A/N: This is my first attempt at AU/AH and first person POV. Please go gentle on me guys! :) This is completely different from the last chapter fic I wrote but I hope you guys stick with it. I promise it gets better ;)
All chapters are from Caroline's POV, unless otherwise noted :)
Chapter 1: It Happened for a Reason
I can still hear them. It's a mixture of a dream-like state and an out-of-body experience. It's kind of like submerging yourself under water and hearing muffled voices above the surface. The worst thing is even then, I can still hear her disgusting noises and his vomit-inducing words, enveloped by the creaking sound of the bed. Our bed. I shiver.
If I hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't have believed it. Tyler looked at me, ghost-pale-faced and tried to explain, but how much can you explain when there's a naked girl sitting on top of you? I screamed something at him about not wanting to see his face ever again and I ran out of the house, not before slipping off the diamond ring from my finger and throwing it at him. That night I went to sleep with tears in my eyes but it was the only night I shed I tear over his betrayal. What I'm feeling now is mostly anger but at this point I don't know if it's towards him or myself.
I wrinkle my nose in disgust as I drag all my belongings back to my room. My mother was more than happy to take me back, after she released all her rage over that cheating asshole who's now my ex-fiancée. Come to think of it, he's now my ex-everything because there's no way in hell we'll ever even be friends again.
I slip into a warm pair or flannel pajama pants and throw on a tank top. The weather outside has slowly been changing and it feels a lot more like autumn, nowadays. It's only 9 p.m. but I feel drained. A nice cup of warm milk with honey and I'll be sleeping like a baby.
"How are you feeling sweetheart?" My mom asks as she stirs a cup of chamomile tea on the kitchen counter.
I shrug. It's not that I feel fine, but I'm not really feeling as bad as I thought I would. "I'm okay, mom. Trust me, it's not the end of the world."
"You were going to get married." She simply states, looking at me like I'm some sort of outer space creature for not being wrapped in a blanket, drenched in tears and devouring a whole bucket of ice cream.
She probably thinks I'm in denial, shock even. I stare at her in silence, leaning up against the doorframe. For a minute, I'm truly puzzled. Tyler and I had been engaged for almost nine months. Why don't I feel like my life has been ruined to the point of no repair?
"It's hard to explain, mom." I make my way to the fridge. "I know it's only been a few days but-" I hesitate, pouring milk into a mug and placing it in the microwave. "I'm not sad or depressed. But at the same time I do feel betrayed and disappointed."
"You didn't love him." It's not a question, it's a clear statement.
Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I didn't want to think of it that way. Not really loving him meant I wasted the last four years of my life with someone who didn't deserve me. And I couldn't bare think of myself as a failure.
The cup of milk is hot when I take it out of the microwave and I immediately stir in a tablespoon of honey, breathing in the aroma as I watch it swirl around, slowly disappearing into the liquid. My mother's words are still echoing in my head like a cymbal, burrowing into my brain.
"I think marrying him would've been the biggest mistake of my life." I reply, and that statement alone makes me feel as light as a feather. "Maybe this was a good thing."
"California?" My mom screeches, making an almost inhuman sound. Our poor neighbors must have definitely heard that one.
I take a seat on my bed and close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable lecture. I don't have to wait long, she starts listing off the reasons for me not to go. I look at her with a hint of melancholy. I'm 23-years old but to her I'll never grow up. After she's done telling me about the evils of Los Angeles, what an irony, I proceed to explain my decision.
"You know I've always dreamt of bigger things. Imagine all the good that will come from this move." I smile at her, trying to charm her into seeing things my way. "Happiness isn't going to find me in this small town. I need to go searching for it."
She stares at me suspiciously, perfectly aware of what I'm doing. "Don't make any rash decisions, honey. Don't run away from your problems."
There it is. She thinks I'm running away from Tyler. Well, in a way I am, but not because I'm a heartbroken mess. I view it more as an act of liberation. Now that I have freedom again, I want to spread my wings and fly, fly away as far as possible and start anew.
"I'm doing this for me, mom. I have a chance to start fresh. It just so happens that I chose California to do it in." I glance at her with twinkly eyes, and hold her hand. "I promise I'll come visit you often. And you can come visit me! Who knows, maybe I'll even land a theatre gig." I grin.
"Oh, Caroline." She takes in a deep breath and looks around the room, admiring all my things. "Where will you live? With what money?" She asks worried.
"I have a nice little cushion to fall back on. I started saving up as soon as Tyler and I started talking about marriage." I purse my lips. "It's enough to get me there and pay for at least three months of rent, plus food, etc." My eyes look up at her, waiting for a reply.
"Ok. You can give it a try. But if you don't like it, you come right back." She replies with a huff. I don't give her enough time to react before my arms are tied around her neck and I'm practically singing and showering her with thank yous.
I plan everything meticulously to the point of giving myself a headache. I narrow down the best areas to live in; unfortunately they are also the most expensive. Perhaps, choosing a city with a high volume of tourism wasn't the best idea, at this point the money I have saved up will only be enough to pay for two months of rent. This, after I limit myself to eating only once a day. My mouth twists in disapproval.
The Craigslist postings are endless, pages and pages of rooms for rent all stare at me until the words and prices start melting into each other. The prices are outrageous, even for apartments that look like they're falling apart. I reach page 77, about to close my laptop and give up for the night, when a post catches my eye.
Looking for a Roomie! Great Location, awesome view! :)
I'm looking for a female roommate. Sorry guys!
Located in the Hollywood hills. 3-bedroom, 2-bath home.
Fully equipped kitchen. Washer and dryer in unit.
Very nice and quiet neighborhood.
No Pets or Kids Please.
Call (323) 555-2419 to inquire further.
It's definitely too late to call but I jot down the number on a post-it and stick it on my laptop. It was one of the few ads without pictures or a monthly rate. This could only mean one of two things; it's either out of my price range or so bad that posting any pictures would discourage anyone interested. Yet there was something about it that spoke to me.
The morning sun seeps into my bedroom, causing me to open my eyes before my alarm even goes off. When I glance at the alarm clock, I notice it's ten til nine and roll over, hugging my pillow and closing my eyes again. Only a few seconds pass before I snap them back open and jump off the bed, eagerly grabbing a hold of my phone.
My fingers begin dialing when I come to a realization. It's only going to be 6 a.m. in California and something tells me waking up the homeowner isn't in my best interest.
I shower and eat breakfast, while my mom listens to me ramble about all the research I've done. The excitement in my voice doesn't go unnoticed, but I'm cut short by the sound of the doorbell. Mom opens the door as I continue nibbling on my food. I can't quite make out what she's saying but I recognize the other voice and my heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. I concentrate my hearing to no avail and then all I hear is the slamming of the door.
"Tyler?" I ask, as she walks back into the dining room.
"Can you believe the nerve in that boy? He wanted to talk to you. I told him you weren't here, I hope that's ok." She says in an apologetic tone.
"You did the right thing, mom. I don't want to see him. There's absolutely nothing he can say to me at this point."
I finish up my breakfast and head back to my room but I still give it a couple more hours before I finally decide to call. For some reason I feel nervous and anxious, like I'm applying for a job or something. It takes my cellphone a while before it makes a connection, it rings only two times before someone answers.
"Hello?" A girl's voice picks up. From what I can tell, she sound pretty young, probably around my age if not younger.
"Hello. Hi! I'm calling in regards to the room you have for rent. I was wondering if it's still available." My voice sounds meek in comparison.
"Oh yes. God, I almost forgot about it, I posted that thing almost three weeks ago." She replies and I detect an accent right away. British, I think. Or maybe Australian? I'm not exactly sure.
"I noticed the ad didn't have a monthly rate." I respond in a weird questioning way.
"Yeah, it's um..." She pauses, and I immediately start feeling unsure. "Sorry, it's only that I never discussed the price with my brother."
"Oh! Your brother lives there too?" Now the feeling's gone from uncertainty to weirdness.
"No, no. But he was the one who suggested I get a roommate." She sounds sincere enough for me to stay on the line.
My mouth opens, but before I have a chance to say anything she continues. "Tell you what? Let's make it $400 a month, bills included. You just need to worry about buying your own groceries, the room's already furnished."
My mouth drops open again. I'm astounded, this sounds way too good to be true. Then fear creeps in, what if this place is infested with rats or something? Or even worse, what if it's one of those crack houses my mother warned me about?
"$400 a month, bills included? The room is already furnished?" I repeat. "You're kidding, right? What's the catch?" I shut my eyes, hoping I don't come across as rude.
"No catch. You can come see the place for yourself and if you don't like it, you can leave it, no questions asked." She replies and I can almost sense the smile on the other end.
"Sorry for my skepticism, it's only that with that good of an offer, it's hard to believe the place is still available."
She giggles. "No, I get it. I guess most people don't like replying to an ad that doesn't clearly state a price? I really don't know. But I'm available tomorrow morning, if you'd like to come by."
"The thing is, I'm from out of state. I live in Virginia and plan to move there in the coming week." I bite down on my lip, hoping she doesn't lose interest. "It would just be really great if I was able to find a place right away and limit my hotel stays."
"Wow, Virginia? That's a big change. I moved here a few years ago too, so trust me, I know what's it's like to venture into the unknown. Do you want to go ahead set up an appointment for next week?"
I smile wide and jump around in my room, holding in my squealing. "Yes! That would be great." I reply, as calmly as possible. "I'm sorry, after all this talking and I haven't even introduced myself. My name's Caroline. Caroline Forbes." I say enthusiastically.
"I look forward to meeting you, Caroline. My name's Rebekah and I hope you don't find this odd but I prefer to disclose my last name in person." She replies, cheerfully.
The appointment is set for the following Wednesday. That leaves me with six days to pack and get things ready for my big move. Waves of anxiety run through my body as I prepare myself to make the giant leap that will take me from one ocean to another.
Reviews are welcomed and much appreciated!
As of right now, I want to update twice a week, so expect Chapter 2 in the next few days! :) xoxo