Okay, first day away from home. I can do this. I can. No panic, no tripping over my own feet, no awkward first impressions. Just… walk in, sign the papers, smile like a normal human being. Easy. Totally easy.
I tugged my suitcase behind me and stared up at the sleek glass doors of Elysium Heights Condo. Modern, shiny, intimidating. Just my luck: moving somewhere that looks like it costs more than my entire college tuition.
"Deep breaths, Elise," I muttered under my breath, straightening my shoulders like I was about to deliver a TED Talk on how to adult.
The lobby smelled faintly of lemon polish and expensive coffee. There was a front desk with a bored-looking guy typing on a computer. I approached, trying to look confident while secretly hoping my cheeks weren't red enough to signal total freak-out mode.
"Hi! I'm Elise Harper. I'm here to check in?" I said, forcing my voice to be calm.
The desk clerk looked up, blinked, and typed a few keys. "Ah, yes. Unit 12F. Enjoy your stay."
Simple. Easy. Done. I exhaled like I'd just run a marathon. My feet carried me to the elevator, and I pressed the button for the 12th floor—the whole floor, just for me and… apparently, four guys.
Okay, rewind. Four guys. Did I even read the lease carefully? Probably not. But hey, independent Elise can handle four random strangers sharing the same floor. Totally fine.
The elevator dinged open, and I stepped onto my floor. The hallway was wide, carpeted, and smelled faintly of fresh linen. Modern artwork hung along the walls, sleek and tasteful, and each door had the same minimalist, metallic number plaque. It was like walking into a hotel—only this hotel came with four strangers who were probably all models.
And there they were.
Sebastian Kane, tall, effortlessly confident, leaning casually against the wall with a smirk that screamed charm is my full-time job. I swear his designer blazer looked custom-made even for lounging.
Julian Everett, quiet, thoughtful, the kind of guy who watches everything like he's cataloging the world in his brain before deciding if it's worth speaking. His hair fell perfectly into place, and his dark eyes seemed to notice every detail about me before I could even notice him.
Maximilian "Max" Vale, energetic, athletic, practically radiating sunshine and competitiveness. You could tell he probably runs marathons for fun and still manages to look good in sweatpants.
Adrian Sinclair, soft, artistic, holding a sketchbook with paint stains on his fingers, looking like he just walked out of a magazine editorial. His smile was quiet but genuine, the kind that made you feel like he saw more than just appearances.
I froze. Cue the internal screaming. Four guys, all incredibly… expensive-looking, stylish, and annoyingly good at breathing. And I was supposed to live here with them?
"Hi," I squeaked. Okay, squeaked was not intentional. "I'm Elise. Your… new roommate?"
Sebastian smirked, eyebrows raised. "Looks like the floor just got a little more interesting."
Julian gave a small, polite nod. "Welcome, Elise."
Max grinned, like he had already decided I was going to be fun to tease. "Finally! Someone new to make this place less boring."
Adrian offered a soft smile that made my stomach twist in the weirdest way. "Hi, Elise. I hope you'll like it here."
Great. Just great.
Okay, Elise. First day. Keep it together. You can do this.
I dragged my suitcase toward the door labeled "12F" and hesitated. The door was heavy, smooth, and cold under my palm. I twisted the handle and stepped inside.
The space was… wow. Open, airy, and styled like something out of an interior magazine. Floor-to-ceiling windows let sunlight flood in, reflecting off the polished hardwood floors. There were four bedrooms, a shared kitchen, and a large living room with plush couches and oversized pillows. Every detail screamed "someone who has money and knows how to live well."
And apparently, I was now part of that someone.
"Don't worry, Elise," Sebastian said from across the room, walking toward me like he owned half the place (maybe he did). "We don't bite… usually."
Max immediately grabbed a cushion and tossed it at me. "You'll need this for surviving Max's epic Netflix marathons."
I barely caught it. I think I just survived my first welcome attack.
Julian was quietly leaning against the counter, hands tucked in his pockets, watching me with a small, almost shy smile. "If you need anything, just ask. We're… mostly harmless."
I tried not to let my grin slip. Adrian, sitting cross-legged on the sofa with his sketchbook, tilted his head. "Or maybe you'll inspire some art." He gestured at the empty pages. "Depends on how chaotic you are."
"Chaotic?" I muttered to myself. I'm not chaotic. I'm… organized. Mostly. Sometimes.
"Welcome to the floor, Elise," Sebastian said again, this time walking over and giving me a quick tour. "Kitchen's over there, snacks are fair game, bathrooms are shared, and the couch—well, that's a free-for-all unless Max claims it first."
I nodded, trying to memorize the layout while avoiding staring too obviously at any one of them. Which was impossible. Between Sebastian's confident smirk, Max's sunshine grin, Julian's quiet intensity, and Adrian's soft artistic aura, my brain short-circuited a little every time I looked up.
By the end of the tour, I was carrying my suitcase toward my room, secretly thankful it was at the far end of the hallway. I could take a deep breath there and maybe convince my heart to stop racing.
As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it and whispered: Okay, Elise. First day. You survived the lobby, the elevator, the four gorgeous guys, and now the actual apartment. You got this.
Little did I know… surviving the first day was only the beginning.