Accidental Roommate

The LaGuardia Airport was bustling with people and luggage. People shouting, in happiness and anger. The wheels of the luggage and trolleys rolling could be heard, adding to the cacophony. All of which made Sharon Ashwood's head ache even more. With it being three in the afternoon, there was even more people, arriving and leaving.

Having just gotten off a connecting flight from Atlanta, she was exhausted and yearned to get off her feet for the next twenty-four hours. But first, she had to find her family. Standing on her toes, she tried to find the familiar faces of her sister, Amelia Ashwood Garnet, or her brother-in-law, Scott Garnet. Being 5'4", she was not able to see over the crowd. And the constant bumps and shoves were not helping. She glared at the back of a man she was certain had deliberately bumped into her. She was standing near the wall, away from the crowd. Why were so many people bumping into her?

Grumbling under her breath, she finally admitted defeat. They're not there. Disappointed and frustrated, she began to roll her suitcase to the taxi stand. Her lips began to tug down as she reflected that this was just the thing that would happen to her. Being forgotten. Being rejected. Her eyes welled up at the reminder.

Refusing to give into her tears, she joined the long queue at the taxi stand. She blinked the tears back into submission and decided to take her phone out. This was going to be a long wait and she did not want to be left to the mercy of her own thoughts. She'd decided that she had to distract herself and a mindless game was the way to do so.

However, the black screen of her phone put an end to that idea. Trying to switch it on while cursing under her breath, she had to accept that her phone was out of juice. Her level of horrified and despair were at odds with the situation but the tears weren't going to be held back this time. This was the last straw. A few tears rolled down her cheeks and her nose began to sting. The people around her shifted uncomfortably, making more tears roll down her cheeks.

Just as she was contemplating the disaster that was her life, she felt a tap in her shoulder. Startled out of her morose thoughts, she turned around and found herself facing an older, distinguished-looking Caucasian man. He was wearing some kind of uniform and had an impatient, superior air around him. And he was looking directly at her. Worry distracted her from her giant pool of sadness and her tears dried up.

"Are you Miss Sharon Ashwood?"he asked impatiently, surprising her. She didn't know anyone in New York, apart from the two people who weren't there. So while her first instinct was to nod, a sense of self-preservation stopped her. Instead, she turned the table on him.

"Who are you?"she asked. He looked quite frustrated at her question, removing his air of superiority. His hand disappeared into his pocket and he seemed to be digging deep into it. She watched him intently. However, the moving line diverted her attention and when she looked back at the man, she was surprised to find a phone being shoved into her face. "What-" Suddenly she heard a familiar voice from the phone and tears sprung back into her eyes. Grabbing the phone from the strange man's hand, she brought the phone to her ears.

"Hello? Brian, did you find Sharon?"

"Ames?"Sharon asked in disbelief and relief.

"Oh hey, baby sis. I'm so glad Brian found you in time. Sorry I wasn't able to get you. I had to leave with Scott-"

"Wait, who's Brian?"

"My driver. I had him pick you up. Didn't he tell you?" Frowning at the phone, Sharon continued moving with the line.

"Miss Ashwood, I believe it is best if you step out of the line, "the Brian guy said but he stepped back when she glared at him. She did not need anyone else to tell her what to do. Not today. Now now.

"Tall, white guy, brown hair, gray eyes, white gloves reminiscent of MJ and a stick up his butt?" She ignored the censure in Bryan's eyes as she passed her suitcase to him.

"I don't know about the stick but yes. He should also be wearing a suit. That's his usual attire. And what or who stuck that stick up your ass?"

"I don't know, dear sister. Maybe the fact that I was supposed to be picked up by sister and not her lackey, "she growled as she began to fight through the other people queueing and get out of the line. "You know a heads up would have been nice." Usually, she was the mellower sister but she was so tired and sad and disappointed that all of them coalesced into anger at Amelia. She'd expected emotional support and what she had was a sister who was on the other side of the country.

"Well, I tried but I couldn't get through. Share, this is a last minute meeting and we needed the jet. Why are you so angry?"Amelia shot back, further flaming Sharon's anger. She didn't even notice the dirty look the people were giving her. She'd forgotten the Amelia was the more volatile sister but she had not expected her anger to fuel her own. Until now.

"Fine. You can go back to your work and forget about me when you promised to be there for me. I'm sure your work is more important than me, "she shouted and hung up. That was when she noticed the people looking at her, staring at her like she had grown another head. Her usual reserve was gone, burned by her rage, and she stared back at them, her eyes feeling like fire was shooting out of them. They all looked away.

She wanted to just leave the airport but her suitcase was with Brian and he was nowhere in sight. She was sure he was going her back to Scott's apartment and as much as she wanted to be anywhere but there, she didn't have any other place lined up. And she had given her word to Scott that she would use the place to think. Even though she had been uncomfortable about staying at his apartment without him being there, he had insisted and Amelia had suggested a possible rent. She had caved and now she wished she hadn't.

With how she was feeling right now, she didn't want anything to do with Amelia.

--------

In the end, Brian returned with the car and she had gotten into it. When he had parked, she had sullenly followed him into the building and the elevator. It had not occurred to her to question why Brian had to tap a card before he could press the floor number. Nor had she noticed that he was pressing a button with only a P. But she definitely noticed that there was only one door on the floor. Dread had filled her when she found out that Scott's apartment was actually a penthouse. She was still recovering from her shock when Brian left.

Slowly walking around the cavernous living room, she felt so intimidated. It was so beautiful, the gray and white walls and furnitures gave a very minimalistic air. The furnitures included a black, leather couch set, a vintage brass, glass coffee table and side table set and black, faux fur rug. The television was mounted on the wall/separator which had some fake brick panels, adding a warmth to the otherwise cold room.

Moving on to the kitchen, which was just across the television and separated by an island, she went to check on the cupboards and fridge. The kitchen was continuing with the minimalistic theme with gray walls and black cupboards and cabinets. There was an added metallic sheen as the handles and stove a high quality stainless steel. The appliances added to the metallic sheen as most of them were of one metal or another. Which was something she would normally like but her stomach was demanding sustenance. Now that she had the time to process and not just react, she realised she had not eaten anything since last night's dinner.

Standing up from checking the drawers, she wasn't surprised to find them empty. Disappointed but not surprised. From what Scott had told her, they didn't use this apartment a lot. They had an apartment that was in the central part of Manhattan. This apartment was at the outskirts of Manhattan, nearing Queens, making it closer to the LaGuardia Airport. They mainly used it when they were coming back from LaGuardia and didn't want to battle the traffic in Manhattan. Which was not often.

Scott hadn't gotten around to letting this apartment go and Sharon was glad. She didn't want to impose on them too much and she knew Amelia was going to get too much into her business if they had stayed in the same apartment. Her mood immediately soured when her mind veered to her sister. It was not going to be much of a consideration since she was away from the city.

Mouth downturning, she half-heartedly opened the freezer and felt her eyes pop out. There, right in front of her, was nirvana. It was her savior. It was her knight in shining armor. Her hands absently drawing her love out, she was surprised to feel a hard edge on the lid. Curious, she got a hold of the envelope, opened it and felt her eyes pop out again.

Inside, there was a black Visa card. With her name on it.

Perplexed, she left her love back in the safe arms of the freezer and took a seat at the island. Her hands shaking, she took out the note and tears stung her eyes when she read the note from Amelia:

Hey, baby sis. I know I won't be here to welcome you but I bought the next best thing. Your favourite ice creams!!! I know right? I'm, like, the best sister ever.

Now, I know you don't like the card but we know how much crap you've had thrown at you the past few days. So don't look a gifthorse in the mouth. Just use it. We, honestly, don't care.

I'll come and see you once we're back.

Love you lots

Ames

Covering her mouth, hoping to stifle the sob, she wondered whether she had permanently severed her relationship with her sister.