**Meeting Cecil**

The sun had barely set over the city, casting a warm orange glow over the apartment as Elizabeth stepped inside. She had been dreading this moment, unsure of what to expect from her new roommate, Cecil. The online interactions had been pleasant, but there was something about meeting in person that made Elizabeth's nerves flutter. As she entered the apartment, Elizabeth was greeted by the aroma of sizzling food and the sight of Cecil, her roommate, standing at the stove, stirring a pan of pasta. Cecil turned around, a spatula in hand, and smiled. Elizabeth felt a jolt of attraction, and quickly looked away, trying to play it cool. "Hey, you must be Elizabeth," Cecil said, her voice low and smooth. "Welcome to our humble abode." Elizabeth smiled, trying to shake off her attraction. "Hey, Cecil. Thanks for cooking dinner. I could eat a whole elephant." Cecil laughed, and Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. "Well, I don't have any elephant on hand, but I can whip up some pasta. How's your day been?" As they sat down to eat, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice the way Cecil's eyes sparkled when she talked about food. It was clear that cooking was her passion, and Elizabeth found herself drawn to that enthusiasm. They chatted for a bit, discussing everything from the apartment to their jobs. Elizabeth learned that Cecil worked as a chef at a local restaurant and had dreams of opening her own eatery one day. As they ate, Elizabeth found herself stealing glances at Cecil, who seemed to be watching her with a knowing glint in her eye. Elizabeth felt a flutter in her chest, and quickly looked away, wondering what she was getting herself into. As the evening drew to a close, Cecil cleared the table and started loading the dishwasher. "So, what do you think of the apartment so far?" she asked, her back to Elizabeth. Elizabeth shrugged. "It's great. I love the view." Cecil smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm glad you like it. I was a bit worried that you might not get along with me." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why's that?" Cecil turned around, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Because I'm a bit of a weirdo. I like to cook at 3 am, and I have a tendency to burst into song when I'm cleaning." Elizabeth laughed. "I think I can handle a little weirdness." Cecil grinned. "Good. I'm glad we can get along. By the way, I noticed you staring at me a few times during dinner." Elizabeth's cheeks flushed. "I wasn't staring." Cecil chuckled. "Oh, come on. You were totally staring. It's okay, I think it's cute." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "I'm just trying to get to know you, that's all." Cecil winked at her. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you too, Elizabeth." As the night drew to a close, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had a feeling that living with Cecil was going to be an adventure, and she was eager to see what the future held. Little did she know, her life was about to get a lot more complicated, with a handsome coworker waiting for her at the daycare, and Cecil's mysterious past slowly unraveling.