Disclaimer: Not my world or characters. Just for fun and no profit involved.
I saw the bright yellow sticky note on my door as soon as I got out of the elevator. I approached cautiously, trying to remember whether I was due for a stalker. It was only a note from Dylan, the manager of my building and just asked me to stop in when I got home. That was unusual but didn't explain the sinking feeling in my stomach.
The day had gone better than usual. I wasn't covered in anything nasty. Unfortunately, the two regulars I had brought in also hadn't earned me much money. I reversed directions without even going into my apartment and went down to Dylan's apartment in the basement instead. When he answered my knock, he looked somber enough to be attending a funeral.
"Hi Steph," he said. I just wanted to hug him. He looked like he needed it but I held back.
"What's going on?" I asked instead.
"Come in," he invited. "Do you want to sit down?"
I perched on his couch while he dug around for a moment on his desk. When he turned back to me, he was holding a file folder. He took a deep breath. "Your lease is up for renewal in December and the building owners don't want to renew. You have 30 days to move out." He offered me a piece of paper as I stared at him in shock.
"What?" I squeaked once I found my voice. "We always renew my lease."
"Renewing is a choice," Dylan replied. "Both you and the owner need to agree to it. This time the owner doesn't want to."
I wanted to ask why but I only had to think about all of the damage my stalkers had done to know. I didn't even think I could quantify the damage to the building or the number of times my work had followed me home and endangered the other tenants who lived here. While I processed that, Dylan sat down beside me on the couch, offering me the folder. I looked through it numbly. It was a copy of my leases, one for each year I had lived in the building. On last years, there was a flag on one of the paragraphs and some sentences highlighted that spelled out how the lease could end. Either party could opt not to renew the lease with 30 days notice in writing. The piece of paper on the top had been a formal letter, telling me what Dylan had. No renewal.
"There's no chance?" I asked finally.
"I'm sorry," Dylan replied. "I tried to change their minds but…" He trailed off, clearly not wanting to enumerate my issues.
"I understand," I responded. "Can I take this?" I asked, pointing towards the folder.
"It's for you," he told me. I headed for the door, clutching it in my hand. "Let me know if you need help packing or moving," Dylan called after me.
I was glad not to see anyone on my way back to my apartment. Keeping my apartment and never needing to move back in with my parents was a point of pride for me. I didn't need their help except for the occasional meal so they didn't have a say in my life choices. Even when I was sort of partway living with Joe, I still had my apartment. It was where I could go back to once things didn't work out. I didn't need a man to provide my home. My job is unconventional but it's enough to support me and it suits my personality. The apartment was my proof of adulthood.
Safely hiding on my own couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, I stared at my phone. How could I tell everyone that I was being kicked out? Part of me wanted desperately to press speed dial one. Ranger would do anything to help me feel better and he was great at non-judgemental comfort but he might also try to take over from afar. I missed him a lot. He had been in Miami for 6 months this time and there was a chance that he would be there for several more years. Julie as a teen who was dating frightened him. He wanted to be there to supervise the body guards and make threats to the poor brave high school boys who asked his daughter out. Talking to him didn't make me miss him any less so I avoided calling.
Calling anyone else would just make sure everyone knew sooner than absolutely necessary. Joe and Mom would find out soon enough. Everyone would know soon enough. No need to face that before they cornered me. Instead, I finished my ice cream and began combing the classifieds, hoping I could find a new place and just tell them about the move, make it sound like my choice.
I called a few places that had phone numbers listed but my name alone got me laughed off the phone. They had all read the bombshell bounty hunter newspaper articles. The whole town knew about my disasters. No one who had heard of me wanted me in their building. Eventually, I gave up and curled up into my bed. The only glimmer of hope I had left was that a larger community managed by a company, not a person, wouldn't have heard of me.