Fresh Air

“The dressing wasn’t a big deal. I could have eaten a side salad instead.” Josey said to Jarred as he rushed to start the car.

“Oh, well it doesn’t matter, we will have a better time grabbing something and sitting by the beach.” Replying, Jared pasted a fake smile on. He didn’t want to tell her the real reason they left.

Jared wanted to protect Josey, but at the same time, he needed to use her. He knew that back in the restaurant things looked weird, but after he confirmed with Josey that Tarrin Stormway was her new landlord, he wanted to ask his friend about the properties located around the apartments.

The guy couldn’t keep his perverted mouth shut. He suggested that they take Josey out to get drunk after they eat, and then have a little fun with her before dumping her off at home. Jared didn’t mind the idea, just not with Josey.

When Jared declined, his friend questioned his stature, that pissed Jared off so he punched him. So not wanting to deal with him any longer, Jared decided it was best they leave.

“Maybe you should just take home. It’s already getting pretty late and Emily will be home soon too.” Josey suggested not feeling so hungry after all.

“Are you sure? We can always do this again Josey, I’m really sorry.” He wasn’t sorry, but he needed more time to talk with her.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s fine. Tell your friend if he is going to make people wait that long for their food, he should serve free bread or chips.” She responded.

“I will do that!” His response sounded too enthusiastic for Josey’s liking. She could tell this whole time he was nervous about something.

“Um hey, drop me off right up here, I want to get some fresh air before going home. That place was a bit stuffy.” Josey pointed to the bus stop they were approaching.

“Okay, well hey, when I have a better plan for celebrating, I’ll give you a call. Don’t forget to text me Monday how your first day went, and make sure you tell me what department.” Jared pulled over to the side by the bus stop and Josey got out.

Waving towards the car as it drove off, Josey shrugged off the hunger that was chewing inside her stomach. The fresh air was too nice to miss on a clear night also, so taking her time, she slowly walked back towards the apartments.

Instead of turning towards them, she walked past the new security gate showing the new name ‘Moon Terrace’ scrolled above it in cast iron.

Heading in the direction of downtown, she figured she’d just walk to where a small little park gave reprieve to the busy hustle and bustle of city life. It had a small playground in it sporting just a slide, couple of swings and an old metal merry-go-round covered in faded red, blue and yellow.

Taking longer than she planned to get to the park by grabbing a snack at a convenient mart and some water, she continued her walking and decided to eat the snack while sitting on a swing. She could see the playground lit by houses and street lights as she got closer. Her legs were tired and she was ready to rest.

Lost in thought, Josey barely noticed the black sports car pull up next to her on the street. She stopped and turned to see who it was as they lowered the passenger window.

“Hey, I thought that was you! Can I give you a ride somewhere cutie?” The owner of the eatery asked, eyeing Josey up and down.

She could tell he wasn’t completely sober.

“Oh, no thank you, I am almost home.” She lied figuring there’s no harm as he didn’t even really know her.

He slammed the car in park at the curb.

“Haha, why you lying to me doll? I know you don’t live down here. How about I take you home? It’s a long walk back to your apartment.” He said as he slammed the car door and walked towards her.

“Well, I uh, have a friend I am staying over with. She lives right by the park, again, thank you anyway.” Josey turned away and picked up her pace to put distance between them.

The park wasn’t much further and she knew Cece’s house was only one block and left turn past that. She had her cell phone but if she reached for it now, it’d look to obvious she was going to call the cops.

“Don’t be shy, I am trying to be friendly.” He said with a sneer.

“Ha, are you going to snub me, just like that? Do you think you’re better than me?” His voice got angry and louder. Josey could fell fear starting to grown in her mind as she tried to walk as fast as her short legs would go.

She could hear him coming closer behind her. Tightening her grip on the plastic grocery bag and wrapping it once around her hand, she prepared to swing it at him hoping the water bottle and small bag of chips would hit him hard enough to buy her some time to run.

The sudden sound of scuffed feet and an oomph made Josey react. Closing her eyes she turned fast, swinging the bag as hard as she could to hit him.

The bag stopped mid swing, squeezing the bag tighter aeound her hand, causing her to grimace. She now stood there, with her eyes closed tight. The moment she realized the bag was not moving as she pulled at it, she peeked open one eye. Seeing the hand gripping the water bottle through the bag, she followed it up the arm and to the face of who grabbed it.

It was Tarrin. He stood there staring at her. Josey noticed the friend of Jared’s out cold on the pavement.

She looked back at Tarrin, suddenly relieved to see him, but it didn’t last when annoyance was suddenly plastered all over his face.

“What are you doing out late at night walking? Do you not care if you run in to the trash that roams the street?” Tarrin asked sternly.

Josey yanked on the bag and Tarrin let go.

“I was getting some fresh air. It’s not my fault the trash has legs. I would have been fine. You really didn’t need to knock him out!” Josey said as she walked over and checked his pulse. She knew he wasn’t dead because the guy already started to snore.

“And what were you planning to do, hit him then hope you could out run him? To where? The apartments are almost two miles the other way!’ Tarrin was annoyed with her not acting more grateful.

“I had a plan, I was going to hit him and run to a friend’s house, I would have made it.” Josey snapped back as she took out her phone.

“Who are you calling? It’s a little late for cabs at this hour.” Tarrin asked,

watching her.

He had taken his car after him and Linux had returned to his house because Mara had called saying there was something not right at Bob and Mays house, that there was a smell coming from the yard over their privacy fence.

Tarrin was heading towards the main strip downtown, where the couple lived in a small house perched to the side of tall business buildings, when he had spotted Josey and a black car parked next to her on the street as he passed. He slowed down after driving a minute away and made a U-turn. He really didn’t want to get involved, but he couldn’t help the need to see what was going on.

“I’m not calling a cab! I’m calling Jared to come pick up his friend.” The phone just rang on the other end until it hit voice mail, but before she could leave a message, Tarrin snatched the phone from her hands.