I roll over and look at the clock. It's 7 in the morning and I only slept for two hours. I never sleep well when I'm in a different bed, which is quite often. I'm amazed that I can actually function some days. I can tell I'm going to be tired today. I jump up when the door opens and a lady walks in. "Oh, miss I'm sorry! I was just coming in to change the sheets and gather the laundry." I climb out of the bed and grab my jacket.
"That's okay, I was just leaving anyway."
"Would you like me to wash your clothing, miss?" I look at my pile of clothes at the end of the bed.
"Um, I guess, if you want." She smiles kindly at me.
"It's no trouble at all. The kitchen is upstairs if you're hungry." As if on cue, my stomach rumbles. The woman smiles again and puts my clothes in the laundry basket she's carrying. I back out the door and turn just in time to run into someone coming out of the door across the hall.
"Shoot, sorry, didn't see you there." I look up and recognize the guy I ran into as Shay.
"S'okay, probably should have walked forwards." He smiles.
"You staying? I was just heading upstairs to make myself some breakfast."
"Sure, I mean, the lady is washing my clothes for me."
"Great, follow me." He goes to touch my shoulder but I shrug away from him and instead follow him up the stairs. He leads me to the kitchen and I lean against the counter, crossing my arms, watching him flit around the kitchen. "Any special requests? I make a mean BLT."
"Sorry, I'm allergic to tomatoes."
"Really, wow. Okay, anything you want?" My stomach rumbles again.
"I'm not picky. Make whatever you were planning to have and I'll probably eat it."
"How's an omelette sound? Ham, cheese, peppers?" I nod.
"Sounds good to me."
"You're welcome to sit." I shake my head.
"No, I'm good, thanks though." He cracks a few eggs into a bowl.
"I noticed you declined Geoff's invite to sit lastnight, too. What's up with that?" I shrug.
"It's a long story, I guess."
"I like long stories." I look down at my feet.
"It's not very interesting." He looks at me and smiles.
"I like boring stories too, we're in luck."
"Maybe another time."
"I'll hold you to that." I watch as he moves around the kitchen, making our breakfast. "All done. You're gonna stand and eat?" I look at the counter but nod.
"Yep."
"Mind if I sit?" I take a plate from him and set it on the counter.
"Go for it." He pulls out a chair at the table and sits down, starting in on his omelette. Despite how hungry I am, I pick at my food, only eating a few bites. It's really good, but I just can't bring myself to eat more.
"So, how'd your parents come up with Mickey?"
"It's highly embarrassing."
"Oh come on. It can't be any worse than mine."
"You first." He smiles and shoves a bite of egg into his mouth.
"Okay, well I was supposed to be a girl and they were going to name me Shaylynne. But surprise, wasn't, so they shortened it to Shay. Lucky me, eh?"
"Mine's worse."
"Hit me." I take another small bite.
"When my sister was younger she was obsessed with Mickey Mouse and my parents let her name me. Surprise, surprise, she picked Mickey. She wanted the mouse, too, but thankfully they didn't put that part in." Shay chuckles and I look up at him.
"Well, I guess you win. This time. But don't worry, I'll win for something." He turns back to his food for a few minutes before looking back over at me, this time with a small frown on his face. "I have kind of a personal question. But I understand if you don't want to answer it." I groan mentally, already knowing what it is. "How exactly did you get into this, er, line of work?"
"That's another long and boring story for another time."
"Okay, I understand. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Like what?"
"I dunno, like stuff about yourself."
"Well, I dunno. I guess I'm not very interesting."
"Oh please. There's got to be something. Where'd you grow up?"
"Maine."
"Wow, that's not next door. Any reason you moved to Michigan?"
"That's part of the long and boring story."
"Fair enough. You smoke?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Lastnight when I first saw you. Whenever someone that doesn't smoke walks into that room they're coughing like crazy. All you did was blink."
"It stung a little, but I'm used to it." He nods while getting up and rinsing off his plate.
"You done?" I nod and hand him the plate. "You didn't eat much." I shrug.
"I'm not a big eater, I guess." After he's done rinsing my plate he turns around and leans against the counter, facing me.
"Do you have a place to stay?" I cross my arms and look down at my feet.
"Yeah."
"If you wanna stay here for a few days, I'm sure Geoff wouldn't mind." I look back up at Shay.
"Look, I appreciate the shower and the clothes and the food, but I'm not a charity case, okay? I can take care of myself just fine."
"And I don't doubt that. I was just simply offering a place to sleep if you need or want it." I nod.
"Well thanks anyway, but I'll be fine." Just then the cleaning lady comes up from the basement with my folded, clean clothes.
"Here you are, miss. Just came out of the dryer." I take them from her and set them on the counter beside me. Shay pushes off the counter and heads for the basement.
"Hang on there, Mickey. I got something for you." I count to 52 in my head before he comes back up to the kitchen, carrying something in his hand. He walks over to me and hands me a small wad of bills, the one on the outside is a 20. "Here, Geoff gave me this to give to you." I take the money and stick it in my back pocket.
"Thanks." He shrugs and I get the impression I hurt his feelings.
"Not my money, but I'll pass along the message."
"Here miss, I've got a bag for your clothes." The lady hands me a small backpack and I stick my clothes in it, swinging it over my shoulder while heading for the door.
"Good luck, Mickey." The door closes before I can say thanks.