The Unexpected Girl Next Door

Chapter 3.

Aaliyah's POV

Yesterday I officially moved into my apartment in the morning. Asia and I spent the rest of the day decorating, as my furniture was already put together with the help of Mama Q's friends. My apartment is honestly going to be my safe space. It's a one bedroom one bath apartment which is perfectly enough space for me.

Aaliyah's Apartment:

Since we finished decorating now all I need to do is go grocery shopping and pick up my other essentials. I stretch walking over to my bathroom and begin doing light makeup and fixing my lace front because my lace was lifting. I definitely need to redo it before I go back to work, I think to myself. I walk out and head to my car, putting in the closet Walmart in my GPS. I go to my music and shuffle Mariah the Scientist as "2 You" comes on. I begin to sing,

But look at what we made

Sure was beautiful

Now I lay it in a grave

Now I'm all covered in dirt

And I try to behave

But whenever they play our song

Don't know why I feel ashamed

Don't know why I don't belong.

After going to Walmart, I head back home. "Home," I think to myself, I really came a far way without any parental support from her. As I pull into my apartment complex, I grab the bags out of my car and head to the elevator. I walk to the elevator and press the number 4 for my floor, "Aye hold the door", I hear and I stop it with my foot. In walks the girl I saw yesterday when Asia and I came out the from elevators. "Thanks ma." she says looking at me, "No problem" I say looking away feeling nervous. I never realized how slow this elevator moves until now. "My name's Jacie but everybody calls me Jai," she says introducing herself and smiling at me. I look at her, opening my mouth but nothing comes out. "You good?" she says, I clear my throat "Yeah, I'm Aaliyah but you can call me Liyah," I say looking everywhere but at her. The elevator finally dings and I begin to walk off at the same time as her. "I'm sorry, go ahead," I say moving backward. She walks out and follows her walking to my door. "Oh, so you're my new neighbor". I turn around and smile at her "Looks like it" I say laughing. I go into my coat pocket and look for my keys, realizing that I don't have them. "Fuck" I say under my breath, or at least I thought I did. "You okay?" I hear from beside me. I look over and Jacie is still standing outside her door. " Yeah, I think I left my keys inside my apartment," I say feeling embarrassed. "It's all good, You can use my phone to call the maintenance number but they are literal ass so it might be awhile," Jacie says. "Yeah thanks. I'll call now." She hands me her phone with the number already up. I dial the number and get an automated message.

The phone beeps, "Hello How can I help you?"

"Hey, This is Aaliyah Jackson and I left my keys inside my apartment. I'm in apartment number 408" I say.

"Okay it'll be an hour or two before I can send someone out to you." the lady says hanging up.

"Okay, rude." I say handing Jacie back her phone "Thanks, The lady said it'll be an hour or two before they send someone to help me" I say. "You good. If you want you can come to my apartment until they come. I see you have ice cream and shit I'd hate for it to melt." Jacie laughs out. "Thanks but it's okay, I'll just wait out-" "Girl come on." She interrupts me, picking up the bags and walking into her apartment. I follow slowly behind her. She could end my life in here I thought to myself.