Chasing Dusk to Dawn

Chapter Two

 

I should have brought a raincoat.

When the nice hippies had stopped the car, given me some change, and went on their way to Canada, the sun had been smiling down at the citizens of New York. Not even ten minutes in of enjoying this large city, the clouds came in and broke up the party, bringing an onslaught of cold winds and heavy downpour. I tried to find warmth inside my flimsy jacket as I ducked below an empty building's roof.

“Hey, this place is taken.” The grunt had come from a shaggy looking old man who was using newspaper as an alternative to a blanket. “Find your own space, man.”

Since I wasn't the type to beat up an elder, I avoided any conflict by leaving that shelter to find another one. All the other people hurried along, using briefcases and shopping bags to shield themselves from the rain. The way people were in such a rush to get out of the weather made you think it was acidic. Or maybe they were worried about turning into puddles.

My feet kicked up droplets of mud as I walked, hands shoved deep in my pockets. I fingered the crumbled up bills and wondered if it would be enough for anything. A room for the night, or a nice meal? I hadn't asked for any money, and I hadn't cared enough to count it, but now I was beginning to wonder. Two double doors swung open and a haggle of teenagers rushed out, laughing about the latest reality television show or piece of juicy gossip.

My eyes drew up to the top of the building, and I read its name aloud. “Green Meadow Community College. Fancy.”

School was out, and only a few students were chatting noisily in the hallways, bunched up together like tiny black ants all attracted to the same food source. In this case, the girl was certainly model material. She was tall, stick-thin, and had long, shiny black hair. Her eyes had the slightest upward tilt to them, making it clear she was probably half Asian, or a quarter Asian. The lips that had so many boys memorized were small, yet plump enough to be pouty when need be. She was dressed like a hippy, in a strapless floral tank top and a long, black pheasant skirt.

When she noticed me staring at her, she gave me a wan smile, then went back to entertaining her boys. I shook my head as I continued to explore this school. It was different, cleaner than I expected when it came to New York. The large, out of place bulletin board caught my eye, and so I skimmed the ads it displayed. Selling textbooks, missing textbooks, study sessions, tutors… but one ad in particular really grabbed me. I leaned forward and ripped the paper out of the thumbtacks to get a better look.

“Searching for a male room mate, 18 years old to 20 years old. Must be able to take care of himself. Rent price is negotiable. Live long and prosper.” I read aloud slowly, and then read over it once more. Star Trek references? Who did that anymore?

“He’s not a bad kid, honest.”

Her voice was a soft sighing, yet I could understand why the boys couldn’t get enough of her. She almost sounded like the women they use for voice-overs in sex commercials. “So you know him?” I asked, turning around to face her.

“Kherington.” She stated, extending her arm out to me.

I was silent for a moment, wondering if I really wanted to bother. She failed to answer my question, interrupted my silent thoughts, and took too much time to go out of her way to speak with me. “Hmm,” was all I said, and she did not lower her arm like I had expected. Instead, she took another step forward, and another, until it was almost like she had the intention of suffocating me with her presence. My eyes narrowed slightly, and my stubborn nature made me unable to just reach up my hand and give her the fucking handshake she wanted so badly.

“I was expecting a nice little country boy when you walked in.” Those interesting lips of hers formed into a smile of some sort, and she tilted her head to the side.

I crossed my arms tight against my chest and looked at her. Really looked at her. She wasn’t as beautiful up close. Like me, when you really examined her face, you could see all the mistakes. The pores clogged with foundation. Her nose too wide, too flat, and not quite right for her face.

“What?” Her brows furrowed and the corners of her lips tilted down. My lack of emotional response was bothering her. “Too cool to give me a name?”

As amusing as this whole ordeal was, there were other things I needed to attend to. “Maybe I was raised not to talk to strangers.” Silence followed my words. I hadn’t come here for anything but shelter. I had planned on hitching up a post here and sleeping for a few nights, seeing as how all the benches and subway corners were occupied already. The school had seemed like a less-crowded place.

“Let me guess. You came from a small city in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the clothes on your back, in an awful attempt to have your ungodly awesome talents recognized in the big city.” The tone of her voice was beginning to get irritated, and that caused a smile to mold onto my face.

“Aren't you smart!” A part of me wanted to leave right then and there, but didn’t want to turn my back on such an interesting character. Something about her was keeping me here. It was like being put under the spell of a wacky hypnotist's pendulum and the only means of escape was on their terms. “You figured me out.”

She cowered over, those tiny hands resting against her knees as she chortled and snorted. The laughter she delivered was high-pitched and screechy. It reminded me of a banshee. I would remember not to tell her any jokes in the future. When she was finished, she stood up straight and had that creepy smile on her face once more. “I like you. How about I show you where this guy lives.” It was no question, but a statement. As if I had no choice.

Author's Notes: This story is pretty much un'beta'd so please excuse any mistakes..I've gone over it a few times myself but these things will still happen. Review if you enjoy, which I hope you do!