Prologue
The roommates of 404
When Felicity's parents told her they didn't want to finance the apartment anymore she knew she had to leave this place soon. Even though she knew this day would come she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed be their actions. A three room apartment, bathroom and living-room with an kitchen and small balcony. It always had been to big Felicity alone but before her parents decide to stop financing her, they forced her to at least have this apartment. Just the mere thought of their daughter living in a place that was below their own rank and standards was just unthinkable. It was just al about status. She could had chosen a bigger place that laid more central of the city but she at least liked to stay modest. Instead she chose for a more simple downtown apartment, but then again New York is never simple. But now she had to move, by far could she ever pay for this place alone with her income. Being a freelance novelist wasn't going to help pay the bills.
If it wasn't for meeting up with Joy, Felicity already would be busy packing her stuff and looking on the internet for new places to stay. She met Joy for the first time when she just moved to New York from England. It was the typical encounter, new girl from an other country, meets city girl who tells her all the ins and outs of what to know about NYC. They didn't hang out that much just the occasionally drinking nights in the pub. But even so they knew each other well enough and Felicity did consider Joy as close friend.
At first glance you can immediately tell that Joy is very eccentric. She's just a bundle of colorful, playfulness and a blabbermouth. The kind of girl who doesn't care what anyone says short pastel pink hair and some piercing green eyes. Later on in their friendship Felicity understood firsthand that she was much more than a walking comedian or goof. Joy was honest and always straight to the point. Even though a lot of people miss understood her for how she looked and how she acted, she never gave up on always looking forward. Joy never ever felt disappointed and had always lived up to her name.
They where sitting outside of a lunch house when Felicity told joy about her situation. At first Joy suggest to find a new place together and be roomies. She herself for a long time had already issues with her landlord and neighbors. Her neighbor had always complained about her playing music and making noise in the middle of the night. She always tried to explain them that she was a visual designer and that she sometimes had impossible deadlines to make. And there was this other problem, that she brought a stray cat home when she knew pets weren't aloud in the building. She just wanted to nurse the kitten during the cold winter, but those weeks turned into months and now it has already been more than a year. The landlord had caught her red handed and told her to leave in two weeks or dump the cat immediately. Off course the last one, wasn't an option at al for Joy. Though she could be out of shelter in anytime she talked in a nonchalant kind of way as if there wasn't any problem at al. She always did brushed problems of her shoulders and not thinking of the consequence but then again that had always been her way of handling thing, it almost became a charm.
Living together with Joy was something Felicity could imagine doing. They where great friend, laughed a lot and it was less boring than living by herself. But the problem was where? Every place they looked for was to expensive or the state of place was too dramatic. Little bit of painting was what Felicity could handle but to tell the truth she was hopeless klutz. The kind of girl who had two left hands. Felicity was not made handiwork, instead she should just stick to writing novels.
They continued there talk in the pub and after some drinks and laughs when it had finally hit Felicity in what they should do "What if we stay in the apartment I already live in?"
Joy looked up of her beer surprised but with a small smirk as well, "What? I though you wanted to leave, to just piss off your parent." Joy sat back in her chair, curious looking at Felicity to say more. "Yeah, maybe a little. But the rent was to high for me alone and even with one extra roommate. That's why if we can find someone else, we could surely make it."
Felicity knew that Joy had a point about her parents but deep down she actually didn't want to move at al. Everything she has and all that she worked for the past few years was in that apartment her parents financed for her. It was a nice place and to big for her alone so why not stay there and look for roomies instead. She already had Joy as companion now she had to find just a third person so the bill could be split evenly and be payable for everyone. She did had to make some few chances in the house though.
Her clothes in the room where she made her walk in closet of will have to transfer back in her own room. The office will be second room that she'll rent. The desk can go in the living room so that everyone can use it to work on and she always worked on her laptop so that makes it portable to go work everywhere. The rest of the stuff she could just store in the storage cabinet. A room to small to even consider a room and just big enough to put a bed in.
A whole hour had passed when they talked the idea through. Joy volunteered to distributing flyers the next day to find new roommates and Felicity tried to arrange al the things in-house and posting an advertisement online on her blog. Everything went according to plan and already de next day they had people who where interested. They tried to schedule al the appointment on the same day so both of them could judge there possible new roommate.
They weren't the most picky people so they only had two guidelines they thought of as important.
1. A person they both had a click with. Preferable a woman, instead of men.
2. Someone that of course can pay the rent.
By the end of the week they had a list of visitors, who would be coming to look around. Few people didn't even bother show up that day and another person called to tell them she already had found another place to stay. So far only four had come by which the girls weren't really font of. Yeah they where nice and all but they al lacked the first point by not having any connection, click or spark. It wasn't really logical of course, but it did meant a lot to them.
Felicity closed the door behind candidate number four and walked back to the living room where Rose was lying on the couch.
"Even though it was a great idea to begin with, I do have to say this is wearing me off." Felicity let herself fall on the couch next to Joy.
"Man, the boringness those girls are giving me is killing me. Like I give a care on why this is for 'them' the place to be!" Joy let her face fall in the pillow again.
"And did you see that law student looking at your hair. But she didn't want to live here either after seeing you." Felicity laughed when she saw Joy imitating the law student.
"Man those girl are wearing some tight panties, just looking at them make me feel al stiff. What time is it anyway." She again pulled her head out of the pillow and looked op the clock on the Wall. Almost 07:00 p.m. "I'll order something" Felicity lived herself up and walked to the phone when suddenly the bell of the front door rang again.
"Better check that out first, the sooner we know who it is, the sooner we can ditch it" Felicity said teasingly and winked at Joy before she opened the door.
On the other side of the door a girl was standing in a slightly overside vintage bordeaux jacked.
"Hi, I know I haven't called for an appointment but on your blog said that I could always come by Saturday between 3 and 8. I guess you must be Felicity?" She said sounding a little bit insecure.
"Yeah, I'm Felicity come on in." She looked quit surprised by what the girl said but waved to her to come inside and saw that Joy was sitting up from the cough to welcome the new visitor.
Both Felicity and Joy looked curious at the new girl standing in the living room now. She took of her jacked and they saw she had fashion taste for vintage clothing. Not only her clothes but also her appearance made an impression. She had long curly black hair that she lifted to one side of her shoulder. She had beautiful olive skin as if she just came back of a summer vacation when it already was october. Her hazel eyes where warm and her cheeks and nose was covered with freckles small and big ones. She really had a really exotic beauty, but even though she had good looks her posture told them a completely other story. Her shoulders where hanging and she tried her best not to make direct eye contact as well.
"Sorry I didn't catch your name?" Felicity started to question her and immediately her attitude changed towards the girls.
"I'm Asha" She said sounding enthusiastic. With hearing her enthusiasm Felicity felt herself loosing up more and started smiling at the new girl.
"Well as you know I'm Felicity and that's Joy" She pointed at Joy who started to walk up Asha and welcomed her in the house. Just for a few seconds Felicity took in the moment of the tree of them standing in the living room and imagining Asha living with her and Joy together. Asha had a really nice vibe about her, even the best vibe she had so far with any other candidate she met today. But than surprisingly remembered, Asha saying a few moments ago that she had read it on her blog.
"So your read my blog?" Felicity looked at the girl happy with a smirk and saw that Asha started to blush.
For a moment the others say hesitation in the face of Asha when she finally said "Uhmm...Actually yes I do. I really like your writhing, it's really...deep." She shyly looked at her feet but looked up again showing the girls a bright smile.
"Now that we know, that you know about Felicity's work and that you like to read it, why don't you tell something about yourself?" Joy said aloud will she pointed out to Asha to sit down and make herself comfortable.
"Well, I'm a dancer... Modern dance manly, and I work nearby a dance studio. here nearby. I'm originally from L.A but I moved her say 6 months ago... For now I'm still staying at a friends place but I promised to move out as soon as possible... I don't earn that much money but enough the pay the month for this place." Again she had a blush of shyness on her face but she did keep on smiling.
"So what do you guys do?" and looked at the others.
"I'm a freelance designer and illustrator. I'm my own boss so I can decide everything myself." Rose said will leaning back in the couch. " Though it isn't always easy, I love that I could do what every I want. Exactly enough jobs to pay my bill but not to much so that I can do my own work on the side, as well. Need to have that balance in live, you know. Don't like it when other people decide to much for me and if I get to much responsibilities"
"You're so full of bullshit, sometimes!" Felicity threw a pillow at Joy.
"Bullshit whatever, I just don't like stress or to think hard about stuff that doesn't matter." and threw back the pillow at Felicity. Asha started to loosen up as well and started to laugh along with the others.
"It's true though about Joy, I have never seen her worried, concerned, mad or some other negative vibe. Sometimes I think she's a fish. She can be pretty satisfied with just food or sleep, the rest doesn't really matter to her." and she pulled her tong out playfully at Joy who did the same.
"What about you? Reading your blog you do sound like a smart person." Asha looked curiously now at Felicity.
"I agree! She doesn't 'look' smart at all!" Joy said with a laugh before ducking away from Felicity who was giving her now a glare.
"Well I did indeed finished English Literature in London and my parents have always put me in the best boarding school in England. My parents always had high expectations of intelligence and talents." Felicity rolled her eyes thinking back about her parent." In NY I studies journalism. But as you know I also have a naughty side." Felicity said with a wink at Asha.
If it was her parents that had chosen her life it would have looked more conservative and way more high-class than she lives now. When Felicty grew older and of course wiser she liked to choose for a more libertine kind of way that her parents would call, "Loose". She started to shop for more fashionable clothes and more revealing. She loved to wear clothes that complimented her body shapes. Her long legs, slim body, her pink flawless skin and her bob model blond hair that looked alway perfect when she curled the ends. During campus she also started to wear make up that would make her blue eyes standout even more. Her parent told her she looked like a loose woman, cheap and trashy even though for standards she was just average. So what that she was a little bit flirtatious or use her female charms when needed she never stepped over the line. She had experience different kinds of romances but she had always did it for her research in writing stories. Boys inspired her and sometimes a fling could give her that extra boost that she needed.
"And that's when she started to write erotic novels." Joy said giggling coming from behind the couch but never letting the eye contact go that she had with Felicity.
"Well, I have to admit I love your erotic novels and wish that you keep on writhing them." Asha smiled simply.
"Well, that will be a promise that I can make for you. Glad I have at least one good fan that appreciates my writing." Felicity said while smiling happily at Asha. The girls continued with some small talk and all enjoyed the company of each other. Both Felicity and Joy knew that even without discussing about Asha, that she would be their new roommate. The vibe was just there.
"By the way, what about food I'm hungry! Would you like to stay for diner?" Joy asked Asha. She looked overwhelmed by the invitation and looked back at Felicity for conformation.
"Please join us. We like you very much and we haven't met anybody all day we had a click with yet. We could show you the place and hopefully you like it her and stay. The walk in closed has a big mirror, that you could use for dance practice, what do you say?" Felicity asked.
"I like to stay as well, for diner and for me to move in. The old walk in closet sounds great. I can't wait to finally have a place for myself so if its ok with you guys how fast can I move in?" Asha said enthusiastic, also really relieved and surprised by the walk in closet with mirror.
"The rooms are ready, so you can start tomorrow by moving in already." Felicity said almost doing al the talking will she looked at Joy who was only agreeing to everything that was said.
"That will be great thanks! I feel so grateful that you guys are going to be my roomies." Asha was seemingly happy even though she stayed quietly on the sofa.
"Well thats settled than!" Joy said with a satisfied smile.
"Shall I order something now, I'm starting to hear my stomach now" Felicity said, walking to the phone when she saw on the clock that it was already pass 8. Guess that would be all for tonight as well, no more visitors.
Finally things where going smooth. They where with tree now and the rent was payable for everyone now. She looked again at the other who were talking about random things in the living room. Finally there was some live in this house. To long had it actually been quit. Not that Felicity lived a quit live. She knew a lot of people all over the city. It was always pretty exciting, meeting people everywhere in the city but that wasn't the same then coming home in a warm place where you're welcomed. Her parents didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore. That didn't matter she grew up without them around her it's not like she's missing much. But having a family or friends would be nice to come home to.
She picked up the phone and started to Dial the number of some random chinese when again the door bell rang. She looked up to the door, back to the girls who were also looking to the door surprised, then to the clock that said pass 8 and then back to the door. She hung up just before she could tell her order and open the door.
The girl wore a green parka jack with her hood on so her face wasn't really visible only her hair that hang loose in front of her chest. Felicity did noticed her colored, flawless skin and that she was quit tall without wearing any heals. She even whore plain vans. The girl looked up and Felicity saw that her face was flushed but she did make a deep eye contact with her. Felicity saw her grey eyes looking at her will she had the strange feeling that she had seen her before.
"Sorry to intrude, I'm Ife. I know I'm late but do you still have a place that isn't rent yet?" The girl who was obviously taller than Penelope looked right in the eyes when she saw that they actually looked desperate. Though her tone sounded really calm and sophisticated.
"WHO IS IT?" Felicity looked up and saw Joy walking toward where they where standing.
"An interested led" She said sounding surprised back at both Joy and Asha who were now also standing in the hallway. All three looked now at the girl who introduced herself as Ife. Joy walked towards Ife and was now standing inches apart of her when suddenly her eyes grew big. Ife noticed this and started to nervously twirl the laces of her jacket but never giving any expression in her face.
"I have seen you before and Ife sounds to familiar with that face of yours." Almost smelling Ife's perfume while trying to really think hard.
"Ife Taylor..." Both Joy and Felicity looked at Asha who whispered a name that they almost couldn't hear while her eyes where looking big from the discovery she just made. Felicity's eyes grew wide of surprice now as well and looked back at Ife who was now biting her lower lip. This wasn't going smooth at al Ife thought.
"Sorry! But Ife Taylor doesn't ring a bell to me at al." Joy said will lifting up her shoulders.
"Well, actually its Ife Mia Lin Taylor" Ife held her arms up in defense showing her slim hand with elegant long fingers. Not only her face looked perfectly angelic even her nails where perfectly done.
"You truly are beautiful even in real life." Everyone looked back Asha again who was now stargazing at Ife.
"Thank you, you yourself look truly amazing as well. You don't see often a colored skin with freckles and light hazel eyes with raven black hair. Very unique features." Ife smiled at Asha who began to blush of the compliment. Before coming to NY Asha wasn't used in getting compliments but hearing it from someone as beautiful and famous as Ife Taylor was really surprising.
"Would you like to come in?" Felicity asked. Joy looked questionably at Felicity in why she invited her when they knew there weren't any rooms available more. Felicity knew this as well, but looking at Ife just raised so many question in her that she didn't want to keep on talking in the doorway. Asha on the other hand was to caught up in Ife to even be thinking about any of that.
"Please" Ife replied with a smile.
They al walked in the living room again while Felicity told Ife to hand out her coat so she could hang it up on the hallway. Asha was still a bit stargazed and Joy still couldn't figure out where she had seen her before. When Felicity came back she heard Asha asking Ife why she needed a place to stay when everyone knew she owned a penthouse near central park. It was still a weird idea having Ife Taylor in your house. Someone you see constantly on commercials, billboards and lately in the tabloids. She was a super famous fashion model who not only had worked for very big names but also had dated very famous and especially good-looking guys. At least that's what the tabloids tell them. Almost every detail have been written and read about by millions. Even though al the dirt that had been said about her she still looked elegant en reserved. She had long hair that was dyed in just a shade darker than her own skin color. It really looked amazing.
"True, I do have a place near Central Park. But I have to admit it's not something I own." The tree girls looked weirdly at her so Ife continued explaining the situation.
"You see, the apartment is officially not mine. Its something my manager and agency arrange for me. But with al that is going on now I really would like to have a place nobody knows about to withdraw myself of all the attention I'm getting now." This had to do with what Felicity read in the tabloids lately about Ife. Also Asha nodded with agreement that she knew what this was about. Lately the tabloids had spilled al kinds of dirt about Ife, having an affair with a married man. Ife looked up to girls and saw that both Asha and Felicity had a look on there face. So she guessed that they had probably been reading the tabloids as well.
"Is it true?" Felicity said before she could hold her self back. She knew it wasn't nice to ask but curiosity got the better of her. Very typical of her to let her journalism sit get the better of her when she knew she should be discreed.
"We shouldn't be asking her that!" Asha said back hoping that Ife wouldn't feel offended.
"Why do I got the sudden feeling things just got serious?" Everyone was now looking back at Joy who still didn't have a clue what this was al about let alone know who Ife was. Ife let out a chuckled.
"But don't you want to know the dirt or I mean truth?" Felicity asked almost to excited. Asha looked worried at Ife, waiting how she would react to al this.
Of course Ife knew they would be asking that. Every sane person that reads tabloits would be curious to know if any of them where true. Ife knew that this was the downside of her job as model.
"Its ok, because it's not true." Ife said while looking at Felicity with on earnest face.
"Almost 90% of what the tabloids tell us is falls. Besides I would never do something with a married man let alone have time for a boyfriend. I do date sometimes but to tell you the truth most of them don't even continue because I don't feel no spark with any of my date how good-looking they may be. And my job takes too much time anyway to even have time for a boyfriend." Ife sounded soft and reserved but with that said the tension faded away.
"I'll keep my apartment in Central Park during work but in my free time I would like to spent it where I can be myself. That's why I wont be her often but I'll still pay the full price." Both Asha and Felicity nodded with agreement and understood what Ife was looking or even longed for. Joy on the other hand was the only one with a look of disbelief. How could someone not be them self and how can the others act as if we still have room available.
"I'm sorry" everyone looked at Joy again.
"We only had one room available and we already rent it out to Asha here. You sound like a nice gal and all but I guess we can't help you with a place anymore." Joys really didn't mean to sound rude but was just stating some facts. Though looking at Ife's expression she did felt bad for her. Before she could say more Felicity stopped her.
"She's right" Ife looked back at Felicity and waited for her to say more...
"We originally looked for one roommate only because we only had one room available, but even so I may be possible to help u in giving you a room here." Felicity saw the desperate eyes of Ife turning in to a more hopeful look. In just in split second she thought back to the storage cabinet that could possible be used for just a bed and small dresser. If may be not much, even to small to really live in. But if just a place to relax maybe this was al she needed.
"We have Cabinet that is big enough for a single bed and dresser but maybe to small to really rent out as a room. But if a place to relax in, is al you need you can have it if you want." Felicity said will looking at the other girls as well. Asha's went wide and looked back curiously at Ife.
For a moment Ife thought about the idea. A small hiding place where no one, besides these girls no of. She knew she didn't needed much and wasn't planning of always being here as well. She looked back at Felicity who was waiting for a replay when she finally gave a stern nod.
"Well if everyone is staying vague about this whole matter with who she is, then let me at least tell you this. I'm Joy and I wouldn't mind you to be are fourth roommate." Joy didn't want to think about it anymore and didn't really care either so she pulled out her hand towards Ife. She didn't mind the idea of Felicity and had always thought the more the merrier. Ife took her hand and showed her a perfect million dollar smile with super white teeth and smiled at Joy.
"Thank you Joy, I really appreciate it."
"Are you sure, your ok with the small room? I don't mind giving you my room instead." Ife looked surprised at Asha who surprised herself for suddenly asking that out of the blue.
"Its ok, a place to sleep is al I need anyway." Ife smile gave Asha a reassuring feeling.
"Do you have furniture?" Felicity asked.
"Not really."
"I have a mattress that I use for couch surfers, if you like?" Joy said.
"If I can use that, than that would be enough for me." Every second Ife felt herself being more comfortable with the girls who where all being sincerely helpful. Even the doubtful face of Asha was giving her a heartwarming feeling.
"I will not be her often as you guys and I'm not the kind of girl who would go al diva just because of the size of a room." She placed her hand on Asha's lap to secure her that it was ok.
"Than that makes you our fourth roommate." Joy looked pleased.
"I guess so." Felicity said.
"I do hope this could stay a secret, me staying that is." Ife looked at the others and saw they al agreed to lock their lips about it.
"Sure, you can trust us for our modesty." Felicity said with a nod.
"I wouldn't say a thing, pinky promise." Asha said and held her pink in front of Ife who gripped it with her own pink and shook it.
"Promise" Joy spit in her hand and held it before Ife who laughed at first but surprised everyone with spitting in her own hand and shaking it with Joy's her hand.
"From now on we are going to be roomies." Asha looked happily at everyone.
"Now the rent will be split into four people"Joy was grinning widely.
Felicity was happy that everything was finally settled and Ife looked content with the choice she made.
Than again the front door rang.
"Another one? It's already 9 p.m." Felicity sighed and walked towards the door.
"Wait!" Everyone looked surprised at Ife who walked pass Felicity towards the door.
"I ordered some pizza before I came her. I knew I was late and I didn't knew how this day would end but I that I should at least give your guys some pizza." Both Joy and Asha's eyes grew of the word pizza.
"You are our savior." Both said at the same time while they dramatically bowed for Ife.
"Gee girls, it would be nice if I get greeted like that everyday by you guys." Felicity looked at the seen that was playing before here. Ife opened the door and greeted the pizza boy who was stunned by who opened the door. She gave him some extra money for not telling him that she was having a slumber party at a friend's house and came back in the living room with two big pizza boxes.
"I guess everyone likes pepperoni and cheese right" Ife placed the pizza boxes on the table and everybody gathered around. Everyone took a slice of out of the box and held in front of them when all four of them cheered for becoming roommates. " A toast for the roommates of 404!" everyone cheered.
That night wend on like there was no more tomorrow. Ife left first after a few hours because she had a shoot the other day. But the others almost talked whole night long before everyone agreed around 3 a.m. to get some sleep. Asha stayed at the cough that night and promised to start tomorrow with moving in. Joy volunteered to help because she already was settled in the old office room of Felicity but Asha declined, saying that she already had her other friend helping her. Ife already had the bed of Joy she could use, but told the girls that she would take it slowly by every time she came to bring extra stuff. She told the girls that she didn't even wanted her manager to be suspicious of her hiding place.
After a week it was official. Everyone had their own room. Ife was away most of the time but now and than she would be back for a few days before she had to leave again. They al noticed that when she was at the house she was the one who wanted to do the cooking when she was home. No one, especially Joy didn't complain. Felicity started a new routine by getting up early to write something, somewhere els instead of home. This gave her new inspiration to write again and come home again without the feeling that her place was work related. Asha lived closer by her work now so she could give extra lessons and sometimes have some alone time in the studio to work on her own dancing. And when Rose had some spare time she would entertained the elders in the elderly home by playing, dancing or even giving away magic shows. She always knew how to fill her time.
For a long time things didn't seem bright for non of the girls. Finally everyone had the feeling this was going somewhere in a positive way. No one knew what the future would hold for them, but they sure looked forward to it. But even though the future was unknown for them, never would they ever suspect something that was lay ahead of them...
End Prologue
