Yay

"Fine, I'll go. But only so I can confirm in person how bat shit carzy this is. Seriously Alex, if one of those perv's try to cop a fell, then I'm leaving." As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. I was nervous, desperate and Alex had tried to warn me. So why was I so on edge about this? One of my best friends jusg opened up and give me a place to stay; so what do I do? Bite his bloody head off.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all. You're clearly uncomfortable. I'm sorry I brought it up."

"No, Alex, it's fine. I'm the one who's sorry. Besides, I'm the one that called you, and I don't exactly have a lot of other options. I know you're just trying to help. If you vouch for the place, then I'll give it a fair shot. Nobody says I have to drop my knickers and jill off the moment I walk through the door."

"Please tell me you didn't actually think that was going to happen?"

"Well you tell me. You're the perv." I say with smerk and playfully puch his arm. He must never know.

"Great, I'll phone ahead so Grant can get the place looking presentable. He's the owner. Bought the flat a few years ago."

"He owns it? How does a college student have the money to buy his own place?"

"Jammy sod was one of the guys that got a massive payout from the game stop scandal. Had just turned eighteen a week before. Payed for college and the house. Now he lets the house out to low income students."

"Ok, so how...?"

"Did it get turned into a wank house?" Alex gave me a smug look as he finished my question. "That's a story you should ask him about if you're interested. I only know that it started shortly after he graduated."

I had more questions but my brain was still in too many pieces to think straight. None of this was making any sense. I thought I knew everything about Alex, but this. How did he even find out about a place like this, let alone want actively stay there?

It was a nice enough day for a walk as way make our way. Alex in the leaned, talking on the phone to the aforementioned jammy perv, Grant. The conversation doesn't seem to be going well. Alex is keeping his voice low but I assume the topic of me being a woman was mentioned from the serious expression on his face.

I can still change my mind. Just tell Alex I'd rather take my chances and leave. Then I remember how much is in my bank account and reality slams me in the gut. It will be fine. It's just a place to stay. Not like I'm going to strip down and join the natives.

God, what an awful phrase. That'll be all those years listening to dads racist rants at the telly.

"Okay!" Alex said, sounding exhausted. "Grant is pissed off with me from now until the heat death of the universe but your interview is still on."

"That bad, huh?"

"I had to mention your personal situation. I hope that was alright? But it looks like it won him over. Grant's a really good guy. He's not gonna see you on the street, if he can help it."

"Needs must. The subject would have come up eventually, I suppose. Call wasn't that long, so I'm guessing you left out the lurid details?" Wow, I sound incredibly bitchy today.

"You know me better than that Fi'. But what happened between you and Jason? Sounds like things were going well before your folks walked in; sorry, I just realised how crase it was to ask that."

"It's you, so I don't mind. Basically the selfish prick was happy to share a bed but not a house. After getting thrown out, I asked if I could move in with him. He got all weird about it, said we should take a break, then I dumbed his ass."

"Wow, Jason was the last person I expected to freak out on you."

"Really?"

"What, did he do something before?"

"Yeah, he was cheating on me."

"The fuck?"

"Yip, been going on for a while turns out Jason was a regular playboy."

"So why keep seeing him?"

"It pissed off dad; and he was pretty good with his hands."

"Grose."

"Oh, like you're one to talk?"

And with that, the tension finally broke and the two of us started laughing again like we use to. I had my best friend with me again.

"I'm sorry for not being here this last year."

"It was your gap year Fi'. I never expected or wanted you to put your life on hold just for me coming out of rehab for the billionth time. I wasn't kidding when I said staying with Grant and the others really helped."

"So what it like? This goon house?"

"You'll find out soon. Its just across the road, on other side of the bridge. Come on, almost there."

"It looks like an old BnB." I say in confusion as the house comes into view. Much larger than your standard two bedroom affair, but still managed to not look out of place with the rest of the street.

"Well it was, until Grant bought it. The original owners retired. Wanna see inside?" Alex had that familiar, mischievous look, that usually meant I was about to get in trouble.