1st chapter of On Our Own; hope you like it; please review
"And that was the grand tour: 1 Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Laundry Room, Living Room, and Balcony. The rent is 1800. What you think?"
Brandon stood in the spacious studio apartment patiently waiting for Callie to make her decision. They'd been apartment hunting all day. Callie had decided back in April when they'd been accepted that she wanted to live on her own, rather than in a dorm. She'd been saving her money up from 'Not A Burger Stand' since Junior year. Brandon had always insisted on helping her pay for expenses, despite her protests, and would offer his assistance if she ever struggled.
Callie had already made up her mind. No other apartment they'd looked at fit her vision (or her budget).
"I'll take it," she said.
"Great; I have the paperwork right over here."
Callie and the realtor took a step into the kitchen to get everything settled.
Brandon was looking around at the apartment when his phone rang. "Mom" popped up on his Caller Id.
"Hey, mom."
"Hi, honey. How's it going?"
"It's good. Callie actually just found an apartment."
"That's great! She found one," Brandon heard Stef say presumably to Lena.
Lena then took the phone. "Hey Brandon, make sure you help Callie settle in."
Stef and Lena had asked him to go with Callie to look for the apartment and look out for her best interests. They were still a little wary about her living alone for her first year and wanted Brandon to help her find a good home. Of course, he would have gone with her anyway. Stef and Lena were still unbeknownst to the fact that Brandon and Callie had been dating for almost a full year.
"And let us know how you like your dorm," Lena continued. "Ok. Love you."
"This is only the beginning," Stef piped up as Lena hung up the phone.
"I know. I miss them too," Lena went and lay on the bed next to Stef, "They'll be fine and they'll be back before you know it."
"Oh that reminds me. My mom wants to invite some people over for Thanksgiving dinner."
"To our house," Lena questioned to which Stef silently replied; "how many?"
"Let's see, she has her sorority sisters, some neighbors, her gardener…"
"Oh," Lena cut her off.
"Yeah."
"Well, I mean the more the merrier, right," Lena said a little too unconvincingly.
"Now you see why I almost go through a stroke every time my mother's here?"
"I guess I'll have to pull out the big guns with dinner this year."
Just as Callie finished signing the papers Daphne popped up in the doorway.
"Hey, I gotta get going," she told Callie.
"Oh, I'll walk you out."
Daphne was the one that recommended some apartments to Callie when she'd expressed the want of her own place. She'd moved to 'The Big Apple' after she turned 18, got her GED and her daughter back.
"You sure about this?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. And I know you don't agree but.."
"No, it's not my call," Daphne cut her off, "just know what you're getting yourself into."
"Thanks. For everything."
Daphne headed out and Callie returned to the apartment to be met with the sight of Brandon unpacking her grungy, mahogany suitcase.
"You don't have to unpack for me," Callie said grinning.
"No, I'll unpack and you can just sit back and relax."
"Yeah, on the nice wooden floor," she laughed. "I'll have a couch soon."
"You know I can always help you with that if you're tight on money," Brandon offered.
"I know. You've only offered like a hundred times."
They sat in the middle of the living room and chuckled a bit.
Callie watched him as he unpacked some sweaters. "Tell you what, you can unpack my stuff now and when you get your things, you can unpack them into that top shelf in there," she said pointing toward the bedroom closet.
Brandon looked at her inquisitively.
"Move in with me," she said.