Chapter Nine

I walk into my new apartment building, Jackson by my side.

"Well, hon," he says. "How do you like it?"

I sigh exasperatedly. "It's big!"

He laughs. He picks up some of the boxes on the ground. I take some and push on the door with my back. We walk to the elevator together and go up to the sixth floor. Jackson smiles. "It's a fresh start for us!" he says. I nearly choke on my own saliva.

"Us?"

Jackson shrugs as the elevator door opens. "Well, yeah!" he says, stepping out and going down the hall. "We have to start our lives together somewhere!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I say, stopping him at the door. I put my boxes down and snatch the keys from him. "I'm sorry, Jackson, but we can't live together yet. Plus, I'm pretty sure I have a roommate."

Jackson makes a face. He rolls his eyes and drops the rest of my boxes on the floor next to my feet. "Fine." He walks off and I watch him get into the elevator and disappear. I fumble with my fingers. Maybe that was a bad move. Ever since the… incident, I've always gone along with what he said…

I unlock the door and open it a bit and poke my head inside. "Hello?"

I see one of the bedroom doors open. A girl with short, light pink hair walks out in an oversized tee and no visible pants. "Um, hello?" she says, looking a bit bewildered.

"Oh sorry, I say. I hold up my key, opening the door a little wider. "I'm Kimberly Winters? Your new roommate?"

"Oh yes, I got a notice about that…" the girl says. She clears her throat. "I'm Amy Brown." She shrugs, looking as if she doesn't know what else to say. I smile.

"Um, it's okay if you don't want to," I say. "But would you mind helping me move in?" I blush. What a stupid question.

"Oh," she says, leaning over and looking at my boxes outside the door. "I'd be happy to, but know I'm not very strong."

I smile. "Thanks."

I heave box after box into my new bedroom, across from the living room and next to Amy's. As we set the final box down in the bedroom, I push my sleeves up to my elbows.

"What's that?" Amy asks softly. She points at my arm. I look down and see the cuts on my arm. I quickly shove my sleeves down and smile awkwardly.

"Haha, just my old cat!" I blush. I made those after my breakup with Josh.

Amy doesn't look convinced. She looks down. "Well," she says. "See you around, I guess."

"Y-Yeah…"

* * *

I look around at my new bedroom. Except for the bed and dresser (both being shipped here by my mom in Wyoming and should arrive tomorrow), my room was complete. I'm going to put the bed in the corner next to the window. That way, when I wake up in the morning, I can look down at the city.

I smile and put my hands on my hips. Perfect. I start setting out my blankets for my bed for the night. I'm just putting the pillow on my mini-bed when I get a text. I straighten up and get my phone from the nightstand. I unlock it and go to messages. It's from Jackson.

Jackson: i just found a new place in sacramento

Me: does that mean ur moving?

Jackson: ye

Me: what does that mean for us?

Jackson: idk

Me: well, you need to decide.

Jackson: look im breaking up with you

Me: wut?

Jackson: since ur making such a big deal out of this

Me: jackson, we r in a relationship, of course im making a big deal

Jackson: whatever ive already decided

Me: why don't you stop f**king every girl you come across and think about real love for once.