“What?” I wonder why Milosh would do that. “What do you mean ‘warned everyone’?”
“Word on campus is that if anyone approaches you, they’ll get stabbed.”
“Yet, you’re here?”
“As if anyone was going to stab me,” she says cryptically and I wonder what her story is. She talks a mile a minute with a strong New-York accent, sneers at every man who enters the cafe and takes up space around her. Death or the threat of doesn’t phase her. I fucking love her. She reminds me a lot of Irina. Neither of them cower to expectations.
“So you’ll come with?” She asks.
“Ugh?” I was way too focused on how cool she looks and how I’d love to be her friend to pay attention to what she was saying. Also, the back of my mind screams at me to investigate who goes around campus warning anyone against me, but my money is on Milosh. I’m also sure people have noticed him and Gemma following me around like guard dogs.
“The party on Saturday? All first years are going. It’s quite the staple.”
“Oh. Yeah, I… I’ll have to think about it.”
“Sure. Give me your phone.” I obey and she types her phone number into my contacts, handing me the device again with a half-smile. “I already texted myself. Expect me to pester you to join.”
I look around me as if she wasn’t just talking to me. I’ve known girlfriends pestering me to join a party. Usually, it was because they wanted to shag someone. This feels different. “Did you just see me and decide I needed a friend?” I ask self-deprecatingly.
“Kind of. I don’t have many friends either. Not gonna lie, I also saw the monster porn on your e-reader behind your shoulder when you took a break, and wanted you to hook me up.” She shrugs. If I had been drinking my tea, I’d have coughed it up. I’m not a prude when it comes to sexuality, but I don’t advertise my reading preferences to the whole neighbourhood. My cheeks feel heated and my ears burn as I start to explain that monster romance isn’t just porn and that this series in particular is pretty tame.
She pulls a well-loved paperback out of her bag hanging off her shoulder. The cover shows a spider humanoid and a woman tangled together. She winks before putting it back in. “See you soon, Lucie. Don’t stay up too late.”
I beam at my new friend. Soon after she leaves, I pick up my stuff and walk home, Gemma close behind. She insists on not walking side by side so I can live as normal a life as I can—which I appreciate because Milosh is an overbearing asshole who doesn’t give a shit. There’s nothing normal with the reminder that I have two bodyguards permanently looking over my shoulder. I have to fucking ditch them. No way I’m going to a college party with two babysitters who’ll probably cockblock me and report my every move to my family.
The keys jingle in the lock and I stop short. I know for a fact that my place wasn’t that spotless when I went out this morning.
“Gemma?” I call out and she’s right behind me, gun in hand, stepping in front of me and placing herself between the danger of my clean flat and myself.
“What is it?” She asks, voice tense and body coiled to snap at my invisible aggressor.
“Why is my place so clean?”
“Oh.” She relaxes and place the weapon in her holster again. “I came in and vacuumed a bit. Just tidy up. It’s part of our contract.”
“What? No. No, no, no. You will never do that again. This is so embarrassing. Did Dante put you up to this?”
“Aleksei, actually.” She has the good sense to look chastised. “I won’t do it again if you don’t want that. I’m sorry, Lucie. I thought you’d be okay with it.”
The urge to smile and tell her it’s okay is strong but I take a deep breath and resist. Maybe if I can start with something small like this, I can be more assertive and do things for me.
“This isn’t your fault but I’m not okay with it. This is my space. It’s private and I don’t want you, or Milosh, or anyone else I haven’t invited to be in it.”
Nerves fire up my system, and my throat tightens. The urge to cover up my demand is a living entity inside me, but I resistit. Gemma nods, apologises and promises to never do it again. Then, she smiles and wishes me goodnight.
When the door closes, I exhale heavily. And fist-bump the air like an absolute loser. Because for once, I wasn’t little Miss Sunshine, okay-with-everything Lucie. It felt good to say what I really thought and place a boundary, however small. Maybe Mina is already rubbing off on me. Still high on my small victory, I text her.
Me
I’ll be there on Saturday.
She sends me back a string of emojis, an address and what to bring to her place for early drinks. I’m giddy when I go through my evening routine. Out of habit, I try to shut down the blinds, knowing they will not move but tonight, they go all the way down.
Now I feel bad for chastising Gemma. It’s actually quite nice they repaired this. Maybe she also did some groceries for me. I haven’t had a proper meal in days, living off ramen and baby carrots. My stomach growls and I get to the kitchen. Sure enough, the fridge is filled with ready-meals I can throw in the micro-wave and the pantry shelves overflow with almonds, my favourite chocolate brand, tinned foods, pasta, rice and other non-perishables.
I opt for one of the ready-meals, eating while reading my smutty book and devising a plan to ditch the couple next-door.
***
