This is my castle. Uncle Andy told me as we walked through the lot to the front of the building. If it wasnt for the heat outside I dont think I wouldve been convinced to actually go in. Again I was tempted to turn and run, but I didnt. I kept walking up the crumbling steps behind a man I didnt know, didnt want to know; who was probably not a great person to be spending the next few weeks with. Still, something kept me in that decrepit building. One step. Two step, three step, four. Fourth step on flight number two, I swear my life changed again. No shirt and a gorgeous body, she was wearing a black bathing suit top and cut off shortsI almost dropped my bag, I was sweaty enough as it is. She wasnt wearing shoes, she sort of had a baby face with really dark brown hair, almost black with blood red lowlights, she was pale and her skin was flawless almost like porcelain and I wondered how she managed to keep it so prefect when it was so sunny and hot and she was running around in a bathing suit. No swimsuit model could touch that body, I found myself staring and I couldnt remember when exactly I had started finding women attractive besides Bette. Betteokay so maybe this girl wasnt as gorgeous as Bette Porter, but she could definitely give her a run for her money. Thankfully she didnt see me staring and we walked past her into Andys less than palatial apartment. It wasnt that small, it wasnt huge either. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen/dining/living area was what it was comprised of. I put my bag down and looked around. At least it didnt smell. He turned to me and said he had to go to work. I nodded. You dont talk too much do ya? He said with a quirked eyebrow. My mom told me not to talk to strangers. I deadpanned. He smiled and chuckled in the back of his throat. Dont worry, well be family by the time you leave. It didnt sound pervy the way he said it, which I was expecting and I was thankful it wasnt, it was more hopeful than anythingstrange. He turned away and walked in to his room and came back out seconds later wearing a rumpled bowling shirt. You can come if you want, Ill show you around maybe you can meet some people. I shook my head, I didnt want to meet the great masses of unwashed at the alley. I could just imagine the gum stuck to the seats, athletes foot or the current flu being passed from ball to ball, shoe to shoe. I made up an excuse, well not really an excuse; but something to get out of going anyway. Ill stay here, its been a long trip, long day. He nodded. Okay, maybe its better that way, not really a great neighborhood ya know? I rolled my eyes. Like I couldnt tell already. He looked at me for a second, like he was afraid I would steal something if he left. Theres nothing to take, and I have nowhere to go or youd believe Id be pawning ***** off to get myself out of here. He leaves without saying goodbye and Im left alone in a unfamiliar apartment. I was grateful though, I needed the silence to think. Unfortunately it wasnt silent. I made my way through the apartment making note of the different noises. Glurp.glurpglurp. Drops of hot water bursting against the stainless steel kitchen sink. Plunk..plunk. Cool drops dripping on chipped bathroom porcelain and tile. Chh-ka-chh, was the branches of a tree scratching against the bedroom window. My bedroom, I guess. I put my bad gown on the bed. You crazy son of a *****! I jumped when the voice penetrated the thin plaster walls, and then let out a huge sigh and sat heavily on the bed. I wanted to talk to Bette. I noticed Andy didnt have a phone. I resigned myself to writing her a letter later so that he could get it when she arrived at school. Bit for now I needed sleep, I laid down against the bed which was almost as stiff and uncomfortable as cardboard. I rubbed my eyes. I figured I wasnt gonna get much sleep so (unfortunately maybe?) I went outside. There was smoke curling throughout the stairwell and I could smell it as soon as the door opened. I heard soft voices and giggles; a pheromone fog was taking over the stench of cigarettes. I sat on the top step, where the two couldnt see me and watched. The girl from earlier and some other girl, a blonde with light blue streaks in her hair wearing a pair of board shorts and a bathing suit top; they both matched the color in her hair. She wasnt as striking as the dark haired girl, but she wasnt unattractiveshe lookeddesperate, was the only word I could think of at the time. She may have looked desperate, but she wouldnt give it up. I guess she was trying to play hard to get Please. The brunette pleads, I can see her giving the blonde puppy eyes. Cant. the blonde responds, you can tell she struggling with her decision. Why not? Im not that kind of girl. At this the brunette gives her a skeptical look and leaned in running her tongue up the side of the blondes neck up to her ear, nibbling it gently when she gets there. They spend the next 15 minutes disproving the blondes theory that she isnt that kind of girl. Until theyre interrupted by a voice. Sweetie? Mamma? The blonde responds in a sticky sweet voice that belies what she was just doing in the stairwell. Come on inside now. Sure, be right there. Its clearly a lie. The brunette pulls her into her lap and silences any oncoming protests by back to back full lipped kisses. Now. The brunette says, her voice is so thick and husky that it makes me shiverand it wasnt even directed at me. The blonde chick gives her another, shorter kiss. Later. Promise? Cross my heart. At that she turned and went inside. I dont know if I was disappointed or relieved. The blonde chick had her. I didnt even know why I was giving it serious thought. Bette. Bette was the only one for meeverand she was more stunning and drop dead gorgeous than both those girls put together. So why did I keep thinking that I wanted that girls perfect pout reaching for my own lips, that I wanted her hands investigating the hills and valleys of my landscape. I didnt want her hands buried in my hair or her lips on my neck. I shouldnt want this stranger so badlyI didnt want herher smoke making me gag.I didnt want a girlfriendI had a girlfriendsort of, well okay not really because she broke up with me. She did want me to find someone elsebut its not rightright? Besides, I wouldnt know what to sayIve never been asked out by a girlbeing with Bette was different. We were friends first. I mustve made a nose of something, moaned loudly, because the next thing I know shes popped above the railing of the stairs. HeyOh its you. She said it like she knew me and knew that I had no life anymore. She knew that Id be watching and set up that little show for me. I was waiting for you. I coughedwell that means that she noticed me. I pushed my sweaty hands onto the legs of my jeans leaving sweaty palm prints behind. I croaked out a hello. She smiles, more of a smirk I guess than anything, and blurts out, I know what youre thinking. I struggle to say somethingcoolwittyat all. Before she finds out that Im an incredible nerd and leaves. You think youre too good for me right? She climbed the rest of the stairs slinking gracefully up next to me, I noticed how green her eyes were, almost like emeralds. She sat next to me and touched my cheek with a warm hand. But youre not. I shook my head, mute once again, I remembered that this was exactly how I acted when Bette first talked to meIm in trouble. What then? Why are you looking at me like that? I probably wouldnt have looked at her as brazenly as I was, but something stirred inside of me. I know you can talk, I heard you. What could I tell her? Somethingrather someone was growing inside of me? A different personality, someone I didnt know was begging to be brought out to play. I wondered what Bette would sayor if this would even be happening around her, I could always be myself around her. I didnt hate this though. You know, youre cute, in a stuck up kinda way. This new feeling was pumping red hot in my veins, red bursts behind my eyelids. Blood pressure rose and I was blushing. How long are you here for? Whats your name? This time I spoke, well it may have been meor it was herus. It was her tongue that curled behind my teeth and pushed out the air, her words melting past my lips. My friends call me Sadie. Who the ***** was Sadie? Id heard the name maybe twice in my life. Where the ***** had that come from? Pretty name. My hormones raced, I could feel my blood pumping harder, confidence flooded my system, I call it residual prom queen. You? I asked coolly. My friends call me Lola. Hardly a name for such a baby face, she sounded like a stripper. Sadie asked for the name on her birth certificate. She sighed and looked down. Dorian, she whispered in that husky voice that was starting to do my head in. So where did Lola come from? My middle name, Dorian Lolita Alaneda. Dorain is such a guys name, I dont like using it. I like it better than Lola, it doesnt seem like the right name for you. I forgot completely that I hadnt even given her my real name. For some reason I felt myself blurt out, Lolita means sorrowful I give her a sideways look and her eyebrows are creased together, she doesnt look like a wanton ***** kitten anymore, maybe a confused ***** kitten. I hear her laugh a little and relax. Youre strange. I agreed whole heartedly with her on that one. Who in the ***** was Sadie? Was she here for good? I was snapped out of my thoughts again, But Id really like to get to know you. I found myself wanting to know her too, know what the blonde with the blue streaks knew. Sadie may have pulled her closer, tempted a kissbut reality was brought back full force with the slamming of a door and a high pitched voice calling her name. Up here. She said while still looking at me closely, she flashed me a big grin, chock full of warped humor. I smiled back and got up to go inside. How long are you staying? All of the sudden it wasnt long enough, my first day here and I wanted to die, later in that day and I wanted to stay here forever. Three weeks. She looked down at the steps like she was deep in thought. Hmm, not much time. I heard footsteps on the stairs and Sadie vanished leaving Tina in her wakepanicked. But maybe enough. She finished with a wink. Enter the blonde. She really wasnt that cute up closeokso maybe I was a little jealous. She took in the scene stone faced and serious and asked Whos she? as if Dorian had something to explain. But she didntdid she? Sadie. She said, her voice was right next to my ear. I saw the claws spring to life, Lynn. She said smoothly grasping for Dorians hand. I decided to let them go, do whatever they were going to do. Her hand found mine and she squeezed it. I blushed again. See you soon. It was a promiseand I felt it. The moment was ripped from me by Lynns high pitched girly voice. Me too. I guess thatll teach me to spy on my neighbors. I ran in the apartment and slammed the door. I tried to breathe, to laugh, to make the thumping in my head quiet. I went in to the kitchen, or the kitchen portion of the room to get a drink or maybe just to move around. What I got however was a glimpse of the biggest ***** cockroach I had ever seen. I jumped like my life depended on it and grabbed a spatula off the counter and smacked it to death. Turning I headed to my bedroom chucking the now less than sanitary spatula back onto the counter. I hope dear old Uncle Andy doesnt use it, I thought with a slightly wicked grin.