“Oh my God,” Sophie groans, wincing as she scrolls through listings on her phone. “These numbers make me want to hurl. Like, who can afford this?”
“People with real jobs?” Elaine suggests, deadpan.
“Girl, you do realize I make more money than you—”
“Barely, and only since you started—”
“Ladies,” I snap. “Focus.”
They fall silent and continue scrolling. But even after hours of research and depressing discussions about where we can cut our already-paltry budgets, the numbers won’t add up.
Our roommate situation has always sounded like the start of a bad joke.A blogger, a barista, and a tutor-slash-college-student walk into a bar, and…
And walk out again, probably, because they can’t afford to buy a drink in this economy.
I shut my eyes, fingers stilling on my laptop as I fight back a wave of despair. I thought I was being responsible these last few years. I’ve scraped and clawed my way through life, working myself to the bone in dead-end jobs. A college degree in a practical field would change everything for me. Most people Iwent to high school with have already graduated, but life took me on a different path.
Working as a private tutor, I’ve pinched pennies and skipped meals so I can finally start at UCLA this fall with minimal loans. After years of floundering, I’m finally taking steps toward the future I want. With a degree in engineering, my future will be secure. It’s at the top of the “degrees that make the most money” list—that’s why I chose it.
But now? I can’t pay for school when I can’t even afford rent.
Elaine is the first to shut her laptop. “I don’t think this is going to work.”
Sophie reluctantly lowers her phone. “Then what do we do?”
I keep scrolling through rentals without looking up. There has to be something. Therehasto be.
After a beat, Elaine says, “I guess I could go back to living with my parents for a while.”
Sophie groans. “Davidhasbeen asking about me moving in with him at some point, but…”
An awkward silence falls, broken only by my increasingly desperate scrolling. But when I realize they’re both looking at me, I slam my laptop shut and force a tight-lipped smile.
“Yeah,” I say. “You guys should do that. I’ll figure something out.”
Theyshouldexplore their options. It’s not their fault I don’t have any.
Because I have no boyfriend. No family. Nobody at all.
“I mean, I don’twantto live with David,” Sophie says quickly. “His roommates suck and I know he’ll just expect me to start doing his laundry and shit.” Her lower lip trembles. “I want to live with you guys.”
“I really don’t want to live with my parents, either,” Elaine says. “They got a cat a couple months ago, and I’m allergic, so…”
“Guys,” I say, hating the fact that I feel like crying. “We’re talking last resorts here. What else can we do? We can’t afford these places.”
“Well…” Sophie’s face scrunches. “I guess we’ll have to come up with more money.”
“Wow,” Elaine says. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“I mean, it’s not going to befun,” she says. “But there are ways.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s find out.”
We all dive back into researching furiously. Ideas get tossed around, each one progressively more outlandish.
“We could donate our eggs,” Elaine suggests. “Or sell drugs.”
