Apartment rental?

I have sign up an apartment on early February with my friend. Until early April my friend tell me he don't want that apartment now because he find a new apartment. So I decide to find myself another apartment. After I find myself a new apartment. I went to the old apartment rental office at middle May before semester final exam. Tell them I want to cancel the apartment and they tell me its okay. Recently the apartment send me a mail of all the information about move in. I call them back tell them I already cancel it. They tell me I cannot cancel it. Only way I can cancel it, is to find someone sub-leasing it. I tell them right now I'm in different state, there is no way I can get there and they tell me they will fax me the sub-leasing forum. After they fax me the forum, I fill it up and fax back. Here is my problem contract start at August, 2007 why I need to find sub-leasing? If I don't move in at August don't pick up the key and I don't pay for the rent what will happen?

Contract is like 30 pages long. Staff there just tell me sign here sign there. They didn't tell us what is penalty if we late, if we cancel the leasing. After we sign the contract they took my $175 check and tell us we can go now. My other friend his contract suppose start at May. He went to office and tell them he want to cancel it. They let him cancel it for whole summer so far. Not sure about Fall. use logic this doesn't makes any sense at all. If he just tell them he want to cancel it. They let him cancel it why i cannot?

You SIGNED, you are responsible, this can be put on your credit report.

if you signed a lease you have to pay for that apartment otherwise they will turn you into collections and your credit will be ruined

I understand where your coming from but you signed a legally binding contract. Written contracts cannot be amended verbally, so saying "it's OK" does not relieve your obligation. They can and most of the do sue for breaking the lease. I put a website below from Cornell law School that will expand on this issue and maybe give you an idea of possible options. Hope it helps!

Any person that signed and is still on the first lease in the apartment is responsible for the rent payments either until you sub lease the apt. like they told you,The apt. is re rented by the landlord or your lease is up.
If you had a good landlord they would try to help you re rent this apt.
If you dont pay the rent they can take you to court for it and they can make it very hard for you rent another apt.

If you don't have keys then you probably haven't finished all of the paperwork yet. Don't sign anything!

You might lose your deposit but you should be able to talk your way out of this deal.

Take a good look at the paperwork they gave you and see what you have actually agreed to.

Find the housing authority in your city and ask them for help. Most cities have rental laws favoring the renter (you) and in most cases if the housing authority get involved the landlord will back down to prevent a big hassle.

If you ignore it and do nothing then they will keep your deposit and will have the right to report it to your credit which will make it harder to find a new apartment later.

Not to slam your grammar, but from your writing I'm guessing English is not your first language. You can use that to your advantage and claim you were 'tricked' or did not understand what they were telling you. This doesn't let you off the hook but might get you some help from the city or a generous lawyer and THEY can do the talking for you.