It seems the cheap rent doesn't make up for the distance because I had to wait a few days. But eventually one afternoon my phone rings.

"Yeah?" I answer my phone on the second ring, but there is no answer on the other end, asshole. I'm about to hang up when I hear a hesitant "Hello?" It's a woman's voice, or a girl, hard to guess over the phone.

I hear her clear her throat. "Sorry, I-I'm calling about the room and I somehow, from the way the ad was written, I thought it was a woman who owns the house. You know, there wasn't a name and because of the 'looking for quiet and clean person' part,... which I am, I am very clean and quiet, I can put some meals together too-" She stops suddenly. Sounds like a nervous talker. I chuckle as she rambles away. And a girl, perfect! She takes a deep breath and continues. "Anyway, I wanted to ask if it's still free...." she trails off.

"Yeah, it is. Wanna come see it?" I hear her let out a breath as if she was holding it before.

"Yes, I'd like to, I'm in kinda situ- I just need a place as soon as possible so, could I come today? Whenever you are free." Yeah, I'm in kind of a situation myself here.

"Today is fine. I'll text you the directions to this number? You be here at seven."

"Okay, yeah, great! See you tonight, bye."

"Yeah, bye." I hang up.

A few hours later I watch the girl from my kitchen window. Well, what I can see of her, which isn't much. I can see she has blond hair but her face, I can't see it very well through the windshield.

She's here on time but she's still sitting in her car. I see her head turning from left to right as if looking around, then back to the road. What's she doing? I know I don't have a white fence around a neatly mown lawn, but it's not a complete dump either.

Finally, she climbs out of her car and heads for the house.

I go open the door for her but as I do just that I find her heading to her car again. What the hell?

"Hey," I call after her and step out of the house to walk to her. She jumps a little and turns to me. She moves so fast, her ponytail swings around her head and slaps her face. Huh, no make-up. That's not very usual these days. She looks familiar too but I just can't place her.

When she sees me she freezes on the spot though. "It's you-," she whispers under her breath. So quietly I almost don't catch it, as if she doesn't even mean to say it out loud. "Um, I'm sorry, I-I don't think this is a good idea." She starts to back up to her car and I follow, slowly. 

"What are you talking about? You are here for the room right? You haven't even seen it yet."

Her back hits the car and she jumps again. What's up with her? I stop moving, to leave her some room to breathe.

I really need her to stay.

She clears her throat, much like she did on the phone. "I- I saw you." It's my turn to freeze on the spot. "In the quarry, the other day, you were there with your, um, friend? I guess?"

I stare at her and then it clicks in my head. Oh yeah! Right! That's why she seems familiar. It's the misfit girl from the party. That's where I saw her. I look at her closely. Yep, the plain shirt, the jeans, the sneakers. It seems her party preparation lies in letting her hair down.

"Brother. What about it? I saw you there too." I give her a small smile. "Come look at the room and I'll forget all about you staring at me at the party." She blushes. How cute.

But then she checks herself and gets serious again. She looks me in the eye.

"I was just thinking, about the girl your brother -it seemed- I'm sorry, I really should go." She makes a move as if to turn for the handle but I reach it first startling her in the process. She takes a step away so I lean on the door and I show her my hands in a placating gesture.

"Listen, my brother is a manwhore, that is true, but that girl there was wasted, nothing more nothing less. You didn't hear her screaming for help, did you? Wasted people just do stupid things. Nothing you have to worry yourself about. And it doesn't even matter because my brother doesn't live here, I do, and I am in need of someone for the room and you are the only one who called so far. So please..."

She looks to the side for a moment, thinking. But eventually, she looks back at me and gives me a small nod.

"Okay, yeah, I guess I did jump to conclusions a little too quickly," she sighs, "Sorry."

"It's all good, so now we can move on." I give her a small smile and make an 'after you' gesture in the general direction of the house.

She still doesn't seem completely convinced though as she drags her legs on her way to the door. Damn it. She waits by the threshold. I motion for her to enter but she hesitates again and glances at me.

Do I have my 'I kill people' shirt on today or what? Strangely enough, I'm not annoyed by her delaying. For some reason, it just doesn't bother me.

"Tell me what else worries you," I tell her, better to have it sorted here and now.

She starts to fidget, her eyes drop to the floor and she's blushing again. I hear her mutter something, but it's too quiet for me to understand.

"What was that?" I ask and she glances up at me and clears her throat, again. I'm so giving her coughing syrup as a welcome gift.

She hesitates for a moment but then she starts talking again. "You are a guy-!"

Huh? What that has to do with anything? It's not like she didn't know that before she came. She seems to see my confusion because she continues.

"What I mean is, when I found out it's a man who owns the house outside the city I thought it's some old widower who wants company, maybe someone who'd make him a homemade meal sometimes. And then it's you, and -I don't know, makes me nervous-" she trails off.

Okay, I can work with that. I touch her elbow to get her attention. I plant a smile on my face, again and when she looks at me I start.

"You've got nothing to worry about, there is no need for you to be nervous. You know what? I think I should be the nervous one here. I've never lived with a girl before. I've never lived with anyone besides my brother. So let's make a deal. If I do something that makes you uncomfortable just tell me and I stop doing it, and I'll do the same. Sounds cool?" She seems to contemplate what I told her, good, that's better than her leaving. "Look, like I said, I really do need someone here, and seeing as you are the only one who called I'm open to any suggestions you have. I wouldn't mind the homemade meals neither." I wink at her and she gives me a small smile and after a few more moments a nod.

"Okay, I'm sorry, it's just, with everything that's going on around here, I guess my nerves keep getting the better of me."

"Understandable, so what's your name?" I ask her because I only now realize I don't know it.

"It's Lana. Lana Arnold. Yours?"

"Jackson Monroe. You good?" She nods. "Good! Come see the house and the room."

I give her quick, quiet tour and now we are standing in hopefully her room. I'm leaning on the doorframe and she's taking it all in.

The inside of the house looks better than one would think seeing it from the outside. And if her smile is anything to go by, she likes what she sees. It's not that big but it's furnished and it has its own bathroom. My house is L shaped and this room is on the shorter side, the living room and the kitchen, which she'd be both welcome to use, are in the middle and my room is on the opposite side. We'll easily have our privacy.

There is also a den or rather a basement. The door leading to it is in the kitchen, but there is no need for her to see it. My hunting gear is there, some old parts.

The shack behind the house would more likely scare her off so I decided not to show it to her now.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, what's that situation of yours that left you in need of a room?" And the smile is gone. Crap, well done Monroe. "You don't have to-"

"-No it's okay, it's nothing special really, I broke up with my boyfriend. It wasn't a nice break up so I just grabbed my things and left... in fact, everything I manage to grab is in my car outside. I needed to find a place to stay but I can't really afford to spend money on hotel, so-"

"Say no more, you like the room? It's yours, I'll even help you bring everything inside!" I smile at her and she smiles back, so far so good.

"So, if you don't mind me asking." Her smile gets a bit brighter. "What's your situation that left you in need of a roommate?"

Fuck my life! I think quickly about what to say to her when the obvious hit me.

"I need some extra money. Besides like you said, the company doesn't hurt either. I love the place but it does get lonely here." She's still smiling, and I know I said the right thing.

"Okay then, I'll take it, along with the help with my things. If the offer still stands."

And just like that, I have a roommate.

 I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, feel welcome to push that little star to let me know, or better yet, leave me a comment ;)