The Same Man

Chapter 5

I bid Ophelia a fond farewell, grab my backpack, and head to the building's elevators. Who do I find on the way to the elevators? Why Jack Bellamy of course! He is out of his blue police windbreaker and is wearing a t-shirt that says 'I support single moms'. It has a picture of a woman standing next to a pole on it. Over it, he is wearing a blue and white plaid shirt.

"Nice shirt". I side eye him as I pass.

"Why thank you, I thought so too." He then proceeds to follow me into the elevator.

"So how does this work?" I ask. "Will a twenty do?"

He blinks rapidly.

"Uh-what?"

"Will. A. Twenty. Work?" I make sure to enunciate each word. I'm probably, no, definitely coming across as rude. But that's okay, I'm not exactly interested in making friends with someone who is basically the human equivalent to a hacker program. Trying to unearth all my secrets and shit.

"A twenty?" He says. Kind of sounding somewhat bewildered.

"To get you to leave me alone."

"Are you trying to bribe me?" Again, he sounds like he can't believe his own ears.

"Obviously." I make a face at him.

"You do know that if I were a real member of the FBI that would be a punishable offense?"

"Good thing you're not a real one then, huh?" I mock.

I stalked off into the elevators before he could answer. I press the lit up metal button that would bring me down to the lobby. The lobby is not the bottom floor, there is a pool and gym in the basement. I have never actually used either of them. Mostly because it's where the old wrinkly people hang out and gossip. If you think a clique of high school girls is bad, you should meet them. With their slacks and slip on shoes. I swear, they are the most toxic people in the building.

Unfortunately, before the doors close, Jack manages to squeeze between the elevator's door's just before they close. Fortunately, he also manages to trip on his shoelace. He somehow gains control of his body mid trip and flails his arms about looking for some short of purchase to grab hold of. His fingers wrap around the metal support bar attached to the elevator's walls (He can thank the old people for that one. There is a rumor that they held the building's handyman captive and that it was one of their demands.) like a vise.

I try to hold back the smile that started to shape the edge of my face. It's impossible. Instead I just turn away.

Once he rights himself, Jack smooths down his shirt and is silent for the rest of the trip down.

The bell dings and the doors open. Before we can even exit the 'Timeless Blessings' (The old wrinkly people decided their group needed a name) flood through the doors. One old lady with a 3D knitted cat on her shirt looks Jack up and down and nods appreciatively.

His eyes widen as he scratches the back of his neck and let's her pass. I smirk.

One of the old men recognizes me and starts shaking his fist at me.

"You're that nuisance of a child who shaved my cat and dyed him purple". He accuses.

"Actually, Sir," I correct him. "I dyed him lilac. And I think Gerald likes his new look anyway. Did you see the confidence he walks with now? If I were you I would be thanking this 'nuisance of a child'.

He grumbles and waves his hand around.

When we are finally free and out of earshot from the Timeless Blessings Jack turns to me.

"Did you really dye his cat purple?"

"Lilac, but yes. Old man Jankins stole six packets of fruit gummies from my backpack while I wasn't looking."

"Why would he steal some candy from a teenager?"

"He thought they were edibles." I say.

"He what? Why would he think they were edibles?" Jack does all but shout at me.

"Well, it honestly might have been my fault. I did left the bag open-"

"Why would he think they were edibles?" This time Jack does shout.

"Because I told a bunch of people they were."

"Why did you tell a bunch of people they were?" This time he just sounds exasperated.

"That is none of your business, my friend."

"Oh but it is. It is my job to watch over you, and see if you are involved in any suspicious attitude, and telling people that you have bags of edibles in your backpack sounds pretty suspicious to me."

"You found out that an old man tried to steal some edibles and you are worried because I carry bags of gummies in my backpack and tell people they are edibles so they won't take them? Wow Bellamy, you really have your priorities straight.

"I-" He spluttered.

"Anyway, if there is no way to get you off my tail you need to at least walk a few paces behind me so you don't ruin my street cred."

"Street cred? What street cred?"

I ignore this.

Just then, a lady with frizzy hair and a black bomber jacket comes up to me as we turn the corner.

She doesn't say anything until I confirm that Jack is okay to say things around. She looks at him one more time before asking, "Have you got the goods?"