I woke up to the dull hum of the city outside, the faint sound of cars rushing by and distant voices blending into an unrecognizable murmur. The hotel bed was stiff, my pillow barely offering any comfort, but at least it was a place to rest.
Blinking against the morning light filtering through the thin curtains, I sat up, stretching my arms over my head. Daniel was still asleep, his arm thrown over his face, his breathing slow and steady.
For a moment, I envied him. He could sleep through anything.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and checked the time—7:42 AM. Too early for my liking, but my mind was already awake, spinning with thoughts of the day ahead.
We needed an apartment.
Last night, I'd found a promising one—small but within budget. The only issue was meeting the landlord. I had no official job, no rental history, and no way of proving we weren't just a couple of kids who'd run away from home.
I sighed, rubbing my temple.
I could only hope I was convincing enough.
Slipping out of bed, I moved quietly to the bathroom to freshen up. The mirror reflected the exhaustion on my face—dark circles under my blue eyes, my blonde hair a mess from sleep. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill wake me up fully.
By the time I stepped out, Daniel was stirring, blinking up at the ceiling before rolling onto his side with a groan.
"Morning," I said, grabbing my bag.
"Ugh. No," he mumbled into his pillow.
I smirked. "Get up. We have a landlord to impress."
He peeked one eye open. "Already? Can't we at least eat first?"
"We'll grab something on the way."
Daniel groaned again but sat up, running a hand through his dyed yellow hair. "Fine. But if this place sucks, I'm blaming you."
I rolled my eyes. "Noted."
----
After a quick breakfast from a nearby café—a couple of croissants and coffee—we headed toward the address I'd found.
The apartment complex was on the quieter side of the city, tucked between an old bookstore and a small diner. It wasn't fancy, but it wasn't falling apart either. The building had a neutral beige exterior, with a gated entrance and a small garden area out front.
"This looks decent," Daniel admitted as we approached the door.
I nodded, hoping he was right.
I had arranged to meet the landlord in the lobby, and when we stepped inside, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense stance was already waiting.
"You must be Rose," he said, looking me up and down before his gaze shifted to Daniel. "And this is…?"
"My brother, Daniel," I said quickly. "We're looking for a place together."
The man nodded slowly, gesturing for us to sit on the small couch nearby.
"I'll be honest," he started, crossing his arms. "I usually don't rent to young tenants without stable jobs. I don't want to deal with late payments or sudden disappearances."
I straightened, keeping my voice steady. "I understand. But I can assure you, we're responsible. I have savings to cover rent, and I'm actively looking for work."
He studied me for a long moment before turning to Daniel. "And you?"
Daniel smirked. "I don't cause trouble, if that's what you're asking."
I fought the urge to elbow him.
The landlord exhaled through his nose, then leaned forward. "Alright. Here's the deal—I'm willing to give you a one-month trial. Pay upfront for the first month, and if you prove reliable, we'll extend the lease."
Relief flooded through me. "That sounds fair."
He nodded, pulling out the paperwork. "You can move in today if you want."
Daniel let out a low whistle. "That was easier than I expected."
I shot him a look, then turned back to the landlord. "Thank you. We'll take it."
As I signed the contract, a new feeling settled in my chest.
This wasn't just a hotel or a temporary stay.
This was the start of something real.
And for the first time in a while, I felt like we were exactly where we were meant to be.