This room isn't much, but it's been mine for the last six months. It's nice. It's comfortable.
This is a hassle, but it's not the end of the world.
I can figure it out.
Music. I need something to calm me down. I put my iTunes on shuffle and blast the volume. A rock song kicks on. It drowns out every bit of conscious thought in my brain.
I throw myself onto my bed and pull the covers over my head. It's calmer here. I'm alone. No one expects me to be their bubbly, supportive friend. No one expects me to take bad news without batting an eye. No one expects me to accept their bullshit half-hearted apologies.
The song changes. A familiar guitar riff fills the air. Damn. It's something off the last Sinful Serenade album.
That's Drew playing the guitar.
My stomach twists. I skip to the next track. I don't have time to deal with moving. Finance test tomorrow. Internship all day Tuesday. Essay due Wednesday.
My cell phone ring grabs my attention. I glance at the screen. Speak of the devil.
It's Drew.
I turn my music off and answer the call. Deep breath. Drew cannot, under any circumstance, know I'm upset.
"Hello." My voice is steady.
"You up for looking at apartments Tuesday around eight?" he asks.
"Yeah, sure. As long as I finish my essay." My voice cracks. Shit.
"Kara—"
"I have to study. I'll see you Tuesday. Just text me the address where we should meet."
"There's something in your voice."
"Remember how we talked about you minding your own business?" I ask.
"I'm afraid I don't recall."
A laugh breaks up the tension in my throat. He makes me feel so mixed up, but I have to keep up my everything is okay routine. Drew is so overprotective. He'll butt in and try to help, and I want to handle this on my own.
"I'll see you Tuesday." I hang up before he can respond.
My heart sinks. But that doesn't make any sense. It's not like I want to talk to Drew about this.
I turn my attention to my finance homework, but the uneasy feeling in my gut remains.
* * *
A knock on my bedroom door cuts through the music.
"Kara," Nadeen says. "Your boyfriend is here."
"I don't have a boyfriend," I yell back to her.
"Then what is he doing here?"
I push out of my chair and open the door. Nadeen is staring at me with an irritated look on her face. Almost like I'm the one trying to kick her out of her apartment.
I follow her into the main room.