PROXIMITY | C.H. Fanfiction

CHAPTER 1

  Cleo turned up the volume on her phone as loud as it can go, blasting music through her headphones. She glanced at the clock and was already 2am. She never thought she'd be thirty still living in an artist commune in LA. It was supposed to be a temporary living situation for a year or two. Now it had been five years since she moved from New York, working two jobs to make ends meet, and no real plan for her future.

She was frustrated she had no time to write her book, finish that draft, and send it off to publishers. Her days were occupied working as a receptionist in a five star hotel, which she was grateful for because it paid her rent, but if she wanted to pad her savings and move out, she had to have another job. So, every other evening she worked as an usher in a local theatre. Between the two jobs, she was tired, burnt out, and miserable. But she had to leave this place.

It was fun when she was in her twenties - the social life and connections, the partying, the drugs, the alcohol. It was all exciting. But now all she wanted was peace and quiet and a moment to herself without hearing the drunk people talking over each other, or the constant music. And on days like this, she really didn't want to hear her roommate and the girl of the night.

Cleo tossed and turned in her bed, putting a pillow over her head. She wasn't really on speaking terms with her roommate. She didn't even know much about him except his name - Calum Hood - that he is a bartender, and that he isn't home all that much. He moved here a few months ago, and she had seen him only a handful of times. Granted, she wasn't home for most of the day either. They coexisted for the first week, but then the mess came and when they did see each other they argued about something - his loud music, the mess in the kitchen or living room, and most recently - the girls he brought home.

Cleo tried to keep the peace, but he was making it impossible. She tried to tolerate it all, but it was like he was doing it on purpose, knowing she would get annoyed.

In the morning, after brushing her hair and putting it in a low ponytail, she went to wash up and get ready for work. But, of course, the bathroom was occupied. She knocked once, then twice with no answer.

"Calum! I have to get ready." She shouted.

"Kinda busy here, come back later" He answered her from behind the door, and Cleo heard the girl from last night giggle.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. Gathering her toiletry bag and putting on her shoes, she exited her apartment. The positive thing in this situation was that she had made a good friend that lived across the hall from them. She knocked on the door with the number 17 on it and after a few moments a girl with wavy strawberry blond hair answered the door.

"Can I please use your bathroom?" Cleo asked her friend.

"Calum is at it again?" Lydia rolled her eyes, stepping out of the way and letting Cleo pass the door.

"I can't with him anymore" Cleo entered and went straight for the bathroom.

"I'll make some coffee" Lydia yawned, closing the door.

Once Cleo was done with her shower and her morning routine, Lydia had two cups of coffee ready on the coffee table in the living room.

"I am so jealous of you" Cleo sat down, towel drying her hair.

"Yeah, I hit the jackpot with Alyson" She smiled, and took a sip from her coffee. Lydia's roommate Alyson was a marketing specialist and Lydia's coworker. They were two years younger than Cleo, but they got along very well. Even their apartment was better - it had better light, it was always tidy and it had a cozy vibe with blankets and pillows in different colors. Any time Cleo tried to redecorate something, Calum would make a comment that it looked too girly, and veto the decision.