Chapter 3: CHAPTER 3 : GETTING THE HANG OF IT
It's been two weeks since Nicolai's last encounter with the girl group Holler as they call themselves. She doesn't know if it's a good thing or a bad one but, either way, she still has a reputation to salvage. In those two weeks of her mind being occupied with the girls, she distracted herself with work. Yes, work.
Nicolai started from the messy apartment of… what's the word? The previous 'Nicolai' of this world. It was small and the apartment was facing the sea which Nicolai love. She was enthralled by the view, despite the small area, the building was beautiful. She gets why the previous owner of this body has taken this part of the building. It was on the third floor and has the perfect view of the whole beachside and the sea as well as the island across them. The sunset is as gorgeous as the sunrise. When Nicolai gets out of her room for breakfast, the view won't just stop taking her breath away and steal 30 minutes of her time just staring at it. That said, it's always worth it.
The kitchen when she first entered this place, was just a mess that there are no plates, spoons, and forks left in the cabinet where they are stored. The platinum blonde manager just gaped at it for a few seconds and looked at it deadpanned. "I'm starting to think we are more similar than what I thought before," she stated and moved from the doorway to start washing the dishes. Thoroughly. In the past, her best friend, she met when she sang in a runway show, Riley, was always there to help her hate for washing dishes. She would always come over to her place every week just to check up on her dishes and afterward, they'd watch videos or movies. No matter what they watch, they always seem to make the movie funny with their remarks and they'd just end up laughing even if the screen was showing a cast being butchered or was left heartbroken with her romantic interest.
So, in the middle of cleaning the apartment, the first week was spend being in depressive mode. Nicolai missed her life. She misses her best friend. She misses their movie nights. She misses going to the studio in the middle of the night and just belting whatever her chest has been keeping some feelings she can't show. She misses her sister, who's like a twin of Riley. Nicolai used to wonder if she was adopted, or her sister, because of how similar her sister is to her best friend. Nicolai misses the sweet shop she always goes to when they celebrate the release of her music. Weirdly, she misses the mysterious white dot on the dark ceiling in her room. Not seeing it now is a slap to the face that she's not on Earth anymore or wherever she is. Making it more real, that Nicolai Sinclair is dead. She sigh and closed her eyes for a minute, thinking she should read books or watch documentaries about this world more.
The talented singer-songwriter, the sister to a crazy snarky girl, and a friend to that bright and loving model. Nicolai's family is gone. And she can't come back no matter how alive she feels. When she was supposed to be dead already.
Nicolai spends the whole night at the beachside laying on top of a fluffy blanket because even if she's having an existential crisis, she doesn't want her back to hurt and be sore in the morning. She just lay there, her hair sprawled on the sheets, hands folded on top of her stomach and her feet moving side to side as she hums.
All in all, it was a productive first week in this new world no matter how much it still doesn't make sense to her. Nicolai just wished her second week in this apartment fixing plan will be better than the other. Yeap! She's positive it will turn out great!
Nicolai spoke too soon. She jinxed it. Maybe she saw a black cat that Saturday lunch? Maybe a black butterfly by the bushes near the building's little garden? Nicolai was not ready to meet someone the previous 'Nicolai' knows! Why? Because she isn't Nicolai! No matter how similar they may be in life and some aspects of their character, or their like for cute plushies or cartoons, or maybe like that little crocodile and racoon doodle in the bathroom, okay almost the same BUT they are still both different people! She has no idea how Nicolai acts or treats this person. For some reason, the previous owners of the body's memories are still foggy. And just her luck, it was one of this.
Who the fuck is Adrianna?
Well, she's just Nicolai's neighbor, more like the person who lives across her door or room? Whichever anyone prefers, Nicolai shrugs and well, just face the music? Nicolai looks at her neighbor from toe to head.
"You're taller than me.", Nicolai deadpanned.
Adrianna raised her perfect eyebrows at the woman in front of her. She clicked her tongue in response, "Way to state the obvious dipshit."
Nicolai's eyes widen when she heard the other girl's voice. It was a deep and raspy voice, a perfect blend that the young manager can't help thinking if this was a dream. 'I am so writing this in my journal. Meeting my tall neighbor who has a very sexy- nope! Cool, yes cool voice. I was not about to say sexy. That would be weird.' Nicolai shakes off the thoughts in her head, noticing she hasn't replied yet.
"What a nice greeting, eyebrows. I'm listing that as your first curse word towards me." Nicolai said with a smirky smile, showing her cute dimples making her badass look add a little cuteness to it, which Adrianna noticed making her let out a giggle. She did not know her neighbor could be cheeky. You knew something everyday, she guess.
"Eyebrows? Really?"
Nicolai feint an offended gasp and put her hand on her chest, "Why it's a good rude name to call," she winked and Nicolai was glad to hear the sound of laughter. She wouldn't know what to do if the tall blonde gets mad at her. Honestly speaking, she would have run far away from Marfate and maybe she can do her work in the countryside.
Adrianna rolls her eyes at the antics of the young manager in front of her. If the woman can joke then her reason for her neighbor's disappearance for a month is probably okay now? She saw the news and heard the rumors. It was like a wildfire. She remembered whistling in sympathy towards the pale blondie in front of her.
"Well, glad you're back idiot. The whole floor was quiet without you singing your lungs out. Plus, no one has been running around the halls all from drowning themself in coffee," the tall blonde said in a matter-of-fact tone which made Nicolai's lips quirk up on their own. She doesn't know why, but imagining the previous Nicolai having fun was a relief on her part. Based on the previous owner of this body, she often acted like someone with a stick in the ass. She couldn't blame the previous Nicolai, based on the memories that flashed in her mind, the woman didn't have a good family environment.
She laughed shaking her head at the person she's talking to in the hallway of their floor. The way Adrianna just described the previous Nicolai seems like they were kind of in a good relationship. "Oh, it will be happening frequently now that I'm here. This place could use some life, like look at that door of yours. Is that a peeling paint?" she pointed at the back of Adrianna, mocking the girl teasingly. "Are you making your door scary? The way you make yourself look like with people?"
Nicolai received an eye roll and the sound of a clicking tongue from the girl. It must be a thing. "Maybe, but seems it attracts idiots though. So, I might be changing the settings a bit."
"I feel your love for a mile away."
"I think you're still sleepy."
"Nah, your eyebrows just have that effect on people."
"Is that a compliment I hear dipshit?"
"Your ears are clogged, clean it twice later."
"My hearing's perfectly fine. Maybe all that blasting of music finally got you."
"Or maybe your voice is what got me," Nicolai mumbled still not getting over how Adrianna's voice sounds. No hate! The blonde's voice is just something else. Even though she doesn't remember much from the previous Nicolai's memories about Adrianna, but her first meeting with her is going well. They cross each other when Nicolai was just heading back to her apartment, it was late at night. And who would have thought there was an apartment-size space in the middle of the floor where a room was should be. Turns out the owner made it to be like a common room to gather by other tenants. It was great as the view outside is seen from the glass wall and at the sides, are tall bookshelves and there are two long sofas and some study table and single pillow seat thingy. Can't blame her, she has no idea what those are called.
"Are you flirting?" Adrianna raised an eyebrow looking at the young manager with amusement in her eyes.
Nicolai's ocean blue eyes widen at Adrianna's words. She can't say yes because that will just sound fishy. She just broke up with her 'girlfriend' not long ago and it was- is, all over the news! 'Why didn't the previous Nicolai's eye saw the sexiness of her neighbor? I'm going to check my eyes next week. It might be faulty too, just to be safe', she whined in her mind. This is just unfair. "Ha-ha wish all are that confident, ever heard of sarcasm?", Nicolai tried to play it off, her face looking more cool. Her sleepy and tired eyes adding to that effect.
Adrianna looked thoughtful for a second making Nicolai release some breathe she'd been holding only to jinxed it all again.
"It sounds like in a matter of fact tone to me though," Adrianna smirked, making her voice deep and raspier than normal getting a reaction from Nicolai. The young manager almost choked on air. Adrianna leaned a bit closer to her as she's taller.
"Told ya to clean your ears. It is definitely clogged, you just proved it. Or maybe my charming personality is finally getting to you. It's okay to admit, no need to be shy." Nicolai said confidently, when in the inside, she's shaking. When was low-key flirting ever been easy? Anyone who said it's easy will get a kick in the face.
A melodious laugh echoed the almost empty hallways if they weren't there. It was a nice sound, to be honest. Nicolai has been deprived of it for some weeks and it was making her feel all alone in this strange new life.
Adrianna's cute sleepy face looked at her softly. Her snobby look fading replaced with soft features. Nicolai thinks it's a look that her mind won't be forgetting soon. If she has no shame, she would ask for a picture.
"How's life been while you were away?", the tall blonde asked carefully. Adrianna sees that Nicolai seems bright and okay now, but she still wanted to be cautious. She doesn't want to uncover a currently healing would and just make it bleed even more. Though, her neighbor seems to be...different after returning, or maybe its just Adrianna. Man, she must be tired from her school works.
Nicolai smiled a little, she wanted to say it has been hell. The existential crisis is proof of that. Being in someone else's body? When you were supposed to be dead? She was shocked, scared, and hella confused. Knowing her reputation in this world? It was stressful and a lot of anxiety sets in. Of course, Nicolai can't tell all of that to the girl who she met for the first time as her and not the previous Nicolai.
"Tiring… And a whole lot of messy feelings…" she said softly. This was as far as she can answer the girl honestly. And hopefully, one day maybe she'd be her friend. It'd be whole lot better to have someone to talk to in this new and strange world.
The tall blonde hummed after clicking her tongue, which Nicolai is finding a kind of habit from the girl indeed. Adrianna looks at her straight in the eyes, her forest-green eyes meeting her blue ones. "You did what you can. You did your best. How's it going with everything now?"
The way Adrianna's voice sounds understanding at the same time laced with worry with a tint of curiosity almost made Nicolai laugh. These have been the best-asked questions asked to her since she got her. It was kind of refreshing. It's a good thing she had always been good in reading people and atmosphere, greatly helped her in her past life when talking to other celebrities and money hungry people.
"I'm getting the hang of it," she said optimistically and flashed Adrianna with a bright dimpled smile, her eyes almost looking closed. Nicolai was being honest, sure she was dead in another world, plus being in another's body so suddenly? And living that person's life all of a sudden, no manual, no guide and not even a tutorial. So yeah, she was getting the hang of it, and meeting and discovering new people was nice. It's still a bit surprising how she's taking everything, or maybe she'll have a late reaction?
Maybe before she sleeps, there would be a new verse for a new-made song. A fresh start, huh, maybe even like an opening song, right?
Adrianna, struck with the bright personality of her neighbor was taken aback. Despite getting a lot of hate out of the blue, getting almost kick out of her job, she might as well have lost it with her lack of projects. Looking at the young yet talented manager in front of her, makes all the problems in her life inspiring. This was her first impression when she met that hyper young woman moving in here a year ago. She was up all night making her business cards and looking in ViTube for possible talented individuals she can help to shine like a star in this world.
She remembered NIcolai's words back then, "I want to help people in reaching their dreams. I want to help them shine like a star and be there to watch them twinkling for their audience. I...would love to be able to be with them in their journey towards the spotlight. It'll be like an adventure."
It was easy to have motivation by just looking at her move with a purpose. And Adrianna can't help but give the young woman a thumbs up.
"That's good to hear dipshit. I was getting tired of your mopey missing ass."
"Wow, for someone who only waves at me every time we cross each other, I do feel your care."
"Oh shut up, you help me once with my English subject. Though you did it wrong, it was still good."
"Wait a minute! How was it wrong?"
"It was supposed to be a normal 'short' poem, you idiot. By how long you made it, it might as well be an essay."
"You're welcome eyebrows. I think you got an A though."
"It was supposed to be a B minus but my professor was nice. Added points for effort."
"Fuck you."
Yeah, Nicolai can get used to this everyday as her normal days. Maybe as time goes by, her life her would get brighter and filled. Just like her past...
To be continued...
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
sleepy_ninjaTurtle
sleepy_ninjaTurtle Hmm, what do you think of Adrianna?
been a long since this has been updated, hopefully, this chapter is good. Tell me what you think or if you have any ideas.
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