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chapter ten
above ground swimming pools
"What the actual fuck?"
The screen door slammed shut behind me as I clenched my fists, the fabric of the bra gathering in my left hand. Tetsu and Dan had emerged from behind a beaded curtain, ashamed and decidedly sheepish looks on both of their faces.
"Gillian, I can explain!" Tetsu jumped to a defence, trying his best to clear his name. "It was all Dan."
Dan gawked. "Don't even start-"
"I don't care who threw it out the window." I seethed, holding up the bra. "Why do you have my lingerie in the first place?"
"You'd have to ask Tetsu." Dan said slyly, hiding his hands in the pockets of his army jacket. I didn't even want to look at him, be it from embarrassment or shame or even just pure and simple anger.
"Dan." I said through clenched teeth. "Get out."
Dan laughed. "What? It's not your house."
"Dude." Tetsu cut in. "Just leave."
"Tetz? Are you serious?" Dan practically begged. "Come on."
"Gillian is right, Dan." Tetsu all but pleaded. "Give us some space. I'll call you."
Muttering something under his breath, Dan shook his head, crossing the shiny hardwood floor and vanishing out at the docks. He didn't bother closing the door behind him, the sea breeze and the chatter from the fisherman wafting in as Tetsu and I tried to avoid eye contact.
"I am so sorry." Tetsu started after a minute, nervously meeting my eyes. "I was just trying to do the laundry, I didn't even think."
I sighed, throwing my hands up in the air. "You know what, it's not a big deal. You were just trying to be nice. I probably overreacted a little bit anyways."
Tetz chuckled, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "No, that was a pretty warranted reaction."
I smiled, slowly shaking my head. "I'll let you get on with it, I have a bit of stuff I need to do for work anyways. Search warrants, subpoenas. The works."
"I'm going to pretend I know what a subpoena is."
With a small chuckle, I passed Tetsu back the fabric in my hand, noting the small blush on his face as he tried not to meet my eyes, before I retreated upstairs to try and be somewhat productive.
The room still felt empty, devoid of any connection to me, although the action figures and collectables told me much about Tetsu's. My open suitcase sat on the double bed, a reminder that I was an outsider in Sannoh. Somebody that didn't belong, despite my family roots.
The Mugen jacket hung limply from metal hangar on the clothing rack in the corner, the wool sweater I had worn on the plane hanging over the back of desk chair. Aside from the laptop on the desk, they were the only two indicators that I had even been there at all.
