Chase stood up and tossed his cigarette butt over the balcony. He went inside with nothing more than a smile. He closed the sliding door with a soft click. I continued to lean over the balcony and took my time; contemplating the events of my last two days. I had my lowest of lows last night. One of my longest days ever. Maybe that's why I was chosen by Chase? I don't even know who he is; what he is. My thoughts were flying through my head. I finished up and headed back inside. I was met by the aroma of spices upon opening the door.
"Are you.... cooking?", I asked, genuinely puzzled. I wiped my feet on the towel by the door and set my lighter on the table. I walked towards the threshold and leaned on the wall. Chase stopped stirring the spices and oil in the pan.
"Is that not okay?", he leaned in over the stove and turned the burner off, obviously nervous.
"No, it's totally fine! I haven't felt like cooking in months. I've been surviving off of instant food. It's just nice to smell real food again", I said, shrugging. Why would he care how I've been surviving? I should try to keep to myself. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. How tired I was finally hit me. I opened my eyes and Chase was leaning down and studying my face. He gently pressed the dark circles under my eyes with his fingertips.
"Go lay down", he demanded, his weight resting on the other side of the wall on his shoulder. The look on my face told me he wasn't joking. How did he not look or feel tired?
"I'll try to sleep, but no promises", I poked fun. He raised an eyebrow at me. I held my hands up as I turned around. I laid on my back on the couch, pulling a blanket over myself. I really wasn't making any promises, despite how tired I was. I closed my eyes and tried to let my mind go blank. I heard the burner click and flare back to life. That comforted me. The smell of spices lulled me into a light sleep.
. . . . . . . .
I didn't dream while I napped. I came and went out of sleep. I couldn't settle my mind about the magical place I had been the previous night. It was almost all I could think about. Eventually, I felt a weight on the couch next to me. A finger brushed some hair off my face and behind my ear. I turned my head the other way and sighed. My eyes fluttered open. I wasn't ready to be done sleeping. I looked out the balcony windows. It was still light outside, minus the rain clouds. I saw a flash of lightning as it quickly brightened the room. I looked back over to Chase, who's face was inches from mine. I gasped at the proximity. He smiled gently.
"Food is ready, unless you want to sleep more. But I really want to see you eat", he sighed. He pulled his face away from me. He sighed deeper, and a huge cloud of green smoke appeared and quickly dissapeared. I don't know that I'll ever get used to that. I wondered if he knew that happened.
"I'll come eat", I agreed. I sat up as he rose to his feet and dissapeared into the kitchen. He returned with the biggest serving bowl I had. I clicked my tongue.
"I can't finished that much food!", I protested.
"I'll finish what you can't, don't worry. Eat what you can while it's hot", he insisted. He handed me a pair of chopsticks and a spoon. He waited patiently while I scarfed it down, hot. The noodles were done perfectly and the sauce wasn't something I'd ever had. It was sweet, but spicy and had a citrus and smokey finish. It was nothing short of delicious. He watched me eat. I had barely finished a third of it before my stomach began to protest. It was such a shame I couldn't enjoy more, but I was so full I could burst. I leaned back, setting my chopsticks on the spoon as a rest. Chase watched me carefully, hands folded in front of his chin.
"Well, what do you think?", he asked. I couldn't read his expression.
"It was nothing short of a five star restaurant. I also didn't pin you as a private chef", I said. I gently punched his arm and grabbed my shoulder. His eyes lit up.
"You liked it?", he asked shyly.
"Of course, I'm honestly sad I'm not hungrier. That's one of the best things I've ever had", I said while patting my stomach.
"We'll put some meat back on your bones at this rate then", he said happily.
"Is the goal to make me fat?", I asked suspiciously.
"I'll make you so fat you can't run away", he said. I searched his eyes while giggling. He wasn't laughing. My laugh died down. He seemed genuinely serious.
"I mean, we'll try to find the guy who stole my phone. Wouldn't it be easier if I could also chase him down myself?", I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I was planning on finding him myself honestly", Chase said while leaning back on his elbows.
"Well, that's not exactly fair. It is MY stolen phone", I said, tapping my chin.
"At any rate, we almost crossed paths. I came here just after him. How did I not notice him. or at the very least run into him?", Chase seemed distressed by his lack of presence.
"Well, maybe going over the events of the night would help. If we can piece together a timeline on both our ends, that's two thirds of this mystery solved", I pointed out. I was also suspicious of Chase's motives, to boot. Maybe this could answer some of the questions I had about him.
"I mean honestly I was just roaming around. I didn't have a set goal for the evening short of taking a walk human-side. I rarely get to do that without getting swamped with questions or proposals", he said. Maybe he was telling the truth.
"Until I saw you anyways", his gaze shifted from the front door to my eyes. I felt something bubble in my chest that was on the border of thrill and fear. My breath hitched in my throat momentarily. He smiled and lolled his head to one side.
"You remind me of someone I used to know is all. I couldn't just let you leave down in the dumps", he said sympathetically. Maybe he isn't all bad, at all. He seemed genuine enough.
"So, I spent my whole day at both jobs. I went straight from one to the other. Is it possible that someone from work followed me home? Not necessarily a coworker; most of mine are females. I'm think a customer? A vendor? There's just so many possibilities...", I trailed off. Had I experienced anything weird yesterday? Auras? Vibes? Comments? Nothing stuck out in my mind.
"I mean, do you walk home the same way every single night?", Chase asked. He brough up a very valid point.
"I mean, on crappy rainy days like this whole last week, yeah. It's the fastest, well lit route I've found so far. But the fact still remains that I walk it alone", which was also dangerous I suppose.
"Well.... What if we plan a trap?", Chase said with a coy smile. I didn't like the look in his eyes.
"Doing what, do you suggest?", I asked cautiously, leaning back away from him. He leaned in further towards me, hand now on the coffee table.
"We're assuming this guy has found you walking home alone along the same path for the last week and some change. So it's easy pickings", he said proudly. I simply shook my head in confusion, begging him to explain his plan better.
"What I'm saying, is let's have you walk home tonight. Alone. On the same route. But I'll be following closely behind you, ready to pounce on the creep. I highly doubt your phone was the only prize he wanted", he said vaguely but pointedly, looking down at my sweater. I raised my hands over my chest and made a sound of disgust.
"I'm just saying. He made it in here. Took off with your phone. You're probably lucky I had my eyes on you", he said shrugging.
"Yeah, well it looks like I'm stuck with two creeps now", I said laughing. He turned up his nose and chastised me for making fun of him.
"Well, I guess tonight's as good of a night as any to test our theory", I sighed, relaxing my posture.
"Or you could let me buy you a new phone and we could put this behind us and just live in ignorant bliss. We could fall in love, get married, have children, and ignore the fact that a serial killer has been stalking you all these years, crying that his unrequited love has chosen another man in his stead for he lives a life of crime", Chase rambled on and I laughed so hard I snorted as he continued on. I slapped his arm and told him to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
"Never in a thousand years", I said, still shaking from laughter.
"Well then let's find him. Just remember to breathe", he said, patting the top of my head.