Flaw (The Flaw Series) (2 page)

“And that’s my room,” Aidan says pointing to the third door. “Utilities are included, the parking’s not too bad, and it’s close to everything.”

It is close to everything… school, the bars. My parents’ house is not too far and Philly is less than an hour away. The location is definitely a pro.

“Yeah, my school is right around the corner. You go to school?” I ask, trying to picture if I could actually live in a place like this with a guy who looks like that. I’m guessing he’s close to my age. I’m also guessing he could kick my ass. Not exactly the type of guy you’d want to mess with. I’m not sure what happened to his face, but if it was from a fight, I’d hate to see the other guy.

“I take a few online courses. Easier that way.” He taps the front of the sunglasses. “What about you? You have a job?”

“Um, not yet. But soon I’ll be working. I do have money though, you wouldn’t need to worry.” I’ll use my parent’s money for the time being and once I get settled in and find a job, I can start paying for things on my own.

“All right. Well, this is the place. I’m not big on having people over, but I can’t stop you if you decide to stay here. Just be warned I tend to freak people out. Especially the girls, so be aware that’s a risk you’re taking if you move in.”

Yeah
…
I don’t know
. I’m gonna have to think about this. I mean, there is a lot of stuff wrong with this place. It’s small, filthy, and he’s right, he will probably scare the girls I bring home. Hell, the guy scares me. It’s best if I walk away from this. A ding sounds from my phone that’s tucked away in my back pocket. I reach in and slide open a text from my dad.

Dad:
I’m proud of you, son.

I stare down at my phone.
He’s proud
.

“Where do I sign?” I ask my new roommate.

Aidan

“How old are you?” I ask the empty-handed bitch who just let his mom carry an arm load of boxes into his room. The only reason he’s my new roommate is because he was the first guy who said yes.

In the world of tattooing, one week I can be booked with clients and take home a fortune. The next week, I may have just one or two customers. I haven’t put in enough years in this business to have a big enough following to keep my income steady. I have a nice chunk of change stashed away, but that’s my safety net. Having a little extra cash coming in just seems like a smart idea and a roommate is an easy way of doing that.

“I’m twenty-one. Why you asking? Because of my hair?” Josh shrugs. “I don’t know what happened. As soon as high school ended, I started going gray. My dad said he went gray at a young age, too. I thought about dying it, but you know what? I’ve been told it looks sexy.”

Boom
. That’s the first punch I give him mentally.

Josh’s mother comes out of his room and walks past me with her head down. She’s polite but has obviously been warned ahead of time of what I look like. She was probably told not to stare and is being real careful not to look in my direction as she makes the many trips back and forth through the apartment all day. “Josh, that’s everything. I put lots of food in the freezer for you. I taped little directions on how long you need to heat things for. Some are okay to heat in the microwave, but others would be better if you cooked them in the oven. I put M’s on the ones that it’s okay to put in the microwave.”

The bathroom has been scrubbed thoroughly. An artificial lemon scent is wafting through the room. Clean, fluffy towels are now hanging neatly over the unused towel rack next to the sink. Our freezer and refrigerator are completely stocked. And while his mother unpacked his clothes, placing them into one of the new wooden chests that were delivered this morning, his father hooked up a plethora of electronics. He mounted a gigantic flat screen to the wall of Josh’s bedroom and put together a desk with a whole set-up of gadgets that I have no idea of their purposes. It’s been some big scene around here all morning. I glance down at the text that’s causing my phone to buzz in my lap.

Becca:
I looked out the peep hole. He’s cute. When do I get to meet him?

Aidan:
Whenever, I guess.

Becca:
What can you tell me about him so far?

Aidan:
That he’s a douche running away from home.

Becca:
Shut up. Order food. I want chick & broc. I’ll pick it up in 20 min and then come over.

Aidan:
I’ll call now.

“I’m ordering take out. You want anything?” I yell out. If he hears me, fine, if he doesn’t I don’t care. At least I can say I asked.

Josh comes running into the front. “Yeah, from the Chinese place downstairs? Order me chicken and broccoli.”

His mother walks in from the kitchen. “Josh, I was going to make you something before we left. Don’t order food. That’s silly. I’ll make something good for you and Aidan.”

“Helen, let the boy order food. He’s on his own now.” Josh’s father puts his arm around his wife’s thick waist and kisses her cheek. He reaches into his front pocket and pulls out a fifty.
Who the hell keeps a fifty in their front pocket?
“Here.” He places the bill on the coffee table in front of me. “Dinner is on Josh tonight.”

The couple walks over to their grown son. They each hold out their arms for a big family hug. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed anything quite like this before. All three of them cling onto each other at once. I need to look away. I’m uncomfortable watching it.

“Goodbye,” his mother says through a sob. His dad nods his head, seemingly too choked up to speak. They exit and Josh stands there, quietly staring at the back of the closed door. I’m scared he’s about to get emotional. Jesus Christ, if he’s crying I’m gonna have to ask him to leave.
Boom, second punch
. I figure I should say something before he loses it.

“Dude, you gonna be okay wiping your own ass without your parents helping you?” I sit back on the couch and chuckle. He doesn’t say anything and walks into his room. I pick up the phone and place the order. With a quick glance down at the fifty, I tack on three two-liter bottles of soda.

Josh returns from his room a few minutes later, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. At least I didn’t have to see him have his little pussy attack. He walks over to the fridge. “You drink? Want a beer?”

“Sure.” I look over and see our fridge door is now lined with beer bottles. He’s taken over pretty much the entire fridge, but that’s all right since I didn’t have much in there, anyway.

Josh hands me a beer then sits down on the leather recliner that wasn’t here this morning. One of the many deliveries from today. He reclines back and takes his first sip, then lets out a long sigh. “This is fucking awesome. I did it. I’m out.”

He did it? I didn’t see him do shit today. This guy is something else. I’m not sure if he’s ever had a bad day in his life. Some spoiled rich kid who doesn’t know the first thing about life. A pretty boy who’s had everything handed to him. Our lives couldn’t be more different.

Josh chugs back his beer. “You see okay and everything?”

“Both my eyes work just fine.”

“It’s weird. I’m like, used to it, already. It’s not really that bad. I think it’s just seeing it at first throws you off.”

“Yup.” A perfectly timed loud thud on the door ends the conversation.

“Food’s here. I’ll get it.” Josh jumps up and runs to the door.

Becca’s here. I can’t wait to see what she thinks of my pampered new roommate. Knowing Becca…I chuckle. This oughta be good.

Josh

I open the door to a girl with bright pink hair, arms loaded and a snarl on her face. “Take this.” She shoves the bags of food into my arms and goes storming past me. “Three bottles of soda, you ass! You know how heavy that was to carry all the way up here? And you’re lucky I had enough money on me. I almost had to put it on my credit card, which is already maxed out and probably would have been declined. What the hell?” she screams at Aidan, punching him in the arm.

Aidan’s face breaks into a large smile. “What? One of them is diet.”

“Whatever.” She turns her back on Aidan and walk over towards me. “Hi, I’m Becca. I live across the hall.”

Once I make it past the bright pink hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail, the next things I take in are two big gray eyes and a tiny diamond stud in her nose. Her skin is a dark olive color and her lips are shiny with gloss. She rubs them together, making a popping sound. A tattooed trail of blue stars peeks out from her tank top and travels up her ample cleavage to the base of her neck. She’s wearing a pair of girly pink boxers folded down at the waist and a beat up pair of furry slippers on her feet.

“Are you gonna tell me your name or just stare at me?” she asks, annoyed, with a hand resting on her hip.

“Sorry, I’m Josh,” I stammer out, embarrassed, and bring the bags of food over to the counter in the kitchen. Why did I just stare at her like that? The hair, tattoos, the piercing, it was just a lot to take in. Plus, I’m exhausted from the move.

Aidan and Becca grab their containers from the counter and forks from the dish drainer. Aidan plops down on the sofa. Becca walks over and inspects the new chair in the living room, circling it twice.

“Where did this come from?” She jumps into the chair, wiggling into it, making herself comfortable. She stretches back and her tank top rises revealing another sparkling piercing.
Damn, that’s sexy. I wonder what else she has pierced?

“It’s Josh’s,” Aidan supplies. “And actually, Josh is treating us to dinner tonight.” He points his fork at the fifty on the coffee table. “Josh keeps his money in his dad’s pockets.”

Becca looks down at the money, then back up at Aidan. They both laugh.

“Thank you, Josh’s dad.” She bites down on her shiny lips.

The blood rushes to my face. Never before has a simple comment from a girl caused me to feel as stupid as I do right this moment. I take my container of chicken and reach into the fridge to grab another beer. I’m rattled. Before I know it, two hands are perched on my waist. Becca stands on her tiptoes, peering over my shoulder.

“Oh my God, what is all this?” She reaches over me and grabs a beer from the door. A soft powdery scent flows from her skin. “Can I?” she asks.

“Yeah, go ahead.” I’m not sure why her being this close to me is making me feel the way it does. It shouldn’t. Messy pink-haired girls who make fun of me aren’t exactly my type. But I guess soft curves being pressed into me always feel good; doesn’t really matter who does it.

Becca knocks the cap of the beer off against the counter even though it’s a twist off and swills down half the beer fast, followed by a small girly burp. She covers her mouth with her hand. “Excuse me.”

I’m clueless what to think about this girl. Is she really cool or just weird? She goes back to making herself comfortable in my leather chair so I take a seat next to Aidan on the old tan couch.

The three of us finish up our dinner, drink some more beers, and watch a show that Becca informs me she and Aidan are addicted to. The two of them chat throughout the show, finishing off each other’s sentences. It’s evident they spend a lot of time together. I’m guessing Becca must be over here quite a bit. She’s opinionated. Smart. Strange. Bubbly. Real. Having her here often is something I might not mind so much.

Whenever I can, I sneak subtle glances over at her. The chair is reclined but she lies across it the opposite way, letting her legs dangle over the arm. During a commercial she looks back at me and gives me a smile. A sweet shiny lipped smile.
I would totally do her
.

After the show ends a new one begins. I promised my mom I would call her after I ate. Sneaking back to my room I shut the door, giving her a quick call to let her know I’m okay.

“Hey, Mom, it’s me.” I open up my laptop to check football scores while we talk.

“Sweetheart, I miss you so much already,” she says into the phone. My chest warms just hearing my mom’s voice.

“All right. I just wanted to tell you I’m okay.” I cough out the little catch in my throat. “And I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She sniffles. “Come over tomorrow and I’ll make you your favorite lunch.”

“Okay.”

“Are you making friends with your roommate?” she asks cautiously. My mom knows my track record making friends. I have one. It’s her.

“Yeah, yeah, he’s a good guy.” From what I can tell so far, he’s all right. I just feel bad for him. It’s gotta be hard with a jacked up face like that.

“Did you meet any of the people in the other apartments?”

“Yeah, um,” I lower my voice down to a whisper. “There’s a girl across the hall that’s over right now.”

“Why are you whispering?”

I have no idea why I’m suddenly whispering. “Mom, I gotta go, love you.”

“Me too, baby boy. I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.”

When I return to the front room, Becca’s moved from the chair to the couch and is snuggling into Aidan. His arm rests gently over her shoulders and he’s playing with her ponytail, wrapping the pink hair around his finger. I hadn’t realized they were a couple. I assumed because of the way he looked that he didn’t have a girlfriend. Guess that was pretty messed up of me.

Not surprising. I’m kind of a messed up guy.

Aidan

Josh comes back and sinks down into his fancy new chair, looking back every so often, probably trying to get a read on us, wondering if we’re a couple. After a half hour or so he gets up, says goodnight, and heads off to his room. The way Becca is curled into me, I’m sure he thinks we’ve got something romantic going on between us and that’s just fine with me.

When Becca is cuddled up in my arms, everything in my fucked up life seems a little better. If it wasn’t for this girl I’d probably have given up on life a long time ago.

Becca knows about my past, but we don’t discuss it. She never pushes to know anything more than I’m willing to share. My scarred appearance didn’t send her running in the opposite direction. Shortly after I moved in about a year and a half ago, she knocked on the door, introduced herself, and tried her best to act as if she didn’t see a damn thing wrong with my face. It wasn’t easy for her, but she tried.