Chapter 6

• Shina wasn't wrong; Nathalie's apartment was sparse. After leaving Daniel, he managed to keep both their apartment and most of the furniture. Nathalie didn't mind at the time and was eager to return to her parents, but now she felt annoyed at having conceded so easily. Some of the furnishings would've been useful.
• Her bedroom was bare, consisting of a bed and an old chair doubling as a nightstand. She purchased the curtains and wardrobe from the previous tenant, though neither match her style. While she preferred something made of wood, the wardrobe was a stark, sleek white. The curtains were gaudy red, but they at least blocked the light effectively.
• The living room was no better. Her father acquired an old couch from a colleague, and although it was in decent condition, it clashed with the coffee table. Nathalie didn't possess a kitchen table yet, just three mismatched chairs. Thankfully, her mother helped stock the kitchen with essentials and organized everything logically. She even assisted with cleaning while Nathalie's father hung the lamps, lamenting the lack of furnishings for the space. He was right, but Nathalie couldn't afford more, and her parents had already done so much.
• "Nathalie," Shina sighed, seating herself on one of the chairs. "Please tell me you have a plan, that moving here wasn't the only decision you've made. You've been drifting for months now—it's getting ridiculous."
• Nathalie appreciated her friend's honesty. "I'm twenty-four," she reminded Shina. "I'm allowed to drift a little. Besides, I have a job—four days a week, starting soon. Once I get my first paycheck, I'll buy some furniture, join a gym, or perhaps find a club. I'll meet people and start over." It wasn't much of a plan, but she sincerely felt excited about it.
• "You don't need to start over, Alie," Shina had emphasized this when Nathalie first disclosed her move. Far from Daniel, far from Shina. "Just because you and Daniel broke up doesn't mean you should flee the state. Move in with me for a while if living with your parents is that unbearable. Find a job back home."
• "I tried, but there were none."
• "There are!" Shina insisted. "I can speak to my boss and get you a job waitressing."
• Nathalie rolled her eyes. "I didn't spend four years studying to be a teacher just to end up waitressing."
• "I know," Shina relented with a sigh. "It's not my ideal job either, but you do what you have to do."
• "Exactly," Nathalie agreed. "And what I needed to do was move here so I could actually be a teacher. I've been a temp for two years, and I hated it. I want my own classroom, to teach the same kids every day, to not worry about where I'll work next month. Here, I can have that."
• "Okay," Shina agreed with a grunt, running her fingers through her long blonde hair. Nathalie often envied Shina's hair, so unlike her own dark locks, which always seemed torn between curling up and straightening. Nathalie perpetually looked as though she'd just rolled out of bed. "I just miss you. That's why... I'm spending the night here!"
• "W-what?" Nathalie stammered.
• Shina jumped up with enthusiasm. "I've got my stuff in the car. I even brought a few things for your apartment—plants, pillows, the whole works. There might not be space for them yet, but the floor will manage for now. Come on, Alie, don't look so down. Isn't having me around for another day exciting?"
• "It is," Nathalie insisted, though internally she felt her heart sink. "It's just that... I sort of made plans..."
• "What, is your hot date coming over tonight?" Shina asked, clapping her hands in excitement. "Perfect. I'll interrogate him, and you can make dinner for the three of us. I need to meet this new man of yours."
• "No, absolutely not," Nathalie argued, hurrying after Shina through the hallway. "Shina! We're not doing that!" She wasn't ready to share Ethan with anyone yet. Besides, he was just someone she had hooked up with—a hope rather than a surefire relationship. He wasn't ready to meet her best friend either. While Shina fetched things from her car, Nathalie quickly texted Ethan, letting him know she was back in her apartment and that her friend was staying the night.
• Then what am I supposed to do with the hundred condoms I just bought? he replied, attaching a picture of the largest box of condoms she'd ever seen.
• Tomorrow? Nathalie texted back, hoping he would be patient.
• Fine, came his instant response, but don't you dare blow me off again.
• "Nathalie!" Shina called from the street. "Come and help me!"
• Nathalie hurried outside to help Shina unload the car, and as she returned to her apartment carrying two plants, she noticed a woman from the neighboring apartment watching her. The woman seemed to be in her late thirties and appeared stunned. Realizing she was still wearing Ethan's clothes, Nathalie felt awkward. She knew she needed to shower, change, and introduce herself properly to change that first impression.
• The rest of the day was spent with Shina exploring the town and figuring out the quickest route to Nathalie's new job. She had only visited the school once before, for her interview, so it felt reassuring to see it again. She could hardly believe that within a week, she'd be teaching there—with her own classroom, colleagues she'd have longer than a month, and children she could genuinely get to know. It was going to be amazing.
• Ethan didn't text again, which surprised Nathalie with how much it bothered her. Despite telling him she wouldn't see him until tomorrow, she had secretly hoped he would show some sign of missing her. It was ridiculous, she knew, but she couldn't shake the wish for his presence while she and Shina lounged on the couch, sipping wine and watching TV. Then, she heard the unmistakable sound of a door slamming close. The apartment wasn't particularly noisy, but after two nights, she had learned when doors opened and closed, insulated by nothing but walls, she could hear them clearly. She knew for certain it was Ethan's door.
• Nathalie reached for her phone to text him but hesitated, unsure of what to say. She couldn't just go over to him; not with Shina there. Shina would want to meet and chat with him, probably ruining things with her vibrant curiosity. Meeting a best friend made things real, and Nathalie wanted Ethan to remain an exciting fantasy she could explore.
• As she pondered whether to send a message, her phone buzzed with a new text.
• Thanks for packing up the kitchen, Ethan wrote. I took the rest of the week off.