CHAPTER SIX: ELICIA

I head home with a smile of victory and butterflies in my stomach.

As soon as l got home, we made supper with mom and ate.

“How was work?” she asked as we finished eating.

“Work was okay, l came straight home after.” l said.

“It usually takes 10 minutes but you took 25 today. Did you stop by somewhere?” she asks curious.

“No l didn't l just came straight home.” Now that l think about it l spent more than 10 eavesdropping on his conversation, not that l heard anything.

“Jason and Maddie came looking for you.” My mom informs me.

“I told him not to come looking for me.” l say my voice distasteful.

“You never told me what happened between you two. You and Jason were inseparable.”

“l don't want to talk about it Ma.” l say and continue to eat.

“How come Jason doesn’t come over anymore did you guys have a fight or something?” mom presses on.

“Quit it ma, can't l have a quiet meal for once in my life? If you are not asking about my depression you are all into my business, just stop.” l say banging the table and soon after I head to my room.

Tears were now streaming down my face, I did not mean to shout at her but it just happened.

When I get into my room l replay what happened between Rooftop and that man, his stepdad.

I feel sorry for him, Rooftop.

Does his stepdad blackmail him to get money? I wonder as I sit on the window staring at the rooftop of the abandoned house.

As I wipe my tears I spot a figure climbing to sit on the edge of the abandoned house.

Rooftop.

Why was he there, it's already past 10 doesn't he go home?

Now that l think about it, l haven't been at the window past my bed time.

A week follows and l see him again and again.

Does he sleep there?

l question myself a lot before one faithful evening l sneak out of the house to go see for myself.

When l reach the roof top, l spot him sitting with a black coat over him.

I tiptoe close to confirm if it’s really him and as soon as l confirm it was him his eyes fly open and he aggressively pins me against the wall with a knife to my neck.

At first l see my life flash right before my eyes which makes me open my mouth and mutter a thousand apologies.

I get the small privilege of seeing the outline of his face, he is covered up still.

But,

His features give off the pretty boy vibes. I hope l get to see his face clear as day some other day.

“Who are you?” His raspy voice breaks my trance by asking still gripping me so hard.

l can't seem to find my voice instead l apologize again and he loosens his grip.

“You are a girl?” his voice softens and his grip loosens.

l can start to see why he thought l was a boy or a man, it was dark and the hair that I tied back, the jogger and sweats I was wearing were not helping my case.

I took this chance to wriggle myself from under his grip and quickly ran away not looking back.

I was thankful he did not follow me; I was not ready to face him at all.

The following week I managed to leave some food, water, a sleeping bag and some proper blankets for him to use since I could not bring a complete stranger home.

And besides he did not even know me, he would probably think I was crazy or something.

I was glad he used the things that I bought for him, he also ate the food. That made my heart swell with happiness, I wanted him to be happy.

Everyone deserves to be happy.

It was one faithful morning when something unexpected happened at the café.

“Good morning, what can l get you?” I ask as I finished wiping my working place without looking up.

After several seconds of the customer not answering, I look up assuming the customer did not hear me and there he was Rooftop; a meter away from me.

My knees buckle a little as his eyes bore into my grey-fragile looking eyes and I grip the counter edges for support.

After taking in my features he looked at the day’s specials. He must have recognized me, or not.

l was overwhelmed with his presence that I couldn’t seem to stop fidgeting.

He had a citrus-woody scent with a mixture of strong grapefruit opening and a dash of mint, the scent was all consuming it managed to calm my nerves.

I never got the privilege to get familiarized with his scent, the last encounters we had it’s either he had blood, all could smell was the iron in the blood or he had a knife to my neck so l could not do it.

I have always wondered what he smelled like, he seemed more of a dark fragrant kind of guy. He always looks unreadable so l thought he would be associated with sophisticated scents but he is not.

I have so many questions to ask him.

He was wearing black a woolen hat with a scarf covering his mouth and nose, a black sweater and dark blue jeans. I do not get the privilege of studying his facial features as always.

He looked a bit stronger today, a bit more muscular.

Does he work out?

Of course, he does l mean he looks like he goes to an underground fight almost every day.

All l can see are his eyes, there is a small scar just above his left eye.

It is not deep, just a scratch.

He has uniform-green eyes; one would argue his eyes are grey but they are not. They are layers of green, uniform green to be exact; the green drifts a bit into grey but after looking at him you will eventually end at a conclusion that he has green eyes.

He has the most intense pair of eyes that have ever stared at me.

Rough on the exterior and warm pools on the inside.

I am bought back to reality with his raspy and masculine voice.

“Iced tea.” He says.

Why not order coffee, does he not like coffee?

“There is a muffin promotion on your order Sir.

“Which flavor would you like?” I asked him.

I did not even recognize the sound of my own voice when l asked as l showed him the options and he selected my favorite muffin flavor.

“Lemon, if you have it.” He says without looking and I nod.

We have something in common, that’s a start.

He took a seat by the window and stared outside waiting for his order.

After his order was done Isabella, Isa for short my workmate and close friend took the order.

“Psst!” I whisper-yell at Isa who in return comes to me.

“Can l take that?” l plead with her and she agrees.

Finally, the heavens are looking down on me.

I walk towards his table and he seemed to be on a call with someone.

“I promise l will be there this weekend Mick, how is Vee doing?” he asks and wait upon a response which l could see he got because he smiled.

He had removed the woolen hat and scarf that he was wearing so for the first time I studied his face.

He did not have facial hair, his skin was as smooth as silk if only there were no scars all over it I would have declared him the most handsome man in the world regardless I still declared him the most handsome, in my world at least.

“Here is your order sir.” I place his order and as l was about to furiously walk away he called me.

“Excuse me Miss?” I turn around to face him;

did he just call me back?

Did he also enjoy our close to no conversation?

It’s nothing I should not be freaking out, so why am l freaking out?

“Yes?” l say without falter in my speech.

“I am not really familiar with lemon muffins but l don’t think these are lemon muffins they look more blue berry than lemon.”

And of course, he was right l had taken the wrong order.

Isa then walks to his table with the right order and l just take the order to the correct table as well as face palm myself.

Way to go El.