Chapter 3 ~ This Can’t Be Happening
1324 Words
{Macy’s POV}
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The words had already left my mouth, but my brain was still trying to catch up.
No.
No, this didn’t make sense. There was no version of reality where this made sense.
I blinked and did it again. Because sometimes blinking fixes things.
This was not one of those times.
But then it couldn’t be him here as the roommate. Definitely not. There were other explanations.
Yeah. More logical ones like… like he could be lost?
Yes.
That made sense.
This wasn’t exactly a popular building. Maybe he took a wrong turn. Maybe he was looking for someone else.
Maybe– maybe he… spawned here by mistake?
It could be.
At this point, I was open to anything that wasn’t this.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, the confident disbelief slipping out before I could stop it as I returned my gaze to him.
Nathan didn’t look confused.
If anything, he looked irritated, wearing the same expression from yesterday’s clash.
“Is this where you stay?” He asked, his voice stiff.
I gave him an obvious look. “Yes, this is where I stay.”
“That’s inconvenient.” He commented, rudely glancing over me and the scene behind me. “But I came here for the room.”
…
The room.
My brain went very still for a second. Then everything clicked at once.
The message.
The payment.
The “I’ll take it.”
The “no need to check the place.”
Oh.
Oh no.
I straightened immediately.
“No. It can’t be…”
Nathan’s brow furrowed slightly. “What?”
“No,” I repeated, firmer now. “You can’t stay here.”
“Well, that makes both of us.”
I stared.
“What?”
“I don’t want to be here either. Not with someone miserable like you.” He said and shock claimed my face as my mouth went gaping.
There was absolutely no reason for that!
“Could you try to be—” I stopped myself because there was no point reprimanding him.
“It’s great that you don’t want to be here. Problem solved!” I said now.
“Yeah,” he replied smoothly. “So I’ll need my money back.” He added and oh…
Oh. Shoot. The money.
There was a pause now, a very quiet, very dangerous pause. Because in that pause, everything came back.
The payment. The rent.
The actual fact that I had used it. All of it.
Gone.
My grip tightened slightly around the edge of the door. Nathan tilted his head just a little, watching me now.
“So,” he said. “If you’ll give me the money, I’ll be on my way.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I couldn’t.
Because there was no answer that worked.
“Hello?”
I slid back to reality.
Right.
Speaking.
That was a thing I needed to do.
“I’ll get you your money,” I said quickly and had no idea what I meant by that.
Nathan didn’t move.
“Alright. I’m waiting.” He said at once and something in me snapped just a little.
“Can you just relax?” I shot back and his expression didn’t change.
“I’ll act how I please. Meanwhile, you’re the one raising your voice and profusely sweating.” He said and that vexed me as I glared at him.
I dragged a hand through my hair, turning slightly away from him as my brain scrambled for solutions.
Okay.
Think.
Think.
What could I do?
Sell something?
What did I even own that had value?
My phone? No.
My books? Definitely not.
Furniture? That wasn’t even mine.
Work extra shifts?
Even if I did, it wouldn’t be enough. Not immediately. Not fast enough.
Every option I reached for fell apart the second I touched it. Which left me with exactly one problem, and zero solutions.
I turned back to him.
“Your rent money is not available,” I said.
The words felt heavy coming out.
“I already used it to pay the rent.” I added and Nathan stared at me for a long second as if thinking.
“So how are you going to pay me now?” He asked, unimpressed.
“I don’t know.”
That came out faster than I expected. He nodded once.
“Of course.” He muttered and my mouth went gaping again… because, with that response, he implied that I was poor!
Me? Poor?!
Well… okay..
“Well, I’m not leaving my money here.” He said now.
“I don’t want your money,” I retorted.
“Then give it back.”
“I—”
Nothing came out.
No argument. No comeback.
Just frustration building up.
I let out a sharp breath, turning away for a second before facing him again.
“Argh— this is just frustrating!”
Nathan didn’t react.
He just stood there, watching, waiting. Completely impatient and not hiding it.
“What happens now?” he asked.
I hesitated, because I knew exactly what the answer was.
And I just didn’t like it.
“I’ll work,” I said finally. “And I’ll pay you back.”
Nathan studied me for a moment and then came his disturbing response.
“Fine.”
A pause.
“I’ll stay here in the meantime.”
My head snapped up.
“You’ll what?”
“I’m not leaving my money with you,” he said simply. “So I’m staying.”
Of course this gets worse. Of course he would make it worse.
I opened my mouth to argue but then closed it again because technically— he wasn’t wrong.
And that was the worst part.
Nathan stepped forward suddenly now, ignoring me and my reactions.
“If you’re done,” he said, already moving past me, “I’d like to orient myself.”
“Hey—”
Too late.
He was already inside. Just like that, with no permission or hesitation.
I turned quickly, glaring at him as he walked further into the apartment, his presence filling the space a little too easily.
I took two aggrieved steps forward with my fists clenched. “What do you think you’re doing?!” I demanded out of frustration even though I knew it was pointless.
He ignored me.
He stopped in the middle of the living room, turning slightly as his gaze swept over the space.
Then he looked back at me.
“Which is mine?” He asked, his question making it obvious that he was done with our exchange.
And standing where I was, that reminded me just how helpless I was. And so with this aching reality and my non-acceptance, I pointed to my left.
“The one on the left.”
Nathan nodded once and started walking.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” I called after him. “I’ll pay you back soon and then you can leave.”
“I hope you do,” he replied without turning. “In the meantime, we don’t have to talk, relate, or share anything.”
“Good,” I shot back immediately. “I totally agree!”
He got in and slammed the door at my words.
The sound echoed through the apartment. And just like that, he was gone.
Well.
Not gone— unfortunately. Just in the other room.
I stood there for a second, still hoping that something would pop up and help correct this situation.
Nothing did.
My chest rose and fell as I exhaled slowly, the frustration settling in properly now.
This is insane.
Completely insane.
This was Nathan Cole
The Nathan Cole of Westbridge High.
The self-centered, arrogant, and stunning jerk from yesterday, whom I couldn’t stand.
But somehow, against all logic, all normalcy, and all basic common sense— he was now my roommate.
Who writes these reality scripts?
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