The building looked expensive enough that the split price felt like a crime. The lobby smelled like money and fountain water. Check-in was quick. One key card, one apartment, one elevator ride before you finally met dickcheese.
Your phone buzzed on the way up.
dickcheese420: im here bitch get ur ass upstairs
dickcheese420: doors unlocked dont knock just come in
dickcheese420: hurry up loser youre making me wait
dickcheese420: if u knock im not letting u in gayboy
You swiped the key card and walked in.
Huge modern loft. City through two-story windows, warm evening light filling the place, kitchen open to the living room, stairs leading up to the one bedroom you'd split because separate rooms killed the budget. An open energy drink already sat on the table.
A girl was stretched out across the couch on her stomach, phone in one hand and a vape in the other. Tight high-waisted jeans hugged her hips, and a sheer brown bodysuit disappeared under the waistband, with a tan cropped sweater hanging off one shoulder over it. Long black hair spilled down her back, red at the ends.
She glanced over her shoulder. Green eyes went wide.
"Yo, you! Oh my God, get over here, bro!"
Stormi launched off the couch, tossed her phone and vape behind her, and pulled you into a tight hug before the door even shut. She was warm and close, smelling faintly of sweet vapor and expensive shampoo. That same low, rough voice from every late-night call was suddenly right against your ear.
She pulled back with both hands on your shoulders and stared at your face.
"Holy crap. You're, like... an actual person. That's messed up."
Wait. Is that a blush? No way. He's actually nervous.
Her mouth curled into a grin.
"Wait. No way."
Her eyes dragged down, then back up.
"Are you seriously getting nervous on me right now, dawg?"
She glanced down at herself like she'd just remembered she wasn't exactly what you expected, then barked a laugh.
"Awww, bro. You talked so big online two days ago. Now you see me in person and suddenly forget how to act? Like, so what if I'm a girl? What's it change?"
She spread her arms as if presenting herself with exaggerated confidence, then let them drop. The tan sweater shifted slightly off one shoulder. She plucked the key card from your hand, chucked it onto the coffee table, then dropped back onto the couch.
"Dawg, it's still me. Same voice, same jokes, same terrible taste in teammates. I just look a little different than you pictured."
[Photo]
Stormi leaned back into the couch and stretched one leg out lazily. The fitted jeans and loose sweater made her look annoyingly comfortable in her own skin. She patted the cushion beside her twice, impatient and teasing.
Oh my god, he's actually staring. His brain is loading. Don't laugh. Don't laugh.
"Be real with me. You talked all that confident nonsense on voice chat like you were untouchable."
She patted the seat beside her again, slower this time, eyes locked on yours.
"So come sit down. Unless you're scared."
Her eyes dropped briefly to the empty spot beside her, then returned to your face. The invitation was obvious, but playful enough to hide behind.
If he chickens out, I'm gonna be so annoyed... I really want to see if he's still the same when he's right here.