CHAPTER 18

MIA

Dear Resident,

As a valued tenant, we would love to hear your opinions on the recent work/repair to your unit that was completed on September 22nd at 11:50 a.m. We would be grateful if you could take the time to fill out the survey attached below.

Thank you again!

“Let me see.” Eleanor's soft voice breaks through the shield that has kept me stagnant for the past few hours. I don't even try to fight when she snatches my phone from my hands.

A few silent moments pass, and I glance up to see El’s sharp eyes still assessing my screen.

“What a joke, huh?” I chuckle at my question, but it comes out dry and forced.

“I mean, that was almost three days ago!” My voice hardened ruthlessly, and I began pacing around my “newly” fixed apartment like many times before. Now that I’m out of my daze, I’ve already started to ramble. Curses fell from my mouth as I seethed with humiliation. The weight of my steps change from the feeling of rage beginning to surge through me.

“I could've been perfectly fine in my own apartment. She let me suffer for no reason.” My arms flail around as I make my way back to Eleanor's side, just in time for her head to snap up in my direction.

“You were suffering ?” El’s eyebrows shoot up as a small smirk begins to grow on her face.

My cold eyes narrowed at her. “This really isn’t the time for jokes. She used me, El.”

Within seconds, Eleanor’s smile drops and is quickly replaced with a look of defeat. She immediately pulls me into her side tightly.

“Okay, you're right. I’m sorry, I shouldn't be joking around.” Her agreement makes me break away from her grasp, and I’m back to pacing. Half of what I’m saying could be considered gibberish, but it didn't matter. My mind was too busy making up scenarios on how this happened.

Maybe she and her friends had a bet to see if she could get the shy prude next door into her bed.

She probably thought I’d be an easy fuck if I were just in her place

Or she thought that she could use me just as entertainment.

Fuck, this all really was just a game.

“I mean, is this not fucking insane? How selfish could she really be?” I bark out.

Even though I’m in my own world, I can detect Eleanor's cautious silence from a mile away. In one swift turn, I’m facing a tight-lipped, anxious-looking El.

“What?” There was already an edge to my voice.

“Oh, nothing.” El’s contemptuous tone strikes something within me.

“Don’t do that shit El, what is it?”

She sighs with exasperation.

“I mean, I just don't buy it.” Her voice is loud and abrupt, and immediately, I’m silenced. Her shoulders drop, and so does the facade she’s held back this entire time.

After a few moments of staring blankly at each other, I clear my throat and speak up. “Don't buy what?”

“I don't buy any of this, Mia—” Her hands begin waving around in my face. “—You're going to tell me you didn't enjoy being there one bit this week?”

She doesn’t let me answer as she continues, “This is the most adventurous, fun, and confident I’ve ever seen you. Do you think I actually believe you when you say you were ‘suffering’?” She asks matter-of-factly.

The air quotes and roll of her eyes make my jaw drop in disbelief.

“Because from the looks of it, the only thing you're suffering from is a case of good di—”

“Okay, enough!” I cut her off before she could finish.

I don't think I can take much more. Granted, I did run out on Griffon's place mid-argument. So, yes, my hair might still be fucked up, and my outfit may look a little haphazard, but I didn't have time to really think about that when I told her to come over.

“Okay, okay. I promise I’m done teasing.” Her hands raise in defense.

“But seriously, Mia, why would Griffon set you up in her bedroom and stay in her own living room for three days just to sleep with you? Have you seen her do that with anyone she’s brought over?” Eleanor’s face was strong and determined as if she knew exactly what she needed to say.

The silence tension from the silence that followed was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Quickly, I turned away, making no response, as I fought against the tears I refused to let fall.

I wavered, trying to comprehend what I was hearing. Suddenly, all of my anger from before turned into confusion as I wandered restlessly around the room. But this time, I kept my mouth welded shut as my mind tried to register the abrupt change in my conflicting emotions.