“Mira? Mira are you okay?” Joe broke through.
I was crying. He was sitting next to me trying to shake me.
“Oh. Yes. I’m fine.” I lied.
I wiped my tears. My legs were huddled into my chest. I had moved into that position subconsciously. I was lost in my emotions.
“What is it?” He grabbed my hands and tried to look into my eyes.
“My mother passed away a month ago. She had cancer.” I whispered.
The flood gates opened. I was crying into my hands.
“Oh, Mirabelle.”
Joe pulled my hands and forced me into his chest. He cradled me as I cried. He started crying with me. I didn’t care that we were out in a walk way in front of everyone; he and I just cried together. Then I felt my heart break and a shockwave echoed out. I started crying like I had never experienced before. It was completely silent. Had I broken finally? Was he it? Was he my true savior, my honest knight in shining armor? My heart felt so warm. I didn’t know what to do. I just huddled with him. He kept kissing my head and telling me it was okay.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered after a few moments. I went to sit up, but he wouldn’t let me.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You have nothing to apologize for.”
He leaned over and grabbed some napkins. He handed me some.
“Well, we barely know each other and I just exploded into tears all over you.” I said into my tissue.
He finally let me sit up. He was wiping his own tears away. I thought he was so handsome like that. I adored him.
“Isn’t that crazy?” He smiled this sweet smile. “Barely even friends, but we just had a connection ten times more powerful than a married couple.”
“I suppose.” I laughed. I didn’t know how to respond to that.
“I won’t talk about it anymore here, but I would love to be able to talk to you about your mom. If you’re okay with it, of course.” He patted my leg. I was thankful it wasn’t the hurt one.
“I would like that.” I would love it, actually. But I didn’t want to use the word love out loud yet.
“Good. Shall we head back to the apartments? I’m sure you have a lot of moving to finish up. I did just sort of steal you, there.”
He tossed his drink in the trash next to him and stretched.
“Yes, but that’s okay. I don’t mind you stealing me.” I said without thinking.
He stopped and looked at me curiously and then he held out his hand for me. When I stood up, he wrapped his arms around me. Together, we walked back to his motorcycle arm in arm. I was glad he had parked so far away. It was that much longer I got to walk with him, feeling this way.
This time, when I sat behind him on the bike, I wasn’t ashamed to cling to him. I scooted as close as possible and wrapped my arms all the way around him. He rubbed my hands and patted them, then started the engine. I wanted him to look back so I could kiss him. He deserved my kisses.
The drive back was just as good as the drive there, only this time, I could keep my eyes closed for most of it. It was just as good as I thought it would be. I needed that breather to cool off from the emotional day. I was starting to feel like this could be my new hobby; riding around on the back of his motorcycle. It was so surreal to me. As loud as it was, it was quiet. As hard as the wind lashed, it was soothing. As hot as the sun bore down, it was calming. I wondered how I had ever gotten around before this. I knew if anyone else had been driving, it wouldn’t have been the same experience. It had to be him. No one else could make it more perfect. I couldn’t say it enough. He should be mine because I was already his.
We made it to the apartments far too fast. I didn’t want to let him go. When he turned and faced me, I noticed he had the same look in his eyes. There was a twinkle in them. He wanted to kiss me. I saw it when I handed him the helmet. I watched it flicker and felt butterflies creep up. Was he waiting for that perfect moment? He seemed like the type to wait for that perfect moment.
Regardless, he definitely had his mind set. His nerves were making mine shake. Perfect was now, I’d accept it. But I knew he’d do it at my door. It’d be my first kiss, but that was when all the movies showed it happening. That’s the moment the main actor and actress got to make the audience fall in love with them. I was ready to fall in love with him. He was everything and more to me.
We walked inside and he took my hand to lead me to my door. The air around us was overflowing with the passion soaring through us. Neither of us wanted to make it to my door. I could feel it. I was okay with that.
We passed the second level and I felt nervous. I didn’t want to throw up on him. He should stop here and let me go alone. I’d say good bye politely, and I wouldn’t hold it against him for not walking me all the way. But he kept walking me. He stopped just outside of my door and took my other hand. He was staring at my lips, waiting. I was melting.
“Thank you for this.” He said. He was modest.
“Thank you.” I squeezed his hands.
“You are most welcome.”
“I’ll see you around?” I asked, starting to back up.
He looked up and then pulled me close to him. He'd known what he was doing. He'd timed this perfectly. He rubbed my cheek with his hand; I wouldn’t look him in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around my lower back and waited for me to look up at him. I knew he was creating that safe haven I had felt earlier; when I was crying and I had realized I wasn’t alone, when I had felt that a stranger could love another stranger more than anything. My heart had emanated a type of warmth that neither of us wanted to forget.
He kissed my cheek and I turned my head to touch our lips. They had barely touched before both of us pulled apart. It was so soft, and so sweet, just enough to hold us through until later. However that later may end up being, it didn’t matter. We had this now.
“I’ll see you around.” He smiled.
He squeezed my hand before letting it go. It felt so empty without his there. I watched him disappear down the stairs. When he was completely out of site I fell against the door. My entire body was jelly. I had no backbone. I wanted to melt. I needed to get inside and tell Sebastian all about it. I was so excited.
The door was locked; I didn’t have my purse, either. Sebastian, let me in. I knocked on the door but heard no one on the other side. There wasn’t even a Spike barking. Oh no. I can’t call Joe back now; he’ll see me all flustered. But I can’t very well wait out here forever.
“Joe?!” I rushed to the ledge and called down.
“Mira?” He looked up from the level exactly below me.
“I’m locked out.” I said.
“Do you know if you left one of your windows open?”
“I think so.”
I had no idea, but I’d rather spend that time with him than outside my door. And something told me if I had said, ‘no’, we’d still be spending that time waiting together.
“‘Kay, come down here.” He waved me down.
I ran down the stairs and met him at his door. He smiled and kissed the side of my head. I bit my lip and fidgeted for a few seconds. He opened his door for me and held his hand out to invite me in. I was shocked at how nice his apartment was. Not that I thought he would be a slob, but I hadn’t seen this layout before. It was very sophisticated.
He had brown leather couches with bright red pillows and a bright red ottoman in the middle of the living room. It was centered around a fireplace rather than a television and I felt that added to the class. In the back right corner was his music setup. His guitars were hanging on the wall and on stands. I had no idea why he would display them so close to those unsafe windows, but to each their own.
I followed him further inside and around the counter for the kitchen, and that’s when I noticed the kitchen wall ended right in front of us. He didn’t have any hallways. Where was his bedroom?
“There are only three of these in the building.” He answered my unasked question and pointed up. “The second is oddly enough on this s
ame level, but in that direction, on the other side of you.” He pointed left. “So it really leaves poor ol’ Jeff with the smallest condo in the complex. You have to admit, it is kind of funny that 2D is totally living in 2D. Get it... get it?”
He grinned and winked at me. Did he just say two stories? How was that even-
He coughed at my lack of laughing, interrupting my thoughts. I didn’t honestly get his joke though. Realizing that, he pointed up to deter my attention away from his now blushing face. There was an open room with black railing outlining another room up there. I couldn’t fathom it. It was so peculiar.
“Oh wow!”
“Yeah, I love it. Well, let’s get you home.”
He walked me to the right and up hidden stairs. They were set where my washer and dryer hook ups would have been. I bet his kitchen was smaller for that. I would hate it.
Lining the white walls of his stairs were art photos and random ones of him at destinations around the world. I wondered what he did for a living that he was able to travel like that. There weren’t any photos of family, maybe they were on top of the fireplace. He talked about his mom and dad; he had to have some form signifying their connection.
There was no door, just a small cattycorner to help signify an entrance to his room. He had a huge king-size bed with a black frame on top of a white, shaggy rug. The dressers matched the frame, and the chair in the corner matched his couches downstairs. It even had a red pillow on it. This guy had to have had a decorator come in.
“Here we go.” He said opening up the middle window.
He climbed out then reached his hand for mine. He walked over and jumped the railing to his left. Finally, I realized the significance of him living in 2C to my 3B. He and I were back porch buddies. So that must mean that 2A was the one on the other side of me. Interesting.
“Coming?” He asked, raising his eyebrow.
“Oh, right.”
I gracefully stepped over the railing and planted my feet firmly on the other side. I pushed on the window in front of me and it gently opened.
“Yay.” I smiled.
Joe laughed and followed me in. At first glance I thought I was in the wrong apartment, but then I started recognizing the furniture. Sebastian had set up the entire place for me while I was out. He must’ve seen the vision I had for the room, too, because he'd nailed it.
My vintage white couches from the house were pushed all the way back against the dips so one was facing the windows and the other the fireplace. Mounted over the fireplace was the television. He had the entire opposite wall lined with our bookshelves. The desk was in the corner on the wall with the fireplace. It was the only thing that had stuff on it, probably because it was the only place I hadn’t packed up yet. I couldn’t believe it. Even Wilson’s cage was in the corner next to the desk. He had a view now. I bet he was loving it.
“You have a ferret?” Joe asked.
Of everything in my apartment, that’s what he saw?
“Yep. Not for long though. He’s going to a family later today.” I said.
“Bummer. But hey, at least your movers came while you were out?” He said to lighten to the mood.
“Yes.” I had completely forgotten about that. “Good thing Sebastian was waiting around.”
I was doing my best to act like I wasn’t amazed by Sebastian’s handiwork, but I couldn’t help myself. It was really something.
“Okay, well, I’ll see you later.” Joe said. Was he offended?
“Thank you for everything!” I tried to make it better.
He nodded and climbed out my window. I didn’t care anymore after that. I waited for his feet to disappear then took off to examine the rest of the house. My mother’s room was set up perfectly; the same way she had left it. My room wasn’t any more complete though, maybe that’s what Sebastian was working on? The spare bathroom was filled with all of my mom’s stuff, that wasn’t right; I'd wanted her things. Oh well, I couldn’t expect Sebastian to get everything right. I’d fix that later.
I went in the kitchen and sure enough, all the cabinets were filled the way the house had been. This was too much. I had to think of a way to repay him. He had done so much for me and all I had done was abandon him for a cute guy and think terrible thoughts about him. I deserved to have terrible thoughts thought about me.
A squeal and snap came from my bedroom. Spike! I ran down the hall and saw them standing at the foot of my bed.
“Hey?!”
I pushed the door open completely. What a nice surprise. Spike laid down on his side, panting. I wondered what they did. Then I saw Sebastian had on shoes. It was very odd. They weren’t the old style shoes I had imagined, but low tops. He was really pushing the whole nerd look. I didn’t mind too much. Then I wondered if anyone had recognized my dog. They would have definitely put Sebastian and me together from the way he’s dressed now and my typical look. How fun.
“Is he still here?” Sebastian asked.
“What?”
“The man you went out with, he was in your apartment. I left, but then Spike didn’t want to be alone, so I brought him with me.”
“Oh, well, no, Joe isn’t here anymore. What’d you guys do?”
“He said he wanted to go on a run, so I took him to the park.” Sebastian said.
He walked past me and down the hall.
“Thanks. Nice shoes!” I called after him.
He seemed angry at me. It didn’t make sense. Why would he do all of this if he was angry? I needed to loosen my belt, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I unlatched it and also took off the jacket. I threw on an argyle cardigan that was much softer and chased him down. My shoes echoed down the hall.
“What’s up?” I asked when I caught up with him in the living room.
He sat at the bar and shrugged his shoulders. He was acting far too human. I didn’t like it.
“Okay, well, thank you for everything you did. I really appreciate it.”
“Yeah? I figured I’d do something nice to make you like me. My memory has seemed to come back.”
“Really?” This was good news! Maybe I could have all my questions answered!
“Eh, not really a good thing, I remember you yelling at me a lot and then I left.”
“Oh, right.” I laughed nervously. “Well, first and foremost, I am very appreciative of all that you’ve done. And secondly, Sebastian, I am so, so sorry for leaving you like that.” I leaned over near him.
“It’s okay. Besides, I thought it was just human nature to be rude and inhospitable like that.”
He sounded serious. He couldn’t be serious. Was he serious?
“Excuse me?”
I crossed my arms. He was serious.
“Yes, I am serious. I find that you people are so quick to just dismiss others' feelings. Well, for your information, mine were hurt. I knew nothing of this place and you just left me here.” He said.
“Look Sebastian, I said I was sorry. Besides I eve-”
“Mm-hmm.” He interrupted me.
What was with him?
“Fine, look, I’ll make it up to you. Whatever you want to do, we’ll go do it! There has to be something in the human world you’re fascinated with.” I said.
“Really?” He raised his eyebrow.
I felt like he was the ‘Supreme Being’ from Fifth Element. Rather, instead of watching facts about our history to understand our race, he had watched a bunch of soap operas. It was all too comical.
“Yes.” I nodded my head.
He stared at me for a few seconds and then shifted his weight.
“I want to go to that place where you humans have fun. I heard some children talking about it in the park with Spike. Apparently it is where you win prizes and play things called ‘games’?” He leaned over into me, “They sound fun!”
“You know what a park is called, how to get to one, and how to set up a house, but you don’t know what an arcade is?” I said in a small tone.
“I didn’t know what a p
ark was or how to get to it, Spike told me. He did not tell me of this ‘arcade’ that you just said. He said it’s because he’s never been. Have you not taken him?” He raised his voice a bit at the end of it.
“I went when I was younger, once. I’m not sure where one even is. And no, I can’t take him. Dogs aren’t allowed at arcades.”
“Not allowed? Says who?” Sebastian was highly appalled by that.
“Other people find it unsanitary. We live in a world where majority rules. And majority says dogs stay at home.”
“What a terrible world.”
“Yeah well, ferrets can’t come either.”
I looked over to Wilson’s cage.
“Yeah, and he’s offended, too, that Spike is always the one on the go.”
“Oh, you’re making this a bigger deal than they are. Wilson is going to a new home where he’ll have plenty of play time and Spike is happy staying here. He understands.”
“He does not, and Wilson wants to stay.”
“What?”
Sebastian just nodded his head. I walked over to Wilson’s’ cage. I had no idea. Maybe Spike was taking offense, too? He had followed me over. I placed my hand on his head and patted him. A big, fat, sticky tongue went up the side of my cheek. Wiping it off, I glanced down at him. He did understand.
“I’d take you everywhere if I could. And Wilson, you’re going to a home with two kids. I promise you’ll love them. I would never give you up like that!”
“Better.” Sebastian smiled.
Spike wagged his tail and pranced off for a toy.
“Good.”
I walked over and sat down on the couch. I slid off my shoes and wiggled my toes. It felt good.
“Arcade time?”
Sebastian walked over with a look on his face that made me feel guilty.
“Yeah. I don’t know where one is, though. Hey, you never told me what you guys do for fun.” I asked.
I didn’t mean to drag on a conversation, but I was still flustered over Joe. I wanted to dwell on this feeling a bit longer before rushing out and getting sucked into something else. And besides, Sebastian should be happy that I was interested in his people. I was only human.
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