Second chapter! Read and leave a review if you like and tell me what you think so far. Enjoy!
The next morning Daniel woke up feeling restless. He had dreamt something strange and his memory tried to put things together, but somehow he couldn't remember. Yesterday had been exhausting, and today he pushed everything away into some dark corner of his mind. Daniel wasn't fit for dealing with the photo mystery right now. He was out of shape, deprived of sleep and on top of it all; he was supposed to meet his potential flat-mate, a guy just slightly older than himself, in less than an hour.
After living in the seedy motel room for two months Daniel was more than willing to share his personal space with somebody else, trust issues or not. So, he'd asked around and it turned out that one of his colleagues knew of someone seeking a flat mate. Thank god, he really couldn't bear to stay in that room any longer. It was filthy and the walls separating the rooms were thin.
Daniel was supposed to meet the guy outside a café called The Farm Collective at Cowcross street. As Daniel arrived, only five minutes late, he spotted a man sitting outside, with a cup of tea in his left hand. The other he used to browse through a newspaper, seemingly interested in a particular article featuring a detective—from what he could tell by the bold headlines. The man wore a union jack cap with the word London broidered on it in red letters. Daniel looked around, noticing there were no other people sitting outside.
It must be him then, he concluded.
"Hello," Daniel said as he walked up to the man's table.
The man looked up at him with nut-brown eyes that twinkled with interest. Their glances met in mutual curiosity as Daniel answered the man's gaze with his almond shaped eyes. They were symmetrically placed on each side of his nose like two chartreuse colored jewels. In the sunlight, they appeared almost bright yellow.
The man folded the newspaper and put it down before making a gesture with his arm demanding Daniel to sit down on the opposite side of the table. Daniel complied and sat down. The man was used to tell people what to do, no question about that.
"I take it you're my potential flat mate then?" Daniel asked.
"Ah, yes that would be me," The man said and stretched his arm across the table as an invitation to shake his hand. Daniel grasped it and the introduction proceeded.
"I'm Jim," the man said and slid out of Daniel's grasp and leaned back into the chair. He removed the cap from his head and revealed lustrous hair that matched those nearly black eyes.
"I'm Daniel," Daniel replied with a smile and tried to make it as authentic as he could. He wasn't certain why, but his pulse had risen all of a sudden, and yet he still felt calm.
"My my, quite the eccedentesiast are we?" Jim said.
"Excuse me?" Daniel wasn't sure what to make of the accusation, or Jim's intention. Daniel had heard this particular word before. Maybe it was simply an observation or a way to tease him, but it didn't matter. It was true that he faked some of his smiles, even if he didn't feel like smiling, mostly not to seem rude, but he did it often enough to be considered good at it. This man in front of him had seen through it in a second, unlike everyone else. He was fascinating, to say the least.
"Nevermind, you just seem tense. So, are you a light sleeper? I'm up late with work and I listen to classical music on a daily basis, some regular scissor sisters as well. Does it bother you?"
Daniel shifted his weight on the uncomfortable wooden chair. He had kept his distance from people but at this point, he welcomed the company. Perhaps he would actually sleep better if he wasn't so alone. The thought hadn't occurred until now.
"Not really... I've lived in a motel with noisy neighbors and if I can sleep listening to them all night on an old solid mattress I can probably handle it," Daniel said.
"Brilliant. Are you currently employed?" Jim asked, a smile curving on his lips. "Easier to split the rent that way," he added.
"Yes. I work at…" He glanced at the newspaper on the table and recognized the bold, somewhat boring logotype. As stiff as his boss. No way, he thought. "There, actually," Daniel said and nodded in direction of the newspaper. Jim's eyebrows shot up in surprise, although something in his eyes suggested a different emotion. Daniel decided it must be his imagination.
"Really? Strange coincidence. So you're a journalist…that's got to be rough with all the long hours," Jim said, trying to keep up a friendly conversation. He seemed nice enough.
"Occasionally, yes. I've only been here for two months so I haven't experienced any hardships yet. But I like it."
Jim shot him a gaze that seemed to say: "liar", before he lifted the cup to his lips and took another sip of his tea. It smelled like jasmine and mint. If Jim had noticed Daniel's white lie, he had courtesy enough to pretend he didn't.
As Jim put down the cup again, Daniel noticed the tea had a strange yellowish color, almost white and very transparent, which secluded the possibility of milk as the cause for its tint. He'd never seen tea like that before, perhaps it was imported.
"I can see why such a work would interest you. You do seem to have a good eye for details," Jim said, running his fingertip along the edge of the cup, and Daniel nodded in response and felt like looking away for a moment. Jim had probably noticed his interest in his choice of tea. He felt a tad embarrassed for being so obvious about it.
Daniel cleared his throat before continuing. "And you… Jim, what do you do for a living?"
"I do some consulting and a bit of business," Jim said and shrugged it off like it was no big deal. At least he wasn't living in a seedy motel.
"Oh, that sound's exciting! Business…huh" Daniel shot a quick glance towards the cap on the table. Jim seemed to catch on his train of thought rather quickly.
"I don't look it, I know. However, I don't usually dress like this." He gestured to his white t-shirt and jeans. "But it isn't the right weather for Westwood I'm afraid. You should see me in a suit, love."
Daniel felt more and more curious about Jim for every second he spent in his company. Jim wasn't like other people, Daniel could sense it. Perhaps it was his confidence in himself or the way he seemed to read Daniel like an open book. He just couldn't put his finger on it, but one thing he knew for certain: this man wasn't boring.
Before Daniel had chance to say more, or try to analyze further, Jim rose from his chair. He put on his cap and beamed a smile at Daniel. There was something in those eyes of his, a massive intellect, a past. Jim seemed like a nice guy, but he was keeping secrets. Daniel didn't mind that, having a few of them himself. That was only human.
"You seem like the unpredictable kind," Daniel stated. Jim gave him an amused look. He almost seemed flattered.
"Is that good or bad? " Jim asked. Daniel bit his lip, as a smile forced itself onto his lips. "That remains to be seen I suppose."
Jim let out a soft chuckle before continuing. "So, are you ready to take a look at the flat today? It's not far but we can do this tomorrow if you're busy," Jim said calmly, with a gaze that suggested he wouldn't take no for an answer. Daniel suppressed a chuckle and Jim observed him in silence, his hands now in his pockets. Jim was a businessman alright, an impatient one, probably always got his will through, and Daniel had no intention on keeping him waiting, he was weary of that dreadful motel and the lack of proper meals.
Actually, this could turn out to be a fun experience. Perhaps he would even make a friend.
"So, tomorrow then?" Jim asked impatiently when Daniel hesitated to give him an answer, disappointment flashing through his eyes. Daniel shook his head, tossing the short waves of hair back and forth.
"Good heavens no. Today is perfect. The faster I'm out of that motel the better. I don't think I could stand another night in there," Daniel said, still smiling.
He felt a bit surprised over Jim's somewhat childish impatience, since he seemed so intelligent and calm otherwise, but he wasn't worried. He knew there was more to Jim, a side he had yet to see. Now he was really curious.
He could see the impatient expression on Jim's face be replaced with a grin before Jim turned around. Then off they went, two strangers, both burdened with secrets and pasts, heading to look at a flat together.