I approached the building 122 of Highgate, I'd found the advertisement for a roommate online and I was looking for a place as soon as possible. After a rather abrupt end to a three and a half year relationship I wasn't keen to stay in a place with so many constant reminders. So much so that I moved out right away without a forwarding address and my current fortress of solitude is my car. I knocked three times and waited for an answer, a rather scruffy orange haired short looking boy answered.
"Hi, I'm here for the advertisement for a roommate, are you still looking?"
"Ahh, yes we are, come in. We can give you an interview now…?" He waited for my name while looking me up and down.
'Rose, Rose Hathaway. And I'm sorry for not giving any notice."
"its fine come in." He said still looking at me with a glint in his eye.
Looking on the outside I could tell the house had character, on the inside it was even nicer. The roof had old patterns that marked how long ago it was truly built, the house was surprisingly clean for apparently 3 boys already living there.
"Sit down I'll get my other roommate Eddie, unfortunately our other roommate is out, he's a doctor and always has crazy hours." The orange freckled boy explained whom I'd learnt was named Mason.
"Oh I know all about that, I'm a nurse myself." I said, fully expecting some cheesy pick up line boys usually used when they found out I was a nurse."
"Oh really, so you could totally –"
"No." I cut him off straight away, he looked disappointed he couldn't unleash his cheesy pick up line but soon forgot as soon as his roommate Eddie walked in.
"Ah Eddie, this is Rose, she's interested in the roommate advertisement. Ready to unleash an interview?"
"Sure man, not like we haven't done 20 this week already I don't even need the script anymore."
They sat me down for the next twenty minutes and asked me ridiculous questions such as "PC OR XBOX?" to which both of them actually started their own argument otherwise known as a "Console war." The rest were basic, do I keep things clean? Keep it down when necessary? I might have told a few white lies but I was desperate for a decent shower other than my work and an actual bed and not my backseat.
"So when can I move in?" I asked confidently.
"Whoa, hold up their short stuff, we still have a few more to shortlist, we'll let you know in a few days plus our old roommate left her room an absolute trash heap so we need to get that cleaned up. "Mason said.
If it weren't for the fact I needed a place to stay I would have punched him in the face for calling me 'short stuff' but I let it slide.
"Oh, okay. That's fine, I'll leave you my number." I said hoping to not show my disappointment.
I let myself out and headed to my car, it was 5pm and the only way I could kill time was visit this bar in the city I usually hung out at. I would normally go with friends, but they were hanging out with their boyfriends or working nightshifts.
I sighed as I sat down in my usual seat and ordered the usual, I work morning shifts so I only stick to a couple of nightcaps and find somewhere safe to park my car and sleep till the morning. Usually somewhere close to the hospital. After my couple of drinks I noticed a man beside me looking as though he'd had way too drinks, he was falling asleep at the bar and I could see the bartender giving the manager the look to kick him out. I looked a bit closer and saw how truly hot this man was, brown hair down to his neck, handsome chiseled face. As the manager approached I latched onto him and explained that he was my boyfriend and that he'd had too many drinks. I explained I'd drive him home, he opened his eyes a bit and slurred. The bartender kindly helped me take him too my car, it was hilarious looking at his tall 6ft something frame fit in my tiny kia rio. I thanked the bartender and got in the car, I managed to rouse him enough to ask him for his address. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd been there just a couple of hours earlier I wouldn't have recognized the address. I pulled up too highgate and he was sleeping like a baby, there was no way I could haul him up the steps and into the house on my own. I turned off the engine and knocked on the door, Mason answered again.
"Oh its you, bit over eager aren't you?" He said with humor in his eyes.
"Believe me when I say this is entirely a coincidence, I was at a bar and noticed this guy was pretty well off his rocks and needed a hand home. Turns out he's your doctor roommate friend."
Mason widened his eyes and looked over my shoulder and shook his head.
"Sometimes the job gets a bit stressful for Dimitri, I'll help you get him inside." He said as he called for Eddie. This must be a regular occurrence because Eddie didn't seem too surprised either. I knew how stressed doctors could be but I didn't think they'd result to alcohol that often.
Thankfully I'd packed everything into my boot that I usually slept in, so they have no idea I was using my car as a makeshift home. Once Dimitri was inside and the boys helped him get his clothes off (much to my disappointment) I said goodbye.
"Wait!..." Mason yelled.
"Thanks for bringing him home safe, we can't say that this will bump up your application because there are a couple desperate applicants that we have. But we will certainly still let you know." Mason explained.
I wanted to scream at him about how desperate I was too, but again my ego got in the way and I left to spend another night in my car.
I did have the option to stay in Lissa's spare room, but I'd specifically told her that I'd stay in a hotel. A complete lie of course since I was on just a few shifts a week because of being in between places and therefor my paycheck was a little on the low side. Plus I just couldn't stand her looks of sympathy because of the break up between Adrian and me. I'd specifically told her that it's just one of those things that happen, that people don't always stay together forever. Of course going from living with someone for 3 years and then living in a car was a big change, but I was a big girl and big girls don't cry… In front of others anyway.
I drove to the hospital and parked in between some bushes just around the corner, I frequented this spot the last week because of how close it was to work and it was concealed nicely from traffic and the public. I pulled the blankets from the boot and settled myself in for a very uncomfortable night's sleep.
The next morning I woke to my phone's alarm, I had half an hour to sneak into the hospitals downstairs toilet and change into my uniform. So far I'd been taking it to the laundromat every day and then keeping it neatly hung up on the rail inside the car. It was important I didn't raise suspicion and working in a private hospital meant your appearance always had to be well presented. I used makeup to hide the bags under my eyes and took the elevator to the top floor which I was currently working on. I reached handover just in time for 7 o'clock. It was a tiny room that held all of us in it, I'm currently still in my grad program as a registered nurse and every day can be as scary as it is exciting. As I sat down the staff coordinator was introducing a new doctor that had started on this ward, as he turned around I nearly spat out my very rushed coffee. It seemed like this world was getting smaller and smaller, it was Dimitri.
I looked at him up and down appreciatively and noticed he was a lot more handsome than I thought, he took my breath away. I saw the same reaction from the other female nurses, he smiled and kindly introduced himself as "Dimitri Belikov" he didn't seem too arrogant like most doctors can be. I noticed he barely looked hung-over.
After the handover was complete I pushed him from my mind and continued on with the med round and obs round for the day, by the time the doctors round came along to check on his new patients I'd bailed for morning tea. It was a busy morning and we'd already had two code blues, both fortunately weren't extremely serious and was solved, of course Dimitri was present in the code blues and watching him work was amazing, I stumbled a bit on drawing blood as he looked directly at me and ordered me to take bloods. I recovered quickly as I realized I can't fumble in front of this god.
I breathed deeply when I had my coffee and watched my blonde best friend sit opposite me, we usually tried to take the same breaks even though she was on a different ward to me. Lissa worked in pediatrics, she is amazing with children. Her boyfriend Christian works here in the hospital as well, he's a chemist.
"Rose! You look tired, that hotel bed not comfortable? The invitation to stay with me is still open?" She said worryingly.
"And hear you and Christian have nasty love? I don't think so!"
"Fine! Hey, have you seen the new sex on legs doctor? He definitely claims the title of McSteamy, no! Mcsteamy AND McDreamy put together." Lissa rambled on.
I laughed at her "Yes Liss he's on my ward." Her mouth dropped.
"I'm so jealous you get to stare at that man all day!"
"Liss you have a boyfriend!" I scolded her jokingly.
"Yeah but we can still look right?!" She tried to defend herself.
For some reason I decided to skip the fact that I'd actually already met him the night before and took him home very drunk from the bar. But I realized that could jeopardize his reputation and kept my mouth shut.
When it came to three and almost time to go home, the shift coordinator came up to me with a pleading expression. Oh no. I know that look.
"Rose dear, one of the nurses has called in sick with gastro and we're short enough as it is and we'd pay you for it of course but….could you possible do a double shift?" She was practically begging.
I sighed and thought well I have nothing else to do except sit in my car, so why not?
"Of course, i'll do that. Happy to help." I said.
"Oh thank you! One of the doctors has kindly offered to stay as well, you can go for an hour break now and get some food. You can grab the food vouchers off the top drawer in the office. Thanks!" She walked off to handover to the next load of nurses and the next shift coordinator.
On my hour break I noticed Dimitri sitting in the back reading a book and drinking coffee, I'd already gone through two to prepare myself. He looked pretty engrossed in his book and I made no effort to make conversation with him. He hadn't recognized me from the night before, I wasn't sure if I should feel upset or not. Again I just decided to keep my mouth shut. After a long and tiring shift I caught the lift down, just before the doors closed Dimitri jumped in. I automatically tensed.
He nodded at me and then typed away on his phone.
We both went down to the basement where the cars were parked, as the doors opened I realized he was walking in the same direction. I watched his keys open a car directly next to mine and I swear I almost dropped in fear, he'd see my blankets in the back. I quickly tried to think of an excuse.
He raised his eyebrows at me and every single plausible reason I had for having a makeshift bed in my car went flying out of my head. I wanted to be able to raise my eyebrows!
He was still waiting for an explanation as he inspected my car closer, his eyes opened wide as he came to a realization.
'You're the girl from last night! I barely remember but I recognize your car" He said still slightly shocked.
I breathed in relief as he'd obviously moved on from the makeshift bed.
"Ah, yeah. I wasn't going to say anything because I wasn't sure you'd recognize me anyway, you were pretty hammered." I said a little embarrassed.
"You should have said so, I want to thank you deeply for helping me home." His Russian accent laced around me as he extended his hand.
I shook it and felt a spark shoot through my hand and into my heart, I jumped a little bit. If he felt it he certainly didn't show it.
"It was my pleasure, anyway I should go." I said
"Wait – Why does your car look like you've been living out of it?" he said quite bluntly.
Oh jeez. "Ohh..umm…Well I'm just in between places right now and ahhh my pride gets in the way from staying with friends so ahhh yeahh.." I was stumbling with my words and feeling completely uncomfortable and embarrassed.
"You know we have a room available to rent at the moment, I'm sure you met my roommates yesterday." He suggested."
"Oh ah yes, I actually already applied, they said they'd let me know in a few days after looking at the other applicants." Why was this man making me feel so nervous!
"Those boys can be so immature sometimes, at least stay for the night so I can return the favour. You've worked a double shift and I can't imagine anything more painful after that than sleeping in a car. It's the least I can do for you, especially since you didn't spread it around like wildfire which im sure someone else would have done." He explained.
After that lengthy reasoning I couldn't say no, I couldn't resist a warm shower and a bed.
I followed him to the house and thanked this his roommates were asleep and wouldn't give me the 3rd degree or say I'm trying to wriggle myself into the home. Dimitri showed me to the room which he apologized for the mess but I didn't complain as there was at least a bed. He handed me a towel and sad goodnight, I thanked him again profusely too which he again said it was the least he could do.
I sighed as the hot water hit my back, I made it brief as I could feel myself fall asleep. I dressed into my pajamas and fell asleep immediately.
I woke up the next morning thanking god I could sleep in since I was doing a night shift because of my double. I walked into a kitchen and got the shock of my life, a freckled red haired boy was butt naked drinking from a milk carton in the fridge. He screamed like a girl when he saw me and used the carton to try and hide his junk.
"WHAT. ROSE?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
"I offered her the room for a night." Dimitri said as he walked in looking godly as ever.
"Jesus Dimitri you could have warned me, and we still haven't decided on the roommates applications…"
Eddie walked in at that point and laughed at the situation.
"Dimitri offered her the room for a night as a return of favor for the other night." Mason explained.
"Also because Rose is living out of her car for the time being – "
"HEY!" I yelled. That wasn't meant to be shared knowledge.
"Why didn't you say so in the application?" Mason said.
"Because it's a matter of pride and I hate people feeling sorry for me. Besides you said that there were other people desperate." I said
"Oh he just says that because he likes to stalk the hot chicks on the applications on facebook and make sure they don't have boyfriends – "Mason hit him to shut him up.
Boys will be boys.
"Anyway I have to go, thanks for letting me stay the night anyway."
"You can move in whenever you want." Dimitri said abruptly.
Mason turned to argue but Eddie just looked impassive and relieved that a decision was made.
"But what about the other applicants!" Mason said.
"I'm sure none of them need a place as bad as Rose, besides I own this place and pay the most rent therefor it should be my decision by default. I gave it to you guys because I didn't have time to find one, but I've made my decision." Dimitri said sternly.
"Are you sure? I don't want to step on anyone's toes." I said while a mini me danced in my head screaming I GET TO LIVE WITH THE HOT RUSSIAN.
'Yes Rose, you can move in straight away."