It was early December when Craig told Nick that he would be moving out. They had been living together for three years since they had both finished university together in Manchester. They both worked in the same business, Web Design, but had gotten jobs with different companies. About a year into living together, Craig had started seeing one of the girls from his work, finally getting engaged about three months ago.
When they had gotten engaged, he knew it was only a matter of time. They were sitting together watching the news before they both went to bed, hearing about the growing sickness in Wuhan, China.
"Nick, I got something I need to tell you." Craig started.
"You're secretly gay and in love with me? I'm sorry dude but you know I'm only into girls." Nick replied, laughing.
"After new year I'm going to be moving out. Katie and I have been talking about it for a while and we found a place, you will like it man, got a spare room for a man cave too." Craig told him.
"That's really cool mate, I knew you would be moving out sometime. Guess I will have to start looking for a new roommate."
"I'm really sorry mate, I've loved living here with you. It's been great." Craig told him sincerely. Craig hadn't wanted to move out so soon, but he knew he had to start his life with Katie, and so did Nick.
"Couch is always yours for when you do something stupid, and Katie is pissed at you." Nick told him honestly.
"Cheers mate that means a lot." He replied sarcastically.
"Hey, what else is a best man meant to do, let you sleep in your car?"
They continued their bantering for a while joking about how Craig would have to be cleaner and do more work around the house before they both turned in for the night.
As Craig wasn't meant to be moving out till mid January, Nick didn't start to advertise his spare room until after the new year. He posted adverts in the usual places offering the room. Within a day he already had three people wanting to look at the room, Dean, Bobby and Sam.
Craig had already started to pack his things, so it was fine to show people his room and see whether or not they wanted it. Nick had decided to do the viewings on a Saturday, making it easier to fit around his work commitments. Dean saw the room first.
Dean liked the room immediately, making Nick wonder if this had been the first place he had looked at, it wasn't as big as some two bed flats that were available in the city. He was very enthusiastic, but didn't think they would get along. He told him that he had other viewings that day and would let him know by the evening.
Bobby arrived next just after 2pm. It was immediately apparent that he wouldn't be getting the room. He was very geeky and childish, even though they both worked in technology, it wasn't the kind of roommate he was looking for. He didn't seem very interested in the room either considering it was over an hour commute to his job outside the city. Nick told him he would let him know by the end of the evening, the same as Dean.
The last guy to turn up was Sam. He was starting to consider keeping the advert up until he saw him, who wasn't a him. Sam was actually a she.
"Oh god, how do you make it up those stairs everyday?" She asked him, huffing and puffing, out of breath. "I'm Samantha, but everyone calls me Sam." She continued, holding her hand out to him.
Nick was taken aback immediately as he looked at her. She was beautiful. She was slightly shorter than his 5ft 8, her brown hair flowing freely across her shoulder. She was slim, but not skinny. She had an average sized chest, not too big, probably a C cup he guessed. Her face was stunning. She had full red lips, giving her a slightly pouty look, with straight, white teeth and a nose that rose slightly at the end. She was dressed in blue jeans, partially covered by a long, black, Canada Goose jacket.
"I'm Nick, please come in." He told her as he stepped aside to let her in.
"Wow this place is great. You have a good view of the city, don't you?" She asked him enthusiastically.
"Yes, I do, and about the stairs there is an elevator at the back of the building but I normally take the stairs." The flat was on the forth floor of an old fashioned tower block that had been renovated before he moved in.
"Oh, I wish I had seen that before I trekked up a dozen flight of stairs." He showed her around the apartment, starting with the room that she might be occupying, and finishing back in the living room, more specifically on the balcony.
He wasn't looking for a female roommate, especially not one as attractive as Sam. They sat down in the living room, asking her the usual application questions such as age, occupation, previous living arrangements.
She was 21, working as a personal assistant at the moment while she applied for graduate jobs. She had recently moved back in with her parents after graduation, while she saved up the money for a deposit on a room somewhere.
As they sat talking, she had taken off her jacket revealing a close fitting t-shirt, showing off her breasts. He kept stealing glances at them while she looked away around the living room.
He knew all the cliché downfalls of sharing a flat with a beautiful woman that he was instantly attracted to. What would it be like when she brought someone home with her? What if he did? What if he made a drunken comment she didn't like? What if she did? But he couldn't help himself. He had another week until Craig was planning to move out but didn't want to do anymore viewings, seeing it as a waste of time. When he knew she would be able to pay the rent, he readily agreed and welcomed her to the flat.
"Oh my god, thank you so much. I promise you won't regret it. I'm super clean and tidy and I can cook." She told him, her smile reaching from ear to ear.
"It's fine don't worry. My old roommate was a slob and I survived with him. So, when do you want to move in?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't have to pay any extra rent.
"Actually, I was hoping to move in as soon as possible. I saw all the boxes packed up and was wondering when your old roommate would be leaving?"
"I can call him now and find out if you like? He has already moved most of his stuff across to the new place."
He quickly picked up his phone, calling Craig to see when he would be getting the rest of his stuff. It turned out that he would be picking it up the next morning early before he went away for a few days with his fiancée. He hung up saying they would catch up in the morning.
"Right, he said he is coming tomorrow morning to collect them. You can move in as soon as you want after that." He told her.
"Wow, OK, can I move in tomorrow? I have all the money for rent and stuff, just want to get out of my parents' house you know?"
He thought it over for a second, not finding any reason to say no, he agreed. She stayed for a few more minutes looking around her soon to be room, no doubt planning where she would put her things.
