APARTMENT 87
A/N: Welcome to my story. I'm so glad to see you here. This story will contain lemons, but at the start of each chapter, I'll let you know if one is about to pop up. Then you have the option to skip forward or skim through it. If you enjoy the chapter and want to let me know I'd be grateful to read your thoughts. Hit review and leave me a note. Make sure you also favourite and follow the story so you never miss out on a chapter.
About: It's time for a fresh start. Bella packs her bags and heads home to Seattle for the first time in two years. She finds a decent room in a fantastic part of the city. Little would she know that her favourite part about this new chapter would be her roommates. They say home is where the heart is... but that soon become her biggest problem. Edward, Bella, Rosalie. Lemons, Rated M.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Chapter One
Grunting I tug my bulky suitcase up the final step. The top floor seemed like a nice idea up until the lift broke. The stairwell was steep and wall to wall concrete. When I finally reached the top I decided the gym wasn't a place I'd need to visit for at least the next week.
I hadn't lived in Seattle for a year. The rain had already welcomed me. Work had kept me in London for 26 months, but it had left me utterly homesick. A high school friend had shared her brother's Facebook ad. Alice Cullen. She hadn't changed a bit.
Short with sass, the short pixie hair. Her smile was just as blinding and it had worked to find her happiness. A quick look at her profile showed me she'd found a man. Jasper. He was handsome and definitely complimented her just by looks alone. Dinner with the two of them was scheduled for later on during the week. Meeting with her was something I just couldn't wait for. I loved her back then and I did now. We'd managed to keep in touch as best as we could. Last year she'd even come to visit me. Now it was her pointing me toward the direction I needed to go. The new chapter in the book of Bella.
Her brother Edward had been looking for a roommate. I'd jumped at the chance and Alice had begged him to pick me. He had after little pressure. Between a few texts back and forth he had admitted he wasn't home often which worked for me. Work took much of his time. His profile had said he worked at the hospital.
When he wasn't home his roommate was around.
I'd stalked them both online. If the woman was as pretty in person as she was in Facebook land I'd start living with more self-esteem issues than ever.
Rosalie Hale looked like some sort of model. Too pretty for Victoria and her secret. Blonde, busty and confident. Nothing short of sexy. If I swung that way I would put her at the top of my list.
As for Edward. He was incredibly beautiful. Definitely at the top of the actual list. I'd never met him before in person. He had left for college when Alice and I were friends. He was a few years older. I remember her telling me about him, but I was always visiting my mother when he was in town with her second brother. But with all of me, I bet all of my money the personality didn't match the face. The messy copper hair, sharp jawline. It was too good to be true. It all screamed for feminine attention. I swore he wouldn't get it from me.
It shocked me to know the pair of them weren't together. I hope they didn't have random mad sex on the couch.
Maybe he was blind and couldn't see Rosalie?
It was overwhelming. Plain simple me now having to live with God's finest specimens.
Number 87. Here I am.
I knock on the door before turning to pick up my bag.
"Oh let me," the voice is velvet.
It is deep with a musical edge. I want the voice to say Isabella. Just to dull my curiosity.
From behind me, a strong arm shoots out to pick up the handle of my suitcase. Attached are luggage tags. My only proof of my British life.
"It's fine," I smile at him over my shoulder.
His eyes are more green in this light than they were on my laptop screen. They're deep and I want to just spend hours gazing into them. Warm and inviting.
"Don't be silly. Come in, sit down! I bet you're exhausted. That plane trip is a killer," he says leading me inside my new home.
"Especially when you take the sleeping pills but the kid behind you won't let them work," I joke.
"Oh no! Seriously? What a little shit," he smiles placing my case by the lounge.
It was just like the pictures he had sent me. Much of the walls were covered in red exposed brick. The floor plan fairly open. I could see the couch from the kitchen and the balcony from the fridge. There were metal beams holding up the high ceiling and exposed rafters. The kitchen was situated to the left of the room, the lounge and a small dining area as soon as you step into the right. In the back were what I assume are bedrooms, and in the corner, there's a black spiral staircase. Perhaps leading to a third room.
"It's so industrial," I smile sitting down on the large L shape lounge.
"Do you really think I'd let Rose paint it pink?" He smirks.
"No, but I might make you light a few candles," I tease.
"We just met, Miss Swan" he winks sitting beside me with a seat cushion between us.
"Not like… I'm jet lagged," I laugh.
"Get a shower and unpack. Rose cleared some counter space for you. You girls share a bathroom if that's okay? I didn't want to get all up in that tampon junk," he scrunches his nose.
Unable to help it I giggle. The personality matched the face thank god. I could grow to like this guy. I'd had worse roommates. For the most part, the place was clean and it was homely. I didn't need much more than that.
"I'll order us some take out. Rose might be home late. It's up to you if you wait up," he smiles grabbing for his phone.
"That TV is massive. I want to watch at least one episode of something. Even if it's the Simpsons," I say standing.
"I think you're going to love it here, Bells," he smirks.
"Bells," I raise an eyebrow.
"Don't you dare try to call me Ed or Eddie," he threatens.
"Wouldn't dream it, Cutie Pie," I giggle heading toward the opened door that peaked into a shower.
"Oh Jesus," he groans laughing.
When I'm hidden behind the bathroom door my smile is wider than Jesus' welcoming arms. Holy shit. What had Alice done for me? He was hot and friendly. I didn't think guys like this existed. I thought these men only existed in books and decently produced pornography.
I had hit the jackpot.
Sweet apartment, at least one incredibly hot roommate and a new direction for my career.
Who'd have thought this kind of luck even came in threes?
As the water slides down my tired, strained skin I wonder what this will actually be like. Is this just a warm welcome? Will he pick his toenails and fart before leaving the room? His face is so beautiful it would forgive flaws like that.
I steal a few pumps of body wash and sud up. Across my chest, stomach and down to my thighs a soapy trail follows. The strawberry scent completely fills the small space.
When I get out I wrap myself in one of the pink, fluffy towels. From the bathroom alone I knew I'd like Rose too. It was kept tidy and the smell of her soap was divine. I would have to find a way to replace it.
With the towel tight across my chest, I step out into the apartment to find pyjamas in my case. A loud clash comes from the kitchen. Edward stands by the sink. The noise had come from cutlery hitting the metal before him.
"Oh," he shifts his eyes away.
Obviously, Rosalie didn't walk around in towels. Maybe he was completely fair game? If he liked me. Which let's face it, men like this didn't like girls like me.
"I should have grabbed clothes first," I say apologetically.
"Do you want me to carry it into your room?" He motions to the direction.
"I can," I pull the hand up on the case.
"Okay," he stammers.
His eyes are taking me in with the attempt at resistance. My mind turns wicked. I want to play.
"Hey is there a bite on the back of my shoulder. I think something bit me," I move closer to him.
He clears his throat and moves to look. I stand in front of him facing away. Carefully I pull my wet hair over one of my shoulders exposing the other shoulder and my neck.
"I can't see anything," he says.
"Oh," I innocently shrug, "thank you for checking."
I turn to face him offering a warm smile. Nervously he smirks back. One side of his lips inches higher than the other. A crooked grin to skip heartbeats.
Including mine.
"I'll go put some clothes on," I say.
"How disappointing," he is definitely flirting with me.
But he's my roommate. Boundaries Bella. Boundaries are great.
Sure to poke out my tongue I head into the space he motioned to as my room tugging my suitcase with me. Once the light flicks on the room before me doesn't illuminate much. It's bare.
I'd ordered a bed off Ikea and asked Edward to let them into the apartment so that they could build it for me before I arrived. That's the only furniture I had. Tomorrow I'd shop to fill it out the room a little more. When I wasn't exhausted.
I pick out some slacks and a baggy shirt. Tying the shirt at my waist and throwing my hair into a bun, I return to my new roommate. He's sitting cross legged on the couch. He's changed too. Checkered pyjama pants and a slogan football team shirt. What a man.
"I just got you chicken noodles," he motions to a plastic container on the couch where I sat before.
"That's perfect," I snuggle into the lounge propping my feet up under my legs
"So this new job. It's the zoo right?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah," I nod, "I love animals."
"What will you look after?" He asks interested.
As I spoon food into my mouth I rush to chew quick. He might lose interest.
"Mainly elephants," I smile, "but I've worked with others too. Usually African animals. Lions, giraffes."
"Elephants in Seattle too?" He asks.
"Yeah. They needed a new leader so I applied," I shrug, "I hope you like the smell of shit."
"On you. I'd put up with it," he chuckles.
"In London, it made my old roommate vomit a few times," I smirk.
"It's an interesting job I think. I have a strong stomach. I'm a doctor. But whats your job like?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Rewarding. I'm sure yours is the same. To work and conserve a species. The elephants I've always helped can't be released due to poaching in their environment or injuries," I explain, "elephants are by far my favourite. In London, I was able to be apart of a successful breeding program. I also got the chance to see them in the wild too."
"Why elephants?" He is so intrigued.
"They are beautiful creatures. It's dangerous and yeah there's been near misses, but they just have wisdom and strength. I guess it inspires me," I smile, "you build strong connections with them and it becomes so special. I cried for days leaving my old animals. I couldn't care less about the coworkers."
"Your eyes just light up when you talk about it," he smirks, "tell me more. I don't want it to stop."
"Peach was my favourite. She was only two years old. The males and females are kept seperate. But she didn't need a man for mischievous activity," I smile, "she always stole food, played with toys when I'd packed them away. But she loved wrapping her trunk around my arm. It was her way of love."
"How sweet," he nods, "do you have pictures?"
"You want to see?" I ask slightly shocked
"Please."
Putting aside my dinner I reach for my phone and quickly find the pictures. As I flick through his smile widens.
"That's Babar. He was born two months ago," I say.
"What's it like trying to encourage elephants to have sex?" He asks suddenly.
"Weird when you put it that way. But ensuring they survive is my job," I stifle a laugh, "besides I'm sure there's some form of pleasure there. An elephant penis can be up to 39 inches."
"Shit," he laughs, "ouch. That would kill."
I join in with his sweet laughter. I'm amazed by him. He is interested and invested in what I have to say. It was not what I was expecting. This was not the plan at all. His laughter dies when I flick a picture too far. A screenshot of his Facebook page's profile picture pops up
"Stalking me?" He raises an eyebrow teasing me.
I stammer for a reply desperate.
"I did too," he taps my arm playfully smiling, "I didn't think you'd be better in human form. The pictures were fairly perfect."
Almost shy he looks down at the end of his compliment. Nervously I bite my lip and face him slightly.
"Are you single?" I stammer.
"Yep," he smirks.
Thank you so much. If you're here, you've completed chapter one of my new story. I appreciate you sticking around.
If you love what you saw please drop me a review. I would be so thankful for you taking the time to do so.
Also, make sure to follow the story so you don't miss Chapter Two which I will post as quickly as I can.
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