Monday.
Classes.
"Adam, you really moved out."
Ted said enviously, "You're seriously rich."
He did not even have enough money to rent a hotel room to get away from Marshall, let alone rent a place long-term.
"A friend's apartment."
Adam smiled and explained, "She inherited it from her Grandma, so the rent is very cheap."
The United States had a well-established rental culture. Once a lease was signed, annual rent increases could not exceed 2%, far below market rates.
Monica's Grandma had rented this place decades ago. With such tiny annual increases continuing for so many years, it was easy to imagine just how far below market value the rent had become.
In Chandler's words, rent that low was practically robbery of the landlord.
However, once the lease expired or the tenant changed, the accumulated rental advantage of all those years would disappear. New tenants had to rent at market price.
So even though Monica's Grandma no longer lived there, Monica still kept the lease under her Grandma's name. Otherwise, she simply could not afford such a large and nice apartment.
"She?"
Ted cried out, "OMG! Adam, you're living with someone? Was it that date you brought to the freshman welcome party?"
"Roommates, not living together."
Adam corrected him. "Not her. It's another ordinary friend."
"Give me a break."
Ted said sourly, "A man and a woman sharing an apartment—even if they're not living together now, they soon will be. Marshall, don't you think?"
"That depends."
Marshall put on an affected air. "Adam, is this friend of yours hot?"
"Uh..."
Adam paused.
He really had no thoughts about Monica, but he could not exactly lie and say she was not pretty.
"I think the jury has reached its verdict."
Marshall grinned slyly. "I now declare that Ted wins the case!"