Chapter One

Ashley and Tori were on their way from the airport to the hotel in a black taxi. Ashley bounced around in her seat. "I thought taxis are supposed to be yellow?" she asked Tori as she flicked a strand of her black hair out of her face.

Tori glared at her. "Uh...yeah. Some aren't."

"The cash cab is," Ashley trailed off as she zipped her black hoodie up. The cab stopped in front of their destination and Tori pulled her dirty blond hair into a quick ponytail before paying the driver and getting out. Ashley was already around back pulling out their bags. She already has her green tote bag slung over her shoulder and her small black duffel bag next to her foot. Tori grabbed her bags from the ground. Ashley looked up at the building's clock tower. "Hell it's a big tower. We should climb it."

Tori pulled her along as she picked up her purse and backpack. "Maybe later." She started into the building and Ashley ran after her to catch up.

One of the bellboys greeted them. "Hello there. Welcome to the Balmoral Hotel."

"Checking in. It's under the Torminator," shoots a glare at Ashley. She sent her a grin in response to the glare. The bellboy walked around and scooped up their bags. "Last time I let you book a hotel," she whispered to Ashley.

"Okay then," Ashley shrugged as they went up a set of plush stairs. They went up to the second floor and opened the room for thanked the bellboy and he left them. Ashley sat down on one of the beds. "This will be an awesome week."

Tori sat on her bed near Ashley's. "Yeep." She turned and looked at the pillow. "Complementary chocolate!" she exclaimed as she dove for the chocolate.

---

The next day Tori insisted on wandering the hallways. Ashley got the grand idea of having a race. "Not a good idea Ashley..." Ashley took off, sprinting down the hallway. "Hey! No fair!" Tori shouted.

Ashley turned around and stuck out her tongue. "Nyaa. I'm winn-" she bumped into someone and fell. "-ing..."

The man was in a suit and looked down at her angrily. "Why are you running in the hallway?"

"Uh...uh..." Ashley stuttered to find an answer. She was never good under pressure.

She heard Tori behind her say, "I'm sorry. She's a little...I dunno." Ashley got up, brushing herself off, and turned to walk away.

"If I catch either of you doing nonsense in these hallways again, I will have you thrown out."

Tori and the man had a stare down. "You know what. Nonsense in the hallway!" she shouted, waving her arms around in the air.

The man fumed and shouted, "Get out!"

Ashley frowned and ran back to their room and scooped up their things. She managed to walk out the door when Tori was approaching the stairs with the man. She trudged down the steps with the four bags in arm. The man pushed Tori out the door, causing her to stumble. She gave him a sneering gesture and he walked past Ashley on the way back in. "He was a prick. Something of a bug up his ass."

Tori nodded in agreement. "I'll say. Let's go find a place to stay." She took her bags from Ashley and the two wandered off to find a new place to stay.

---

The two managed to wander around for about half an hour with their things until Ashley found a small apartment building. "Tori! Let's see if there are any rooms."

"But we're not staying long enough to rent a place. Do we even have enough money for one?" Tori asked, shifting the weight of her backpack. Ashley shrugged. "Eh, better than sleeping at an over priced inn or on the sidewalk," she shrugged too.

Ashley made a smile and wandered through the front door. She approached the older man at the register. "Um. Are you the owner of the apartment building?"

"Yes I am," the man said in a rich Scottish accent. Ashley noticed Tori cringe a little next to her. "And are there any available?"

The man thought for a second. "As a matter of fact, I just had someone move out the other day. Would you like to see it?"

Ashley and Tori exchanged glances. "Sure," Tori said. The man walked out from around the counter and walked out the door. The two followed him out and around a corner, into an alleyway. They went up the steps as far as they could and the man turned to the blue door on their left. He unlocked the door, opened it up for them, and stepped to the side.

Tori and Ashley walked in. Ashley went through an archway to another room, as Tori looked around the kitchen and living room combination. The man stood by the door. "It's quite a nice little place. Be ideal for the two of ya." He paused for a moment, then asked, "So what do ye think of it?"

Ashley walked over to Tori. "Well?"

Tori made an unsure face. "It's nice. You?"

Ashley grinned. "I like it. It's homey. And there are windows in the ceiling," she squealed. "I think we should get it."

Tori gave a swift nod. "Alright then." She pulled a wad of bills out of her bag. "Crap. All little bills. You got your card on you?"

Ashley pulled her credit card out of the front pocket of her duffel bag. They left their bags on the floor and walked over to the man, holding the plastic card out for him. "Here you go Mister, um…?"

"Mister Hume," he said accepting the card. "I'll run this and be right back. You little lasses don't look as if you have a bad history." With that he walked out and walked down the steps.

Ashley poked her head out the door and watched him go down the steps. "He called us little," she grumbled. "I'm short for my age, but… Grr!" She grumbled even more and Tori leaned against the door frame.

"Don't worry. Even if you're nineteen you can pass for a high school student," she grinned.

"But we're nearly the same age," Ashley whined.

"I actually look my age."

As soon as Tori finished her sentence, a woman came out from the room across from theirs. She had blond hair in a high ponytail and wore a black trench coat, with what looked like a suit underneath. The woman shut the door and turned, looking at them with a surprised look. "Oh, hello," she smiled. "Are you the new neighbors?"

Ashley shook her head and smiled. "Yep. I'm Ashley. This is Tori."

"I'm Kate," she said. "You don't sound as if you're from around here."

"Nope," Tori chimed in. "We traveled from the Untied States."

Kate gave a nod. "That's very wonderful. Excuse me. I have to get to get going. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Bye," Tori called as they watched Kate hustle down the steps. "I think I'll like this place," Tori said as she walked into the living room and threw herself on the worn couch.