Chapter 2 Sydney

Sydney Mike was the first person I  met when I first landed in San Francisco. I had got off the bus and was wandering around on the street. I had just moved from Sydney, Australia. "Hi. I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if you could help me out," I said to a man who was leaning on the pole next to the bus stand. "Sure, how can I help?" He asked pleasantly. He had sandy brown hair and brown eyes, about six feet tall, he didn't seem older than my 22 years. He was dressed in a white tee and blue jeans. " I have been looking for this address, but seems like I am going in circles." I showed him my GPS on my phone which was pretty embarrassing. How dumb one could be if they couldn't follow a simple GPS. "Oh! this can be tricky, you see that narrow street over there? Just follow it and turn right. You would see the board right in front." He smiled pleasantly. "Thank mate! " I said and dragged my suitcase. I had barely walked a few steps when my foot bumped into something hard and I fell unceremoniously. "Ouch!" I sat on the sidewalk holding my ankle. The man I had just asked for help was immediately by my side. "Hey, are you ok?" He said kneeling next to me. "I slipped and fell, and I think I somehow twisted my ankle. " I said, through gritted teeth.  "OK. Let's see, can you get up by yourself ?" He asked gently. I tried but the pain was excruciating. Crap! "Which leg hurts?" he asked. "My left one," I replied. "Alright, let's try this. I will hold your arm and make you sit on that bench, don't take any pressure on your injured feet." I nodded and followed his instructions. "Now you might be able to get some traction. See if you can sit up now. We'll go slow and easy. " He helped me sit up without causing much pain to my ankle. "Now, I'm going to grab ahold of you and lift you." He wrapped his arms around my body tightly. "Are you ready? On three then. One. Two. Three."  He lifted me, rotated me around, then lowered me back down. "How about you sit on the bench here?" he finished, putting me down on the bench. I released the breath which I had been holding. "I'll give you a few minutes," he said. "Thank you," I said gratefully and wondered what to do next. "Great. That wasn't too bad," he said. "Do you want me to take a look at that leg? I'm not a doctor, but I have had some experience with injuries."  I nodded.  "Where does it seem to hurt most?" "The ankle," I replied. He gently grasped my lower leg and raised it to where he could get a good look. There was a slight swelling around the ankle. "Can you try to move it back and forth?" I moved my ankle up and down a bit.  "How about side to side?"  I tried that and moved it a little.  "I'm going to press around a little. I'll go easy, but tell me if it hurts, and I'll stop." I nodded. "It's probably a slight sprain. A little ice pack would do. Let's get you to a doctor." He said. "Oh! that won't be necessary, I'll just grab a taxi and go to my hostel." He considered me for a moment. "I am Mike btw, Mike Scott. And I don't think you'll be able to manage on your own. Allow me to take you to the doctor, please." "I am Sydney Rosbak, thanks for helping out. You saved me." I replied. He was nice. "Sydney, I don't think I saved you, but you're welcome."  He hailed a taxi and took me to a doctor he knew. "I'm going to wrap this around your ankle to give it some support and compression. The goal is to wrap it snug, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation." The doctor proceeded to wrap my ankle. "Keep some ice packs on it. It'll help to keep it iced and elevated. And don't put any pressure on it for a while, OK?" I nodded. "It already feels better." He also prescribed me some painkillers and then we were ready to go. "So this is your first time in San Francisco ?" Mike asked as we left the clinic and I hobbled along. "Yeah," I answered. "Business or pleasure?" Mike enquired some more. "Neither. I am from Sydney, Australia. I am a digital artist. I am here to do a course in digital art. I don't have anyone left back home so I thought maybe if I could try my luck in America." I explained and added quickly seeing him creasing his forehead, "Anything wrong?" "No, I just thought you were a model or something." He said sheepishly. I laughed. "I have done some modelling and acting back in Melbourne, stage acting to be precise. But I didn't pursue it further," I replied laughing. "I am an actor in a theatre group. I also work in a steak house. So where are you putting up?" He asked casually. "I guess I will be checking into a B&B first. I have to look for a place to rent. Can't be staying in B&B that long. I am not what you call well-off." He looked at me  "hey if you don't mind you can put up in my place. It's a two-bedroom apartment not a luxury kind mind you. I share it with my sister. But I would be moving out soon. And she is looking for a roommate. So, you can move in with her."  I could hardly believe my luck, I was stunned with the good fortune of bumping into someone so helpful. Though I was still sceptical. After all, I had just met this guy. I knew him for less than an hour. Could I trust him? Mike seemed to have sensed my discomfort because he whipped out two business cards. "Hey, I understand how you feel. We barely know each other. This is my business card, and the other one is my agent's. You can check him out first. I guessed you might need some help since you are new.  Maybe you can also check out the steak house I work at." He said quickly trying to sure me. I felt a bit embarrassed, this guys had just helped me by going out of the way. Lest I should not have treated him with suspicion. "Well......" Before he could finish his sentence, a cute brunette with freckles on her nose bounced up to him and hugged him. "There you are, I left you alone for few minutes, and you start flirting with the first skirt you see. So, who do we have here?" The cute brunette pouted prettily and flashing me a sweet smile while Mike rolled his eyes upward. "I am not flirting. By the way, Sydney, meet my little pain in the ass of a sister, Leah," Mike made the formal introduction and gasped out loud. "Ouch! Don't pinch me, you witch!" He shouted. I looked bewildered at their banter. "Serves you right for calling me a pain in the ass!" Leah shot back. "I was about to tell Sydney that she could put up with us, you know, sharing your room for a while until I move out. That is if you don't mind, and Sydney is ok to put up with a shitty roommate like you!"  Mike stressed. Leah playfully punched him on the shoulder, "I am not a shitty roommate, you are the bossy big brother! And I certainly don't mind Sydney bunking in with me. We can set up a cot for her in my room until you leave. It's big enough for two. Just hope you don't mind my snoring." She giggled at me. "So how did you guys meet?" she added with a twinkle in her eyes. "Stop being so nosy!" He said sternly. "I could not possibly impose on you guys..." I started to object. "Nah, it will be alright. I am looking for a roommate anyways. Come on let's get moving."  Leah added chirpily. "So you are Australian? I could tell by the accent. Sydney from Sydney." Leah giggled. "I am actually from Balino but yeah my parents met in Sydney, so they named me after the city," I said as we proceeded to their place.