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the wall, I blink a few times, trying
to figure out how this could have happened. And more importantly, how I can fix
it. Charging back into my room, I snatch my phone off my bed and dial my
landlord. If they really sold the building and this isn’t some stunt that King
is pulling, then I want answers.
    “Hello?” my landlord, Charlie, answers right away, and I do
my best to stay calm.
    “Charlie, this is Ever, from apartment 2-B. Why did I just
get an eviction notice that says I have seven days before I have to vacate?”
    “Oh no, did they already serve those? I barely left the
closing thirty minutes ago.”
    “So you really sold the building?”
    “I did.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    “Ever, I’m very sorry. I was going to come and talk to all
my tenants today. The company told me they were giving everyone sixty days. Are
you sure it says seven?”
    “Yes,” I shout and he goes silent. “I’m sorry, but I’m
really freaking the fuck out here.”
    “I completely understand. Let me call them and see what I
can do. I’ll call you right back.”
    “Thanks.”
    We hang up, my heart pounding as I sit on the edge of my
bed, so scared at the thought that I’ll actually have to leave my home. I love
it here. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, even with the noise next
door. Looking out the window again, his car still isn’t there and I have this
sickening feeling that he did this. Maybe he owns this other architecture
company and is doing this to get back at me.
    My knee is bouncing up and down, I am so upset. I don’t know
what to do. Needing answers and to simply take out my frustrations on someone,
I call King. I have to know if he is behind this. His phone rings and rings,
then finally he answers.
    “I knew you’d come to your senses,” his voice is serious.
    “Save it, King. I’m not in any fuckin’ mood for your
antics.”
    “No?” he questions me and I lie back on my bed, exhaling as
I search for the words…any words.
    “What are you wearing?” he asks.
    “Could you try and be serious for once in your life?”
    “I could try…but I don’t want to.”
    Knowing there is no nice way to accuse someone of something
like this, I flat out ask him, “Did you buy my building?”
    “No, why?”
    “Please don’t lie to me.”
    “I’m not, why would you ask me that?”
    “’Cause I got an eviction notice that says I have seven days
to move out.”
    “Did you call your landlord?”
    “Of course I did. He confirmed he sold…but said I was
supposed to get sixty days. Still…I don’t get why?”
    “Does the notice say who bought the building?”
    “All Designs Architecture.”
    “Let me handle this.”
    “No, that’s not what I want. I’ll handle it, I only wanted
to see if you were behind it.”
    “Do you really think I’d kick you out of your house?”
    “I don’t know, King, but please don’t get in the middle of
this. I’ll handle it.”
     
    _____
     
    “Ever,” my dad exclaims, excited and very surprised that I
drove all the way over to his house.
    “Hey, Dad. How are you?”
    “I’m fine.” He stands from his desk, and I give him a hug,
doing my best to hide the anxiety that is lurking beneath. I don’t want him to
worry about me, but I need his advice on this whole housing situation.
    “Are you off today?”
    “Yeah…I…I need to talk to you.”
    “Of course, have a seat.”
    I sit in the little chair that is opposite his desk. The
eviction notice is in my hand. “Here,” I pass it to him. “I got this today.”
    Very gingerly, he opens it and I can see the confusion right
away on his face as he reads it.
    “Why? I don’t understand.”
    “Me neither. I called Charlie and he said he sold the
building.”’
    “Why would he do that?”
    “I didn’t ask. I wish I would’ve, because now I can’t get a
hold of him. He said the company told him they were going to give all the
tenants sixty days. But this letter says otherwise.”
    “Ever, I