The Beginning

It all begins in January of 2022. After months of fruitless searching for a home in Walla Walla, Elina calls her best friend Autumn.

"What do I do? You live there, have you seen any listings?"

"Hm... not really." Autumn thinks. "You know what, let me check the university housing board. I'll bet there are students who need a housemate in town somewhere, and I doubt they'd care if you weren't a student."

Lo and behold, a young woman had just recently posted about moving out of her home, and was needing someone to take her place. There were three other housemates and the price was within Elina's budget. Quickly, a tour was arranged.

"Yeah, I just checked it out." she calls Autumn later, "It was a little messy, but decent size. The housemates seem really sweet."

"Do you think you'll go with it?" Autumn asks eagerly.

"I don't know. Maybe."

Little did she know that her next decision would change her whole life.

"Oof, how do you think that went?" Charlie asks his housemate Silas

Silas shrugs, glancing around the space.

"It's a bit of a mess."

"Yeah, she was definitely judging us."

Silas gives him a smirk, "she was pretty cute though. Eh?"

Charlie chuckles, shaking his head.

"No way man, I don't date housemates."

In just a matter of weeks, Elina and her family are unloading boxes from the family van, into her new bedroom. Her new housemate Charlie appears.

"Need any help?" he asks Elina's dad.

"Sure." He hands a box to the young man.

Years later he would tell Elina, "You know, it was in that moment, I knew you were going to fall for him."

Not long after Elina moved in, Charlie takes a trip to Florida to visit his cousin, Zach. After a long night of chatting, the topic of dating inevitably arises.

"So man, you seeing anyone?" Zach asks.

Charlie shakes his head. "No."

"Why not?"

"It's just hard. I never seem to feel... comfortable."

"You can't be scared, Charlie. You've just got to go for it! You never know what could happen."

"Yeah," Charlie considers, "I guess you're right."

A certain girl came to mind then and he smiled and then thought, "oh no..."

After arriving home, Charlie saw Elina in a different light. He began asking more questions and inviting her out with the housemates. The more he would chat with her, the more he became interested. He couldn't help it.

One day, he messages Elina a favor.

"Would you mind switching over my laundry for me? I didn't have a moment before heading back to work."

Elina responds "Yes, but also proceeds to fold his laundry neatly after is done."

Charlie arrives home later to find this and is surprised and touched."

The thought of her going out of her way to be helpful just for him warmed his heart.

Several months later, Elina and Autumn are out walking.

"So, how's it going? How are the housemates?"

"Remember that time I told you I was cleaning the kitchen and Charlie offered to help, and I thought it was super sweet, and I talked about how his eyes were shining, and he just looked so cute?"

"Yeah, and you said you definitely weren't going to catch feelings?"

"Yeah..."

"Elina!"

"No, listen. I think he might like me too! He's been going out of his way to talk to me a lot more, he's been really trying to get to know me, and the other night when I was on the phone with Kianna he chatted with her too and read her a story."

"You can't date your housemate! That's messy."

"I know. It probably won't lead to anything. Because he's my housemate, I know it's not a good idea, just like you said."

"Okayyyyy."

Deep down, Autumn knew it was just a matter of time.

Just a few nights later Elina and Charlie are sitting together, watching a movie. Things had felt different between them lately, though neither has addressed it. Elina wants this to change.

"I'm not sure how to address this, so I'm just gonna come right out and say it. Charlie, I have feelings for you."

There is a pause as this sinks in. Elina can feel her heart hammering.

Charlie smiles, instantly calming her fears.

"I have feelings for you too."

"I don't know if it is a good idea to do anything about it, but I can't deny the feelings I have" Elina honestly admits.

Charlie offers, "Well...would you be interested in going on a few dates anyway and seeing where things go? I can't deny my feelings either"

"Let's give it a shot."

And so it begins...