Hey! I know I know, what on earth am I doing, but I've been writing this for a while, and I have five chapters already pre-written, I have to let the world see them! Well, about five people…

Enjoy!

"What flavour is a wedding cake, anyway?" Mara asked curiously, turning to Joy. Her brunette friend shrugged, turning to Amber, as if the blonde haired goddess might somehow know.

"Any flavour you want," she smiled prettily "Joy, it's your day, pick your favourite flavour, and have them make the best cake ever." She should have stopped there, all the bride magazines she'd read since she was a little girl had served her well, but she added "Make sure it's a flavour I like though, I mean, it also has to be low fat but-"

"Whatever you like, basically," Mara cut Amber off with a smile. "Amber and I are just honoured to be bridesmaids,"

Joy smiled, thanking the man who served the samples on their table, who bowed before moving away. "Of course I picked you two! You're my best friends in the whole world! And Fabian see's you guys as his best friends too," she picked up a piece of a yellow sample and chewed thoughtfully "I do like cheese cake…do you like cheese cake Amber?" she rolled her eyes at Mara, before facing Amber completely.

"It matches my hair, so of course," Amber smiled.

Joy nodded, noting it down on a piece of paper. "I'm just so thrilled to be getting married before 20," Amber and Mara shot each other confused looks. And Joy noticed, laughing "No, guys, I know, we're all 25, I'm just saying, 98% of girls who have…you know," she raised her eyebrows suggestively, and her friends nodded "Well 98% of women who have it with more than 20 men, never get married."

"What?" Amber frowned "Why not?"

"Come on, Amber," Joy shrugged, "You should know! Every guy has a dream girl in his head, and that dream girl has not slept with more than 20 guys," she looked off for a moment, as if wondering. Her dark hair moving onto her face as a breeze strolled in through the open window, she absentmindedly brushed it away.

"20?" Mara echoed, blind flickering back, she counted on her fingers quietly "I think I'm on 19," she said worriedly "Oh my gosh, I only have one chance left,"

"I'm on 24," Amber frowned "But…me and Alfie seem to be pretty solid,"

"Well Ambs, you might be part of that lucky 2%," Joy shrugged, patting Mara's arm comfortingly "Don't worry Mara, you'll find someone perfect."

Mara nodded, crossing her arms "That's it, it's settled, number 20 is going to be the one. The one. I promise," she crossed her heart and nodded, before adding uncertainly "I hope…"

Line Break

"I'm sorry Mara," Helen shook her head. The boss of Mara's accounting firm. "I just can't keep you any longer. I kept telling you, time and time again, you can't help other people complete their accounts, we each have our own dead line, you can't keep pleasing other people," she pushed her glasses further up her pale and pointy nose.

"But please!" Mara protested, standing up "You can't! I need this job! And I'm only helping them because I want too! I…they need my help!"

"I'm sorry," Helen shook her head "The board don't like it, Mara…I have to let you go, I'm very very sorry, you have a natural talent and-"

"Stop." Mara cut her off, running a hand through her hair, looking down at herself. "Maybe this is for the best I mean…this isn't me," she motioned to what she was wearing. A black shirt, and long black skirt. "This isn't what I wanted to do, become an accountant? Pfft, I wanted to be a journalist," she shook her head "Thanks for the experience Helen, good bye."

Of course, it's not just that easy. Without the job, Mara knew what was coming. She wouldn't be able to afford the large house she was renting, and quickly contacted her old friend, who managed to find her an apartment on the fifth floor of a building. A nice sized, decent place, which she would be able to live in, for very little. She thanked her friend, and with a heavy heart, packed up all her stuff, and moved them, box by box, in her little car, into the apartment. Apartment 34. There were 3 others on the level, and she sighed, looking around. Fully unpacked.

It was nice.

She had to admit it. She didn't want too, because she had loved her house, but this was nice. All open plan, from the bedroom to the living room, to the kitchen, but she liked it. There were two large windows right opposite the front door, and she loved the view. She sighed, slumping onto her sofa and turning on the TV, flicking to her guilty pleasure, SpongeBob Squarepants. It was ridiculous, god knows that, but everyone has their own little embarrassing secret, and the intelligent, most likely to succeed Mara Jaffray's was this. She just...she just found something like this so silly…it humoured her.

But she only managed to hide her low spirits throughout the day. So at night, she forced herself down to the local bar, and ordered a vodka. She didn't usually, only when she wanted to forget for a few moments, and Mara Jaffray certainly forgot.

Line Break

"Oh my gosh!" Mara cried loudly in complete shock, she sat up, pulling on her robe, to see a complete stranger in her bed. Her head throbbed, as she remembered the memories from last night. No! No she had slept with him! And he was…he was disgusting! "Get up!"

He yawned sleepily, sitting up, and Mara averted her eyes "Hey beautiful-"

"Yeah, you have to leave." Mara said quickly, shielding her eyes with her hand and walking into the living room. He watched her with a frown

"Why?"

"Why?" she exclaimed "Because you're getting married! Now get out of my house!"

"It's an apartment," he corrected with rolled eyes, pulling on his trousers "Jeez, and I thought we had a great night,"

Mara glared at the ceiling, so irritated with herself. That's right, she had done it. She'd got to number 20, and now she was doomed, to be alone forever. How stupid was she? Going out and getting drunk? She deserved to be alone forever. There was a knock at the door, and she opened it with a sigh as the man whose name she didn't know helped himself to an apple. "Can I help you?" she sighed.

A handsome stranger stood in the doorway. In a black t-shirt, and his boxers, seeming perfectly comfortable. He had styled blond hair, with a dark streak of almond running through it. Swept off to the side, it had volume, and bangs flopping hotly over his forehead. Like he had just dropped off a runway. "Hey, I got locked out of my apartment," he said, his blue eyes met hers, and she found herself nodding.

She opened the door, letting him inside, to call the landlord of his apartment. But he just walked in, collapsing on her sofa, nodding at the gentle men who chucked the half eaten apple on the floor. "So, when she would meet again, Mara?"

"Again?" Mara cried in disgust "Well…n-never!" She could feel Jerome's eyes on her, and resisted the urge to turn and tell him to stop staring. That was not the way to make a good first impression.

"So, tomorrow?" he prompted

"Don't we have a tenant meeting tomorrow, Mara?" Jerome covered for her quickly. She almost collapsed in relief, catching on immediately. Not before taking the time to realise, almost with a frown, that he was an incredibly skilled liar. Brilliant, weren't all players? She ran a hand through her tussled black hair, and realised what a state she must look. Her robe tied around her tightly, her hair all mussed, and she hadn't even washed her face yet…of course, neither of the men seemed to be complaining. Because Mara Jaffray, was most beautiful, when most natural. And both men had noticed that.

She may have been shorter than average, but she was slim, and toned from walking to work and back each morning. She had glossy black hair, and glowing brown eyes. Pink, full lips and flawless tanned skin.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, nodding "Yes we do! We…w-we're trying to evict a…a dog…" she lied lamely. Jerome stifled his laugh at how badly she was lying. The man frowned, shrugging, and walking out. The door to Mara's apartment was wide open, and Jerome jumped off the sofa, hiding behind it when the door to his apartment just opposite opened, and a beautiful woman walked out, closing it behind her and walking down the stairs. Mara placed her hands on her hips angrily "Couldn't she have helped you with your locked out problem?" she seethed.

"Ah," Jerome stood, smiling innocently, sliding his hands down his torso, only to realise he was only wearing boxers, with no pockets, so he clasped his hands instead. Mara watched, trying not to be so amused. "Well you see-"

"You were hiding in here, because she's just another one night stand?" she guessed with a sigh. Were all men the same? What a morning she was having.

"You seemed to be doing the same thing," Jerome muttered under his breath, quickly backtracking at Mara's glare. He was almost impressed, she was feisty. He liked that. But all in all, she wasn't his type. He liked tall, pale, blondes, occasionally a brunette if she was really exciting, but this girl…well, he was glad she was his neighbour. He wasn't attracted to her, which means he couldn't mess up. He had done that in his last building about four years ago, just before he moved into this building. He had…just had a…relationship with his neighbour, and of course not calling her wasn't the way to go, she was less than a minute away from him. He'd broken his leg, after 'tripping' down the steps. And he learnt, You don't mess with where you live. And also, always take the elevator.

"That was a mistake." She glowered.

"Jeez," Jerome rubbed his neck sheepishly "Who'da thought you'd be so uptight? Your blogs are quite unique and cool," it wasn't a compliment to try and distract her, like he would do with girls he was picking up from a bar, but rather his actual opinion.

Mara froze. "…Thanks," Mara almost smiled, recovering from her shock. "Uh…h-how do you know my blogs?" Oh, another thing you should know. Mara Jaffray, the wanna be journalist, had a blog, a little thing, where she wrote her thoughts on this and that. She tried to be funny, but mostly, she was sarcastic. It was good, it was stress relieving.

"I have everyone in this building on google alert," Jerome said easily, smiling at her "My dad was a police man, I'm good at tracking people, also wanna make sure I'm not living next to a bomb maker," his voice dropped into a whisper, and Mara wasn't 100% sure he was joking "Beware apartment 13,"

Mara wiped the smile off her face, reminding herself of how despicably men like him treated women. "Whatever, listen, you've gotta go," she gestured with her head towards the door. Jerome groaned, forcing himself up "And put on some trousers!"

"Free country," he winked at her, walking into his apartment. "I don't mind that you're just in a robe, beautiful," Mara's eyes widened, and almost popped out of her head. She could hear his chuckle from inside his apartment "Yeah, another thing, the walls are really thin," Mara rolled her eyes. Brilliant, what a way to meet the neighbours.

A little different, but I really wanted to give it a go. If you've seen the movie, then you've got to know how difficult it is to keep everyone in character!

Review?