Page 5 of One More Weekend

So I selected the Studio+ option, basically letting the app find me any possible unit. Inputting my ideal rent range, I decided on a $0 minimum and a $1500 maximum.

If I take another job, I can make the extra $600 happen for now.

Then it prompted me to select neighborhoods and boroughs. Looking at the huge map of New York City, I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn’t had to live outside of Manhattan my entire college career, a privilege afforded by student loans subsidizing my housing.

But I wasn’t picky, I’d explored plenty of this city and was certain I could make any borough work… even if it made my commutes to gigs exponentially worse.

Once I’d set the parameters, I clicked the magnifying glass and waited as the app rendered some results.

3 results popped onto the screen.

Fuck.My heart sank at the options. The addresses alone were enough to make my stomach hurt. One was an address for Brighton Beach, all the way out by Coney Island, another in College Point, Queens, and the last in Kingsbridge, the Bronx.

They would all make my commutes over an hour long.

Shaking it off, I sighed.I can’t be picky. Just look at them.

I forced myself to click the top result. $1499 in College Point. A basement studio, the pictures did their best to make it look luxurious. The tile floors were aux marble, peeling up at the corners of the room.

Squinting, I hunted through the pictures for any windows.

But it didn’t seem like there was a single one in the entire place.

That cannot be legal…

Despite knowing it was probably a complete health hazard, I clicked to expand the description anyway.

The listing agent really gave it their all:

Takea look at this incredible deal! Situated in the quiet College Point neighborhood, this studio features seamless living and convenience.

I couldn’t stopmyself from scoffing. “Seamless? I think they mean wall-less.”

Riiiinggg, Riiiinggg.My alarm blared from the top of the phone screen, signaling that it was time to check the food.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the anxiety boiling in my chest. As if losing my best friend to her parents' incessant demands that she pick up her life to move back home wasn’t enough, I would have a few months to find a new place without her.

She might not go.

Closing my eyes, I nodded. I was getting ahead of myself. I lifted the pot lid, a pillow of steam rising from the pot with the smell of the finished food.

From behind me, I heard Jenna’s door pop open. “Is this too much?”

Whipping around, I felt my heart drop to the floor. My eyes widened at the low-cut blouse and the ultra-high-waisted trousers. It wasn’t even that different from her work outfits but the way she carried herself had completely shifted.

Despite her still swollen eyes, she looked like she was ready to go on a revenge tour.

And I was just lucky to tag along.

4

JENNA

My nerves grewas Sy took longer to respond. Nervously, I looked my outfit up and down through the mirror across the room. “Definitely too much.”

I shook my head as I turned on my heels to find something more covered up. It’s not like we were headed to The Woods to find some hookups. We were just going out for drinks and singing, a tradition for the apartment to go once a week.

And besides, it was a Thursday which meant almost nowhere would have karaoke tonight. Except old faithful, Winnie’s Bar.

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