Emily POV
Besides we could pay for a cab to the address in the ad, we both agreed that it was best to save as much money as we could. So trusting Lana's sense of location, we walked about fifteen minutes up the street until we came to an area where the buildings no longer looked Victorian.
Unlike a few streets down, this area appeared to be much newer. The buildings all had large windows, the facade tones were all neutral and the names of the buildings were engraved in striking gold lettering.
We walk a few more blocks and finally, Lana stops, reviews the address on the paper, and with a murmur in her mouth says: "Emily, this is the place."
Once again I feel the air in my lungs slowly escape. The photo in the ad did not do justice to the piece of architecture that stood before us. With only five stories, a dark facade, large windows, and hanging garden pieces on the outside I could easily say it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life.
"There is no point in going through with this Lolo" I exclaim this time very seriously, exhausted from all my fruitless searching: "From here I can already tell that I won't be able to even pay a quarter of the cost of the lease."
Lana falls silent and looks at me with that expression she had been wearing for the last week. One of complete worry and guilt. She nods agreeing with me, and after a deep exhale speaks: "We've come to this far friend, let's go inside. Even if it's just to gossip" She puts her hand on my shoulder, encouraging me: "I promise we'll get something girl, but I won't let you go."
In a moment of deep romance, Lana reaches over and pulls me into her arms in the middle of the street, stroking my hair with her hands.
Holding me like this, I feel for the first time a lump in my throat and tears threatening in my eye sockets. Now I was really filled with nerves and worry, I was overwhelmed with the time and felt closer to giving up my scholarship because I couldn't get a stupid place to live.
Unable to hold it back any longer, I feel the first tear roll down my cheek which Lana notices.
"No, don't cry Emi" She pulls me away from her grip and wipes the tears from my cheeks with her hands: "I already told you that we can do something, I don't want to see you cry, my friend."
I slurp my nose, which was probably already read, and smile at her.
"What are you hugging me for, girl?" I say and we laugh. She approaches me once more and reaching out her hands she undoes the ponytail she had made for me, arranges my hair on my shoulders, and blows my face.
"Have I ever told you that your eyes get greener and brighter when you cry?" She asks me, and I smack her arm in amusement at her constant attempts to cheer me up.
I inhale deeply to calm myself, and with all the energy gathered I walk to the door of the building. After a beep we enter the Lobby, walk up to the watchman's station and announce ourselves.
The other person I was talking to a few hours before, sounds friendlier with the security guard when he lets us on the elevator. The man in the uniform calls the elevator for us and once inside, he dials the button for the top floor by scanning his card on a reader.
When the doors close and we are alone, I murmur regretfully: "The man lives in the penthouse."
My companion doesn't utter a word, probably knowing that the situation was becoming more and more futile. A few seconds later the elevator stops, a ringing sound is heard on the loudspeakers, and after a few moments the doors open, revealing a six-foot-four man-made charm.
"Emily?"
I hear my name, but I am so surprised that I don't answer immediately.
"Emily?" He repeats his question once more, reaffirming to the little voice in my head that indeed the man had a very sensual tone of voice.
The neurons in my head seemed not to be working together, I know we must have looked very strange still standing inside the elevator without mumbling a word but the specimen of male that had stood in front of us was not leaving us the task very easy. I then look sideways at Lana, I see that the poor girl looks even giddier but I didn't blame her.
The man was quite a sight to see with his tanned skin, brown hair, prominent height, a stocky body, and lovely eyes.
"It's me." Gathering courage from some kidney, I step forward and extend my hand in an attempt to be polite.
Who I assume is named Nathan, extends his hand as well and shakes mine covering my weak limb in its entirety.
"I'm Nathan." With full awareness, the brown-haired boy of prominent height holds his grip for long seconds as he pins his intense gaze on my face.
His touch felt warm, but his gaze conveyed another feeling to me. I could perceive his pupils going from my chin to the crown of my head over and over again, making me feel evaluated.
He didn't seem to realize that his greeting was being uncomfortably prolonged. So, not to show him so much that the flesh was weak, I'm the one who squeezes his hand and lets him go.
"A pleasure." I smile weakly at him, to see if I can grace my face a little. If someone had told me that this was the face I was going to meet today, I would have put on a little more makeup and I wouldn't have cried just moments before. "This is my friend Lana, she's here for help me".
I point to my friend who still looks upset. But how to blame the poor thing, between this Nathan and her baby's daddy, there was an abysmal distance.
"Nice to meet you." He smiles without showing his teeth, making the corners around his mouth frame sweetly. However, he doesn't shake her hand: "Come in."