1 CHAPTER ONE

"I can't believe he bumped my rent up a week before classes start again," I mutter the words under my breath, keeping my phone out of earshot. My mother does not need to hear what I'm about to say. "Fucking, asshole."

The sudden change my landlord told me of, by a crumpled sheet of notebook paper from the crack under my door like it was no big, that he was going to bump up my rent from four hundred dollars a month to eight hundred was an unwanted burden I can't adapt to. For the last year, I had lived, happily, with only myself and the stray cat that had decided it lived with me during my first month in the new apartment. Pest -- yes, I named the cat Pest and I won't be shamed for it -- and I don't always see eye to eye but I enjoy having some sort of company.

"Mom, I'm not going to have to move back in. I promise. Tell Dad not to move anything around for me. I don't want him to pull his back again. If, for some reason, I do have to move back home, I will move things around." This is about how my first phone call home goes after the news of my rent change.

Mom, ecstatic as ever, let me know that there would be no reason I couldn't move back in if need be. Some part of me thinks that she's hoping I'll have to move back in with her and Dad. Not because she wants to see me fail, but simply because I'm her only kid. At least, I really hope that's the reason.

"If you say so, Ryan." She sweet voice carries over the line. It makes me smile, an improvement from the frown and sour mood I've had the past couple days. "I hope everything works out. You're a smart boy. If anyone will figure it out then you will."

"Thanks, Ma."

"I suppose you'll have to get one of those housemates then?"

This was the first mention of getting a roommate. I knew it would be my best bet at paying my rent and being able to stay in my apartment, but it wasn't an option I was really looking forward to exploring. I consider myself social and friendly, but I tend to like those things to come on my own terms. Bumping into someone else every moment of the day -- in my own apartment of all places -- was not something that appeals to me.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Well…" I know my mom well enough to know that this is how she starts sentences when she has something planned to ask or do. "Do you remember Mariana Amaya?"

"No, I don't think so, Ma… Why?"

Mom doesn't ask me questions like this just for the fun of it. She has an agenda and, even while I'm not quite sure what it is yet, it smells fishy. Consider me suspicious.

"Oh, come on. She came over for dinner last year. You really liked her because she told all of those funny stories."

I shake my head, biting the corner of my lip as I think. "Nope. I'm sorry, but that doesn't really ring a bell."

"Oh, well, she's great."

"I believe you, Ma, but what does that have to do with me getting a roommate?" I regret asking the moment the words leave my mouth. Mom always has ulterior motives and, knowing this fact, I should have been more careful.

"Since you asked-" I hold in a laugh when these words leave her mouth. Knowing her, she's been dying for me to ask the question. Now that I have it's go time. I brace myself for impact. "Mariana was talking to me the other day because she's been kind enough to help me with my garden since her's is always so pretty. Did you know she grows all of her own vegetables and spices?"

This time I do chuckle. "That's nice, Ma. What's the point though?"

"Oh, sorry. Anyway, we were talking and she told me that her daughter was thinking about moving into another apartment but couldn't find a place close enough to school."

I suppress an eye roll, finally catching on. "Let me guess, she goes to UCM too?" I've been attending The University of Central Missouri for two years now. The campus being a half hour away made it content but still a good enough reason to move out of my parent's place.

"She does!" I can imagine how big Mom's smile must be. "She's a lovely girl, Ryan."

"Oh, so you've met her then?"

She clears her throat. "Well… No."

"Mom."

"Just hear me out, Ryan!" She isn't mad or even frustrated, she's simply set on making me at least meet this girl. It might not be the worst thing in the universe. I wouldn't have to put out an ad that way and it's more likely that no one will murder me. Of course, I can't let my mom know any of that. It will make her more likely to pull this stuff more often, and she knows how much I  hate it.

I sigh, slumping onto the couch. For the majority of this conversation, I had been pacing, messing with books on a shelf to keep myself busy. Now I know this conversation is going to take up every part of my brain so I won't close it before she can explain her idea. For all I know I might like what I hear. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'll hear you out."

"Thank you." I hear the smile in her voice and know I've made the right decision. I love my mom more than anyone in my life, other than my dad because that's an equal love and no one can make me admit decision, and I don't want to upset her. "Now, Mariana's daughter is a Sophomore just like you. She's nineteen, so there wouldn't be an age difference between you two. I really think that you should meet her, Ryan."

If I had any choice to say no then I would. I don't like feeling like I've been moved into a corner that I can't get out of myself. That's exactly what this feels like. I know that I don't have much of a choice here. I either accept and meet this mysterious daughter of my mom's friend or I risk losing the apartment that I really, really love. Instead of answer her the way I know she wants me to, I do the only thing I know to do when I'm backing into a corner; I deflect.

"Ma, if this one of your attempts to get me to date someone?" This is a petty attempt to get her to drop this, but it holds some merit. It wouldn't be the first time she's tried setting me up with someone even when I insist that I like being alone. And I'm only nineteen. I have a long time to worry about finding a girlfriend, or boyfriend since bisexuality is a thing that exists and is pretty prominent in my life.

"Of course, not! Not that it would be the worst thing in the world if that's what ended up happening."

"Mom."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She laughs quietly and it makes me crack a small smile, regardless of how upset my stomach suddenly is. "You should give it a chance. Okay, Ryan? I'll have your dad send you her number."

"What? Why would Dad need to do it?"

"You know I don't know how to text on this thing." She pauses. "Okay, Ryan?"

I pause as well

.

This could end up being a huge mistake, but what choice do I have?

I sigh.

"Okay. Send me her number."