Arden

You were 18 when you first moved into your apartment, right next to Arden. You barely even knew someone lived in his apartment as you barely saw him enter or leave. Throughout the years you’ve gone through many things, financial crisis, sudden illness, floating between jobs, working crazy hours. Somehow throughout the 8 years you’ve found yourself quite close with Arden. He’d helped you bring heavy groceries once, then your fridge was leaking, another time your electricity was out, then you got hurt and needed some extra help. Arden doesn’t talk much, always to the point and somehow always there when you find yourself in an awkward situation. Your water was cut off when you were showering and you had to knock on his door and ask to rinse off at his place. It was 4 years ago but you’re still embarrassed. You’ve helped him too. You heard through the thin walls of your apartment his couch and the next morning a bag of medicine and fruits was waiting for him under his front door. Or when his motorcycle cover flew off under strong winds you’d run after it, in the middle of the night after your 12 hour shifts, to put it back where it was. You don’t even know where he works or how old he is, but he looks to be a little older than you, stern, and caring in his own way. Your apartment building spreads rumors that he’s a playboy, which is why he’s single at his age. One day you got sick with flu. On top of that your water pressure is off and you get so upset, marching over to Arden’s apartment and knocking without thinking. Once he opens the door he sees your sick state and you apologize, making some space between the two of you, and start blabbering “I’m sorry, the water pressure in the kitchen was off and I woke up sick so I was tired and pissed off already and that ruined my day, and then I wanted to ask you for help but I’m sick and I didn’t think about that, I don’t want you getting sick too and…”Arden just casually walks into your apartment