I turn over and look at the clock. I'm surprised to see it's 10 in the morning. I don't usually sleep more than a few hours a night, so I must have been exhausted. But I guess almost getting the shit beaten out of you does that to a person. I yawn and stretch and sit up when the cleaning lady knocks on the door and walks into the room. "Hello, miss. Is there anything that you want washed?" I shake my head and she smiles and leaves the room, shutting the door behind her. I think briefly about having a shower but decide against it for now. Right now, I'd like some food.
I change into my regular clothes and head upstairs to the kitchen. I hesitate before opening the fridge. What if someone comes in and throws me out? It sounds crazy, but Doug could be waiting for me somewhere. Maybe I should have just let him do whatever to me. At least then I wouldn't be scared he's looking for me somewhere. I don't like having to watch my back all the time. Oh well, too late to change things now.
"Good morning, Mick." I jump about 10 feet in the air and turn around to see Shay smiling at me.
"You scared the shit outta me."
"Sorry, thought you heard me coming up the stairs." I shake my head. "Looking for something to eat?"
"Yeah, wasn't sure if I was allowed to get it myself." He pushes past me and starts rooting through the fridge.
"Since it's almost 11 and almost lunch, how about some mac and cheese?" I nod and lean against the counter.
"Sounds good. But don't people usually keep the boxes in the cupboard?" He shuts the fridge and stands up straight.
"Yup. I couldn't find anything in there but eggs, and we had those yesterday."
"Eggs would have been fine again. I'm not too picky." He shrugs and goes to a big cupboard, opening the door and finding a box of KD. I've never actually had mac and cheese before, so I watch with interest as he puts a pot of water on the stove and turns the burner on high.
"So how'd you sleep lastnight?"
"Like the dead."
"Geoff said you came by around 3." I nod and cross my arms, looking across the kitchen at Shay. I wonder what exactly Geoff had told him about last night. "I saw you at Doug's last night." I nod again.
"Yeah, didn't go over so well." Shay smiles.
"So I've been hearing. I was walking back here when I saw Doug walking up and down the street. Said you took off and that Geoff was hiding you here. I got back after you'd gone to sleep."
"What did Geoff tell you'd happened?" His smile gets bigger.
"That you bit Doug. Which I think you should get a medal for. 'Bout time someone stood up to him."
"Dunno. I think I should have just let him do whatever and gotten outta there. 'Least he wouldn't be after me." The smile leaves his face and is replaced with a frown.
"Don't even think like that. He gets mean and has hurt lots of girls. Some have ended up pretty bad. You're lucky you got away." I shrug and look down at my feet. "And besides, you've got people looking out for you. If he tries anything he won't get far." I don't answer him. I have to wonder again why they're doing this for me. I'm no one special. I don't want to owe anyone anything.
I watch as Shay pours the noodles into the boiling water and sets the timer on the stove. "So you gonna stick around today or take off again?" I shrug again.
"Dunno. I don't need to get anything or whatever. Guess I could stay here."
"I think it'd be the best thing for now. Doug doesn't give up easily."
"Yeah I noticed. I figured he'd be out of commission for a while. Long enough for me to get away anyway. Guess not."
"His temper's pretty bad. He's been in and out of anger management for it. Doesn't seem to ever help."
"Sounds like someone I used to know." Shay's expression softens and I wonder again what Geoff told him last night.
"Geoff didn't tell me anything, just that you've had a hard life."
"I guess."
"You don't need to tell me if you don't want to, don't worry. I'm not expecting a story over lunch or anything." Just then the timer goes off. I watch again as Shay dumps the water into a strainer and sets the pot on the counter. He drains the water and pours the noodles back in the pot, adding butter, some bright orange powder, and milk to the noodles. He stirs it up and I realize why it's called "mac and cheese". My stomach rumbles as Shay gets two bowls and two spoons. He offers me a bowl and I take it. I peer down into the bowl before taking a bite. "Ever had KD before?" I shake my head. "Are you serious? It's like, the best food ever. Should be it's own food group."
"It's pretty good. Thanks." He shakes his head and sits down at the table.
"'Pretty good' she says. Ha. Just wait, you'll be addicted in no time." Surprising myself, I eat everything in the bowl. "Told yah it's good." I nod and hand him the bowl. He rinses it off and sets it in the sink beside his bowl. "Wanna watch t.v or something? Or a movie?"
"Sure."
"I got some movies in my room, come on." I follow him down to the basement and into his room. It's not as clean as Geoff's but it doesn't smell like smoke. "Sorry 'bout the mess. I don't usually have too many visitors."
"It's not that messy." He kneels down in front of his t.v and looks through his collection of movies. "Want the door shut?"
"Don't matter." I decide to keep it open and stand beside his bed. He turns around to look at me.
"You can sit down, you know. It's not a crime or anything." I sit on the edge of his bed and look around the room. There's a few posters on the walls.
"You like country?"
"Yeah, I grew up in Georgia."
"Why'd you move here?"
"My dad's in the Military so I moved around a lot. Soon as I turned 18 I said 'screw you' and took off on my own." I don't say anything more and he continues looking through his movies. "Okay, so do you like horror or action?"