SS NYM - Ch 2

New York is impressive up close. Meri and Colby are both from real cities, so it’s not as though they’ve never seen one before, but New York is special. Both have their faces pressed against the windows in the cab as they ride through the streets of Manhattan, already choked with traffic despite the early hour.

The coffee has helped. They’re awake and alert, although it’s still not fully light out when they emerge into the cool air outside the tall, beige apartment building. It looks old and classy.

Together, the two stand on the sidewalk and stare up at it. Colby makes a face.

“It’s nice,” Meri says.

Colby’s face doesn’t change.

“Do you know what rent is like here?” Meri presses.

“Sure,” Colby replies.

Inside, they find the lobby more or less clean. A big wall of mailboxes gleams at them as they pull their suitcases to the elevator and call it. It’s quiet in here, unlike the city outside. Gurlberg has spoiled them with small-town traffic.

In the elevator, as they ride up, Meri nudges Colby.

“You promised,” she mutters.

“I know,” Colby replies through gritted teeth. She puts on a fake smile in the hallway on the fifth floor as they go down to the door and knock. Meri glows with excitement. Colby looks like the Joker if the Joker was a tired, bisexual undergrad.

But they aren’t undergrads anymore. Graduation was last week.

The door opens to reveal a woman just a little older than the two of them. She has transformed since they’ve seen her. Even right now, as she’s balancing against the door, struggling to get her spiked heel on, Athena seems regal and put together. She wears a pencil skirt and blazer, her dark hair is up, and she’s wearing glamorous, chic new glasses.

“Hi. Hi. Good morning,” she says, making it clear that she is not as put together as she appears. “I’m sorry, guys. I’m late. Come in.”

Meri leads and Colby follows.

The apartment is just as cute as Meri’s imagination led her to expect, but about ten thousand times smaller. It’s one-bedroom, and it has less square footage in the whole place than there is in the master bedroom at CCL House, where Meri lived until a week ago.

Athena has a handful of framed prints on the walls, as well as some big, heartwarming photos of her with various CCL girls and a few big group shots. Her walls are pale gray, and she has a little table of plants by the window. It’s so cozy. So perfect for two.

Colby sees Meri melting and pinches her ass, hard.

But with three people and two suitcases, nobody can even move in the front hall.

“Guys, I’m really sorry,” Athena’s saying. “I have to go. Make yourselves at home.” She grabs her thermal coffee cup and pauses, almost breathless from the way she’s rushing around. “Hi,” she says, swooping in to kiss Meri on the cheek. The hesitation is slight, but then she does the same to Colby. The awkwardness there is not slight.

Throwing them another apologetic look, she grabs her purse and briefcase, then dashes out the door.

“I’ll text you!” she says, pulling it shut.