My heart was racing as I stepped through the doors of the Café. Immediately, I spotted Him, the man whose order I had taken just hours ago. And he scared me.
He seemed to sense me come into the room. He stared right at me… well, my shirt, actually… and smiled. "Mimi! You're back!"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm back." What the fuck was this guy's problem? I've met some pretty crazy guys over time, but something about this one was different. Why the hell did I have to come back here and face him? I just wanted to be back in the loft.
"Come, sit with me."
I just stared at him. "What? I don't think so."
"Ooh, Mimi, I want to talk to you," he purred.
"We're talking. What do you want?" I practically yelled at him.
"I want to get to know you! What's wrong with that?"
Was this guy out of his mind? I glared at him and stormed out of the café, completely annoyed. Sure, guys would want to "get to know me" after I danced for them, but after waiting this one's table? I couldn't take it!
With my hands deep in my coat pockets, I began the walk back to the loft in the cold. I had this constant feeling that someone was watching me, and I had to keep turning around, making sure that I wasn't being followed.
Eventually, I reached my building. Besides the fact that it was completely run down, it never looked more welcoming. I dashed inside and slammed the door. Then I began to feel dizzy and collapsed on the floor.
"Mimi? Are you okay?"
I didn't want to open my eyes. The voice was somewhat familiar, but not familiar enough for my liking. "Who- where am I?" I asked, still keeping my eyes shut.
"Far away from that hideous building of that you dare call 'home'." I felt hands on my back helping me sit up. Now I had to look.
"Excuse me? But where am I and who-" I knew where I was. "You! How did… What did? What the fuck is going on?"
"Well, I followed you home to… to make sure you got home alright and to finally get to meet you, and you walked inside and passed out. So I brought you here to my apartment, which is much nicer than yours. Someone with your beauty deserves better."
I held my head in my hands. I felt so sick. "Look, can I go home? I have friends who are worried where I am right now, and I have to rest…" This wasn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my day. What day was it, anyway?
He looked hurt. "I thought I was doing something nice for you. I love you!" He began to move closer to me, and I jumped off of the bed where I was sitting, but stumbled and landed on the floor. I began to look for a way out, but didn't find one.
There was a window…. windows always worked for escapes. Thank god this guy lived on the ground floor!
I thrust it open and climbed out, leaving him shocked that I got away from him. I squeezed through the opening and landed on the cold ground, scratching my arms and legs, even making them bleed. My coat and shoes were still in His apartment.
I didn't even know where I was, but I did know that it was freezing cold out! And I didn't even have my coat. I was immediately shivering.
I ran as quickly as I could to the nearest street corner- this was 38th Street, and I needed to get to 11th. I would freeze to death before I made the trip there. There was one thing I could think of doing- call someone to come pick me up.
There was a phone booth across the street, and I dashed there, but was breathing heavily. I was also uncontrollably shaking, partly due to fear.
I always kept a few quarters with me, sewn into the hem of my skirt. It was a trick my mother taught me when I had to get around by myself when I was a kid- you never knew when you would need extra money.
I ripped open the bottom of my skirt and pushed it into the coin slot and dialed.
After three rings, someone picked up. "Hello?"
"Benny? I need your help!"
The dark green Range Rover came pulling next to the sidewalk, and Benny, dressed in a black jacked and khaki pants, came out. I watched him look at me in awe- I must have looked like complete crap.
He put his arm around me and led me into the heavily heated car. I was completely out of it by then; freezing, bleeding, overwhelmed.
"Mimi, come on," he said, and grabbed my cold hand and directed me to the loft.
"Get her some blankets and coffee," I heard him command whoever was there. "She's in a really bad condition."
I felt him sit me down onto the couch, then place a blanket over my shoulders and a cup of warm coffee in my hands, that I slowly sipped. The shaking wasn't as hard now, but I felt as if I could never be warm again. Even the park back in December wasn't this bad.
The door opened and slammed shut, and I knew Benny was gone. I didn't even know who else was in the loft.
"Holy shit, Mimi! What… who did this to you?"