I N S O M N I A C

[[ II ]] The Apartment Building

Chapter Two: The Apartment Building

[[ Allie ]]

I smiled a little hesitantly at Alexandra and her enthusiasm, although she was undeniably friendly, something to appreciate in a strange environment. "What is your name?" she asked with all the curiosity of a kid.

At her question, it dawned on me I hadn't introduced myself, and I couldn't help but feel incredibly rude. "I'm Allison, but I prefer Allie," I reply, chewing on the inside of my cheek a little out of habit. It was a habit that I had no legitimate reason for developing, and it seemed impossiblye 

"Well, Allie," Joseph spoke with a kind smile, "The first thing you need to know how to do in New York City is how to hail a cab. Wouldn't you agree, Alex?"

"Oh, definitely," she agreed. She stepped forward and placed a glove-clad hand on my elbow and led me to the edge of the pavement, almost to the point where the tip of my boot was no longer on the lip of the curb. "It takes practice, of course, but I'll show you first and you'll do ot tomorrow."

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The cab that Alex hailed with surreal ease dropped us off at the new apartment building. Alexandra and I stood near the door, shivering as the night continued to cool. Joseph unloaded my luggage and bags and waddled over, laden with the aforementioned bags. "Thanks for helping, Alex," he grumbled sarcastically.

"You're welcome!" she grinned. One thing I observed about her was the smile that was never gone for long and her constant cheer, even when she was shivering like mad.

We hustled inside the building, escaping that nipped at our cheeks and made us sniffle constantly. The warmth was welcome, and the buzz of the heater was comforting. I took in my surroundings, and the deep colors, plush carpets, polished marble tiles, and the elegance in which the decor was arranged gave off an air of sophistocation, even vacant.

There was no pause as we hurried into an elevator, Joseph repeatedly pressing the button for the fourth floor. I was only a floor above them. The doors slid open noiselessly, and their apartment was at the very end of the hall.

Their apartment was cozy and clean, portraits of the two of them and who could only be their parents hung all along the hall, displaying different memories, all of them endearing. Nothing was jarringly harsh on the eyes or heart, and it felt a lot like my home back in Alaska, and for that I was grateful.

"Have a seat," Joseph said graciously, motioning to a couch stationed in front of a TV, a love seat directly perpendicular from it. I sat down on the love seat, albeit a little stiffly from the cold.

Alexandra cranked up a dial on the thermometer and sat down on the couch, folding her legs underneath herself. She set her elbow on the seat of the couch and placed her chin it, facing me. "So, Miss Allie, tell me more about yourself."

Before I could, Joseph set three mugs down in front of us, a spiral of whip cream rising up from each ceramic cup. "Hot chocolate," he explained quickly before moving my bags to the hallway. He returned and sat next to Alexandra. He grasped his mug, cupping his hand around it and taking a sip. When he lowered the cup, some of the whipped cream remained stuck in the bristles of his upper lip, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Alexandra asked, an uncertain smile and a slight scowl on her face.

I lifted my chin to gesture to Joseph and said, "Joseph's beard." I leaned forward to grab my own cup and took a sip, licking my top lip afterward to get rid of the foamy traces of whipped cream I knew were there. 

Alexandra turned her head to look at her brother and burst out laughing, a little too hard for the comment I made. She doubled over and squinted her eyes shut as her laughter suddenly became silent and tears started to stream down her face. "It wasn't that funny," I muttered a little uncomfortably.