When she pulled into her usual parking space outside her apartment complex she noticed several boxes and items sitting on the curb. Lots of her neighbors where rummaging through the boxes. A few of them were fighting over several items. One woman walked by sporting a beautiful ivory cardigan that looked just like the one her grandmother had sent her for Christmas. Jerking her head back to the throng gathered on the sidewalk her stomach plummeted to the ground. These where her belongings her neighbors where pawing through.
"Hey what the hell do you think you're doing," she screamed, "Get your greasy paws off my stuff you pack of buzzards!" The throng of people reluctantly dispersed. Dropping the items they'd scavenged. However, Mrs. Baddock who lives just a couple of doors down from Brooke, tried to sneak off with a tote bag. Brooke yanked on the purse, "Now exactly where do you think you're going with my hand bag Mrs. Baddock?" The old woman huffed and puffed out her chest but relinquished the handbag.
Not sure as to why her belongings were on the curve Brooke raced back up to try and sort things out. On her way up the stairs she ran into several hefty looking guys who where taking out her couch. "Put that down right now," she ordered. The men just looked at her like she was a three headed dragon or something.
"Ahh Brooke there you are," the voice of her sleazy apartment manger called out as he stepped out of her apartment.
Motioning to the beef bags who where still holding onto her couch Brooke asked, "What the hell Armand? Why are these two muscle heads carrying out my stuff to the sidewalk? My rents not due for another month." Which was true Brooke had always kept her rent paid up two months in case she were to come upon hard times.
Armand spread his hands out in front him, "Look doll it's just business. Your boss called me this morning saying how you'd been fired for unbecoming conduct in the work place. Your lease clearly states that you must hold a job."
Brooke seethed on the inside. How dare Maxine do this to her. "Look Armand I wasn't fired I quit. I would of said something but I thought since I was paid up till the end of next month I had time to find another job. Which I did. I just signed my first client yesterday. I'm officially a sports agent."
Armand looked skeptical, "Really? Who did you sign?"
"Eric Matthews starting pitcher for the Braves."
"Ha!" Armand dismissed her answer, "You lie. Maxine told me how she had to fire you for coming onto Eric and costing her his contract. The way she talked there's not a single player in the state who'd come near you."
Maxine's lies cut right through Brooke. But she still pushed forward, "Please Armand! Maxine is lying. Look I've all ready paid up till next month at least let me stay till then."
Armand pretended to think about it before saying, "No. I have a couple downstairs interested in moving in by the end of the week." Looking at the two brutes still grasping Brooke's couch he orders them to continue moving out the rest of her belongings. He sidled on past Brooke without a backwards glance.
Brooke wasn't about to let this be the end of it. She chased Armand down the stairs shouting, "Fine then reimburse me next months rent!"
Armand paused to look at her and laugh, "Darling I will be doing no such thing! As per your rental agreement should you vacate the property for any reason before your lease is up you're entitled to pay me two months rent and you loose your deposit."
"You slimy good for nothing bastard," Brooke shouted. She couldn't help herself. Anger was just radiating off her in unchecked waves.
"Uh uh uh that is no way to talk to anyone," Brooke wanted to rip off the finger he had the audacity to waggle in front of her. "Now you owe me five hundred dollars for the second months rent."
Brooke just stood their mouth agape. Was he serious about this? "Armand I don't have five hundred dollars to give you seeing as I'm going to have to find me a new apartment."
Armand poked out his bottom lip in a pout, "Well that's too bad. I guess I'll just have to sell off your furniture to make up the difference."
"You can't do that!"
"Oh yes I can. Your lease says - "
"I don't give a rats ass what my lease says Armand!"
"Well sweetness you may not care but I do. In the even that you can't settle your debts with me your belongings on the premises belong to me."
Pop! One minute Brooke was standing there shacking uncontrollably and the next her fist was making contact with the left side of Armand's face. "Take that you son of bitch!"
Without bothering to see what he'd do next Brooke raced back up the stairs to her apartment. She quickly packed all her remaining clothes in to several suitcases she had. Throwing all her toiletries into a carry on bag. Then proceeded to pack what few sentimental items she had into a box.
She tossed them all into the trunk of her car as well as several other items of hers out on the curb. With squelching tires she pealed off from the curb.
Brooke drove around for several hours trying to calm her racing pulse. She couldn't believe that witch had done this to her. She hoped that shiner Armand would be sporting tomorrow lasted for days.
Hunger finally forced Brooke to pull into a Wendy's. Though she couldn't bring herself to do more then pick at her food. Her feelings had knotted themselves up in the pit of her stomach making her nauseated. So she forced down what few bites she could and discarded the rest.
As she climbed back into her car tears were spilling down her cheeks. Angry sobs tore from her throat. It took all of herself restraint not to drive across town and give Maxine a black eye to match Armand's.
When her tears subsided long enough to clear her thoughts Brooke pulled out her phone to check her bank account. She had some money set aside in a savings account. However it would take most if not all of it to get her a new apartment and furnish it. If she did that there was no telling how long it would take her to replace the measly amount. She didn't doubt she'd be getting paid a good amount from Eric to be kept on retainer. However, the smart thing to do would be to wait out a couple of checks, save up some more money and then get her an apartment. Till then She could sleep in her car.
She'd seen plenty of YouTube videos on people moving in and living out of their vehicles full time. Surely she could manage it for a couple weeks.