I stepped off the train to Twilight Town, onto a crowded walkway full of cheerful civilians discussing daily event and exchanging funny stories. I sighed, and began to push my way through the throngs of people to find my connection. I was on my way to the City that Never Was, also known as the Dark City(in this story this is paralleled to NYC), where I had managed to land four auditions for modeling agencies. Yes, modeling agencies. When we found out the devastating news that my brother was suffering from lung cancer in its most dangerous stage, I was forced to cancel my trip with Yuffie, and find some way to make money.
I knew there was no way my family would be able to pay for Squall's treatment on our own, so I was sure going to help in any way I could. Even if that meant putting my own plans on hold to pursue something I knew nothing about.
Modeling to me was always something that was a dream. Sure I was the tall, skinny redhead with exotic purple eyes and a harsh bone structure, so agencies were practically crawling on me with opportunities, but was this something I really wanted to do? Most definitely not, but it was the quickest way to get Squall's treatment money.
I spotted my connection in the knick of time, and managed to shove my way onto the crowded train as the doors were closing. After 30 loooooong minutes of standing next to a fat man with B.O and a stellar mustache and a short squat woman with an obvious cold, I practically ran off the train onto the platform. There I was greeted with the rush of people, mostly in dark business suits or leather attire, with their briefcases and laptop bags and cups of coffee. Nobody was stopping to greet each other, like in Twilight Town, rather, they seemed more interested in shoving you out of the way than asking about your dinner party last night.
"Excuse me, but could you point me in the direction of the Burney Agency?" I asked a tall, pimply young man with a subway uniform. He looked me up and down with a bit of disgust, before gesturing towards the tallest area of buildings in the city. "It's over there, on 44th street, 14th floor of the Afilico Building, between Terrice and Smeffing."
Right.
I sighed, before making my way into the throng of people on their way to their jobs, trying my best to not be killed by the briefcases or stepped on by stiletto heels. Not bothering to hail a taxi, I walked down the cracked sidewalks, dodging the street vendors and skateboarders who seemed so keen on taking me out. So much for the city of dreams. It seemed awfully dirty and rude to me.
After asking four different people to point me to the Afilico Building, and only getting an answer other than "hmmph" from one, I still managed to find it, at 7:59. My appointment was at 8:00. Now I call that punctual.
"Can I help you?" the secretary at Burney Agency asked me, while looking me up and down with apparent disapproval. "Yes, I'm Kairi Hikaru, hear for an interview with Mrs. Dawn," I replied, trying my best to look confident. "Oh yes, right through there," she gestured to the room behind me. I walked through quickly, to find myself in a huge oval office that overlooked the bright city. A woman in a white business suit sat at the round desk by the window.
"Hello, you must be Kairi," she smiled before shaking my hand. "Hi, nice to meet you," I managed breathlessly. "Well, I've looked over your samples, and I'm extremely impressed. This photography is pure magic," she said as she flipped through my portfolio. I heart lurched as I thought of Squall. "Thank you," I said quietly. "Well now that I've seen you in person, I would love for you to join our agency. Unfortunately, the only model apartment I have available is with one of our male models, is that alright with you?" she asked. I nodded eagerly, not wanting to pass up this amazing opportunity.
Dawn smiled, and handed me a key and a schedule with contact numbers on it. "Your flat is on the 30th floor of this building, and I would like to meet with you tomorrow to begin booking, but I will give you today to get settled in and explore the city." I nodded and smiled. "Thank you," I said, before taking the keys. "Oh and your luggage arrived this morning, it's in your room," she added. Great, so I guess they were already planning on hiring me, and decided that I would be living with a guy. I loved the control I had in this situation. Sheesh.
I turned and walked out of the office with my keys and schedule. I managed to find the elevator just fine. When I reached the 30th floor, I found it pretty much deserted, aside from a housekeeper smoking in the corner. She hurried to put the joint out as I spotted her. Fabulous.
I sucked in a breath as I turned the key into my new home. The door swung open to reveal a huge floor to ceiling window overlooking the entire city, which seemed to overcompensate for the cramped kitchen and living room. The furnishings in the house were pretty basic, a couch with a plate and remote next to it, and a few bean bags, and a small fold out table crammed in the supposed "dining room", that was roughly the size of my bathroom back home. As for the bathroom, it was about the size of my closet, and covered in male products.
I glanced in the shower to find a razor and suspicious black hair clumped in the drain. Great, so not only was my roommate obsessed with his looks, but he shaved and didn't clean up after himself too. Just GREAT. I continued down the narrow hallway and came to a room with a small bed and my suitcases covering the minimal floor space. The room across the hall I assumed was my roommates, considering its rock posters and dirty socks littering the floor. With a sigh, I flopped down on the bed and promptly fell asleep.
SLAM! The sound of the front door closing startled me out of my nap. I groaned and rolled over, only to fall on the floor, more specifically, my unpacked bags which were covering my floor. Smooth, real smooth. I stood up clumsily and cautiously made my way into the living/dining room/kitchen. I came face to face with a tall, lithe guy with a mess of spiky dark brown hair and stunning blue eyes. He paused, looking at me suspiciously.
"I'm Kairi, your new roommate," I said finally, holding out my hand. He glanced at it, before pushing past me down the hallway. "Sora. Give me my space and I'll give you yours," his retreating back replied before he disappeared in his room, the door slamming. No welcome to the neighborhood? Not even a nice to meet you. Living here was going to be just peachy, I could tell. With a sigh I flopped down on the couch and pulled out my cell phone.
"Hey Yuffie"
"Hey! How's Dark City? Amazing?"
"Just fabulous. All the rude people and pollution and snobby roommates is just grand," I muttered sarcastically.
"That bad huh? Who's your roommate anyway?"
"Some guy. He pretty much came in and told me to leave him alone. And its only 10 in the morning. Give me a break."
"Hahaha. Well, I'm really sorry about this. We all miss you back home!"
"Thanks Yuffie. Bye"
"Bye!"
I sighed as I hung up the phone. I knew I should call Squall, but he may have still been in the hospital. I still couldn't believe this was happening. Since the day Squall was diagnosed, he had only gotten worse. Now he could barely stand, he was so weak. I stood up and made my way to my room. Might as well get moved in.
2 hours later, without a sound from my loving new roommate, I successfully stood between 4 empty suitcases. Now all I had to do was hang up pictures. I reached into the bag I kept all my pictures in, and pulled out a picture of me and Squall taken hardly a month ago. I hung it up right above my bed, so that when I woke up, I could remember why I had come to this hellhole in the first place.
"That your boyfriend?" came a snide voice in my doorway. I turned around to find Sora standing there with his hands on his hips, in his socks and jeans and a sad excuse for a wife-beater.
"No, it's my brother," I said, before reaching for another photo. "Oh sheesh, well soooorrrry," he replied. I looked him, a mixture of annoyance and disgust on my face.
"You know what? Its not my fault that we have to live together, and obviously we haven't hit it off, so I would love it if you would just leave me alone unless you have a legitimate reason to bother me," I said, anger in my voice. Sora looked taken aback at first, before narrowing those stunning blue eyes.
"This is fucked up. I don't want to be living with some bitch," he muttered before stalking out. Argh! What is his problem? I sighed, before going back to hanging up pictures. This was going to be one hell of a job, that's for sure.