Chapter Text
I wake up to some somewhat aggressive knocking at my door. My eyes flutter open as I stumble up from my bed. " Whoever is waking me up better be pretty to look at because I was having another great Fall Out Boy dream," I complain to myself as I get dressed. I glance over at my alarm clock and notice it's almost 11:30 in the morning.
When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Dave standing in my doorway. He was probably here to bother me about my rent as well, but only because he worries about me. He's like a dad to me at this point, so I pay attention when he scolds me.
"Y/N! Do you have your rent money yet?? You know Ryan will get on your ass!" He says, pointing his finger in my face as he invites himself in, but I don't mind. He comes in with his hands on his hips, and he looks very frustrated.
"I'm trying. I think I'm just going to sell my sax." I nod my head over to my saxophone, "I need to get rid of it anyway." I'm a bit upset, but I mean, it's what I have to do.
"Good. I was only making sure you had the money." His expression softens as he walks over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. "You know, Y/N, I can spot you whenever you need. You are like daughter to me." He rubs my shoulder with such kindness and sentiment.
I chuckle, "Thank you, Dave, I appreciate it, I really do, but I want to try this myself. Trust me."
After Dave left my apartment, I devoted my day to the streets, poorly attempting to sell my saxophone. It took about 5 hours, but I was able to sell it for 800 dollars in Times Square to a tourist. I found it pretty funny that all I had to do was slap an "I love New York" sticker on the mouthpiece and was able to sell it.
After I sold my precious saxophone, I headed home for some much-needed alone time after a long day surrounded by tourists, scammers, and drug addicts. I get in the shower, and after, I wind down with Fall Out Boy blasting on my speakers and a cucumber face mask while I doom scroll on Instagram. I was enjoying this peace until I heard another knock on my door. "Can't a girl get a moment's peace around here??" I got dressed, took off my face mask, and opened the door.
It was Ryan, who I forgot said was coming to hopefully collect my rent.
"Hi, Ryan! You're never gonna guess what!"
He immediately walks in. I didn't invite him in, but it's okay, I guess.
"Do you finally have my money, Y/N?" He asks before chuckling to himself, getting cocky already.
"I do actually," I blurt out with the biggest grin on my face. I think I'm starting to look a little possessed.
His smile drops, "What? No way! Show me proof. I don't believe you."
I pull out my money, and money spread in his face. His grin matches mine when he realizes it's all there and meets his cost.
"Wow, I wish I could say this more often, but it's all there. You made rent! And on time…"
I giggle at his surprise. He's kind of cute when he's pleased.
"Do you want anything to drink? I bought groceries about a week ago. But I must warn you, I have the palate of a three-year-old. So it's really just like fruit punch, orange juice, but there are a couple of beers in here if you want one?"
"Y/N, that isn't very three-year-old-palate of you," He says, laughing, "but yeah, I'll take a beer, please."
I laugh with him as I grab two beers for us and lead him to sit down on my couch. He looks around my apartment as if he's never seen it before. How did he even get here? I was relaxing a few minutes ago, and now I'm sitting here with my landlord drinking beer.
"I really like how you decorated your apartment, Y/N. It's a lot more creative and whimsical than the other units. Everyone else's apartments are super modern or downright boring. Yours has an edgy feel to it. I feel really comfortable in here."
"Thank you, Ryan!" I say through laughter, "That means a lot. I actually try really hard to make my apartment feel very homey and cozy. Although sometimes I prefer sitting on the roof of the building. It clears my mind and gives me a beautiful view of the city. Being in my apartment for too long really bothers me. It makes me feel sort of trapped, you know?"
"I know exactly what you mean, Y/N."
We continue to converse about our lives, opinions, and hot takes. Believe it or not, we both love pineapple on pizza! We spend about an hour talking and opening up to each other when Ryan gets an idea.
"Hey, you mentioned the roof earlier, and I've never been there. Do you mind taking me?"
"of course"
We begin our journey on our way up to the roof. While we're running up the stairs, I trip and almost eat shit. But thankfully, I had someone to break my fall. Ryan fell forward as I fell on top of him.
"OW Y/N!" He exclaims, dying of laughter
I cackle while lifting myself off of him, "I'm sorry!" I hold out my hand so I can help him up. He took it and didn't let go. Instead, he held my hand as he started racing up the stairs while I ran after him.
"Ryan! Slow down!!" He doesn't. He speeds up instead.
"Come on, Y/N! We're almost there! Just a little bit longer!"
We finally arrive at the top of the building, and we burst through the door and collapse onto the pavement, clutching our stomachs of laughter. We catch our breath and are sitting in silence laying down on the cool ground. The silence isn't awkward or forced. It's comfortable. And the joy and emotion in the air are polluting the silence between us. Ryan turns his head towards me
"Y/N, how old are you?"
"23, you?"
"I'm 23 too"
"Thank God we don't have an age gap," I say, giggling, feeling the cold breeze of the wind on my cheek and the cold pavement on the nape of my neck. Knowing there's no age gap means he's not a creepy older man flirting with me. And not a creepy older man I might be falling for.
"And why's that?"
"Oh, just because"
He's about to ask another question before I cut him off.
"Ryan, how did you become a landlord at 23? You must be super intelligent," I tease
He sighs and looks over at me, "I inherited the complex from my grandfather, who passed away. I'm actually really grateful for this building. It's the reason I'm able to follow music. The complex didn't go to my parents because, well, they aren't great people."
I turn my head to face him, we're still lying on the cold concrete, "I'm sorry about that, Ryan. You're a really sweet guy. You don't deserve that. Besides Dave, you're the only person in New York with whom I've really gotten along. Have you even properly met Dave?"
"Well, obviously, I know who Dave is, Y/N. He owns the best bagel shop in New York! I don't know him as well as you do, though. He seems very protective of you. Like a father."
"He really is. I appreciate him a lot. He really reminds me of my dad back home. I'm from Dallas. I don't think I mentioned that. But yeah, he reminds me of my dad, and he treats me like a daughter. We really only have each other. He promised my parents he'd look after me after he totaled my bike," I said that last bit with laughter
He chuckles, "He totaled your bike??"
"Yeah, he still offers me free bagels to this day."
Ryan and I finally get up and walk around the roof of the building. We speak for about two more hours before we decide it's getting a little late and Ryan should head back. He also lives in the apartments, so it's not far. We enter the building and slowly walk down, finishing whatever conversation we were having. We make it to his apartment, and he invites me in.
His apartment is similar to mine in aesthetic; it's also cozy and edgy.
"Oh, so this is why you complimented mine so much, huh?" I say giggling
"Our apartments are matching," He teases.
I laugh before deciding I should say goodbye. I hug Ryan goodbye and walk blissfully back to my apartment. When I get back to my apartment, I get ready for bed and fall asleep.