Chapter 7
"Vince?" I hear Naboo shouting my name from his room.
"What?" I call back, turning towards the direction of his voice. He pokes his head out from the bedroom and looks around. His expression makes me feel scared and uneasy.
"Vince. A word. In here. Now." I try and come up with an excuse, but Howard's at jazzercise and Bollo's at the Velvet Onion. I walk, a little reluctantly, into his room. I've got no idea what he wants to talk to me about. The rent's been paid on time, for the first time ever, and I can't think of anything I've done that could make him look so…odd.
He guides me to a chair and sits down opposite me. He just looks at me for a while, making me squirm. The silence becomes unbearable.
"Naboo…" I begin, but he holds up a hand to stop me. He studies me for a few more moments, then:
"Why aren't you eating?" I wasn't expecting that.
"I…what do you mean?"
"I mean, why aren't you eating?"
"I am!"
"Vince…" I can hear the restrained anger in his voice.
"I am eating!" He stands up, making me feel about two centimetres tall. His calm voice is gone, he's bellowing now.
"Vincent Noir, don't you dare try lying to me! You might be able to deceive Howard, but I can tell. Now, I'll give you one last chance. Why aren't you eating?"
"There's nothing wrong, I just don't like food at the minute!"
"It's more than that, and you know it."
"No, it's not! That's honestly all it is!" I'm close to tears now, and Naboo can tell. He calms down, and puts a comforting arm around me.
"We'll talk tomorrow. I'll send Howard and Bollo out for the day." He looks me up and down. "You need sleep. Come on, bed." I open my mouth to protest, but he silences me with a look. I stand up and walk out of the room and into my own, aware of him following me.
I crawl into bed, not bothering to undress. Naboo stands in the doorway.
"Goodnight, Vince. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night, 'Boo." He leaves, shutting the door behind him. I hear him walk back to his own room quietly. I'm dreading talking to him again tomorrow.