Megan was pissed off. She had gotten a call from her mother and found her mom basically making some demands, even if somewhat gently.
"Megan dear, your dad and I have been supporting you not only through university, but even since you graduated."
"I appreciate it, mom. I really do."
"We've had to dig deep into our retirement account to do that, and we can't keep doing it."
"Mom, I'm working full time, but I don't make enough to cover all my expenses."
Megan was almost in tears at the thought of losing the financial support of her parents.
"We have something that might help you."
"Something to make up the difference in your support?"
"Exactly. You remember my friend Natalie?"
"Yeah. What about her?"
"Well, Megan, she has a niece who has been accepted at the university you were attending."
"So what? How does that help?"
"She can stay with you. She can contribute to the rent and utilities, and help you afford it."
"I only have a one bedroom place."
"You can work something out."
"Please don't do this to me."
"We don't have the money to keep giving you. I was told that Emily was a sweet girl."
"So I just have to take in some girl I've never met?"
"When you lived in the dorms, you didn't know your roommates before moving in."
"That's why I needed out of the dorms. Some of those girls were terrible. Never cleaned up after themselves, brought guys back to the room, stayed up late, played loud music."
"Natalie said that Emily isn't like that."
"I have to share a bed with her?"
"Not necessarily. Work something out with her."
"Fuck."
"Megan Ann Silver, watch your language."
"So when is this bih -- person, supposed to be here?"
"Saturday. Be nice to her, dear."
"Whatever."
Megan hated it, though she knew she could hardly complain. Her parents supported her all though college and once she got her degree, she went to work. Even though she had her degree, because it was only a BA, the pay was crummy. She majored in finance, which helped her get a job, but without an MBA, she was stuck.
She wanted her MBA, but couldn't swing it financially. She knew if she hung in with this company for three years, they'd pay tuition for her to get her masters in evening classes. In the meantime, this 21 year old was stuck working a shit job for shit pay. She knew she couldn't swing it without either her parent's support or some other help.
She'd had a boyfriend and thought they might move in together or even marry, but just before graduation, he dumped her for some cheerleader type. She didn't really have the cash to go out, and most of the guys where she worked were married, gay, or players. None of that did her any good, so she now had no boyfriend and no social life.
Her apartment had a coat closet, so she emptied it out, figuring that would be for this girl. Her television was sitting on an old dresser in the living room, so she emptied that for Emily, as well. She had no intention of giving up any part of her closet or her bedroom for a roommate who was forced on her. She had a futon sofa in the living room, and this girl could sleep there.
Megan had a couple days to get ready, even if she didn't really want to. Sadly, she knew she had to, financially. Megan's apartment was only a couple blocks from campus, which was part of why she liked it. It was only a mile or two from where she worked, so she wasn't inclined to move. Beyond that, almost any other apartment could cost her more money, which she couldn't afford.
Saturday afternoon, Megan sat reading, when there was a very light tapping at the door. It was so light that if she'd had any television or music on, she'd never have heard it. In fact she was almost uncertain she really had heard it. She walked to the door and opened it to see a boyish young woman standing there. Emily looked timid and almost fearful as Megan opened the door.
"Are you,,, Megan Silver?"
"Yes."
"I'm Emily Feldman. My aunt Natalie told me you might be able to -- "
"My mother called me. Come in."
Emily had a rolling suitcase and rolled it into the apartment, still looking quite uncertain. Megan figured after some of the major bitches she'd dealt with in the dorms, this at least seemed better. She was surprised though. She seen mice who were bolder than this Emily seemed to be. She figured her mother must have told Natalie that Megan wasn't happy about this and Natalie told Emily.
"There's only one bedroom, Emily."
"That's what I heard."
"And we are not sharing a bed."
Emily turned red and looked like she was trying to stare a hole in the floor. "No, I didn't think we would."
Megan showed Emily how the futon sofa flattened out to make something about the size of a single bed. She then got out some bedding.
"Here's a cover to put over the futon so you aren't sleeping directly on the fabric. There's other sheets and blankets you can cover yourself with, and some pillows, as well."
"That should work."
"Obviously, you won't be able to bring guys back here to sleep with."
Emily turned red again and did an embarrassed squirm. "I wasn't planning on bringing anyone back here."
"Even though I'm sleeping in the bedroom, I won't bring any guys back here either."
