A knock on my door wakes me up from my light slumber. Opening my eyes, I look at the clock next to me: 8:40 am. Whoever it is, they beat the alarm and now I would like to beat them. Shaking my head to get rid of the violent thoughts, I step out of bed and walk down the hallway. A familiar chest is seen through the peephole and I open the door, an unimpressed look on my face.
"It's 8 am," I state bluntly, displeased that he had a smile on his face and looked so awake.
"I'm here to trade in my rain check for some french toast," he replies, lifting his arm that has a bag filled with groceries.
How didn't I notice that before?
With a sigh of defeat, I know I'm not going to be able to go back to bed now. Moving away from the opening of the door, I let him in and lead the way to the kitchen.
"You didn't have to buy anything. I asked you to breakfast, remember?"
Setting the bag on the table, he looks at me. "I know, but I figured we could have a real breakfast then I could drive you to your university."
I'm taken aback. He wants to go out of his way to give me a ride? Why? Instead of really questioning it, I tune back into reality and notice all the groceries: eggs, bread, cinnamon, vanilla, milk, butter, and syrup on the table.
"You didn't have to buy all of this. I have milk and bread."
Ignoring the fact that I was talking at all, he goes through my cabinets until he finds a pan big enough to fit two pieces of bread with room in between them. Placing it on the stove, he finds a big bowl to add the eggs, cinnamon and vanilla in. Once he does all that, he takes the bread and dips them inside the concoction before putting them in the pan with some butter that he melted. He repeats this process until the whole loaf of bread is gone, and the plate that holds the french toast is completely covered. With every breath I take, the smell of cinnamon filters into my nose and I smile. I miss being in a kitchen that smells like the food being made.
Grabbing plates, knives, forks and cups, I set the table remembering to take the milk and flavored water out of the fridge. With everything set up and the breakfast made we sit across from each other and chow down. After four slices are missing from the plate, we finally break the silence.
"How did you sleep?"
"I was out for most of the night and just woke up when you knocked on the door. How about you?"
"I went to bed last night at a reasonable time then woke up early this morning to have breakfast with you. I'd say I slept pretty good considering I'm actually functional."
We elapse back into silence. More french toast goes missing from the main plate and appears on our individual ones. Considering I haven't eaten a home cooked meal, in my kitchen, in over nine months this is a treat I will not take for granted.
"This is-"
"What classes-"
We both go to talk at the same time, both stopping when we realize the other is talking.
"You go first," he says with a laugh.
"I just wanted to thank you for breakfast. This is delicious. I can't remember the last time I had french toast. When we do this again, breakfast is on me, but you have to cook it."
"Thank you. I don't mind cooking. Do you know how?"
Embarrassed I shake my head side to side, my cheeks heating up the slightest bit.
"Then next time I will teach you. What do you want to make? This is pretty simple, most common breakfast foods are. Pancakes, and waffles come from a box. This only had one step. Hashbrowns you leave in the oven. What if we make egg and bacon sandwiches with hashbrowns on the side."
"That sounds really good, but you have to help me."
"I will. Now what classes do you have today?"
"I don't have many, only three. I basically have all writing classes today. My major writing class is how I end my day and before that I have an internship through the university and my first class is just another writing one where we compare different genres and how each genre is written a little differently."
"That sounds really interesting. Where is your internship? Do you need a ride?"
"Most of my classes are interesting, I'm pretty lucky to have these courses. My internship is a twenty minute drive from the university and I work alongside the head editorial team for that company. After I finish college, I want to move from being an intern to being an actual employee so I can have my own editorial team."
"When do you know if you will be able to be on their team full-time?"
"At the end of my internship in a little over two months, they can choose to hire me on the spot. If not, I can ask to be hired which can go two ways. One, they can hire me then. Two, they can tell me to fill out an application which means that my chances of getting the job are slim. I hope they hire me on the spot. I work hard and do whatever they ask of me."
"I'm sure they will hire you."
"Thanks."
Looking at the clock, we both stand up and clean up the kitchen. The dishes are washed, the table is cleared and the food is put away in the fridge.
"I just have to get ready. I only need ten- fifteen, make it fifteen minutes- to be all ready to go. Make yourself at home."
Going into my bedroom, I grab clothes and rush to the bathroom to get ready for the day. My shower is steamy but too quick for my liking. Stepping out, I open the door a crack and peek out to make sure Damon can't see me. Knowing that he can't, I leave the door open a crack to let out all of the steam. Quickly drying, I brush through my hair and get dressed before brushing my teeth. Five minutes later, my purse, keys, phone and school bag are all in my hands or on my shoulders.
"Ready to go?" I ask Damon who is sitting on the couch listening to my music.
"Yes. Are you?"
"Yes. Are you sure you don't mind driving me? I have to go to my internship today at noon."
"Of course not. I will be there to pick you up and drop you off."
Two minutes later, the engine starts with a mighty roar and we take off down the street. I look at the clock and relax into my seat since I still have a half hour before my class begins and I will be there in ten.
Damon reaches out to turn on the radio and today's hits come on. Moving his hand away from the "seek" button, I raise the volume and open my window. Belting out the lyrics, Damon quickly joins me and together we bring sound to the rest of the quiet neighborhood.
When the song ends and another begins, I look at the mirror on the side of the car, and notice a black truck riding behind us. Goosebumps pick at my skin from the familiarity of the car. I think it was the same one as yesterday. Looking at Damon, I lower the radio.
"I think that truck was following me yesterday," I say, worry lacing my voice.
He looks out the rearview mirror and the car starts to accelerate. The buildings that were once long and square are now only blurs of color.
"Do you know that car too?"
Not answering, he shifts the car into second gear, then third. The truck stays behind us. Damon shifts again, and the truck struggles to keep up. Taking a sharp right turn, we pull onto a side road, the opposite way of my university. He knows the truck.
"Who is that? Why is he following us?"
"Don't worry about it. It's none of your concern."
"I think it is my concern. He was following me, Damon. I was scared!" I exclaim, exasperated.
"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
"Why would I? Yesterday, I thought he was following me, but, clearly, he's following you and now me!"
"Look, I'm sorry. I'm not in the most reputable type of business. I have made a few enemies, and now that you have associated yourself with me, they are going to be watching you too. You don't need to know who it is. All you need to know is that he doesn't like us and you need to stay away from him. If you ever see him, call me immediately."
"What kind of business are you in?"
"It doesn't matter. We are here."
In all of my anxiety, I didn't notice him circling back to go to my school. We must've lost the truck a while back and he knew it was safe to bring me here.
Pulling up to my university, I step out. "Thank you for driving me. I really appreciate it. If you can't pick me up please let me know so I can take the bus there. And I'm sorry for freaking out."
"I will be here. Have a good day. If you see a similar car or any suspicious men walking around call me. I will be here in two minutes."
"I will be fine. See you later."
Walking away from his car, I rush to my first class, paranoid that someone is watching me. Entering the building my class is in, I take the staircase up to the top floor and walk down the hall. Walking into the classroom that caused anxiety last week, I feel surprisingly excited for this class to begin. I finally have inspiration for my novel and I know that I will do well on this assignment. Maybe I'll publish it too in the future. Smiling at that idea, I take my seat and wait for class to begin.