Winnie

In seven days, I will be alone in Columbus. First, Andrew leaves me, and now Faye. To say I'm getting used to the idea is akin to saying everyone flocks to Southern California for the rain.

Yes, I'm happy for Faye. It's a chance for her to achieve her career goal. I'm sure she expected to return home after college. I never planned to return.

And I never will.

Faye and I walk to the rental office in silence. She's smiling. I can feel myself frowning.

"Faye, Winnie," Carlos, the rental manager, approaches us as we enter the cramped office. Suddenly, he has a dreadful look on his face. "You have four months left on your lease. You're not leaving now?"

Faye stifles a smile, handing him a check. "It's what I owe for breaking the lease."

I hurriedly chime in, "I'm staying."

Carlos looks devastated. It takes him a moment to smile at me as if he was happy I was staying. He looks at Faye. "We were talking about renegotiating your lease last week. Oh, no, did something occur? A family emergency, maybe?"

"A job," Faye says, barely containing her excitement.

"I'm staying," I weakly say before adding, "I'd like to discuss mitigating factors or something like that—I'm mean, curing the problem of not having a roommate for the next four months. Is it okay if I find a roommate to cover Faye's four months?

"Yes," Carlos waves his left hand and chuckles. "We've had this happen a few times since acquiring the place twelve years. So give us their name, and you're good to go."

I smile and nod. Next step: find a roommate.

***

Our apartments seem enormous now, and Faye hasn't left yet. It's been three days since Faye took the job in Los Angeles. She'll donate a lot of stuff.

I sit on my bed, determined to feel okay about living in Columbus alone. But, as I type an advertisement for a roommate, I think back to why I came here. Rick has always called my decision to leave a reaction.

A reaction?

How would he react if Mother forbade Daddy to hire him at the family business? I bet Rick would have done the same thing. He has the same temperament.

I bite my bottom lip as I erase what I don't want to include in the advertisement. However, my mind isn't on what I'm writing. Instead, I continue thinking about why I left Los Angeles.

I had my entire life planned out. My great-grandfather, Barron LaBelle, founded a car business that grew into a multi-billion-dollar company. I love everything about the family business and wanted to start at the bottom in the mailroom like Rick.

Mother wouldn't have any of it.

Daddy told me he wanted to stay married until he died and Mother made too many threats of divorce regarding me joining LaBelle Auto.

Am I petty for leaving my family because of it? There are other companies. However, my family only owns this one.

I re-read the advertisement and then clicked send.

I think about what Chandler said about living my life and working at LaBelle. I sigh. He makes everything sound so easy.

Faye knocks on my door and peeks inside, saying, "Do you need any help with the advertisement?"

I shake my head. "Are you sure you want to drive from here to L.A.?"

Faye shrugs. "I drove out here."

There's silence.

Faye nods. "I have mint chocolate ice cream out here if you want some."

I shake my head. "I'm going to be in a few."

She leaves my bedroom, and I stay awake thinking about Andrew. He'd be devastated if I left Columbus.

***

Dewey Angel.

She's my new roommate.

Dewey is quiet and funny. She dyes her hair a peachy orange and dresses in the same color too.

"So, what do you want to do with your life," she asks as we reach the rental office.

"Me?"

Dewey laughs. "I know I'm twenty, but I can ask serious questions."

"Well," I pause, hesitating what to tell her.

"Winnie, thank goodness you got my message," Carlos rushes to us before entering the rental office.

Suddenly, I have a sinking feeling when I see Carlos' worried expression.

I stammer, "what—"

"The owner, Ms. Hallow, doesn't want you to sublet. So you and your new roommate can sign a new lease. We'll require first and second month's rent and your new roommate's deposit."

"I don't have that," Dewey hurriedly told me, looking from me to the office manager and back again.

"But I'm found a roommate to replace Faye. I solved the legal requirement, right?" I ask.

Carlos snaps his fingers. "Oh, and I nearly forgot. Your new roommate needs to pass a credit check—or did I say that already?"

When Dewey put her face in her palms, I knew I didn't have a new roommate.

As we left the rental office, there was silence.

Faye approaches us as we reach our apartment. She looks cheerful until she sees our expression.

Dewey waves as she walks toward the street. "It was nice meeting you."

I cross my arms and sigh.

"What happened?" Faye asks.

I glare at her. "Are you sure you want to leave me in a lurch like this?"

Faye's shoulders slump. "I'm sorry, Winnie."

As I turn to walk into the apartment, I'm already thinking of a plan to stay in Columbus.