The heat clung to Sage's skin as she stepped out of the taxi, her converse crunching on the gravel path that led up to the white apartment building. She squinted up at it—three stories tall, with some paint peeling from the railings, and vines creeping up the sides. It wasn't exactly what she'd imagined when she pictured her new life at the university, but this was the place she was going to be living at for the next four years.
She exhaled slowly, clutching her duffel bag. She brushed a loose strand of auburn hair from her face, a small smile playing on her lips. This was, a new city, a new start, and her first step toward becoming the businesswoman she'd always dreamed of. She could already see herself in boardrooms, negotiaing deals.
She checked her phone again, reading the welcome message from the housing app. Unit 3B. Her roommate had already checked in, but the name was not disclosed for privacy. That was fine. Sage preferred a bit of mystery.
Dragging her bag behind her, she climbed the stairs to the third floor. She stopped in front of Unit 3B. Her heart thudded with anticipation as she unlocked the door.
Inside, the apartment was brighter than she'd expected. The soft afternoon light filtered through the large windows in the living area. It wasn't huge, but it was cozy. Two bedrooms branched off from the common space, each with its own door. A small kitchen was at the corner, stocked with basic appliances and a dish rack. A few cardboard boxes were already stacked against the wall. So, her roommate had arrived. Probably out getting groceries or picking up class materials.
Sage smiled to herself. She couldn't wait to meet her and gossip about first impressions, share late-night study snacks. Maybe they'd become best friends.
She picked the door on the left at random and found her room empty—just a bed frame, mattress, and desk. There was a small closet and a single window that looked out over a narrow alley.
After hauling in her things and tossing her duffel onto the bed, she set about unpacking. Her mother's framed photo went on the desk.
Just as she was finishing hanging her last sweater, she heard the front door open.
Excitement bubbled in her chest. She quickly smoothed down her shirt and stepped into the living room with a practiced smile, ready to introduce herself. But the words froze on her tongue.
A guy stood in the doorway, keys in one hand and a plastic bag of groceries in the other. He wore dark jeans, a grey t-shirt that clung to his frame, and a confused expression. He had tousled brown hair, sharp cheekbones, and striking eyes—blue, maybe green—she couldn't quite tell. He paused when he saw her, the grocery bag rustling as it shifted in his hand.
They stared at each other for too long.
"…Hi?" Sage offered, her voice higher than usual.
"Uh, hey," he replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Are you Sage?"
She blinked. "Yeah. That's me."
He scratched the back of his neck, glancing at the hallway behind her. "Right. I'm Jax, Your roommate."
Sage laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, what?"
"Jaxon, I moved in yesterday."
She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. "You're my… roommate? But the app said…" She trailed off, pulling her phone from her pocket and opening the housing confirmation. "It said female roommate."
Jax stepped further into the room, placing the grocery bag on the counter. "Yeah. Apparently, there was some glitch in the system. I called them yesterday when I noticed. They said housing was full, and unless we switch with another pair ourselves, we're stuck with each other."
Sage's stomach sank.
It wasn't that she was uncomfortable around guys—far from it—but this wasn't what she'd signed up for. Living with a stranger was already a stretch. Living with a male stranger? That came with an entirely different set of complications.
"You're serious?" she asked, scanning his face for any hint of a joke.
"Dead serious," he said, sighing. "I mean, if it makes you uncomfortable, I can try again tomorrow to see if anyone dropped out."
Sage hesitated, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She'd been so excited to start fresh, to make everything perfect. But perfection didn't exist, she reminded herself. This was just another unexpected challenge. And maybe—not definitely, but maybe—it wouldn't be as bad as she feared.
"No, it's fine," she said finally, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.
Jaxon nodded, opening the fridge and placing a carton of milk inside. "I promise I'll be as invisible as possible. Engineering major."
"You're in engineering?" she asked, surprised.
He looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Yeah. And you?"
"Business," she said proudly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Nice. CEO in the making"
"Absolutely."
He chuckled. "Then maybe you'll be able to help me budget my expenses. I think I'm already broke and it's only day two."
Sage smiled. Still, her nerves buzzed under her skin. Sharing a space with someone she didn't know—someone of the opposite sex—would take getting used to. And she didn't know how that would unfold.
But for now, she could manage.
"Well, as long as you don't leave socks on the couch or bring girls over every night, we'll be okay," she said, crossing her arms with mock sternness.
Jaxon held up three fingers in a scout's oath. "No socks and no girls''
Sage laughed, the tension in her chest loosening.