Money is the route of all evil.
It's a pretty common phrase, but it never held more true to myself than as I sat in that dimly lit office, watching the dust play in the light that gently filtered through the eggshell colored blinds. I wasn't here for my enjoyment, I merely wanted to sign my portion of the apartment lease and get settled in before things got too out of hand. Of course, I was early though thanks to my mother's old habits and waiting on the landlord felt like an century. With as much money as my family had, I still couldn't quite wrap my head around on the idea that my first apartment was going to be shared. Shared with a man I had never met before. It just so happened that I stumbled upon his ad for a roommate and I was desperate enough to jump ship and cling to his support.
Poor little rich boy, right? What could be so bad that you would decide posing as a poor kid was your only avenue?
The answer was simple and complicated all at once. Marriage. I wasn't ready for such a commitment as it was, I was still a kid at heart despite the fact that I could now legally sit at a bar without a fake ID. A relationship was one thing, but I didn't want to tie the knot just yet. Especially not to Tyra Hawkins. We grew up together and she was the girl my family couldn't wait to welcome with open arms. The only problem? I didn't want that. Now I know how that sounds, but you've got to look at it this way. She was gorgeous - petite stature and long curly ebony hair - she was stunning, but I just wasn't attracted to her because of one simple fact. My sexual orientation just fell to the opposite gender and the icing on the cake was that my family didn't know.
Sure, telling them would be the easier way to handle things, but I honestly didn't have the heart. It seemed more appropriate for the time being just to fly under the radar as much as possible. So that's exactly what I was doing.
I jumped as the door finally swung open, the smell of strong black coffee hitting my nose as the landlord approached the old wooden desk. We didn't indulge in too much small talk thanks to my brisk responses and impatient demeanor. In a matter of maybe ten minutes we'd danced through the paperwork and I found myself signing my name on the dotted line, binding me to this apartment. I stared at my scripted signature - Grayson Matthew Boltz - almost too elegant for my own taste.
Saying my farewell and mustered up appreciation I shook the hand of the landlord and promptly made my way out of the office, key grasped firmly in my hand. Apartment 28B. It wasn't too difficult to find, thank goodness. I could already feel the tension building in my chest as I pushed up the door to the apartment. I don't know what I really expected, but with my heart fluttering so haphazardly in my chest it was a wonder I could still breath. What if this guy saw right through me? I was really gonna have to watch myself to keep this poor kid facade at least semi believable.
"Hello?" I called out, catching a glimpse of myself in the glass that outlined the door. I didn't think I was overly dressed, just a worn out pair of blue jeans and a flannel that purposely didn't have a logo. My dirty blonde hair was slicked back and almost out of paranoia, I ran a hand through it to give more a roughed up look. "Anyone home?" I tried again. "Dude, its Grayson. Your roommate?"
--- Hope this is okay!
