"It looks better this way," Asher says, putting the desk organiser on the right side of the table.

"No! It looks better on the left side with the succulent near it," I shift it back.

"Guys! This has been going on for the past fifteen minutes. Let's just settle finally," Grace says shaking her head and looking at both of us.

"Tell him I am right!"

"You are not!" Asher scoffs making Grace and Ryan groan loudly. 

"Let's just have lunch. They can continue their bickering," Ryan says to Grace.

"That's a good idea. And don't even come till you settle this," She narrows her eyes at us and waves a bye.

"Why can't you just let it go? I mean, it's my desk after all."

"When you get hurt by the succulent while trying to grab something, then you will know." 

"I won't. I am not that stupid!" I say.

"Let's see," He starts walking away. 

Asher was helping me with finally arranging my desk. That shopping bag was giving me anxiety. I kept the succulent plant on the left side of the table while the file organiser on the right side.

I wanted to keep the desk organiser on the left side of the table near the succulent. That way, it won't crowd the right side of my table. But Asher insisted on keeping it on the right side because for some reason he thinks I am stupid and blind that I will hurt myself with it.

"You are annoying!" I run to catch up with him.

"I am not. One fine day, you will realise that," He says.

"That won't happen," I reassure him, patting on his shoulder.

"So! I never complimented you. Those hand lettered quotes look really amazing. You are good at that," He says.

"Thank you! I have always enjoyed doing that. You know, I have a journal full of hand lettering and calligraphy. Some of them are original and some of them I have copied from the internet. It's my guilty pleasure," I tell him.

"Wow! That sounds pretty amazing," He says.

"You look beautiful today too," He says, taking me by surprise. I can feel my cheeks getting hot and blush creeping on my skin.

"I wanted to complete my compliment series," His Adam's apple bob up and down his throat nervously.

"Thank you!" 

After getting food for ourselves, we join Grace and Ryan on the table.

"Tell me the bickering is over. I felt like I am back in my high school again," Ryan says, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Don't be dramatic! Yes, we are not bickering anymore," Asher responds to him.

"I have to go. I got a text from William," Grace says and quickly finishes her food before leaving.

"See you later," I wave her a bye.

"I need to go too. I have to make this list for Morgan of the various designs for chairs." Ryan says, leaving me and Asher alone.

"So, how was your first day at your new house?" He asks me.

"It was good. I forgot that I had to buy a mattress for my room. So, later me and Wyatt went shopping. That was fun. I set up my room and ate pizza for dinner. Not a bad day," I tell him.

"I have all this list of things that I need to buy for myself. I will go shopping later for it," I tell him while taking a sip on my coffee.

"What for?" He asks me.

"Like I only have two sheets for my bed. In the name of utensils, I have only a mug, one plate, one spoon and one bowl. I didn't want to hoard too much stuff while in college. And when I shifted to my aunt's house, I didn't need any," I sigh.

"You really need to do shopping. You should keep your own groceries also," He says shoving some fries in his mouth.

"I should add that to my list," I say, taking out my phone.

"You really need to add that. That's like the basic," He chuckles.

"It's just a reminder!" 

Although to be honest, I have no idea about living alone. What to do, what not to do. How to manage budget and money! I have never paid any bill. Most importantly, I don't even know how to cook except coffee and ramen. I am sure I will learn. I have see stupid people live alone and I had a fairly good GPA, I can do it too.

After finishing our lunch, we both get back to our desk. I click a picture of my desk and send it to Jess and Dad. Just at that very moment, a notification pops up with Rosie's text saying Gaby needs us in the office.

"Let's go!" I say to Asher who picks up his notebook.

We stand in front of her desk while she talks on her phone.

"That is wonderful! We will have some ideas ready to show you," She says before ending the call.

"Let's start planning out," She chirps, clapping her hands together excitedly.

After an hour of standing in the office, we were finally free. Gaby talked to Emmanuel and Richard getting more insight of what they want. We started by making a rough layout of the house and then going over to the basics.

"I want the sketches by tomorrow. Let's give this project some start. Me and Bruce have something else also planned for you guys," She says.

"And before you ask, I am not going to tell. So, quick you go!!" She dismisses us with a motions with her hand.

"What could that be?" Asher asks me.

"How would I know? Let's just hope it's something exciting," I say crossing my fingers.

"Let's discuss those sketches. We have a living room, three bedrooms and a kitchen to draw. Gaby said that she doesn't need sketches for the bathroom," I say listing all the rooms.

"One person can draw the living room and master bedroom while the other can take the rest." He says.

"I will do the kitchen and Jasmine's room." I say.

"Plus the other room," He say slowly to remind me.

"Yes! Yes! I remember. Do you have the briefs? We have to present some ideas of our own also," I ask him.

"I was hoping you could give me that list," He rubs the back of his neck. I slide my notebook in front of him, so that he could click a picture.

"You know, you never gave me that picture you clicked yesterday," He says place the notebook on my desk again.

"I don't have your number. In fact, I don't have anybody's number," I say.

"Give me your phone." I do as he says. I save his contact and then opens the camera.

"What are you doing?" I ask him.

"Taking a picture for the contact photo. Come here," He says. I get into the frame and he clicks the photo before setting it as his contact picture.

"What are you guys doing?" Grace asks, putting a file on her desk.

"Clicking a picture for a contact photo," I tell her.

"Let's click a selfie too for your contact," I hand her my phone. We pout at the camera before taking a snap.

"Why am I left out?" Ryan narrows his eyes.

"I was just coming to you. Here," I hand him my phone, so he can save his number before proceeding to click a picture with him. We both made a zombie face which looks hilarious.

"Working tomorrow and then finally we get the weekend off. I never knew working is going to be this hard," Ryan says stretching his arms.

"We aren't actually working. We are on the internship program which we filled ourselves," Grace says to him.

"An internship program where we are working." He puts emphasis on 'working'.

"Of course! Let's go out for drinks tomorrow after work for successfully completing one week here," Grace suggests.

"That will be a good idea," Asher and Ryan join in.

"Sure," I say. I send the picture to Asher and his phone's notification chimes in.

"This better not be Rosie for another work. Fifteen minutes and we are free to go," He picks up his phone and I see a smile creeping up on his face.

"Thank you!" He says to me.

"Would you go grocery shopping with me later? You said you need to do shopping and I also have to do that. So I just thought," He asks me.

"Yeah! You would be a great help!" At least that way, I have someone to navigate me through.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

I look over at endless shelves of grocery stores filled with all kinds of items. It feels like a witch's cupboard filled with her weird potion ingredients.

"What are you staring at?" Asher waves his hand in front of my face.

"Infinite number of shelves," I stare at them amazement.

"You have never been to a grocery store?" He asks, surprised.

"I have never been to this kind of grocery store. I mean you have sections divided according to different cuisine. Then the specific ingredients. I never knew there are so many types of flour alone."

"How did you survive in college?" He says putting stuff into the trolley.

"I would eat in the college only. Basic food items like eggs, milk etc. were available near a local shop. So, I never had to do this kind of shopping. I used to come to the city either for shopping or assignments," I tell him.

"Wow! That's something. Usually girls know about everything. And here you are, one of a rare specimen," Asher laughs.

"Very funny! Let's see what I can get," I scan over the aisle. I haven't really cooked anything in my entire life. So I take the basic stuff like Fruit-loops, instant ramen, boxed mac n cheese. 

"That's quite a lot of packaged food items. Not that I am complaining," He smirks urging his hands up in mock surrender.

"Well, I can make eggs and toast," I say putting some more stuff in the cart along with some vegetables for salad. I love eating all the guilty food with sugar and fats but for some unknown reason, I love a good bowl of salad. I mean, it's so easy. You put some greens, some tomatoes with some croutons and dressing. Voila! It's ready.

"I am done. Have you got everything you need?" I ask Asher.

"Yeah!"

******************

"I have so many bags. Ugh!" I feel like my arms would fall off.

"You bought a lot of stuff. Groceries, bedsheets, curtains and what not. Also you have your own bag and that lamp of yours. It was bound to happen." 

"How come you only have a single bag?" I pout envying the little weight he has to lift.

"Because unlike you who bought groceries for like a month. I bought them only for the week," He says in a matter of fact tone.

"Let me help you out!" He takes a few of my bags before calling for a cab.

"I will draw the sketches and will send you the layout. You can tell me if I missed something since you have more about the brief. I was busy clicking pictures," Asher looks at me expectantly.

"Absolutely," I say. 

The cab pulls in front of the apartment. Asher helps me take out the bags from the backseat. 

"There you go. Do you want me to help you upstairs?" He asks me.

"No. I am fine. I can do that," I say but clearly struggling with the bags.

"That I can see very well. Wait, let me help you," He says getting out of the cab with his own bag and paying the driver. He takes two of my bags from my hand before walking.

"You have to walk in front of me, you know. I don't know your flat," He says.

"Yeah. Thank you." I say. 

I have never met a guy like him. Or maybe, I just wasn't interested in talking with any of them. When I was in high school, I had a boyfriend and he was the only guy I used to talk to. I mean, I would have conversations with other guys but those were general talks.

We broke up before we graduated because we were in two different universities which let me tell you are in different continents. He went to London to pursue his dreams in science while I applied for the designing course in LA. Everybody told us that we could make it happen and that we shouldn't be breaking up. You know stuff like that. But we both knew that with all the studies and different time zones, we would not be able to do this long distance. So, we had to end it.

When I started college, I was still in a moving on phase. As the time passed, I got better but I was enjoying the single life as well. So, I never tried for the relationship. I kept myself focused on my goal. And look where I got myself landed. 'G+B Designing Co'. 

Since I have been here, me and Asher have been talking a lot, mostly work but still. We have to spend time with each other. He seems to be a sweet guy to me. We haven't had much personal talks yet I have enjoyed the little time we have spent together. 

"Here we are. Apartment 403!" I say, unlocking the door.

"Finally!" We both proceed to the kitchen putting all the bags on the counter.

"Let me pull these stuff in my room. I will be back in a moment," I say. I put the bags on my bed before heading outside.

"I will grab you a glass of juice. Let me see, which bag is it?" I say, going through the bags.

"It's a nice house. But it's so plain. Could use some of your touch, I say," Asher says looking around.

"Let me first focus on my room. Then the rest of the house." 

"I found it," I say, feeling like I won at the end of a battle. 

"Why is the door open, Ariella?" I hear Wyatt's voice from the living room.

"I had a lot of bags in my hands," I yell.

"This is Wyatt, my flatmate." I say to Asher who turns around to face him.

"And this is...." Before I could complete the introduction, I was cut-off.

"Asher Bradfort. What the fuck are you doing in my house?" Wyatt has his jaws clenched with anger evident in his voice.

Author's Note: Hello fellow readers! If you are reading please vote and comment. Make your presence known to me. Tell me what do you think of the story so far. Every opinion, every criticism is most welcome.

Also, I am happy because this story is #488 in Chicklit and #11 for #reallifeproblems.