Chapter Text
"Yes, I'm sure, mom." Jackie hung up the phone and grabbed her suitcases, ready to get on the subway.
She checked the messages app on her phone. A message from Misty, the girl from the shared housing app.
Misty Quigley
Let me know around what time you're arriving at!!
Jackie closed the chat and turned off her phone. She was still waiting for Jeff to text her. They'd broken up two days ago, but he always came back to her.
The subway had just stopped and its doors were open. She sat on the first empty place she found, but an elder woman entered the subway a few moments after her, and Jackie got up and indicated her to sit on the place she'd been seating on a second before.
The woman smiled sweetly and thanked her as she sat. Jackie grabbed onto the metal bar with one hand and fixed her bangs with the other one, her phone inside her coat's pocket.
When she finally arrived at her stop, she texted Misty and opened the google maps location the girl had given to her.
She noticed that as she got closer to the neighborhood, it all started looking grimmer and chaotic.
It only got worse when she finally arrived to the apartment. The elevator didn't work, so she had to walk up five flights of stairs to get to it.
She rang the doorbell and was immediately greeted by a short blonde girl, who she assumed was Misty.
"Hi, welcome!" Misty cheerfully said.
And that's how it all started.
Four other girls were already living there: Mari, Lottie, Shauna and Laura Lee— Yes, Laura Lee. She'd politely asked her to name her by her full name.
There were three bedrooms; Mari, Laura Lee and Lottie shared one, while Shauna and Misty both each had one all for themselves. Shauna's had a twin bed and Misty's had three single beds
Jackie was asked to decide who she'd want to share bedroom with, and she opted for Misty, since she already knew her a bit, and she also didn't want to share bed with someone.
She liked to sleep alone. At least that's what she thought whenever Jeff slept with her. She'd wish he wasn't there and she could be sleeping alone.
All the girls ended up being pretty nice to her, especially Laura Lee. They all gave her their numbers and added her to their groupchat.
"Most of us haven't known eachother for too long." Mari told her. "Well, except Lottie and Shauna. They knew eachother from college, but they weren't that close."
"Yeah, she always acted like a bitch to me in college." Shauna added.
"Hey, I already told you I didn't know I did, and I apologized!"
"Whatever..." Shauna rolled her eyes and continued to look at her phone. She had that vibe of being really rude and grumpy, but she'd actually been nice to her so far.
"Hey Jackie, did we tell you there's also someone else moving in?" Lottie asked her, breaking the silence.
"What?" The apartment wasn't small, but she hadn't expected anyone else living here apart from them.
"Yeah, Natalie. She's moving in I think... Tomorrow? I'm not sure."
"Yes, tomorrow evening." Laura Lee confirmed.
Misty got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen. "I'm going to prepare tea. Does anyone want?"
Jackie politely declined, and continued the conversation. "So what is she like?"
"Who, Natalie?" Lottie asked, and Jackie nodded. "I dunno. We've barely talked with her."
The conversion went on for a few more minutes, them talking about their interests, their life, their friends, etc.
There's no way I'm sleeping here. Jackie thought as she entered Misty and her's bedroom. As if the neighborhood and elevator hadn't been enough. Half of the room was colorfully decorated by Misty, she supposed. The other half looked as if rats lived there. The bed she was supposed to sleep in wasn't even comfortable!
However, she hadn't found anything better and cheaper, and the girls were nice, so she had to settle for what she had.
"I'm sorry that your part of the room looks boring!" Misty said nervously. "I didn't decorate it because I thought you would've wanted to share room with Shauna."
"It's okay, don't worry." She smiled to the girl.
Unlike she'd thought she would, she slept well on that bed. Misty snored while she slept, though, but it was no big deal.
She unpacked her things and left her shampoo and skincare items on a shelf in the bathroom.
Shauna and Lottie were having breakfast, so Jackie joined them.
"Good morning!"
"Hey!" Lottie replied joyfully, with a piece of toast in her mouth, making her sound funny.
"Good morning" Shauna replied.
"Is there anything I could grab from the kitchen?" Jackie asked.
"Uh, yeah. I'll show you" Shauna got up.
"Cool. Thanks" She followed her to the kitchen.
The day followed as usual. Laura Lee and Lottie went shopping, and Misty went to work after having breakfast.
"You have a job already?" Jackie asked her.
"Well, duh. I'm a nurse Trainee."
"A nurse? That must be difficult."
"It is, girl is genius." Mari said, making Misty blush a bit, but still smiled at the compliment.
"I'm still in desperate need for a job, I need to make some money." Jackie said.
"You could work at the cafe nextdoor!" Mari suggested. "It's a small business, and Shauna works there. She could get you a place in it."
"That sounds... Great" They both turned to Shauna.
"Oh, hell no" Shauna said, shaking her head. "I'm not gonna talk with my boss."
"Pleaase?" Mari asked her. "She'll do whatever you want"
"Hey, I didn't say I would do whatever she wants!" Jackie quickly said.
"But you will." Mari turned to her. "Right?"
"Okay, I will."
"So, Shauna?"
"Sure... Whatever I want it is."
"I'm kinda scared now." Jackie told Mari.
"Oh, you should."
"What do you mean I should-"
Misty, Lottie and Laura Lee arrived around the same hour. The two latter ones had bought a lot of clothes.
They were trying them on in their bedroom when the doorbell rang.
"It's probably Natalie!" Misty exclaimed.
She quickly walked up to the door and opened it.. There was a blonde girl standing there.
"Are you stealing and using our wifi again?" The girl asked her. "Oh, I see there's a new one." She pointed at Jackie. "How many people live in here?"
"First of all, I'm not using your wifi! I already told you it hadn't been us the last time, and it isn't us this time either." Misty explained. "Also that 'new girl' is Jackie." She turned to her. "This is Melissa. Our neighbor." Based on Misty's face expression, it seemed like Melissa wasn't a nice neighbor.
It was at 8pm that Natalie, their new roomate, arrived.
"Hopefully it isn't Melissa again" Shauna said when the doorbell rang again and Misty walked up to the door.
She opened the door, and this time, a different blonde was standing there: Natalie.
"Hi!" Misty greeted her. "I'm Misty"
Natalie nodded. "Hey, nice to meet you."
Laura Lee quickly walked up to them. "Hi, Natalie, I'm Laura Lee." Apparently, it was her who'd talked with her instead of Misty, unlike in Jackie's situation.
They entered the living room with Natalie, Misty going into the kitchen to prepare something for dinner. "What do you usually like to eat for dinner, Natalie?" Misty asked blithely.
"Huh?" Natalie hadn't known the girl was talking to her. "Oh, whatever you guys eat. I'll eat anything"
"Uh, okay.. And you, Jackie?" She asked again, turning to Jackie.
"Same as Natalie. But I'm allergic to fish sauce, so have that in mind"
"Okay! Shauna, can you help me cook?" Misty asked.
Shauna sighed as she got up from the couch.
"I'll help you, Misty!" Mari quickly got up from the couch and reached Misty before Shauna could.
"Whatever" Shauna said, seating again. "Got up for nothing." She sighed again.
Natalie was texting someone—or maybe writing, who knows—on her phone. "Does anyone have the wifi password?" She asked.
Lottie and Laura Lee laughed. Apparently they were stealing it from their neighbors. Lottie told her the password and Jackie put it too.
Music was coming from the kitchen. Jackie didn't recognize the song or artist it was, but she couldn't say she disliked it.
After a good thirty minutes, Mari and Misty finally arrived from the kitchen. "Have you burnt anything?" Lottie asked them.
"Not this time!" Mari replied. They were grabbing two pizzas. "You both like pizzas, right? I mean, I'd probably kick you out if you didn't, but just making sure."
"Yeah" Jackie laughed, and Natalie nodded.
"Okay, you can either sleep with... Shauna" Misty said as they passed by Shauna's bedroom's door.
"Yeah, no." Natalie said after seeing there was only one bed.
"...Or with Jackie and I!" Misty said, standing on her bedroom door.
Natalie inspected the room. "Oh fuck no" She muttered.
The girl was dressed all black, and wearing a smokey eye... Of course she didn't like Misty's room, Jackie thought. Completely opposite aesthetics.
"What?" Misty hadn't heard what Natalie'd said.
"Uh, nothing. I'll take this one, sure. But you're not noisy while you sleep, right?" She asked her.
"Well..." Natalie raised an eyebrow. "No, no!" Misty replied, finally. What a lie.
Jeff still hadn't texted her. Maybe it's for the better, She thought. She turned off her phone, ready to sleep. Natalie was already asleep—or so she thought—, while Misty watched something in her... iPad?
No, actually, Misty wasn't watching any in her iPad, she was asleep. And snoring, again.
"Oh god, Misty!" Natalie said, apparently awake.
Natalie's words made Misty wake up. "Huh?" She said, in a sleepy tone.
"Can you not snore? I thought you didn't make noise while you slept"
"Uh, sorry."
Jackie ignored the girls' conversation, since she'd gotten a message. Maybe it's finally Jeff, she thought. Gosh, she needed to move on.
As expected, it wasn't Jeff.
Shauna
idk if ur asleep
i messaged my boss
he said you go for an interview tomorrow 11:45
Jackie
omg really??
tysm omgomg
Shauna
yw
but be prepared for him
a 60yo who doesnt play w his familys business
Jackie
oh lmao
im lowkey scared rn then
Shauna
nah its ok
im sure u will do great
hes still got a soft spot
somewhere
idk where
but he probably does
im not sure tho
Jackie
ur making me more scared now
Jackie huffed as a laugh.
"Oh my goodness, not you too!" Natalie said, her whole head covered with her pillow.
"I'm sorry!" Jackie whispered in response and turned off her phone once again, this time actually going to sleep and managing to do so.
Jackie put on some makeup. Not too much, just the perfect amount so it seemed like she wasn't trying too hard, but she didn't look ugly.
Well, Jackie knew she wasn't ugly, but she still felt a bit insecured without makeup.
She left the house with Shauna to go to the interview. Meanwhile, Shauna waited for her outside.
She ended up getting the job. Turned out it was also kind of a bakery and they had to cook, not just prepare coffees. But a job was a job, and she wouldn't complain.
"So when do I start?" She asked.
"Uh... You could start tomorrow. It's already too late to start today at this hour."
"Sure. Well, Thank you so much!"
"Hey, Misty, Can I invite a friend over?" Natalie asked her. Most of the girls were sitting on the huge couch in the livinng room, except for Laura Lee, who was showering.
"Yeah, sure!" She smiled.
"Okay, cool" She grabbed her phone and texted her friend.
"They arrived!" Natalie said excitedly, jumping from the couch to go open the door.
"They...? Did she invite more than one friend?" Misty murmured, and Jackie shrugged.
Turns out it was only one friend. "Palmer!" Natalie greeted them.
"Hey, Nat!" Palmer replied. "Hey, do you know that girl nextdoor? She's fine"
"Who?"
"That one girl with the curly hair"
"Nah, I haven't seen her." Natalie said. Then, she turned to the girls. "This is Van"
"Hi Van!" Misty was the first one to talk. The other girls waved, instead.
"Hey" She looked around. "Wait, I know you." She said, pointing at Mari, surprised.
"Wait, Van... Palmer?!" Mari said equally surprised.
"What do y'all know each other from?" Natalie asked.
"We both went on that film school course, last year" Mari replied. "I had her as a partner for a project"
"Yeah, man you were terrible at it" Van laughed.
"Well, I was only there for fun!" Mari excused herself
"What do you want, Travis?" Natalie suddenly said, her phone on her ear.
"Not Travis again" Van said and sighed, and Natalie sushed them.
"Yes. No. No, I already told you I won't be there!" She said, and hung up. "Sorry. My boyfriend's annoying as hell."
"She got a boyfriend? Fuck I was already about to shoot my shot." Mari joked. "You look gay as fuck."
"Whatever that means..?" Natalie replied.
"She's not wrong though" Van told her.
"Do you know her, Mari?" Van was asking once again for the curly haired girl.
"Yeah, Taissa."
"She's gay, right?"
"I don't know. How am I supposed to, if they all hate us?"
"Oh, shit, then she's probably also gonna hate me."
Van decided she was going to leave after having dinner.
"So.. What's up with our neighbors?" Natalie asked once Van left.
"What do you mean?" Shauna asked.
"Who are they? Why do they hate you?"
"Well, our neighbors nextdoor are Taissa, Gen, Akilah and Melissa. They hate us for no reason."
"Are you sure there isn't a reason?" Natalie asked, raising an eyebrow. That made Jackie laugh a little.
"I swear, they just hate us."
"I'm still not conviced." Natalie said in a laugh before going back to her phone.