Chapter 10
Stay
November 19, 2012
After a week had passed, Aeron noticed that Reno didn't seem to want to leave. Though he could easily get up and move about on his own now, he never once approached the front door. It was early in the evening and she was cleaning a few dishes from their lunch that afternoon. Reno walked into the dining room and sat at the table behind her. She thought for a moment, then she spoke.
"Reno, would you like to stay here?" she asked suddenly. He looked up, surprised by the question.
"What?" he asked, not sure he had heard correctly.
"It's just that you don't seem eager to leave and no one else lives here. There are four rooms upstairs and six down here, so I have plenty of room." she explained, turning to face him and resting her hands on her hips.
"Of course, you'll have to pick up after yourself and keep everything clean. Do your own dishes and clean your own bathroom. I do all the laundry, so that's not a problem. And if you decide to get plastered, as I assume you do often, please do not make a mess without cleaning it up. If you do, You'll wake up covered in it." she finished, smirking.
"You mean, you wouldn't mind me stickin' around here, yo?" he asked, somewhat suspicious. She shook her head and shrugged.
"I won't lie. I like the company. And it's not like you really have anywhere else to go if you don't want to be found." she said, walking over to him. For the first time in the whole time he'd been there, he actually managed a small smile.
"Thanks. You sure it won't be troublesome, yo?" he asked as she sat in the chair closest to him. She shrugged.
"Well, do you make a habit of being beaten to a pulp?" she asked, laughing softly. He grinned.
"I try not to, yo." he said, leaning forward, wincing a bit. Most of his cuts and bruises had begun to heal nicely, but the ones on his chest still bled a bit on occasion and his ribs still ached badly. She stood up and began walking toward her room. She stopped when she got to the stairs.
"Oh, by the way Reno. I'm having a friend of mine over tonight. He comes over every few weeks for dinner and such. Would you like to join us? I'm sure you'll love his cooking." she asked. Reno shrugged.
"I don't have anythin' to wear for a fancy dinner. But sure, I'll join you if your friend doesn't mind, yo." he replied. Aeron smiled and took off up the stairs, returning quickly with clothes. She tossed them to Reno, who haphazardly caught them.
"What's this, yo?" he asked.
"Just try it on. It's what you'll wear to dinner if it fits." she replied, disappearing up the stairs again and into her room. Reno sighed. He still hadn't gotten used to the way she acted. But he was curious as to what she'd given him, so he walked into the bathroom and tried the outfit on.
Unbeknownst to Reno, Aeron was still standing on the balcony when he had finished dressing. She couldn't hold in a shocked gasp when he walked out. He was wearing a pair of rather tight leather pants and a white button up shirt that he hadn't tucked in or buttoned all the way up. He looked gorgeous, she thought.
"That looks really good on you!" she said, almost scaring Reno half to death.
"What's wrong with you girl! Don't shout at people when they don't know you're there, yo." he yelled, clutching his chest dramatically. She giggled and trotted over to the stairs, sliding down the banister. He shook his head.
"Aeron, you act half your age, yo. You know that, right?" he said, inspecting himself in the hall mirror. He had to say, he didn't look half bad. She nodded and looked him up and down.
"It looks good. He'll be here soon, so you should go shower before he arrives." she said, pushing him back into the bathroom. He sighed as she closed the door behind him. She was a bossy one alright. He stripped and started the hot water, wondering who it was exactly that was coming to dinner. He heard the shower in Aeron's room kick on just as he was lathering his hair with shampoo. He absently wondered what Aeron was going to wear if he had to dress up too.