a bed up the narrowest stairs I’ve ever seen. The architect who designed these steps knew exactly what he was doing and I cursed him for it.

I don’t see anyone on my way down. Considering how hot it is, I figure no one could stay holed up in their apartment for long. Either everybody has left the building or has ridiculously good air conditioning, but I highly doubt the latter.

My dads Mercedes is the only car parked out front. Its headlights flash twice as I unlock the doors and carefully take out the box from the backseat. Although the contents are hidden away with several layers of tape and cardboard, I still don’t feel comfortable carrying it around in public.

After making sure the doors are locked I turn back and head towards the stairs. The building doesn’t look half bad and to be honest, the white salt covered exterior looks really sweet against the blue sky. However, the lack of an elevator makes me question what else the architect who designed this hulking tower had neglected to include in his plans.

I hadn’t had the chance to check out the rest of the building yet, but I remembered the first floor is supposed to have a shared clubroom where one could play table tennis or beer pong and watch Independence day depending on the occasion. I thought about going in and taking a look when I heard someone speak.

“Just moving in, eh?” I swing around in panic, nearly hitting whoever was trying to talk to me with the box.

“Oh- Yes sorry, sorry!”

“Do you need help carrying that?” The man asking was around a head taller than me, and by the looks of it, three times heavier. I couldn’t help but stare at his unkempt beard before realizing he’d repeated the question more than once.

“You all right?”

“Sorry, yes I’m fine. It’s just the heat, its taking its toll on me. I’m just dehydrated.”

I want to get out of there and as fast as possible. Something about his appearance made me dislike him from the get go.

“I can carry that for you.” He says, extending his arms towards me. I grip the box tighter and take a small step backwards.

“No, no, it’s okay. I can handle this much by myself.” I don’t want him near my things.

I don’t want anyone near my things. “Umm, I’m in a bit of a hurry, but it was nice meeting you. Bye.”

I turn around, climbing the stairs two to three steps at a time, hoping to have ended the conversation before it even started.

“Are you a freshman at the university? I just moved in myself. The names Andrew. Andy for short.”

I scream internally as he follows me up the steps.

Please leave me alone.

“Wait a bit, would you?” He has trouble keeping up. I up the pace.

“Listen, apparently there’s a weekly meeting at the club room downstairs. You should come down tonight and meet the others. There’s not many girls, but there are a couple of cool guys like me coming.” The thought makes me cringe.

Cool guys like him?

“Yeah, I’m pretty busy what with moving in and stuff, but I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks-“

“I see you’re already making friends.”

Oh god. Not now dad. Please not now.

“I’ve seen you’ve met Lauren. Be a good buddy and help her carry her stuff upstairs.” He winks at Andrew and reaches out for the box.

“Dad its fine, I don’t-“

Seconds later Andrew has my box and I’m sweating bullets.

“So. You young ones known each other for long?” Dad extends his arms over Andy and me and pulls us inwards.

“We’ve just met, sir. I was telling Lauren here about the clubroom meeting tonight.”

“Oh nice. Lauren here is a bit shy, maybe you can show her around and introduce her to the other tenants?”

Fuck you dad. Fuck you.

“I think I can arrange that.” Andy chuckles.

“See? It’s good that you’re already making friends.” He pats me on the back.

Don’t I get a say in this?

We ascend the stairs to the 4th floor to find my apartment door ajar. “Lock the car doors” my ass. Maybe dad should take some of his own advice.

“This is it.” Dad shushes us inside. “Why don’t you put that down somewhere.”

I rip the box away from Andrew before he has the chance to react. He reaches out for the box again.

“Do you need help unpacking that?”

“No thank you, Andy.”

“Whats in it anyway?”

I give Andrew the coldest, deadliest stare I can muster.

“Girl stuff.”

I excuse myself from the hall. I just have to get away from those two, though I can still hear them chatting happily about dumb stuff in the other room. Why did dad have to bring that guy along? What have I done to deserve this?

First things first. I double check to make sure there are no holes or cracks through which Andrew could have figured out the contents. Thankfully there are none, but I still feel the need to open it and check the contents incase something is missing.

There are things inside this box that would get me disowned. Sadly dad isn’t the most accepting parent in existence. Thankfully moving out provides me a blank slate, a new beginning.

After stuffing the box deep in one of the cupboards I take a moment to calm myself.

It’s alright Lauren. You only have to tolerate this bullshit until dad has bought you the necessary furniture to live.

After that you can do whatever the fuck you want. Just you, Jules and nobody else.

Where is Jules anyway?

And then it hits me.

“Dad, have you seen Jules?”

“What, the cat? Not really. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”

A quick glance around the room proves otherwise.

“How long was the door open?” I can hear my voice quiver and my eyes start to water. “Did you see him go outside?”

Colour fades from my dads face. For a moment it seems like he has something to say, but the words are struggling to leave his throat. I can’t stand this.

“We have to go look for him!” I dash for the door but dad blocks the way.

“Listen, Lauren dear, we don’t have the time for that right now.”

“But-“

“Honey, the cat knows how to take care of itself. It’ll be back when it gets hungry and besides, we have to hurry if we want to get

you a bed for the night.”

“But Jules has never been outside! He’s never been own his own before! What if he gets hit by a car or a hawk gets-“

“Calm down dear, it’s just a cat. We can get you a new one if you-“

“JUST A CAT??”

I can’t contain myself any longer. Everything spills out. Everything seems to go wrong.

Fuck you Dad. Fuck you Andy and fuck your stupid fucking face. Fuck university and fuck moving. Fuck fucking everything.

“I think you should go.” Dad motions Andrew to leave.

Andrews expression makes me want to strangle him and stick his guts in a blender.

“I’ll be back later tonight.” He waves his hand and slides out through the door.

Dad rests his hand on my shoulder.

“Come now Lauren, we’ve still got things to do.”

THE END