Part 5 — Britney

Xin heard the doorbell. "Who could that be?" She opened the door and saw Britney.

"Hey there, Xin! Mind if I come in?"

"I... guess not," Xin said, as Britney walked into the apartment. Damn, where is Zap when you need him? I'm not good with this kind of stuff! She put on a smile as she followed Britney, who again walked to the kitchen. "You told me that your roomate uses the kitchen, but do you ever use the kitchen?"

"In a way." Xin gestured towards the fridge.

"Right... because that's using the kitchen."

"Quiet, Britney. The fridge is in the kitchen."

"Right... so, has your roomate returned?"

"Pfft, no. He left yesterday and probably won't be back for a while."

"Oh... I kind of want to meet him."

"If you can handle him, that is," Xin muttered to herself.

"What?"

"What?"

"Nothing. Erm... you attend a college?"

"Yeah. The closest one."

"Cool." Britney took a seat at the dining table. "I'm not going to college for now. I'm trying to get money to pay the full four years."

"It hasn't even been a year, so we haven't really had much to worry about. Actually, my roomate managed to get a scolarship. Surprises me."

"So he's smart?"

"I...guess?" Xin didn't really pay attention to his education level (or her own, for that matter), so she couldn't really say.

"What about you?"

"I'm doing fine in school. I just don't feel like focusing on anything particular."

"Ah... mind if I check out your fridge?"

"That's fine. Grab something if you want." Britney opened the fridge and walked back to the dining table with the entire box of chocolate bars. "I, um..."

"Don't worry," Britney said, laughing. "I'll put it back." She grabbed a chocolate bar out of the box and returned to the fridge, putting the box back in. She began to eat it as she heard her phone ring. Xin recognized the song "Young, Dumb & Broke" by Khalid. When she pointed it out, Britney said, "Just like my boyfriend. His ringtone, by the way. Excuse me." She answered her phone, walking away from the dining table.

She returned after 5 minutes. "Looks like he needs me. I'll be going now. Thanks again. I don't know why, but it feels nice being in your apartment, compared to mine."

"Because it's clean—"

"Bye!" Britney rushed out the door. Unamused, Xin closed the door and locked it. She's weird. But I guess she means well.