"Thanks," mumbled the cab driver while still taking a long smoke on his cigarette, stuffing the wad of cash I gave him into a pocket. The graying haired man looked up into the rearview mirror to gaze at me with a bored expression. He waggled one of his bushy eyebrows at me, nudging his head to the right to motion me out of his smoke filled cab.
Gathering the multitude of papers that had slipped from my bag, I hastily shoved them deep into the chocolate colored briefcase I had in my hands before opening the filthy cab door. A burst of cold wintery air hit my face before I could reach up and tug the warm scarf up to shield me from the gusting air. Outside of the small cab, snow was falling in fat; fluffy flakes that made the whole downtown area sparkle. The snow was starting to stick to the ground, a nice inch or so already loitering and waiting to be stepped in.
I turned back to the cab to shut the door. As I watched, the impatient cab driver signaled and pulled out to disappear into the early hour traffic. I glanced up from the spot I was standing in on the sidewalk to watch as the large clock tower in front of me started to chime eight times.
Grumbling now at the time, I reached down with a shiver to sling my bag over my right shoulder, gripping my over-stuffed briefcase tightly. Turning away from the busy downtown scene, I stared up at the large apartment complex that would soon be my new home. I jogged up to the safety of the canopy that would shield me from the snow before I dug out a crumpled piece of paper from the seemingly bottomless briefcase in my arms. Looking down at it from over my burgundy scarf, I skimmed down the formal letter of welcoming me to the new apartment complex to find the words I was looking for: apartment C14.
Shoving the papers back into my briefcase before tugging at the latch a few times before it finally gave to and closed, I sighed softly and shifted the clothing filled bag on my shoulder. "C14," I mumbled to myself, starting to climb up the shaded steps. I made my way up the stairs, careful not to slip on the visible ice patches that threatened to trip me. The weather had easily dropped ten degrees from when I was last outside which was after the four hour plane ride.
Reading the fading gray signs that hung loosely on the walls, I finally found the one that was supposed to be marked 'Level C' but instead read, 'evel C'. Guessing this was the one I was looking for, I rounded the corner, now taking note of the partially shingle-missing, dull gray-blue colored apartments that held the faint odor of smoke and barbeque.
The bag on my shoulder was now getting heavy, and the scarf was slowly sliding free of its warm hold on my cold face. I quickened my pace, reading out loud the numbers as I went. ".. 11, 12, 13," some of the numbers were hung upside down from the lack of a nail while others were missing the numbers entirely. Now at the end of the hall, I looked forward at the door which clearly read, "C14". At least someone knew how to make things a tad easier on the new guy's life. The whole reason why I am even here, about ready to enter my new apartment and meet my roommate, is because of a lost bet. My luck has not been good so far.
~A Year Ago~
"I can do it!" I screeched at Ian, my fist slamming down onto the counter. Anger washed over me, but I was filled with determination to prove my point. I gritted my teeth, staring up at the man who merely smirked down at me with a coy grin.
"You can –NOT- go from an F to a C+ in one month, Mat," he pointed out in his all-knowing way. Slowly he moved to lean on the counter, his elbows resting on the table top with chin in his palms, continuing to grin at my determination.
"I will, damnit! Just watch me!" I turned around, arms folded over my chest as I leaned my back against the counter, refusing to lose my determination. Granted, I had spent countless nights writing rather than actually studying or doing the work, but I was not going to fail!
"Want to make a bet?" Ian asked in the same, cool voice. Startled slightly from his comment, I peeked over my shoulder to glance at him. He hadn't moved. His grin grew as he gazed up at me from behind his long brown bangs as he pushed some back behind his ear. "If you don't get a C+, you get to come to New York with me."
"What? I have to go to school, I'm not going to New York!" I now turned myself to again face him fully, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion. He knew my plan to attend school was not going to be easily altered.
"You would attend my school. You could attend my writing class." I gazed at him, feeling somewhat stupid for not having thought of that sooner. I then looked up at the large clock that hung on the wall, a constant ticking sound coming from it to show that time was still slipping by. It was an idea, I mean, if I didn't pass this one, I could go up there and truly focus. Start my writing career off on the right foot again. With nothing to lose, I agreed to his bet.
~Present Day~
Wiggling my hand through the handle of my briefcase, I reached out to gasp the door handle and proceed to enter with caution. Twisting the handle until the door was able to be pushed open, I slowly peeked my head inside already feeling the warmth that rushed over me from the fireplace that rested on the opposite wall. "Hello?" I called out, wincing to myself as I heard my teeth chatter. With no response heard, I slipped inside the cozy tan-colored apartment, setting my briefcase and bag down on the small table that resided next to the door.
As I turned back to face the inside of the apartment, a man was now standing there. I gasped, almost falling backwards in surprise for he had been so silent coming to the door. I pressed my back to the wall, the slow heat of embarrassment crawling up my cheeks to stain them a rosy red. Suddenly, I was glad of the burgundy scarf that would hide my blushing expression from the towering man whom stood in front of me.
My gaze lifted to his face as I stared in awe. Before me stood a dark, looming figure with the purest blue eyes as raven black hair fell into his eyes, reaching down to the lobes of his ears in length. My heart almost stopped as I stared into the shimmering blue eyes that looked down at me with a half look of interest or wonder.
Suddenly, the thought of me pulling down the restricting maroon scarf to reach up and weave my delicate fingers through his dark tresses, to pull his face closer so my lips could gently brush against his in a feather-light kiss. Yet, my body stayed put as I was still staring up at the strange man who now had regained his composure and was gazing down at me with a single eyebrow raised in a questioning look.
I quickly moved my gaze to the tiled floor, examining the warm colored tiles as he spoke in a melodious tone. "You must be my new roommate. I am Nathan."
I nodded once, turning back to grab the now soaking wet bag and the brown briefcase before turning back to him, not daring to meet his ever watchful gaze. "I am Mateo, but you can call me Mat. What room am I staying in?"