Chapter 5

AN: I don't own.

The first few weeks went by in a flash, studying and doing assignments keeping me preoccupied and making time fly. After a while I got used to Josie's routine of going out and coming back at ungodly hours in the morning – waking me up to tell me about her 'extracurricular' activities.

I started hanging out with Bianca a lot more, going to the mall, going for coffee, studying together and just talking. For someone so tiny she had more than enough energy for the both of us. I swear that girl never sits still for more than ten minutes – except for class.

Right now we're suffering, I mean, sitting through the last five minutes of class, waiting for Professor Baldman – I mean Baldwin – to finish his lecture. Next to me Bianca was bouncing in her seat, probably counting down the minutes until we got to leave.

"Alright, class dismissed."

Thank God!

"Finally," Bianca said, jumping up and unceremoniously throwing her stuff into her bag. "I thought it would never end."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my stuff. "Don't be so dramatic."

"So, what are your plans for this weekend?" she asked me curiously.

"No idea, maybe studying and lots of sleeping…Sorry," I blushed as I bumped into a huge – and I mean HUGE – guy.

As I looked into his scorching brown eyes I felt my heart skip a beat. I shook my head to clear it and gave him a small smile before moving again. Bianca's head whipped from the guy to me before giving me a strange look and picking up again.

"Oh, that sounds super fun," she said, dragging me to our favourite coffee shop. "I was thinking of going apartment hunting-"

"Wait, what? Why?" I asked her, shocked. "I thought you liked staying in the dorms."

Having her in the dorms was really convenient. She was just a few rooms down from mine, making it easy for us to get together before class and going out.

"I do, but I want a little more freedom," she said with a shrug, her face pulling into a grin. "The dorms have way too many rules for my liking and way too many people breaking them."

Uh oh!

There was a moment of silence before…

"I have a brilliant idea!" she said, vibrating in her seat with excitement. "Why don't we move in together?"

What?

"What?" I gaped at her, voicing my thoughts. "I…you…don't we need to find a place first?"

Bianca's smile grew even wider and the merest mention of her getting her way. "Yes! This is going to be so much fun."

"Wait, wait, whoa there," I said holding up my hand. "That wasn't a yes."

"Well, it wasn't a 'no' either," she reminded me with a pointed grin.

I sighed at her hopeful expression, inwardly flinching at the puppy dog look she was currently sporting, knowing that I have no immunity against it.

"Fine, I'll make you a deal." I said with an exasperated sigh.

Bianca nodded her head enthusiastically, causing me to laugh at her eagerness.

"You haven't even heard the deal yet."

"I don't care," she said, but stilled herself anyway. "Whatever it is, I'll do it."

When I saw that she had contained herself I continued.

"Okay, if we find a suitable place close enough and affordable then I'll move in with you."

"Yes!"

She clapped her hands excitedly as she bounced in her chair, again, looking like a five year old who had too much soda.

"So, that guy you bumped into was pretty hot," she said waggling her eyebrows at me, finally letting the apartment hunting thing go.

"Oh, I didn't notice." Liar.

Bianca snorted and looked at me sceptically.

"Uh huh, sure you didn't. And he was totally checking you out."

"What?" I blushed. "He was not."

"Oh yeah, he totally was," she giggled.

"No, he wasn't," I told her seriously only to have her shrug and take a sip of coffee.

"Whatever you say," she murmured. "And he totally was."

-o0o-

"So that's three down and three to go," Bianca said in her chipper voice as she made a little tick on the list of suitable places in her hand.

I sighed in frustration as we exited yet another place that was inadequate for our needs. At this rate we'll never find a place, not that I'm complaining though.

"Come on, B, can't we call it a day?" I asked my shoulders hunched over from fatigue. "I'm exhausted."

"Just one more for today, I promise," she said as we made our way down University Road.

I huffed and dragged my feet, thinking about all of the study time I missed by apartment hunting. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Bianca coming to a halt in front of me and I nearly bumped into her.

"Alright, this is it," she said before gliding into the apartment to talk to the realtor.

Begrudgingly I followed behind her, glancing at the apartment without interest, my thoughts wandering back to the guy I bumped into.

"Alright, ladies," the sandy blonde realtor said as he showed us into the place. "This is it."

Bianca walked in first and stopped to gawk at the inside of the apartment. Her jaw dropped and I looked at her in confusion. I lifted my head to peruse my surroundings and gaped at the living room/kitchen that we were currently standing in.

There is no way that this is in our price range.

The living room was spacious with an open plan kitchen. The kitchen was fully stocked with the latest appliances and a large window provided a view of the street below. The living room had three plush sofas facing a flat screen mounted onto the wall.

I felt my jaw drop at the sight and turned to Bianca.

"We'll take it!" we said in unison.

The realtor grinned, "Are you sure you don't want to see the rest?"

"Okay," I said as I made a quick run-through of the place.

If you thought the first part was great then the rest was amazing. The place had two en suite bedrooms and a guest bathroom. The rooms were gigantic with built in closets and window seats – everything was just…fabulous. Absolutely fabulous.

We met again in the living room – slightly out of breath – nodding enthusiastically.

"Yep, we'll take it," Bianca gasped.

"Great," the realtor said. "Just sign here."

Bianca looked over the contract that the realtor held in his hand and gasped when she read the price.

"There is no way this place can be so…cheap," she said, shaking her head at the ridiculous thought.

The realtor let out a hearty laugh before explaining that the entire building was owned by a doctor and his wife, an interior designer (which explained why the place was so well decorated) who wanted the students to have an affordable place to stay that was close to campus and quiet enough to concentrate.

"They are good people," Bianca said as we signed on the dotted lines.

-o0o-

"So when are we moving in?" I asked Bianca as I sipped my celebratory coffee.

Yes, we are caffeine addicts.

"Don't know, maybe next weekend."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds good. Hey isn't that the guy that bumped into me?"

"Where, where?" Bianca looked around frantically.

"Don't look," I scolded her softly, grabbing her arm to still her frantic movements.

The big guy spotted us sitting there, his face split into a gigantic toothy grin as he made his way over.

"Oh my gosh, he's coming over here," she said.

"I can see that," I rolled my eyes and gulped the last of my coffee.

By then he was standing next to our table. I smiled up at him shyly.

"Hi, I'm Paul," the big guy said as he held out his hand.

"Ve-ve-veronica," I stuttered as I took his overheated hand into mine. My hand was instantly swallowed by his giant one.

"It's nice to meet you, Ve-ve-veronica," Paul chuckled as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze before reluctantly letting it go.

As I stared into his dark eyes I felt my heart speed up at the unspoken promises I saw in his eyes. Paul's grin grew wider as if he could hear my reaction to him.

"Very nice," he whispered before his attention was captured by a group of people behind him.

He growled and gave me an apologetic smile, sending my heart into overdrive again, before saying goodbye and walking to his friends.

AN: And they met. What did you think? Press that review button and let me know.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.