"This will do fine," Fiona assured Aaron as she slowly circled the small living room of the one room apartment. He wore a skeptical look and a furrowed brow.
"Are you sure? This isn't the best of neigh-"He protested from the center of the room.
"It's fine." She cut him off sliding her finger through the thick layer of dust on the mantle. He quickly shut up. He'd known her now for three weeks. Through their phone calls he had learned quickly that she was a decisive woman and he need not second guess her, but in this moment he felt compelled. This neighborhood was no good. He knew it. She was new to Boston; he should at least warn her, right?
"Let's head down to the leasing office, I want to get out of that damn hotel as soon as I can." She urged him. "Alright then Fiona," he huffed in his dramatic way, defeated. She smiled at that and followed him out the door. Fiona had been in the city only a week but she couldn't stand that damn disgusting roach hotel one more night. She found herself almost skipping down the stairs behind Aaron as he reluctantly walked her to the leasing office.
She was able to work out the contract with the Landlord, Maggie Greene. "It's not move-in ready Ms. O'Donnell, we can have it cleaned and ready for you by the end of the week though," she informed Fiona when Fiona had asked to move in that day.
"I really need to get out of this hotel tonight, if I can, I really don't mind cleaning it myself." Her face pleading with Maggie. Maggie's golden brown eyes stared into her and Fiona found she couldn't hold her gaze. Maggie seemed to know that look of desperation on her face and Fiona, feeling exposed, didn't like it.
"Well, it's alright with me if it's alright with you."
"Thank you so much!" Fiona grinned and shook Maggie's hand in excitement. She took the key Maggie held out to her. "I'll be back soon with my things."
…
Aaron had insisted on helping with her things. He was a nice man, she thought, a good man, and so far her only friend in this new city. Her friend? He was, wasn't he?
After they had finished moving her things, which consisted of only three large suitcases and four small moving boxes, she'd assured him she would be fine and hustled him to the door.
"Seriously Fi, call me if you need anything," he insisted. Yes, he was her friend she'd decided.
"Thanks babe, now get home to Eric before he thinks you've switched teams on him, it's late!" she laughed and he rolled his eyes sticking out his tongue playfully. The door was shut. After throwing a; three locks and the chain she turned around leaning her back against the cold metal, a long heavy sigh escaping her. "Time to get this new start started, eh?"