APOV
*Tuesday morning*
This switching to a human schedule thing really wasn't working out for me. I woke and slept at random hours now. I didn't know how Jill and Eddie were adapting so well. At least I didn't have to go to classes and follow a timetable. I could just lounge around drinking all day. It had been a week and Clarence's liquor supply was starting to run low. It was a shame he had good stuff. I would have to start buying on my own soon and with my meager allowance, it wasn't likely to be anything as good as the bourbon I'd been guzzling like juice.
Today was Jill's feeding day. So I had one thing to look forward to. I wondered how Jill was holding up. She tried to make everything sound fine on the phone but I knew she was lying. I would have to talk with her and see her aura to find out the truth. Jailbait was too nice a kid to let even an alcoholic like me be worried over her. I smiled fondly. I hoped she had managed to make some friends at school. She was so bright and bubbly, who wouldn't want to be friends with her any way? If only I had met someone like her to be my friend when I was in school, perhaps I wouldn't have turned into such a messed up waste of space. My phone buzzed.
Hush, you are amazing as you are! Stop moping! He smiled at her text. It was 9 am she should be in her first class of the day.
You hush, put your phone away before you end up in detention. Focus on school little one, take it from the cautionary tale. I could have just thought it at her, with the bond still so new and fresh I couldn't keep anything from her. I desperately wished I could. She deserved to live a normal life without having a crazy Moroi invade her mind and spread the dark madness of spirit.
Jill would be here around four or five. That still left many hours with nothing to do. I wanted to use spirit later today so I would have to ease up on the drinking. I was just on my third drink since waking up, and far too sober for my liking. I looked out the living room window at the overgrown garden… untamed… wild… flowers… roses… Rose… My Rose... Rose kissing that Russian bastard!
Damn, I was not drunk enough. I didn't want to think about her… about them! I had been trying to stay as drunk and distracted as I could over the past month to numb my pain. The Court had been a good place for that, all the bars had open unlimited tabs in my name, and there had always been enough pretty girls (I assume they were pretty- I was too far gone to notice the past month) to make me forget about Rose, or perhaps to pretend to be Rose. I was usually so wasted by the time I ended up in bed I barely remembered anything. Damn I really hope I hadn't been calling out for Rose it would be beyond embarrassing. luckily I hadn't really gone through that many girls, I was too out of it most days and some guardian would take me back and toss me into bed- not that I remembered any of it. But how else was I to explain waking up fully dressed in my own bed?
My hands moved toward the bourbon again, I quickly downed another glass hoping to stop my thoughts. I needed more distractions. Palm Springs had none. There were no Moroi girls here, well no Moroi at all besides Clarence. That old man just took naps all the time. He was entertaining to talk to the few times we had been awake at the same time. I even played chess with him once. He seemed to really like me, something about reminding him of his son who was away- he didn't seem to know where. I didn't know how to feel about that. It made me a bit sad - my own father couldn't be bothered to think about me, why would this nice old man?
I switched on the TV. There had to be something good on, right? After flipping though all the channels twice, I settled on a cartoon. I was watching a tall shrill girl try to get her triangle headed brother into trouble with their mom. I wondered if that was how it would have been for me if I had a sister. I felt another pang of pain but this was an old one left over from my childhood days. I used to play alone as I watched other kids with their siblings and parents during visiting days Alders. My parents never came, father was too busy working or not caring, while mom who did care would rather plan and attend royal parties to keep her status. A knocking at the door took me out of my brooding thoughts.
I frowned- It was too early for Jill to arrive. The only other person who came here was Keith- I hoped it wasn't him I wasn't drunk enough to not punch him. Clarence always welcomed him for some unfathomable reason. But that wasn't his knock - this sounded soft and anxious as if the person on the other side wasn't sure whether they wanted the door to open or not.
I reluctantly answered the door to find a human girl. An upset looking human girl covered in motor oil who was now knocking on my chest- she was looking back towards the road and hadn't realized the door was now open. I winced noticing the motor oil now staining my very expensive designer silk shirt. Last week I wouldn't have cared but I was practically poor now. I was glad she wasn't banging on the door it would have damaged my shirt beyond repair and hurt!
I caught her hand before it could connect with my chest again startling her in the process. She yelped and jumped back a foot. She wasn't loud but I still flinched I was NOT used to that reaction from women: usually they wanted me to hold their hands- often do even more. But I suppose she hadn't really seen my pretty face properly. She was a human, and as depressed as I might be that was not a line I would cross. Still she was very pretty with dark brown hair and pale blue eyes behind her glasses, a little flirting never hurt anyone. And I wouldn't be Adrian Ivashkov if I didn't flirt, not to mention it would be too disrespectful to the girl!
"Well my day just got hotter! How can I help you today?" I said in my bed room voice and gave her my trademark smirk that made women swoon… often into my bed or their bed, well sometimes it'd been a couch, or the floor and once an elevator... that had been fun, I grinned at the memory.
She just scowled at me and shifted a few steps back looking as wary as ever, "This house is spooky enough but if you're some pervert then I'll try my luck somewhere else." The mistrust rolled off her in waves. Well this had certainly never happened before I was stumped.
"Well if by luck you mean this breathtaking magnificence" I waved to myself with a raised eyebrow, "then you've got all the luck in the world." I waggled my eyebrows and gave her a toothy grin that also seemed to draw women in.
She started to walk away with a small limp, "umm look, I can see that this isn't a good time for you. I'll let you get back to whatever it is you do when you aren't grabbing at random strangers and propositioning them. Sorry for disturbing you." Her voice and stance screamed wariness and eyed me as if I would jump her at any moment.
Wow, this had never happened before. The thought that I was making a girl feel threatened and harassed by me was disturbing. I wasn't the kind of person to force my attentions on a girl who didn't want them. And she clearly didn't want any bit of it. Usually the flirting and charming was just for fun, I didn't really want most of the girls I flirted with in my bed. More than half the time I flirted without even thinking about it. It was just second nature- a fun harmless sport between two attractive people. If they weren't interested then they just laughed it off and told me to move on with a fond smile. Maybe it was a human thing, but I was sure human girls at the clubs I used to go to hadn't reacted like this either. Perhaps months of trying to woo Rose had made me rusty. Maybe it was just this strange girl, or maybe all my self-abuse had finally caught up with me and I looked hideous. No! I couldn't be hideous even if I tried! This was just a strange human that had to be it!
She looked like she needed help, that limp looked painful. There was no way she could walk comfortably to another house, and she was clearly having trouble with her car by the amount of grease on her conservative blouse and jeans. I felt bad for her the urge to heal her reared its head. I couldn't do that though- she didn't know about my world. Besides spirit was a bit dull with all my drinking.
I hastened to apologize and get her to stop moving away, "No, no it's alright. I was just watching some cartoons, I can catch a rerun later. You clearly need help, how can I help you?"
She was still wary but she stopped moving backwards, "My car broke down near this haunted house," she pointed to the house. I had to smile- she wasn't wrong even I thought it looked haunted. I was worried she might take anything I said the wrong way. So I just tried to look harmless and curious as I waited for her to go on.
She eyed me as if wondering whether to continue or not, "I thought I could fix it myself, I've done it before," She sounded defensive as if I might tell her she was an idiot for doing that. I thought it was hot when girls were independent like that- part of my attraction to Rose had been badass ability to take care of those she cared about. Too bad the 'taking care' didn't extend to not cheating on me and breaking my heart.
"And I tripped over one of those crazy plants on the walk up the drive way so my ankle hurts. To top it all my cell phone is dead- I can't call anyone to come get me and my car. So I was hoping I could maybe borrow a phone?" That was it? Ok, I had a cell phone.
"Are you sure that's all you want?" I tried another smirk with a suggestively raised eyebrow. She just gave me a flat look, seriously nothing? I was gorgeous and charming- this girl was just hurting my pride now! I didn't think she would want to come in either so I sighed, "OK then, let me get it for you."
She came closer and took the phone from me with a grateful look, but then just stared at it for a very long moment with confusion. "Umm you wanted to make a call didn't you?" The bourbon was wearing off a little and I felt spirit stir in me. I pulled on it to look at her aura, it was just such a normal thing for me to do that I didn't realize it until her sunny yellow aura flared around her- smart and analytical? Human auras were different and I hadn't been around enough to get a good read on them. There were a few other colors swirling in there too… this girl was a jumble of nerves.
She looked sheepish, "All my contacts are on my cell- I don't remember them. I also need to look for a garage- I don't trust AAA with my car. Umm any chance I can use the internet or a charger for my cell?" She seemed very reluctant asking me this probably because she would have to go indoors for both those things. My cell phone didn't have internet on it because I had used up all of the data on stalking Rose on the Moroi news- she was where Lissa was and Lissa always made the news.
"You'll have to come in for that, Little Ms. Mechanic." Her aura flared- wariness and hope? The first was obvious but the hope baffled me, so she wanted to come in or was it because she was getting closer to making the call and fixing her troubles? I figured it was the later. I wasn't happy with her reaction earlier and I didn't want to make her more uncomfortable. "How about I get you a weapon first and you can feel free to attack me if I make you feel uncomfortable… just don't hit my face… I'm very partial to it," That should make her stop seeing me as a threat.
"Ok, I'll wait here for that weapon then." she said very seriously. Wait what?! I had meant it as a joke. She just looked at me evenly and waited. She really was that wary of me? I sighed dramatically, grumbled, and went back in to find something that wouldn't do too much damage but still look formidable. I found a fire poker, why anyone would need this in southern California was beyond me.
"Here you-"
She was much closer to the door than I expected her to be. She was fiddling with some planters next to the door. I hadn't been gone even a minute she couldn't have come this close on a busted ankle "-go. You move pretty fast for an injured girl!" I said suspiciously. Wait humans have burglars that try to get inside houses under false pretenses and then knock people out and steal everything. Was she one? Where on earth were Dorothy and Clarence? Had her gang already gotten to them?! Ok, now I was just being paranoid. I checked her aura again; it was still the same wariness, bit of hope and a tinge of fear now but nothing to tell me she was a danger.
She was startled by my return, "These plants are so different from the ones back ho-"
She stopped abruptly perhaps having said something she didn't mean to. So she wasn't from around here… I should have guessed from her lack of a tan. She took the fire poker from me with a hint of a smile and I led her inside to the living room hoping that she wouldn't actually hit me.
"Umm you can wait here. I'll get you my computer and a charger." I really hoped she wasn't a burglar now. I decided to check on Clarence and Dorothy just to stop being paranoid. Clarence was still sleeping- he was on some weird schedule. Dorothy was in the kitchen making some strange yucky healthy food for lunch. If only I wasn't so broke- I was starving for pizzas, donuts, and other normal people food. And to think it hadn't even been a week. She asked who was at the door but didn't seem concerned about burglars from what I told her. I decided to be a good host and offer the girl a drink but I had no idea what she would like. I loaded a tray with everything I saw in every flavor: soda, diet soda, juice, mineral, and sparkling water, every other beverage I saw.
Somehow, I managed to juggle all the things in my hand- the laptop, the tray, the charger and made it back to the living room without falling over from all the alcohol in me. I was turning into functional drunk- it was a miserable realization. I wanted to be numb not functional! She wasn't sitting like I expected her to be. She was at the far corner of the room, near the French windows looking at something on the wall. It was a picture of Clarence and his son- Lee. She must have heard my approach she turned back to me and studied me with a curious expression, and raised an eyebrow at the tray in my hands.
I set everything on the coffee table, plugged in the charger to a socket nearby, took a seat a bit away from the table and waved towards it grandly with a grin, "Something to drink, mademoiselle?" She still seemed wary, was I really that unpleasant?! Her aura looked like she was being offered drugs or poison based on the sharp spikes in fear and apprehension. "Look, they haven't been opened and are in the exact state in which they arrived from the store!" I was exasperated and far to sober to keep up with this for much longer. I wished I'd let her limp away before!
She came near to the table looked down at the oil her clothes and chose to sit on the floor instead. That was thoughtful of her- not getting grease everywhere. She even gave me a small smile and took the can of diet soda. It didn't stop her from turning it every which way before finally deeming it safe enough to drink. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I decided to get back to my bourbon- I really was too sober for this. I hadn't been acting like myself at all.
She seemed lost in thought as she plugged in her cell phone and started up the laptop. "Thank you for helping." She started a bit hesitantly, "I'm sorry about before, the house looked spooky and I could smell the alcohol as soon as you opened the door," She shrugged, "There really are creepy people in the world and I'd rather take the risk of offending people than putting myself at risk." I hadn't expected her to actually explain her actions. But it did make more sense now that I thought about it from her perspective. I was relieved- I was beginning to think I was in trapped in some alternate reality in my mind where my looks and charm had become ineffective. Spirit would drive me crazy eventually but not just yet.
"I'm too devastatingly handsome and charming to be a creep. Good of you to finally admit it." I winked at her. She just frowned and eyed my glass as if she wanted to say something but she didn't.
Her aura flared brighter as she looked at something on the computer and noticed some deep purple streaks that I hadn't been there before. Purple denoted passion and spirituality- a fascinating combination with the yellow that dominated her aura. I would have been more intrigued if I wasn't so annoyed with her, I needed to drink more! "Did you find what you were looking for? I could have called AAA for you- it would have been easier and faster." I grumbled.
"No way will I trust the Red Hurricane to those hacks. I've found a promising garage on the other side of town," She glanced at me, "Umm I won't impose on you for much longer! I'll just give them a call and wait for them back in my car." She didn't look scared or wary. Her aura showed she wasn't completely at ease, but she was managing it now.
Her words came back to me… wait did she just call her car 'Red Hurricane'!? Who on earth names cars! She was the first person that I had really interacted with since I got here, Jill wouldn't visit for many hours yet. And I was starved for entertainment, even if it was this strange human with her interesting aura who barely tolerated me because she needed help.
"You named your car? They have number plates to identify them, you know." I asked incredulously.
"She's a beauty. It'd be a shame for her to be nameless." She sounded as if she were talking about a baby. The purple in her aura flashed deeper and grew. So she was a car geek- it was amusing.
"I've never really thought about it or ever liked a car enough." She gave me a half smile as she called the garage make arrangements for her car. She seemed to know a lot about the car since she answered everything in a lot of detail. I tuned out and focused back on the TV.
I was lost in thought and was startled to hear her phone ring and she started talking in rapid Russian. I wasn't good with it but I could pick out a few words… arrived… classes… buildings… so maybe I was bad with Russian but I knew enough to recognize it. It made me think of Dimitri and my mood darkened. I emptied my glass and refilled it shakily. I slid down in my chair stared at the ceiling and tried to stop my thoughts from going down that dark road again.
"You speak Russian" I said in a flat voice when her call finished, it wasn't a question just a statement.
"Yeah, I guess you do too." She sounded uncomfortable realizing she had understood.
"No, I just know and loathe the sound of it." I kept my eyes fixed on the ceiling. When she didn't respond, I looked towards her. Her head was slightly titled to one side and she was looking at me worriedly. This time it wasn't about what I might do or say but rather for me. I could see the concern in her eyes and her aura. That was surprising, she barely knew me why should she spare a thought for me, a stranger who made inappropriate advances on her just some time ago.
"I'm sorry that upset you. I've made my calls. My ankle is feeling better. I'll go and wait near my car." She said softly. So the shift in my mood on hearing Russian was obvious enough to make her feel bad.
She stood with much difficulty, collected her things and started to limp towards the door. "Thank you and sorry for upsetting you." she said with a small apologetic smile. I couldn't move I was too trapped in my own thoughts. I didn't want to talk but I didn't want to be alone, and no should have to suffer the desert heat just because I couldn't handle a bit of Russian.
I sighed again "It's really hot out there. Wait here if you like… its cooler and there's the TV for entertainment. Don't mind me." I said quietly never taking my eyes off the ceiling.
She hesitated "Yeah, in here might be better. Can I use your washroom to clean up a bit?"
"It's down the hall." I pointed vaguely towards the inside of the house and went out on to the deck to smoke. My plan to be sober for when Jill arrived didn't look promising. I needed to stop thinking about Rose and her Russian. I had been back in the living room for over 20 minutes when she returned looking cleaner with another diet soda in her hands.
"Your housekeeper is a bit zany but nice." She said absently, unease coated her voice but she didn't seem aware of it. I nodded, how could I explain Dorothy even if I wanted to? We sat in silence. I drank my bourbon staring blankly at the ceiling. I glanced at her a while later she was sipping her diet soda lost in her thoughts as she absently cleaned the bits of grease of the computer… it really wasn't that dirty but I guess she wasn't used to sitting still for long.
It was almost 12 when her phone chimed- the garage people must have arrived, she got up to get her stuff. Gave me a small smile and winced, "I'm sorry about your shirt. I didn't see it before. How can I make it up to you?" She sounded really sorry too- sorrier than when she apologized for calling me a pervert. I couldn't help but laugh, "It'll be fine. Don't worry about it. I've got lots of shirts and nowhere to be in them." I tried to sound lighthearted but it just came out sad.
It was true though, there were no Moroi around to spend time with, I didn't have a car or the money to go to where I could socialize, and I didn't have my own place to invite people over to. I had Jill and Eddie for a few hours a week. It made me even more depressed to think of it.
She picked up my phone from the coffee table, pressed some keys, and handed it back to me. "That's my phone number if you change your mind about the shirt. If not then let me buy you a coffee," she paused to look at my glass and added uncomfortably, "-or a drink instead." With that, she limped towards the door. Was she now interested in me? I didn't think so but why else would she give me her number? I sat there and watched her curious yellow and purple aura walk away- it was tinged with relief, concern, and sadness. Somehow, I knew the last two were for me but I couldn't fathom why.
I didn't know what to think. It had been a rather confusing morning. I looked at my phone and sure enough, her number was there. She hadn't saved it or put in her name. Smart to not give her name to a stranger. I stored it as 'that strange human girl'- it was awful as nicknames went but I didn't know enough to give her a better one. I was still thinking of how unaffected she had been by my flirting as I dozed off on the couch… maybe she was into girls instead. What a loss for the men in Palm Springs.
