Standing outside the glowing gym, the night lamps buzz as moths swarm in a futile attempt to touch the warm light.
The automatic doors slide open as the blue-haired beauty named Moxie struts out.
She wears a puffy white jacket, which sharply contrasts with her blue leggings as they encase her thick thighs.
With a smile, I wave.
She matches my kindness with a less-than-kind expression.
"Why the hell are you here?"
"I remember you told me that your work ended late today. It wouldn't feel right to force a woman to walk around at night alone."
"Well, I appreciate your concern, but I'm not helpless, so your kindness is ill-founded."
"Then... I guess I just happened to be walking this way."
She looks at me, then quickly looks away with an exasperated sigh. "Fine, whatever."
Walking down the unpopulated streets, there's a silence, yet it doesn't feel awkward, more like melodramatic.
"Are you looking forward to seeing the new place?"
"As long as this isn't some scam, I'll be overjoyed." She claims very monotonously.
"Hmm... I think you'll find it to be a pretty good deal."
"Well, after what I did, you'd better give me a 60% discount!"
"uh...no?"
"Wha!? Do you realize what an honor it is to take my first tim- I mean to have sex with me?!"
"I don't know, you seemed to enjoy it quite a bit, perhaps I should decrease the discount down to 40%"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"If you were so concerned with the price, why did you look for rooms on the 78th floor, and more importantly, why did you leave your name and work location?"
"78th? I was looking at the tens and twenties. Do you really think a personal trainer could live up in those penthouses?"
She's going to be in for quite the shock. "I wouldn't be too sure."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"So you're saying you have never gone to the 78th floor?"
"Uh...no?"
None of this is making any sense, these ominous notes, dying 3 times. What has my life come to?
Walking past a pastry shop, Moxie seems to be sidetracked.
"Don't tell me you have a sweet tooth."
Her eyes widen as she lurches back. "Wah-?! Don't be dense! I just- Obviously not. I just thought they had cute designs." Crossing her arms, she continues marching forward.
"I see. Well, I need to get something for a friend, but if you're so vehemently against it, you can wait outside."
"Well... I don't hate it, so I wouldn't mind taking a look."
I was going to get something for Cafune, cause she deserves it for working so little, being hella annoying, and her lack of drive to do anything with her life.
With a pleasant chime, the bell above the door jingles as we make our way inside.
"Hello and welcome, what can I get for this lovely couple?"
Moxie lurches back as she blushes. "We're not a couple! He's just a frien- he's my landlord!"
The woman turns to me. "Shame we were running a couple's discount."
I lean forward as I whisper. "She's a little bashful about it, but I was hoping to get a cake for our 3-month anniversary."
"Wha- 3 months?! We met yesterday?!"
"Were you eyeballing that one, Moxie?" Pointing at the angel cake, I grin.
"Uk- well... I guess it did look kinda good."
The store owner smirks, bumping my shoulder, and I match it with my own grin. "I'll take that and one of the cupcakes."
After packing up the pastries, we give a wave, continuing our trek down the lamp-lit streets.
"Okay, we're out of the shop, give me my cake. Not that I even want it."
I tilt my head. "Oh, I just said that for the discount. You said you didn't want anything."
Crossing her arms, she begins to pout. "Well- obviously, that's because I didn't. I wouldn't have eaten it anyway."
"Alright, then I won't give it to you? I'd hate to waste it."
Despite her indifferent words, she looked far more dejected the rest of the walk.
Arriving at the Garden of Eden, we both let out a small instinctive gasp at the awe-inspiringness of the building.
Walking through the lobby, her attention fails to take in the extravagance of the colored lights and classy decor.
Walking into the elevator, I click the 78th floor.
"When you were looking at it previously, how much were you willing to spend?"
"Well, I recently got a raise, but I can only spend $1,500 a month. How high of a floor can that get me? And you better not be scamming me by giving me a lower level floor next to the elevator."
"Since I like you, I'll try and see how high I can get you."
She blushes. "Don't go saying stupid cheesy stuff like that, it was a one-time thing."
We arrive on the 78th floor, the elevator opens in a grand fashion as the blue carpeted floor presents the hallway, the neon lights make it look like each room was a theater with its comforting lumiance.
We arrive at the room, three doors down from my own.
"I still don't get why we're up here? Are you just trying to show off? Cause, I won't be impr-"
"Would you like to live here?"
"Yeah. No shit jackass. But you saw my career choice."
"What if I told you I can give it to you for $1600 if yo-"
Her eyes slowly begin to widen as she whips her head towards me. "REALLY!? YES! Whatever it takes!?"
"...If you agree to share it with someone else."
She pauses. "Eh... okay, I guess. How many bedrooms?"
"Two."
"Well... Sure."
"She will be moving in tomorrow."
"You already found someone?!"
"More like my fate decided I did."
Moxie's eyes narrow as she puts her hands on her hips. "You better not be giving her a better deal."
"...No, but she was really good at negotiations, so I gave her the same deal."
Moxie congeals her face. "The bargainer type. Well, whatever, as long as she's not a hoarder and keeps to herself."
Does she not realize that she is a bargainer is a horizontal personality to a con artist?
"Now let me see how nice this place is, if it's looking towards a wall I won-"
Opening the door, her eyes widen. "The night breeze blows through, the flickering city glows through the clouds.
Moxie doesn't say anything, slowly tiptoeing forward as though every step would cost her.
"It's... beautiful."
Walking out to the wooden balcony. Her hair shakes in the moist breeze. In the proximate distance, the ocean waves splash against the sandy shore, and the palm trees peacefully sway.
She whips around with both excitement and fear. "This better not be some elaborate joke! If it is, I'm chopping your balls off."
Lifting my eyebrows, I cross my arms. "Well, that's not very nice. I don't know if I want a dangerous tenet like that to live in one of my rooms." I tease.
Putting her hands up, she awkwardly laughs. "Ahh, I mean, I- uh- I was kidding. I would never do that."
Holding out the key, I grin. "What do you say, new neighbor? Sign the papers and this view is yours."
Her eyes widen with excitement as a grin widens. Noticing me staring, she blushes and points at me with a scowl. "Let me see those papers first, you probably put some sketchy requirements."
"Well now I'm adding the prohibition of forced castration."