"So, let's go. That was fun and delicious. Thank you for staying," Jake says as he stands, and offers his hand. I glance at his hand, some unnamed emotion filling me. I look at his hand and back up to his face. "Would you please stay with me tonight? So, I know you're safe?"
"Why?" yet again, I can't help but challenge why he cares. He looks at me, those almost black eyes reflecting my white, icy cold ones. I feel his distress running through the air, with undercurrents of unnamed emotions that I refuse to acknowledge. I think it's just me.
"Because... I want you to. I want you to be safe. If you'll accept it, I want you to stay at my place, just for a few days, so I can make sure you're okay. So, I can make you smile just a little," he smiles at me, a hopeful smile, and continues to hold his hand out. I reach out, and place the tips of my fingers on his. His rough, calloused skin is a shock on my soft, weak skin. Even the color difference is pretty shocking. I'm porcelain and he's like tanned peach. He closes his hand around mine, and leads me back out to his car, which I've determined is a Jeep thing. "We both need sleep, so let's get back to my house. I have large t-shirts, you can borrow one,"
"Um, thank you," a smile lights up his face again.
"Let's party," I snort as a line from an awful song drifts through my head. "What?"
"Five A.M turn the radio up, where's the rock n roll? Bow na na na wow!"
"Nice guitar solo," he laughs.
"Like you can do better,"
"Open the glove box,"
"Um, okay..?"
"Inside there's a CD, pop it in,"
"Why?"
"Because I said so, and you're in my car,"
"Fine," and I pop the CD in. Suddenly, Motley Crue bursts from the speakers.
"It's a better song," he smiles in the headlights of an oncoming car.
"Truth," I agree, a smile flitting across my face. He turns again and comes to a stop.
"We just happen to be here," he tells me, getting out of the car. I attempt to find the door handle, but it's dark. As I'm fumbling around, the door disappears. "Plan on getting out, princess?"
"Shut your face,"
"C'mon, let's go in,"
"Okay... Can I ask where I'm sleeping?"
"Lucky for you, I generally have people often so much, I've got an extra room,"
"And who are these people?" can I help but be curious?
"People from my job. You'll get it when we get inside,"
"Your job is?"
"Now, that would be telling,"
"Fine," I fold my arms in anger. His hand wraps around my arm and tugs me through the dark to his front door. He lets go to fumble with the keys, and I think about running.
"Don't even think about it," he suddenly says, answering my thoughts. The door opens, and there's the pit-like blackness of the house. It's dark, and I can hardly see a thing, but it feels inviting, unlike my own home.
"This place is... dark,"
"Haha, yeah, it is," and then he flips the light on. A living space faces me, with a giant TV, and a lovely low leather couch. Dark red walls with guitars and photos are everywhere. A dark hallway goes deeper into the house, and there's a green light coming out of what must be another room, the kitchen? I bet it's his microwave.
"So... you play guitar? In a band? Are you gonna out solo me? Bow na na na wow!" I repeat my solo. He picks up an electric guitar I didn't see, and plugs it into the amp. Oh. Shit. He is. And suddenly a sick riff rips through the house. "Damn," I say once he's done.
"Thanks, it's from a song my band is working on. I just finally got it down,"
"What's the song called?"
"Youth and Whisky,"
"Sounds cool,"
"Hey, since I've forcibly abducted you, would you wanna come along to band practice tomorrow? It's at the bass player's house. His name is Ashley,"
"Wait. Did. You. No. What?"
"What? Um, English? Do you speak it?"
"A guy's name is....,"
"Yeah, Ashley. You'll get used to it... if you stick around with us,"
"You know, Mr. Pitts, I think I'd like that,"
"Alright, so to the beds, I'm beat,"
"Yeah, I kind of am too, but question, do you have like.. a first aid kit or something?"
"Yeah, c'mon," he walks down the hall, flipping lights as he goes. He walks into a monstrous bathroom, and digs under the sink for a minute. "Well, c'mere,"
"Why?"
"You're a guest in my home, I'm gonna patch you up,"
"Oh,"
"You seem surprised?"
"Yeah, people don't... they don't care like that,"
"Well, I do, so if you stick around, get used to it," the whole time he's giving me a choice. If you stick around. Can I help it? I want to. I think I will. He finishes with my arm. "Here, c'mon, let's get you an oversized shirt to sleep in. He leads me to a bedroom with blood red walls. He pulls a dresser drawer out and throws me a large shirt. I walk back out, and put the shirt on, stripping my own clothes.
"Jake?" I poke my head back in his room.
"Yeah, Ivy?"
"Thank you, I think," a wry smile forms on my face, and then I turn to the next room, flipping on the light switch. It's deep purple with zebra pattern everywhere. I don't give it much thought. I pull back the duvet, and cross the room, shut the light off. I sprint back to the bed, and sink into the soft mattress and silk sheets. And drift off into a slow sleep, never thinking how I shouldn't be alive.

Notes

Hope you're all enjoying! :D Katy Killjoy out