Chapter 4
The Smell of Wine
The wind had become enraged by the time they were out of the noisy bar. That was a thing about Jakku, the weather became torrid by the summer. Kylo got in the car first, followed by Rey who felt too subdued to mention anything. He was oddly intimidating because it wasn't like he was some built man that could crush you with his thumb-no-he was tall and lanky, but his glare was something that could make anyone shut up.
"How did you find it?" he asked staring in front of him, crossing one of his slim legs on top of the other.
"I was carrying groceries and tripped over your wallet on the way to my car" she clicked her seatbelt on.
"Oh, right...My wallet. " he whispered looking out the window. His reflection seemed so pure like that of a child it was almost as if he seemed to have some good in him.
"Yeah. It is at home. Sorry, I wish I had not forgotten it"
"It's fine" he scoffed.
"Yeah, I mean you could've smirked at tad in your driver's license" she slightly smirked trying not to bring out her jeering side.
"I was having a...rough day" he gestured his left hand up and down.
"Looks like you are having a rough day today also" Rey looked at him trying not to sound too mocking.
"You know to my defense, it was going alright until y-"
"Oh you are blaming me!? I found your wallet. You OWE me" Rey began to get all defensive.
"Alright, coming to conclusion all of the sudden!"
Kylo scoffed and crossed his arms.
The way to her place seemed to last and made every moment too awkward. The only sound to make itself present was the rushing of the wind against the car. The way to her place however was beautiful, the view was open to stars beginning to appear. It was beautiful sight.
"What is your name, even?" he finally asked.
"Rey"
"Rey…" he replied. He had heard that name before, he was sure he had heard that name before. Phasma had mentioned it, but he could never concentrate because Phasma was oddly beautiful he sometimes got lost in her words.
"Are we almost there?" He was trying to remember who Rey was exactly. Jakku and Rey, he knew she had a role in Jakku; she worked with General leia and Solo, but this couldn't be her.
"Yeah, couple blocks"
It got awkwardly quiet.
Rey disliked it and reached to play some music. She started moving her lips along to the lyrics.
He groaned in reply and mumbled
"That's a terrible taste in music"
"Huh?...You've never heard this one before?"
"Why would I?"
It wasn't that he disliked the music, he simply didn't want to get suspicious by getting excited over the idea that this Rey might just be his lucky shot to some type of dictatorship over Jakku.
Although, he didn't really like her taste in music to be honest.
"What's your type? Some obscure punk music?"
"No"
Oh, but It was.
Rey parked in front of her apartment complex.
"Do you want to wait here? You could come up, maybe try to get that sticky stain off your chest?"
"No, I'll stay" He answered without thinking.
She walked out of the car and towards the double doors.
Kylo looked around and thought for a second about the the opportunities he could get by simply investigating her place.
"Alright then!"
"Wait no, I'll follow you" Kylo move out of the car and followed her.
Her place was a warm, the walls were a cream color and papers laid around like an office.
"I'll get in in a minute, would you like anything to drink?"
"No, I'm fine"
She went into her room. The wallet was under her kitty who slept in sound peace.
"I'm sorry, baby" she moved him a little bit and her kitty woke up and jumped off her bed.
The cat moved to the living room where Kylo was.
"Oh my gosh!" he turned around and began to creep away from the cat.
"What's wrong?" Rey came out of the room.
"I don't do cats I'm allergic" the kitty started approaching him and wrapped its little tail around Kylo's leg.
"No no...shoosh!"
He covered his mouth with his arm and sneezed.
Rey could of done something, but it was too funny seeing the intimidating man look vulnerable to a little furry creature.
"What are you doing! Just standing there?!"
She rolled her eyes and reached down to get her kitty. "Sorry Sir Kylo, I didn't know you were vulnerable to cats"
"I'm not vulnerable, I'm allergic"
Rey sighed.
"She handed Kylo his wallet"
"Thank You"
"Yeah"
"You can come back if you need anything, you know" Rey offered. He looked like a relatable guy, just a little salty some days.
"Yeah. Is it okay if I obtain your phone number?" he asked.
"Of course" she handed him a piece of paper with her name and number.
"I'll drive you back home then"
"Good"
This had been a good experience for Rey. building relationships with other people didn't happen often. It was usually the hello goodbye kind of idea with Jakku citizens, but never really friends with anyone besides Poe and Finn who she rarely saw.
She grabbed her keys from the counter next to her door and both quietly took the elevator to the bottom floor. She was about three floors from the bottom.
"Nice place" he decided to mention whilst standing behind Rey inside the elevator. He stood behind Rey as if she were his trooper for the moment.
"Really?"
"I mean guess" he looked forward
As they walked out of the elevator to the small waiting room at the bottom, the tv news reporter announced what both had not expected.
"Another mild storm has come down to Jakku. We suggest to head home promptly and stay in doors for safety"
"Oh common! We can still drive through it. I don't see a problem!" Kylo exclaimed
"Jakku sand storms are dangerous. I'd prefer we both stay in doors"
Rey wasn't too pleased with the idea of keeping Kylo with her. She was almost afraid, but she wasn't going to die driving through a sandstorm for him.
Kylo pondered for a second with hands in pockets and head down.
"Fine, fine but as soon as it is over we're leaving"
"Yes, sir" she had it with him and his pestering little attitude.
Both headed back to her room.
"Want anything?"
"No"
She walked over to her kitchen and poured herself a glass of water
"Where is your restroom?"
"Down the hallway to the right"
"Okay"
Kylo took this as an opportunity to scavenge her room and hope that this girl was the jackpot.
Rey's room was just across the restroom, he turned left and opened the door quietly. Her room, like the small living room, was pampered with papers. He approached the desk in front of her bed where the titles on each yellow folder stood out to him.
"Acquisitions from Jakku"
To: General Leia Organa.
Address: xxxxx
" Jakku's growing Establishments-A New Beginning-""
To: General Leia Organa
Address: xxxxxxx
He began to hear approaching footsteps. He started to stealth out of the room.
"Why were you in there?
"You work for Leia?" he felt a knot in his throat all of the sudden. Maybe he had mentioned that too soon? He internally felt himself facepalming.
"Yes! I do. I look over Jakku. She is my boss next to general Solo"
She didn't mind telling him. If anything she thought it was odd that he didn't know that already when everyone in Jakku had an idea of her.
"Oh well that is quite an honor for you I assume" he tried to sound as amused as possible.
"Yes, it quite is. But i still want to know why you were in my room" she raised her eyebrow.
"I turned the wrong way, I apologize" he sounded so formal.
"I understand. Is not like you have been here before" she replied.
She turned to walk back to her living room.
" Do you live alone?" Rey asked as she sat down on her couch.
"Yes, I do" he stood as he saw her sit.
He didn't want to give out any real facts about him obviously, he could make up the most dramatic story he could right now.
"You live here alone i'm guessing. How is it working for them. Do you like your job?"
Rey looked up at him, with glass still in hand.
"You can sit down" she paused and watched him awkwardly sit down besides her.
"Working where I grew up is a dream come true. The people here are amazing, everyone is doing so well, not because of me and what Leia and Hans approve of, they simply get the idea that Jakku is worth of keeping alive, with great innovations...everyday"
Kylo rolled his eyes, this woman talked like she had just swallowed a love potion.
"That's great" he replied. "I mean really great"
"What do you do?" he asked
"I...well, I like to travel" he felt kind of dumb, but his answer made sense.
"Oh. that's great!"
"Yeah, it's great-um my shirt is still sticky. Do you have towels so i can clean my chest or something"
He tried to avoid his life in the conversation as much as possible.
"Yeah, just a minute"
Rey stood up to bring a couple of small towels. She thought he was kind of odd somehow, but she didn't mind. He seemed nice and interested in whatever she had to say.
Kylo sat there and wiggled his fingers through the buttons of his black shirt. He wanted to be realistic at least. When Rey walked back into the room, Kylo's shirt was open mid torso and he looked quite uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry!" she threw the towels at him and quickly turned around.
He looked at her and sighed.
"No it's fine...sorry"
She turned back to look at him.
"Do you need help?'
"No, I'm fine. You can come sit back" she looked around and sat next to him.
Kylo began wiping the stain off his chest. The smell of wine filled their noses.
They both were startled by the ringing of his phone.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Sir, we have gathered information that leads to the stay of Leia and Solo. We can arrange transportation for tomorrow if you would like to depart to where our troopers think would be safe to stay the night whilst on your way"
"No. I will text you back the details" he hung up.
"It's a friend. Wants to know where I'm staying for the next few weeks"
Rey nodded.
Notes: Sorry it took so long! I had finals and responsibilities with school. but it is summer now so I have no excuses. Thank you for being so patient, but do acknowledge that I do not have a schedule for each chapter so they will come in at a different time.
Thank you for your support!
Love,
Jrisa