Ten blocks from his college, a young man pulls his motorcycle into the garage of the apartment he moved into about a month before the semester started. He collected his mail on his way up the stairs to his place, then threw it on the sofa as he walked to the phone to check his messages.
*Five messages. That's a new record,* he thought as the recording began to play.
"Chiba," the throaty voice of his landlord warned, "you're a month behind in your rent payment. I know you're having trouble with money, but I can't let you keep putting this off. Why don't you ask your parents for the money? I'm sure they'd be willing to help. Whatever you do, I need that money and I need it soon." There was a click as the tape moved onto the next message, but the man was still stuck on what his landlord had said.
*My parents?! Yeah, right! They hardly know I exist, except as leveridge to piss each other off. They didn't even know I had my own place til they started pestering each other about who I was supposed to be staying with!*
As if to prove his point, the last four messages were from his parents, each demanding that he let them see his apartment before he let the other visit. Letting the tape rewind while he went into his bedroom, he quickly changed into some more casual clothes and got ready for work. His leather jacket half on, he locked the door to his apartment and headed to the arcade where he was currently employed. As he wheeled his bike out and began his trek downtown, he accelerated out to the street and came to a swerving halt. The girl he nearly ran over was knocked over, but quickly got to her feet and accepted his apology for not paying attention. Their eyes locked for a brief second as they went their seperate ways, but it was long enough to know that both were wishing they could go the other way.
© Princess Driena, 2001