He looks as baffled as I do, which is confusing because then that means—
He recovers first. “You live here?”
“Yeah.” I point to the closed door behind me. “I just moved in.”
“Wow.” He rubs his stubbled jaw.
“Wow, what?” I prompt, still not piecing things together.
He shrugs, a husky chuckle passing through his lips. Rocking back on his heels, he says, “It’s just that it’s such a small world and all.” When my eyes narrow in confusion, he blessedly puts me out of my misery. “I live here.” He points to the door straight across from mine.
“No,” I blurt. How? What? This is insanity. “How is this possible?” I mutter out loud instead of keeping the thought to myself.
Hayden, obviously not freaked out by this turn of events like I am, simply leans back against the wall, resting one foot against it. “I think we were meant to meet again.”
I shake my head, half suspecting I’m still asleep and this is some weird trippy dream. “You think so?”
“Seems like the most plausible explanation.” He rubs his thumb over his bottom lip. “You headed out?”
Unbeknownst to him I pinch my arm. The sharp bite of pain is a stark reminder that this is reality and my savior from the restaurant is not only standing in front of me, but he’s my neighbor too.
He asked you a question, Emilia!
“Oh, uh, yeah I need to get some groceries and I thought I’d drive around and get applications for some different places.”
“What kind of job are you looking for?” He moves away from the wall and we both make our way down the hall and around the corner for the elevator.
“Anything, really. I’m not picky.”
We step onto the elevator together and he pushes the button for the ground floor. “A friend of mine owns a photo studio and has been looking for someone to help out. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
My eyes widen with excited surprise. “Seriously? That would be amazing.”
He leans against the side of the elevator. “I’ll let her know. Do you mind giving me your number? I’ll talk to her in a bit and can let you know what she says?”
“I don’t mind.” I rattle off my number to him and he finishes putting it into his phone as the doors glide open.
We walk out of the building together with his promise to let me know what his friend says later.
With job hunting on the back burner for the moment I decide to pop into the Crate and Barrel a few blocks away. Most of the stuff I like is way too pricey and out of my budget, but I manage to find a few small items to add a touch of my personality to the condo.
After a run into Target and another home store I receive a text from an unknown number.
UNKNOWN: Hey, it’s Hayden. I spoke with Rachelle and she said if you’re interested to drop by the studio today.
Right behind that text he sends a location from Google. It’s not far from where I’m at. A ten-minute drive tops.
Me: I can’t think you enough for this.
Me: THANK. OMG.
Me: My phone hates me I swear.
Hayden: I hope it’ll be a good fit for you.
Me: Me too. Thanks again.
Sticking my phone in the cup holder I drive to the address, parallel parking outside of Sensation Studio. Looking down at my clothes I’m not exactly dressed for a studio, but it could be worse. My jeans are fitted but rip free and the plain black t-shirt doesn’t boast toothpaste stains for once.
I check my reflection in the rearview mirror and wipe away a streak of mascara from beneath my eye. “You can do this,” I chant to myself, refusing to let my nerves get to me before I’ve even stepped inside the building.
Stepping out of the car, the hot sun beams down, warming my shoulders as I approach the inviting bright blue door.
Inside I’m greeted with shiny concrete floors, a stylish velvet blue couch and chair to my left and a long hallway.
“Hello?” I call out hesitantly, not wanting to intrude.
I hear the telltale clack of heels on the hard floors. The woman who appears is breathtakingly beautiful, probably in her late thirties or early forties, with coal black hair reaching past her breasts. Her skin is a warm shade of olive and her eyes are dark. Her red painted lips stretch into a smile.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Um, yeah I’m Emilia—Emmie. Are you Rachelle?”
“Oh, yes! Emmie,” she claps her hands together, her nails freshly manicured. “I’m Rachelle. I own the studio. Well, and do all the work.” Her tinkling laugh fills the air. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Taking her extended hand, I shake it. “It’s nice to meet you. Hayden mentioned you were looking for an employee.”
“Yes, yes,” she chants, motioning me over to the chair and couch. My body sinks into the velvet tufted couch. Crossing my legs, I try my hardest to look composed because I feel far from it. “I need someone to help me with shoots—just stuff like tending to props and moving things as well as keeping things straightened up around here. I also need someone who can handle making phone calls and scheduling shoots.”
I breathe a sigh of relief because all of that seems easy enough and nearly impossible for me to mess up.
“I would be happy to help in any way I can. I’ll be starting classes at Tysons Met in two weeks. Would that be an issue?” I’d rather get that worry out of the way; in case my class hours will be a hindrance.
“It shouldn’t be, but would you mind emailing me your schedule? I’ll give you a business card before you leave.”
“Sure, I can do that.”
“Do you have any background with photography?” She leans back in the chair, crossing her legs.
“None,” I admit. “But to be completely honest I don’t know what I want to do with my life. College felt like a given, but I don’t know who I want to be. Exposing myself to new things and new situations seems like the best way to figure it out.”
Her smile grows at my response. “I love hearing that. Once I get a look at your schedule I’ll know better if this is going to work or not, but it’s been so nice meeting you.”
She holds out her hand as she stands. Looking at it in surprise I take it and give it a shake, not having expected this to go so quickly. I’m not sure whether that’s a good or bad thing.
We say our goodbyes and after a stop at the grocery store, I finally make it back home.
Home—how funny that in only a few days this is starting to feel like home to me, but Molly didn’t even try.
I don’t want to dwell on her obvious absence but it’s hard not to. We were supposed to be making this adjustment together, but she’s left me on my own. I wonder how she’d feel if the roles were reversed.
After putting all the groceries away, I set the odds and ends around the apartment that I bought to make the condo feel more like me. When that’s all done, I email my schedule over to Rachelle hoping she offers me the job. Not because it means I don’t have to look for something else, but I think I’d enjoy working for her. She seems relaxed and I wasn’t lying when I said I’d like the opportunity to be exposed to something new.
My mom works at the local library while my dad is an insurance broker. Neither has ever held any interest to me and since Atlas is a free spirit who’s not content doing any one thing, I haven’t had much experience with anything else.