Apartment 102

Unfriendly Beginnings

I stood in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror as I curled my hair. I teased and sprayed until I stood in a cloud of hairspray. I then waved my hands around to clear the air until I could see myself clearly in the mirror again before I finished putting on my make up. I darkened my eyebrows a bit with eyeliner, blushed my cheeks, lengthened my eyelashes and put some lip gloss on. Rena and I were set on trying out a new club downtown for college students. I was just going to dance, but Rena was on a mission to find her a man.

I heard someone beating my door down as I walked down my short hallway. "Coming!" I jogged across the living room and snatched the door open.

"Woo hoo! Have you been tanning? You look awfully dark." Rena fluffed up her neck length black hair playfully as she walked in the door. "Someone stuck a post it to your door." She pointed her finger over her shoulder at the door behind her. She really was trying to get a man tonight. She wore a revealing black top and a short jean skirt with black high heel shoes that laced up her calves. I wore a simple green, pink, and white tube top with a white skirt that came a few inches above my knees. My white flip flops only had a tiny heel.

Would he really…. I looked at my door and saw the identical note that I had left on his door. I sighed with disappointment. Why would he even bother giving it back? That's almost like a slap in the face. I was only trying to be friendly. I crumpled up the pink piece of paper and threw it in the trash can beside the door.

"It's nothing. Let's go! I'm ready to have fun." As soon as I said that Rena was out the door and halfway down the hall. I jogged to keep up with her as we made our way to her car. Her parents bought her a brand new sporty black convertible to go off to college in. We hopped into her new car and were off

∞∞

The walk to my apartment from the parking lot at night was scary. I heard strange noises and dogs barking. Some guy passed me on the sidewalk and I was worried to death that he was going to snatch my purse from me or something. I was relieved just to get into the building. My feet were killing me and I thought I was going to die after walking the flight of stairs to the second floor. I turned the corner and started down the hall towards my apartment. At the other end of the hall were a huge window and two couches. It was decorated with a portrait on one wall and a good sized plant in the corner. There was a clear view of the moon out of that huge window. I could recognize the man sitting on the couch all the way from the end of the hall by the way the moonlight reflected off of his gauntlet. Mr. Valentine…

What is he doing sitting out here at two in the morning?! I slowed my pace, not really wanting to go any closer. My door was less than six feet away from the couch he sat on. Our two apartments were the last ones at the end of the hall. Once I got within a twelve foot range of where he sat, his head turned sharply towards me and I stopped in my tracks.

"…hi." I squeaked out. He looked at me with an expression that I couldn't read. I took a few more steps towards him. "I didn't expect anyone to be out here this late…" I laughed nervously and turned towards my door. I reached into my purse and looked for my key. How come it's like pitch black down here? I've been in the other halls and they were lit by dim lights in the ceilings. I looked up and noticed there where no lights like that down here. I'm sure Mr. Valentine prefers it this way, but it made it nearly impossible to see anything. Not to mention I was having trouble focusing on the task at hand with crimson eyes piercing through me mercilessly. I finally found those damn keys only to drop them on the floor.

"Shit…" I muttered as I bent to pick them up. As soon as I bent down Mr. Valentine stood and walked towards his door. I stood and turned around quickly and stared at the back of him.

"Did you read my note?" My question floated in the air unanswered. Before I could say anything else Mr. Valentine was in his apartment, door shut, locked and all. I let out a deep sigh and returned to my own. It was past two in the morning after all.

∞∞

Another week flew by and I was starting to figure out just how much work came along with going to college. My parents took care of the rent, so I didn't have to work. However, by taking on nineteen credit hours I buried myself alive in homework to study.

I looked over at my digital clock by my bed. There were textbooks, notebooks, a lap top, and tons of papers scattered all over my bed. It was 1:50 in the morning. I looked around the room and randomly set my eyes on the laundry basket that was overflowing with dirty laundry. I hadn't done a single load of laundry since I moved here. I slowly got out of bed, still dressed in the pair of comfortable grey capris and white tank top that I had been wearing all day. I pulled my hair out of its messy bun and shook it out around my shoulders. It looked like I was going to be doing some laundry right about now because who knows when I'll get another minute to do it. I took a peek in my closet and decided that that was definitely gonna have to be the task at hand. I groaned out loud looking at all the laundry. It was going to take two trips just to get all the clothes there. I put all the white clothes in a basket and carried them out of my room. I grabbed my keys and the key to the laundry room and was off. I grabbed my cell phone too, because I was probably going to be spending a long time down there.

Once I got to the laundry room, I realized the door was already unlocked. That made me hesitate on going in there, but I figured I'd stop wasting time and just do it so I walked in. I flipped on the light switch and took a quick glance around the room before completely walking in. As soon as I got about five feet away from the door the lights when out again. It wasn't pitch black in there by any means. Lights from the soda and candy machines gave the room a dim lighting. I spun around to see what had caused the sudden darkness. Mr. Valentine…

He stood there wearing a pair of black pajama pants, black slippers, and a black T-shirt. He still wore what that lady called his gauntlet, and a bandana around his head. His skin looked so pale in the dim light.

"What are you doing here?" His deep voice echoed through the empty laundry room. I looked around the room trying to think of an excuse. Then it hit me… I live here too damnit. What does he mean what am I doing here?! I again took a more peaceful route rather than telling him off like I wanted to at the moment.

"I'm doing laundry." I said before smiling just as sweetly as possible. His eyebrows lowered as he gave me an unfriendly look. "It's rather late…again…and I didn't expect anyone to be here." I couldn't hold eye contact with those fiery red orbs any longer and moved my glance to the empty laundry basket sitting on one of the driers not too far down from where mine sat. When Mr. Valentine didn't reply quickly enough, I turned my back to him and loaded my white clothes into a washer and set the settings.

"I prefer to be alone…" I heard the soft shuffle of his slippers as he approached me. He didn't come any closer than three feet.

"Is that so? Is that why you're scaring off all you're neighbors and no one will live near you? Is that how you really want it?" The questions left my mouth before I could even think. I didn't even have to look to know Mr. Valentine was glaring at me again.

"…that is why I am here so late." He finished, ignoring my questions. I can play the ignore game too. I didn't look at him as he stood there, arms crossed. And here I was thinking he was probably a nice guy, shunned by society because of some cruel rumors. With this attitude he deserves to have rumors spread about him. Speaking of rumors…

I let a few minutes pass to let him think I was ignoring his presence before asking. "So are you…what they say…a vampire?"

I looked up at him. His lips twitched downwards and he shook his head no. His movement was so light I barely noticed it and had to ask myself again. Was that a no, or did he nod?

Another wave of silence fell over the room. I was so lost in my daze, I didn't notice him walk across the room and take a seat at one of the three booths that were lined up against the wall. I contemplated doing the same, but decided I didn't want to be glared at anymore so I stayed put, leaning against the washer. So he's not a vampire, just a mean prick that… Wait… His birth date… Now that I've gotten a good look at his face I knew there was no chance this man was sixty. I decided not to ask because I didn't feel like being ignored either.

∞∞

The next day was Friday and I thanked God I only had one class and it wasn't until 1:00 PM so I didn't have to wake up early. In fact I woke up around noon. My mother was coming to visit at around three so I had to make sure the apartment was cleaned up nicely or she'd be nagging me while trying to clean it herself. She had called me early in the day to warn me that my father's health had been failing. He has been battling diabetes and kidney troubles for years. He has even been on dialysis for over six years. But somehow every time we go through this 'Amaya, you know your father situation is not looking good', he manages to pull through.

As I was pulling up to the apartments in my car, I saw my mom two cars behind me. It was only a little after two thirty. But of course I should have expected her to try and be early. She probably calls herself trying to sneak up on me before I could clean up so she could see how I was really living which wasn't all that bad.

"Ama chan!" she cried out as she walked up to me. She put her hands on my shoulders and looked me over as if she hadn't seen me in years. I rolled my eyes.

"Please, wait until we get inside ma..."

"Nani yo!" she waved her hand carelessly in the air. "You are my daughter. I am glad to see you. You not living at home is hard for papa and me." We started walking up the sidewalk towards the apartments.

"How is dad, by the way?"

"Not so good." She lowered her head and was quiet for a few minutes before continuing. "Amaya, they don't think he's going to make it this time."

Those words struck me like a knife to my heart. My father is what kept this dysfunctional family together. He was there to break up the fights; he was there to fix the problems. He even stuck by the family and worked things out with my mother, even after she had an affair. He worked hard holding down two full time jobs when times got rough and my mother felt that she was too good to work in order to help the financial situation. Once inside my apartment I threw myself on the sofa.

"Are you sure?" was all I could ask. "You know we've been through this before." Two Christmases ago my father was very sick in the hospital and the doctors told us he might not make it through the weekend. But on Christmas day all of a sudden he got better. He even got to come home and spend Christmas with us and lived on for two more years! He's not dying… He's gonna make it this time like he always does.

"It's different this time. I feel it." My mom put her hand over her heart. "I think you should spend this weekend at home."

I nodded. Then I thought. Oh…I have a very important package coming in the mail. I pulled out my cell phone.

"Yeah Trace? Can you come stay in my apartment while I'm gone?"

"Babe…I'm sorry. You know I can't come down there." Came his sorry excuse. Trace lived in a town that was only and hour and a half away from here and went to college there. I sighed loudly.

"My father might be dying and I have to go home this weekend. But my new TV is supposed to be coming this weekend. They're gonna come deliver it straight to my apartment."

"I've got to work this weekend."

"Fine." I hung up on him without even saying goodbye. I didn't want to bother Rena with this because I knew for a fact she would be working this weekend and we both are loaded down with homework. I know this because we are in all of the same classes.

"Dou shita no?" My mother leaned towards me.

"I'm expecting a delivery this weekend and I don't know who to ask to pick it up for me."

"Isn't there someone living across from you? I'm sure they would have no problem watching for it."

I brought a hand to my forehead. I can't just ask Mr. Valentine that! He'd either ignore me when I knocked on his door or slam it in my face, or listen to what I have to say and just glare at me. My mom stood suddenly.

"I'll go ask them…" I shot up and blocked her path.

"I can do it later…" I'd wait until later and see if I could find him standing around somewhere in the middle of the night. That would save me from having to actually knock on his door. I shuddered at the thought of doing that. If he's out all night he probably sleeps during the day anyways and if I wake him from sleeping he'll probably be in an even worse mood.

Asking Mr. Valentine for a favor…psh… Tonight's going to be interesting.