Another Roommate

A few minutes passed after the awkward encounter, and the apartment was quiet. Jack had retreated to his room, trying to gather his thoughts, while Samantha settled in the living room, flipping absentmindedly through her phone. She couldn't help but chuckle at the situation—everything about this day was full of surprises.

Not long after, the door to Lena's room creaked open, and Lena stepped out, now fully dressed. She was a striking woman, her long, blonde hair slightly damp from the shower, falling gracefully over her shoulders. The tips of her hair shimmered with a faint orange hue, adding a unique vibrance to her look. Her outfit was casual yet chic—she wore a fitted white T-shirt that hugged her slender frame, paired with light blue denim jeans that showed off her long, toned legs. She had a fresh, natural beauty, with warm hazel eyes and a blush still lingering on her cheeks from the earlier embarrassment.

Samantha looked up as Lena approached the living room, offering her a welcoming smile. "Feeling better?"

Lena smiled back, though a bit shyly. "Yeah, I think I've recovered from the shock."

Jack's door opened, and he stepped back into the living room, feeling it was the right time to break the ice. His expression was apologetic as he approached Lena. "Hey, I just wanted to properly introduce myself. I'm Jack. And, um… sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to—"

Before he could finish, Lena waved it off with an embarrassed laugh. "No, no, I should be the one apologizing. I wasn't expecting anyone to be here, let alone a guy!" Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she avoided eye contact for a second. "It's just… a little embarrassing to be caught like that."

Jack smiled, relieved that she wasn't holding it against him. "No harm done. I promise, I'll make sure to knock or something next time."

Lena let out a soft giggle, her initial nervousness fading. "Thanks. And, well, nice to meet you, Jack."

Samantha sat on the couch, watching the exchange with an amused grin. She glanced at Lena. "Well, now that the introductions are out of the way, I guess we'll all be sharing this space together."

Jack nodded, feeling the tension between them lift. "Yeah, looks like it. Anyway, I should let you two catch up. I'm going to unpack and get settled in." He gave a small wave and headed back to his room, leaving Samantha and Lena alone in the living room.

As soon as Jack's door closed, Lena turned to Samantha, plopping down beside her on the couch. "So… a guy, huh?"

Samantha smiled knowingly. "Yeah, wasn't expecting that either. But it seems like he's harmless enough."

Lena sighed, running a hand through her still slightly damp hair. "Well, I guess we're going to have to be more careful now. Can't just walk around in towels or less anymore."

Samantha chuckled. "Yeah, that was definitely a wake-up call. We'll have to figure out a shower schedule too, so we don't accidentally run into him at the wrong time."

Lena nodded, looking thoughtful. "I mean, it's going to be a little inconvenient, but I think we can manage. As long as he's respectful, it shouldn't be a problem."

Samantha leaned back against the couch. "True. Honestly, he seems like a decent guy. He saved me today, actually."

Lena's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? From what?"

Samantha sat up a little straighter, recounting the event. "There were these two thugs hassling me on the way home. Jack stepped in and helped. If it weren't for him, I don't know what would have happened."

Lena's expression softened, her gaze drifting toward Jack's closed door. "Wow, I didn't expect that. That's… actually really sweet of him." She paused, then added with a small smile, "I guess he's not as bad as I thought."

Samantha nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think we might be okay. He might've been a bit awkward earlier, but given the circumstances, I don't think he meant any harm."

Lena smiled, more relaxed now. "Well, if nothing bad happens and he doesn't turn out to be some creep, I think we can make this work. We were planning to move out eventually anyway, so it's not like we're stuck here forever."

Samantha leaned over and nudged her playfully. "You're already giving him the benefit of the doubt, huh?"

Lena blushed slightly, giving a sheepish smile. "Well, he did help you, didn't he? It wouldn't be fair to judge him too quickly."

Samantha laughed softly, appreciating Lena's change of heart. "You're right. Let's give him a chance. If things go well, we'll just carry on living here like normal. If not, we can always make other arrangements."

Lena nodded in agreement, feeling more at ease with the idea of living with Jack. "Yeah, let's see how it goes."

With that, the two women fell into a comfortable silence, both of them feeling a little more optimistic about their new living situation. While the initial encounter had been awkward, there was a sense that things could work out after all. They just had to adjust to the new dynamic and figure out how to navigate life with a third roommate—one they hadn't expected.