Chapter 3- Split AU
The old clock on her desk showed 3:26. The man was supposed to come at 3 o'clock, but these guys never come on time anyways. Why make an appointment if they never follow through on it, she thought? It's like waiting in the doctor's office just for a simple 15-minute checkup, but you wind up sitting there for two hours. Sitting at her desk against the wall resting her head on the palm on her hand. She had her sketchbook fully opened and laid out as she drew random faces of people she saw from yesterday's trip. Her memory is all she had left; she has drawn her father's face a few times before in her older sketchbooks trying to get the complete picture. It was difficult to remember someone who passed away just when she was so young.
Casey leaned back in her chair signing as she flicked her pencil over the book. It's been such a long day sitting around the house doing absolutely nothing, but just waiting for this person to come and fix the stupid sink. At least her uncle was out and away from her for the whole day. She stood up pacing herself to the front window. Unlocking it as she pushed it all the way up to get some type of fresh air. Immediately hearing the birds and cars passing by. Casey crossed her arms as she leaned her body out forward on the window's wooden ledge. Observing the neighborhood and the bright green trees rustling softly in the light breeze. She watched three little kids playing in the street on their little scooters and tiny bicycles. She could hear their laughter's and shouts at one another all in good fun. A small smile appeared in the corner of her mouth as she watches the small children. They had no idea how good they had it she thought while slowly shaking her head.
~ Beep Beep ~
Casey instantly turned her head to the loud horn. The kids stopped and did the same. They ran back onto the sidewalk with all their gear, moving out of the way so the driver can pass through. It was a giant white van making his way near the front of her house. Along the side of the van was in big blue letters spelling "The Downtown Plumbers." The van breaks screeched an ear-piercing sound that indicated they needed to be changed. The van was then put in park at the front. Casey already knew who it was, and they were finally here. She ducked her head back inside grabbing her jacket from her bed and throwing it on. She could already hear the vans back doors slamming shut. The plumber was emerging to the front porch with heavy footsteps.
~ Ding Dong ~
It only rang once she noticed. She descent down the stairs, grazing her hand lightly against the railing as she glided down. Reaching out to the lock on the door she unlatched it and turned the knob. Her eyes immediately shot up at the tall man with his big blue eyes making her lose all focus for a second.
"Hello. Someone called for a plumber?" His voice was deep. Hearing a bit of an accent escaping from his lips. It took Casey a moment to regain her consciousness.
"Oh, um, yeah. Come in." She said shaking her head just remembering. Gesturing her arm out to invite him in. The man took his time making his way in, almost as if he was being cautious.
"Your..., late." She said calmly. She promised herself she wasn't going to say anything, but she couldn't help herself.
"Yes. Um, sorry, busy day. Traffic." He said turning around to face her as he grazed his hand over the small follicles of hair on the top of his head. He looked back down though quickly almost as if he was trying to avoid any more conversation, or maybe he just felt uncomfortable being in other people's houses she thought. Observing the man's clothing, he wore a navy-blue long sleeve shirt with the logo patched on the side of his chest. Along with just plain dark jeans and boots. A very heavy looking belt with tools and a walkie-talkie layer around his waist. Strange why would he have a walkie, it's not like he's a cop on patrol. In his hand held a giant toolbox. He waited for her to say something.
"The problem is the sink; it isn't working right. It's., I'm assuming, broken." She said struggling to explain something she had no idea about as she shrugged her shoulders.
Gesturing her hands in a confusing circular motion trying to come up with the correct words. Casey didn't know what else to say she didn't know exactly what was wrong with it. Plus, if anyone broke it, the culprit would most definitely be her uncle.
"I honestly don't even know why it stopped working in the first place. I'm pretty sure my uncle broke it." Casey said.
The man narrowed his brows together at her as he listened, taking in a deep breath. Casey thought he looked annoyed for a second trying to process her wording.
"Ok. Lead the way." He said simply.
Casey said nothing else at this point and headed towards the staircase. He stepped aside letting her pass as he followed her from behind. Each step he took was heavy and made the old wood creek loudly, making it sound like an old haunted house. Reaching to the top she took a quick glance behind her to see if he was following. She flicked the bathroom light switch on.
Casey stopped and turned around in front of the opened door. The man also stopped dead in his tracks as soon as she did. He looked in the bathroom and his body started to cringe a little out of place.
"Is.., there something wrong?" Casey asked as she slightly squinted her eyes and tilted her head to the side.
"Your bathroom, it's..." he paused starring at it in discuss. Casey waited for him to finish his odd sentence. She knew the bathroom wasn't the best, and it was old. But the house was built in the 1950s, so what would you expect it to look like? The Queen of England's powder room, I think not. Casey mental laughed at her own stupid little joke.
"Yeah?" She said silently leaning against the wall across from the bathroom.
"Dirty." He said in a serious tone.
His brows were still knitted together tightly. Casey rolled her eyes at his remark. She wasn't paying him to tell her how dirty the bathroom is, and it wasn't even that messy. He put his toolbox on the tiled floor. Taking out a pair of white gloves. He blew into the first one making it easier for his hand to slide in. Casey just watched out of curiosity, she's never seen any plumber put on white gloves before, just to fix a broken pipe.
"You getting ready for surgery doctor?" She asked with a small smirk.
He said nothing. Not even a look or a giggle, or even a little snort, nothing. This man is like the terminator she thought, he's on a top mission, to fix the sink. So serious. He got on one knee and started his work.
"OK. So, I'll be in the next room." She said trying to get some type of acknowledgement. He still didn't pay any attention.
"Right here." She said pointing her thumb down the hall. At this point she didn't even bother trying to get his attention. Her arm dropped dead on her thigh.
"Call if you need anything." She said with a tiresome voice as she walked to the end of the hall to her room.
"Thank you." The man said softly. Casey looked back but kept walking to her room. She left the door open though. Taking a seat at her desk continuing her drawings.
Two Hours Later
Casey was on the floor leaning her back against the bed. She held her knees tightly together with her book resting on top of her legs. Wondering when the man was going to finish already. It was getting late now; she wasn't sure when her uncle would exactly come home. He didn't really say, but at least she had the house to herself. Casey closed her book, keeping it in her hands as she stood up. It's been a long time now maybe I should go ask what's happening she thought. It was so quiet, you would think no one else is here except for her. Strolling out of her room she headed towards the bathroom. The door was closed, that's odd. Using her one finger knuckle to knock on the door. The door opened immediately.
"Yes?" He asked calmly.
"I.. uh.. just wanted to know how everything is going. I mean it's almost been two hours." Casey wondered how much longer it would take. Waiting for his response, he opened the door wider coming out more as his eyes kept making their way down to her hands.
"Your book. Is that Silence Of The Lambs?" He asked with a serious, and yet curious tone.
Casey's eyes widen for a moment, then shot down at the book in her hands. She flipped it around to show the front cover.
"Oh, yeah. It's one of my favorites. I mean everything about it- it's just great." Casey said slightly grinning and shaking her head a bit feeling dumb for liking such a book.
"Mine too." He said taking off his glasses and cleaning them. Casey was a bit shocked to hear that, most people she met in her life had no idea or even heard of the story Silence Of The Lambs. Most people always thought she was a complete weirdo in high school, all because she kept to herself most days. She was different from the rest.
"A story of beauty, lust, religious sacrifices, slaughtering of the pure and innocent, all done by one intelligent man. Manipulative and yet charming to the people he encounters. Being conflicted and brutal, but in the end an alluring piece of art." The man said putting his glasses back on.
Casey felt stumped for a second trying to come up with something to say. He obviously thought a lot more about this book and went even deeper than she ever would.
"Have you ever seen the movie?" She asked.
"No." He said simply.
"Oh, well it's really good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't." She said. There was silence for a moment in the air. The man started to scratch his scalp and move a little out of place.
"You, uh…, your shirt you got something on it." He said pointing his finger then quickly dropping it to his thigh. He looked up trying to avoid any type of eye contact as he took a deep breath. Shoving his hand in his side pocket, with the other hand rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses.
"Oh, yeah, its fine though no worries." She said casually brushing it off.
For a moment the man took another heavy breath. Exhaling, his face became a bit serious, snapping him back into his original focus mode. His whole demeanor changed instantly.
"My work is done." He said heading into the bathroom gathering his tools frantically together tossing them back in all messy. He grabbed his rags shoving them in his back pockets. Casey just watched feeling a little awkward and turned off by the man's odds behavior. She didn't understand why this man's mood just switch to off mode. Seeing him lock his metal case on the bathroom counter then finally picking it up.
"Your bill will be delivered to you, or your spouse during the following week." He said brushing pass her out the bathroom door.
Casey backed up a bit trying not to get knocked over.
"Oh, well actually it's just me and my uncle here." She said correcting him feeling uncomfortable.
He ignored her and sped fast down the staircase.
"Yes, yes I know I'm leaving!" He whispered harshly through his teeth to himself.
Casey heard something from him but couldn't make out what, as she turned the corner from the top of the stairs.
"Hey wait! Here!" She shouted as she started to jog down the staircase to meet up with him.
His hand was on the knob of the door with his yellow cloth laying over and around it. He slowly turned his head only to see her with his peripheral vision. Casey reached into her pocket trying to pull something out. He turned a little more to face her with his brows knitted together wondering what she was trying to do. Then noticing her take out some money from her what seems to be an endless pocket.
"No. Thank you." He said shaking his free hand back-and-forth refusing to except it.
"No really, here I insist." Casey extended her arm further out to him. She reached into her pocket once more. Then suddenly her help wanted paper felled out of her pocket, instantly dropping on the floor. The man quickly bent down to retrieve it for her as she was doing the same.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said softly almost knocking into her small frame. There eyes made contact for a moment. Her eyes were dark, filled with black beauty. His eyes were light, with a intense strong feeling. It quickly disconnected as they both looked down.
"That's ok." She said shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. He looked at the paper for a moment with the big red words popping out. Then hands it back to her. They both stood back up.
"I've been there once." He said.
Casey's face looked confused for a moment wondering what he was talking about. Then it registered in her brain. She opened the flyer a little more to get the full picture.
"Oh, how is it there?" She asked.
"Food wise?" He asked with one brow raised from his glasses.
"Uh, yeah, sure why not." She said.
"Greasy-" He paused for a moment thinking deeply about this.
"Oily." Dennis shrugged, lost and out of words.
Casey smiled a bit seeing he looked stumbled. Seeing he had big words to say for Silence Of The Lambs but not for simple food at a dinner. She mentally laughed at that thought.
"Well I might, maybe, want to consider finding a job." She felt slow in her word.
"Someone like you shouldn't have to work." He said softly. Casey didn't say anything. Was that considered a good or a bad thing he just said she thought. His head looked back down, slowly leading up to the door.
"Have a nice day miss." He said turning and opening the door.
"Casey. My name is Casey." She said taking two small steps forward. He stopped in his tracks for a second with his body being halfway out the door.
"I never got yours." She said curiously. The man's head slightly turned, only seeing the tip of this dark glass.
"Dennis." He said taking a moment to let it sink in. He continued to exit and shut the door behind him.
What an odd man she thought, but hey, who was she to judge anyone. She headed back up the stairs to her room. Walking past the bathroom she stopped in her path and backed up to the front of the door. Sticking her head in the bathroom catching the scent of a hint of bleach.
Did he clean the bathroom?
Author's Note
Sorry about the wait my friends! Life and college got in the way. I have many ideas for this story don't worry more is coming!
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Working on Chapter 4 NOW!