This is my first attempt at writing something like this. I welcome constructive criticism!
I hadn't lived in the city long. To be fair, I hadn't wanted to move in the first place, but when you get the kind of job offer I did, you don't say no.
My new company put me up in a hotel, until I could get my feet on the ground and find a place to stay. Turns out that's harder to do than I had thought. The only affordable things available were so far outside the city, that it would have added a few hours onto just the commute. After weeks of searching, the only option left was to look for someone to split the rent with. A roommate.
My past experiences with roommates hadn't gone well, so I was reluctant to repeat that experience. As the days went on, and my stay at the hotel was becoming more of a problem to the company, that was fast becoming the only option. Swallowing my pride, I started looking online.
At first glance there were some decent prospects, giving me hope. Yet each time those hopes crashed to the ground. There would be some reason that it wouldn't work. Some of my reasons were due to having no desire to live in what was essentially a closet, or living in a party house with a bunch of college kids. My desperation was growing. The company said that they would have to stop paying for my room at the hotel soon and I couldn't afford the rates they were charging on a long term basis. The stress began to effect my work. I needed something to take my mind off the whole thing.
Head in hands, I scanned some reports on my desk. My mind was mostly on the work but it kept wandering to my predicament. A knock came from my door, jolting me from my fugue state.
"Hey, you busy?" A coworker, Brian, stood in the now open door, pulling on his jacket, looking at me expectantly.
"Oh hey..." I replied, collecting my thoughts after having them scattered by this surprise visitor, "What was that you said?"
He took a few steps closer to my desk. "I asked if you were busy. Some of us are going out and wanted to see if you'd want to join us tonight?"
I glanced at the screen on my laptop and saw that it was almost six o'clock. I had been going over the same reports for the past few hours. "I really need to finish going over this stuff, so probably not."
Brian came over, perched on the edge of my desk, leaning over it so he could look at the reports in front of me. "Well that explains it, that's the Steinberg account. Thing's been going on for the past year. At this point we don't know if it's ever going to be finished." He closed the folder on my desk, sliding back towards me. "Come on. Looks like you need a drink." Standing up, he grabbed my coat off a chair in my office. " And everyone's curious about you." He gave me a conspiratorial grin, "I've got five bucks riding on you."
I looked at him, confused. My eyebrows going up. "You guys are betting on me?"
Still grinning, he held my coat out to me, tempting me. "Sure why not? Lot of new people come through here. Some stay for awhile, and some take off after a few months. So we made a game out of getting to know people quick and dirty. I've got five on where you went to college."
Head cocked to the side and with a bit of curiosity, I told him my alma mater, "Brown."
Brian's head fell back as he let out a groaning, "Fuuuuuck...Emily had Brown!"
Normally speaking I wasn't a super social person, but I really didn't know anyone here yet and the thought of some non-work conversation sounded great. I looked from Brian, who was focused on his phone now, to the files. I picked them up, stuffing them in a desk drawer. Standing up, I took my coat from him. "Screw it, yeah, I'll join you guys."
He smiled, pumping his fist in triumph. "Nice!" He turned back to his phone. "I'll let everyone know you're coming. That way they have time to get their cash ready."
On the way over I thought about how strange it felt being the subject of other people's conversation. I'd never really thought about it, but people had to talk about you when you weren't around at some point, especially when you're the new guy. It's not like I ceased to exist when others weren't around me. I just hadn't given it much thought before now.
We met the others a couple blocks over at a bar. Brain explained that it was their usual hangout for these kinds of things. as far as bars go, it wasn't anything special. dim lighting, boring but functional tables and chairs. A couple bartenders stood behind the bar taking orders, pouring drinks, wiping down the bar top, all the while looking annoyed to be there. Familiar songs came from the now digital jukebox on one wall. It felt nice to be in a place that felt like anywhere else in the country.
Brian and I were the last to arrive. Looking around the people gathered at the table I only recognized one face. Roxanne. Roxy, as I learned she preferred to be called, worked in the same department as Brian and me. She was wearing a dark grey pantsuit tonight. At first I had thought she was upper management. Mostly due to the confidence she exuded. It turned out, while she was my senior, we worked on essentially the same things.
Then there was Akoni and Emily who both worked in legal, Matteo from the filing department, and finally Tony. Tony didn't actually work at our company, but contracted with the IT department.
After introductions, Brian bought the first round. Once everyone had a drink, he made a show of paying Emily for the bet she had won while she gloated. As soon as money was exchanged, the rest began to bombard me with questions. Each answer brought an exchange of money. More drinks were bought and consumed as I was forced to share more and more about myself. Thankfully I grew more comfortable with each drink I had. There were loud cheers of approval when a bet was won, groans when one was lost. It was a good time I had to admit. It also felt kind of nice being the center of attention. It was like a birthday without all the pomp surrounding it.
As the night wore on Matteo, Tony, and Emily said their goodbyes, leaving Brian, Roxy, and I to continue drinking. They filled me in on all the office gossip for the company, who I needed to talk to about certain things and who to avoid at any company event.
I lost track of how much we had drank, when I finally looked down at my watch. It had become quite late. "Well shit, lost track of time. Looks like I need to be going I think."
Brian stood up and stretched. "Yeah, same. I'll catch you all later!" He gathered his things, waved, and left.
Standing up, I put on my coat. Checking to make sure I had all my belongings. "You sticking around, Roxy?"
She finished the last of her drink before plunking the empty bottle down on the table. "Nope, that's it for me." Standing up, she smoothed out her pencil skirt. "Which way are you headed?" She asked, as she pulled on a long, high collared coat.
When I told her where my hotel was. She grimaced. "Oh god. That was the place they stuck you?" She cocked her head to one side in thought. "I guess it's better than paying the prices for anything closer." She walked over to the bar to pay her tab.
I walked up to do the same, pulling out my wallet, only to have Roxy push it away. "New guy doesn't pay. That's one of the rules."
"But you didn't win any money?"Â I was pleasantly surprised by her forwardness.
Roxy shrugged. "Eh, that's the way it goes sometimes. Besides, everyone's been buying your rounds all night. Not like I'm getting stiffed with the check."
She paid and turned to leave. "Come on. You can crash at my place tonight."
My stomach knotted up, immediately becoming nervous. "Uhh...thats ok, really. I'll just grab the train." I stammered out. We had only just met and we barely knew each other. I had never had a woman make the first move in this kind of situation before.
In a surprisingly aggressive move, she grabbed my arm and pulled me outside. "Shut up. I know what train you'd have to take and it sucks this time of night on a Friday." She walked outside and waved down a cab.
"My place is like fifteen minutes from here. It'll be way better than being crammed in with everyone else on the train."Â Was it just the drinks getting to me, or had she planned this? My mind spun with what was happening. I had never had a woman be that forward with me. It intimidating... and thrilling.
The beginnings of a polite protest formed on my lips, but her grip just tightened as she opened the back door to the car. "Hurry up, it's cold out!" I scooted across the seat as Roxy slid in beside me. She told the driver where to go and we were off. I marveled at how Roxy was wearing a pencil skirt and heels on such a cold night. She seemed completely comfortable as she crossed her legs towards me.
She hadn't been wrong. Her building was much closer. It would have been another half hour at least before I would have even gotten to my stop. Plus, it felt good to be in a warm, cab when it was so cold out.
Her apartment was on the fifth floor of her building. As we rode the elevator, Roxy filled me in on some of the good places to eat around the area, easing my mind. I almost forgot I was going to spend the night at a stranger's place. Let alone a woman like Roxy's apartment.
"Oh and don't trust the soup at Alfonso's. I've gotten sick from there twice now."
A shocked laugh burst from me. "Why would you go back?" I asked, incredulous, "And then order the same thing?"
She shrugged, smiling cheekily, her back against the wall of the elevator. "Sometimes you gotta roll the dice."
Once we got into her apartment she dumped her purse on a small end table near a closet. Leaning against the frame of the closet, she pulled her heels off and tossed them aside. Removing my own shoes, I placed them near the door rather than tossing them.
Looking around I was surprised by how large of an apartment she had. I had not expected that from her. As I moved around, checking things out, I observed that it was well-furnished and everything looked recently purchased. Roxy stood in the kitchen filling a large water bottle, which she handed to me. "Here, you can sleep on the couch. I'll get you a blanket." The way she said it had me taken aback. Was this just a game she played with everyone she brought back to her apartment?
My answer came a few minutes later Roxy came back with a large fluffy blanket and a pillow. "Here." She tossed them on the couch unceremoniously. "I'm going to bed now. Night." She trudged into her room and closed the door.
Letting out a slightly confused sigh, I removed my shirt and layed down on the couch. I was glad there was no pressure from her for anything else. This evening had turned out to be something entirely different and new for me. It was exciting.
The smell of bacon and coffee woke me. Sitting up on the couch, it took me a few seconds to get my bearings. As the previous nights events played out, I turned to see Roxy standing in her kitchen at the stove. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, wearing what appeared to be an old t-shirt and some workout shorts. The stark casualness of it was surprisingly attractive. There was even a pang of guilt. Had I missed an opportunity the night before? No. We had both been drunk and it was never a great idea to sleep with your coworkers.
