'I really shouldn't be the one helping you, El.'

'I'm sorry. I'll finish the rest-'

'No, no, no, I don't mean that I don't want to help. It's that someone else should be helping you. Someone named Roan.'

Elke sighed as she heaved a box out of the boot of her car. Her friend, Arabella, followed her into the building towards the lift. The third trip to the 4th floor consisted of Elke's kitchen appliances. Arabella's box weighed with a toaster and kettle, two of three things Elke actually used when cooking. Her sacred microwave was in her own box and became the victim of her absent stare.

'He didn't even drive you home last night. He could have at least spared you time to help with all this stuff,' Arabella motioned to the box in her arms. The lift dinged and the two friends headed into the hall.

'I need someone to help install the Internet so he'll be around at some point.'

'And then you should end things.'

Elke scoffed a laugh. She knew Arabella was being serious through her transparent joke. Her relationship used to be a touchy subject but it had gone on long enough for Elke's best friend to voice her obvious dislike for her boyfriend. Elke didn't flinch anymore.

Her new apartment faced Amsterdam's back streets. It was quiet, small and rennovated no more than five years ago. The kitchen, living room and tiny space for a dining table dominated the apartment. A window overlooked the street below and another in the singular bedroom did the same.

Big enough for a queen-sized bed, a chest of drawers and a dressing table, the bedroom was perfect for Elke. She could even park her car in the underground carpark, a luxury she didn't have at her old place.

'What's your plan?' Arabella asked, straightening up with the box now by her feet.

'I want the TV there, the sofas will go there-'

'I mean about Roan.'

Elke's raised arm fell against her side with a slap. She looked to her friend whose hands sat on her hips. With raised black eyebrows, Arabella waited for Elke's serious response. She wasn't going to let her friend avoid a definitive answer to her long-running question.

Glancing out the window, Elke brought her hands together in front of her and took a deep breath.

'Once I'm happy here... and I sign for the promotion...' she said slowly. 'I'll do it.'

'Do what?'

She wanted to groan in irritation.

'I'll break up with Roan.'

Arabella's hands flew up in celebration and Elke rolled her eyes. If only it was that easy to just break up with her boyfriend. The reason Elke was pushing it off was because she told herself she would regret it.

With very few friends, Elke dreaded to be lonely. Roan's presence, although some times feigned, still gave her comfort. When Arabella was busy, Elke looked for stimulation and company in her boyfriend. If it meant that she would have to sit in his garage as he worked on his car then fine. But when this got old, the talk of seperating became a common subject between herself and Arabella. But the 'what if's accompanied it and now, Elke put obsticles in her own path to prolong the act.

'Being single is not all bad. Just look at me,' Arabella chimed and gestured to herself. 'It'll make you see that you are such a catch that is being wasted on a petrolhead.'

'Men can have hobbies, Bella.'

'Yes, but they should be just that; hobbies.'

It was the same conversation and it always ended the same way; with Arabella being right and Elke defeated in her argument.

Arabella and Elke got the last boxes from her car. While her friend headed for the lift, Elke balanced one box while rummaging in her pocket for her keys. She pressed the fob's button and after hearing the affirmative beep, she retook the box into both hands. Elke's eyes swept the underground carpark and paused at a shiny, silver Impreza.

It was parked several cars down from her own. With a modest spoiler, the silver Suburu stood out but wasn't loud in its existence. But it's familiarity caught Elke's attention and her eyebrows creased in thought.

Surely Amsterdam had several rally Imprezas on it's streets. The one that had nearly hit her was one of many. It couldn't be the same one.

She tried to remember anything about the car that wasn't the striking driver. While trying to talk through her embarrassment, Elke hadn't seen anything special about the car. She was forced to look and be interested in so many that cars became a bore to her. Even if one had nearly sent her flying across the road, Elke still didn't remember specifics about the blonde's silver Impreza.

Turning away with a shrug, Elke gave up. Her apartment wasn't going to ready itself and Imprezas were plentiful in the world. She got in the lift and headed up to the 4th floor.

---

Signing for the promotion had been another milestone. Elke had worked at the consulting firm for three years and excelled in her role. When her manager congratulated her with a promotion, Elke was able afford her new apartment closer to Amsterdam. She was moving up and life was coming together for the twenty-three year old.

A smile played on Elke's face as she headed through the underground carpark. Her skirt and tights matched the black of her knee-high boots. Her white shirt was tucked in behind her black jacket. Her bag carrying her laptop hung off her shoulder and she pressed the button for the lift while adjusting its strap.

With a ding, the doors slid open and Elke went to step in. She stopped when someone inside went to step out. Instead, she shuffled to the side and the person exited with a genuine 'thank you'.

Elke took her place in the elevator and caught sight of the person properly. A hairless head stared back at her and the feeling of familiarity sprung once more.

It seemed the same happened for them as they turned to look over their shoulder. As the lift's doors closed, Elke met eyes that were absent of eyelashes.

It was just like the silver Impreza in the carpark. How many bald people lived in Amsterdam? How many looked like one of the backseat riders of the car that nearly hit Elke?

The feeling in her naval with the lift's ascent teamed with her prodded mind. Her promotion's effect still hung over her and she continued to smile to herself. But the confusion from the small coincidences made the ride to the 4th floor thoughtful.

That evening, Elke called her mother, Arabella and Roan.

'I start the new role on Monday.'

She had said the same to all three.

'That's great, El!'

'I've got some champagne...'

'Have a glass on me!'

Her shoulders sagged every time and the conversation dwindled from there. Elke wanted to celebrate with the only people she knew yet she was too reserved to ask for their company.

Boxes sat unpacked and Elke stood among them. The silence of the apartment was deafening. She almost got excited at hearing a police siren off in the distance. It made her cross the living room and pull open the window.

Sticking her head out, Elke took a deep breath. The Netherlands' spring was rainy and damp. It suited her mood, the past excitement still there but sullied with no one to share in it. At least the view from her living room was one of modern beauty.

Scandinavian architecture lined the street and the city's skyscrapers stood in the distance. Elke adored to think what it would be like in autumn when the tall trees browned and the weather was pleasant. Spring was just as enjoyable but Elke always preferred the season of American Halloween and the anticipation for Christmas.

The smell of wet roads and pavement was interrupted by the stench of a cigarette. Elke's nose twinged and she leaned out to the left.

The 4th floor had five apartments on its right side. The window next to Elke's was closed, making her look around to the next. There, an elbow leaned on the open pane with its hand holding a waning cigarette.

If she were to lean out any further, Elke would fall, but she tried anyway, hoping to see a face. The hand disappeared and smoke blew out, before tattooed fingers flicked the cigarette out into the street.

The arm retracted back inside and Elke's yanked herself back into her own apartment. The silver Impreza, the hairless man in the carpark and now the tattooed fingers; it all pointed to one thing.

Elke grabbed the champagne from her kitchen counter. It was about time I introduced myself to the neighbours, she thought. At least, that was her excuse to finally finding out if the coincidences were deeper than they seemed.

Stepping out into the hall, Elke was still in her work attire. She left her jacket and closed her door. Skipping the door next to hers, Elke stopped in front of the dark green wood.

Was it old-fashioned to greet new neighbours? Would the champagne get a hostile reaction? What was she even going to say?

Her fist ruptured against the door. Elke cursed herself and bounced on her heels. If whoever lived in the apartment was who she thought it was, then why was she choosing to bother them? If it wasn't, what was Elke going to say or do?

'I just got promoted and no one will celebrate with me! Will you drink with your new neighbour? I promise, I'm not a lonely weirdo!'

Elke was about to turn around. She felt foolish and pathetic. Her neighbour wouldn't care about her promotion. Her own boyfriend didn't care enough to come around and celebrate. She should go to her own, one-bedroom apartment and drink alone.

A click sounded before the green wood disappeared. Elke perked up and gripped the champagne with white knuckles. Just like she had thought (or hoped), a bright blonde stood in the doorway.

'Um, hello...' she said in a tiny voice. 'I-I'm your new neighbour.'

He was tall. Elke's neck craned upwards to meet his surprised stare. In a purple hoodie and black sweatpants, the man from the car meet smelt of cigarettes. His hair was ruffled and his fingers that held the door dawned the same tattoos Elke had seen out her window.

'I recognised your car in the underground and... thought I'd come by,' she continued in the silence. There was no turning back now.

The man blinked once and closed his parted lips. Elke noticed how his Adam's apple bobbled as he swallowed. To save her sanity, she glanced down to his feet where mismatched socks stood on the grey carpet. When she looked back up, the corner of the blonde's lips had rose into a lop-sided smile.

'I guess you feel safe here. I have no way of running you over on the fourth floor.'

His voice was smooth. Without the car meet's engines and whispering bystanders, Elke was able to hear the man's base and deep tone.

Along with his, his words made her laugh.

'You could say that,' she said and held up her bottle. 'I just got in from work and got promoted today. I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself... without the threat of bloodying your car bonnet.'

It was his turn to laugh and Elke noticed the dimple in his cheek. His blue eyes disappeared in his blonde lashes and his straight teeth shown through his pink lips. She found herself smiling along.

'Congratulations, then. I'd be honoured to celebrate and introduce myself,' his hand appeared from the door's wood for a handshake. 'I'm Joost.'

'Elke,' she accepted the gesture. 'I live in 408.'

'Nice you meet you, Elke. I live in 406.'