Exit Stage Left 3/

Exit Stage Left 3/?

By: Fele414

*I just wanted to say thanks for all the positive feedback that I've gotten. It's so exciting to know you all like my story. I'm going to try and keep it interesting, it will probably be a few more days until I can post another chapter. 40 hours at work and 15 credit hours at school give me little time to myself, I'm sure most of you know how I feel. Once again I kinda just typed it up and won't have time to read it over for grammatical errors so if it doesn't all flow, then that's just too bad. Anyway, on with the story!!

Jodi arrived early before practice, she didn't really know her way around all that well and wanted to get more of a feel for it. She strolled down the endless hallways until she came upon a small lobby. It contained a couch, vending machine, and a bulletin board. Jodi wandered up to the board hoping to find someone looking for a roommate, it had been almost a week since she had arrived and she hadn't even begun looking for an apartment. Her gaze wandered over several pages until a particular ad caught her attention. She tore the paper from the board and stuffed it in her bag before rushing off to practice.

Later that day…

Practice had been long and enduring. In Cooper's ballet Jodi had always felt comfortable in her position, her self-confidence never faltered. But here, here she felt as tall as an ant. She could feel every time Charlie looked her way, and it felt as if he was burning a hole through her.

The apartment she had gotten off the ad was in a small complex just down the street from the Center, it was an older building, a split level Mexican design. She buzzed the apartment several times before someone finally picked up, "yeah?" "Hi I'm Jodi Sawyer, I'm here about the room for rent." "Oh snapp, hold up, I'll be right down," the girl's accent was a thick New York accent, Jodi couldn't help but laugh at how much she sounded like Eva. The door opened and a girl taller than Jodi with dark red hair with spiral curls appeared. "Hi," "hi," Jodi replied back a little nervously. "My name's Jen," she introduced herself while sticking a piece of gum in her mouth. "You seem pretty normal, why don't you come on up." Jodi followed her up to the apartment, it was nice she thought to herself. There was a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and 3 bedrooms. "Are you the only one living here," Jodi asked walking through the dining area. "No, Katie lives here too. She's in the San Francisco Ballet, she's real good too." "Really, so am I," "Well hey 'aint this a small world. Anywho, this would be your room, rent's 300 a month plus your share of the food and what not." Jodi shook her head, "wait are you offering me this room," "well yeah you do want it right?" "Well of course," Jodi shocked back, "but I mean aren't you going to ask me any questions or anything?" "Well you seem pretty descent, but okay. Ever been in jail?" Jodi shook her head no, "Okay then, you pass the test. They're just a few rules, no smoking and no drugs, you think you can handle that?" "Uh, yeah I think so," "great, welcome home Jodi."

Later that day…

Jodi sat in what was now her new room. Surrounded by boxes Jen had insisted she move in right away. Jodi knew she meant soon, but she didn't think she meant that night. But Jen even took the time to go down to her hotel room and help her get all her boxes. Apparently her old roommate had left them stranded, what was it Jen had said Jodi thought, oh yeah, "well Jo, that was our old roommate, she met some guy and less than a month later poof, they were married, just like that can you imagine? She left us high and dry." Jen was nice, the two had bonded really well and San Francisco was starting to look better.

Jodi wandered into the kitchen, Jen was sitting on the counter painting her toenails. "So where's Katie, I can't wait to meet her," "ah, she's probably with her boyfriend, you know how that goes. All she eva' twalks about is how much she loves him, and how she couldn't bare to lose him. I mean don't get me wrong or nothing, she's my friend and all but the girl is paranoid. I remember one time she had the cops up here breaking up a fight between her and her man because he called her by his ex's name or somethin'. If you ask me I think he's still hooked on some girl he left back home, but you didn't hear that from me." "hear what," "exactly," Jen answered back.

As if on cue the door opened and Katie walked through the door. Jodi's mouth dropped, "you," Katie spit out, "me?" "What the hell are you doing here," "you two know each other," Jen asked. "Yeah she's in my company," Katie answered. "But, I thought your name was Gretchen," "Gretchen's my middle name, only Charlie calls me Gretchen." Of all the luck, Jodi thought. "Now like I said, what the hell are you doing here?" Jen jumped down from the counter and put her arm around Jodi, "she's our new roommate." Gretchen dropped her bag and pointed at Jen, "can I have a word with you for a moment… alone?" The two girls walked over by the door and began whispering. Jodi tried to listen in but with their backs turned she couldn't make out what they were saying.

"How dare you get a new roommate without asking me first. Tell her she has to go," "I don't think so Gretch, she's nice. Besides, she's already paid for the next three months, and you know we need the money." Gretchen stomped her foot in frustration, "fine, but for the record I'm not very happy about this." "fine, duly noted." The two turned around, "sorry about that Jodi, you just caught me off guard a little bit." Gretchen eyed her evilly and gave a chilling grin, "well I don't know about you two ladies, but I'm going to spend the night at Charlies. I'll see you two in the morning."

Gretchen left and Jodi through herself on the couch sighing heavily. "I don't' think she likes me," "no shit, I coulda' told ya that. What did you do to pist her off?" Jodi didn't answer, what could she say. She had only known Jen for a couple of hours, she didn't know where her loyalties were. Besides how could she admit it to her that she still loved Charlie when she couldn't' even admit it to herself.