The Assassin's Assistant

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

They say first impressions are the most important. Well, I don’t know who “they” are, but they probably don’t realize that the second impression is more important. It determines whether or not that first impression will be sealed in. Stupid they.

I walked through the halls of the unfamiliar buildings, being led only by the room numbers, trying my best to find Jason’s room. Of course, I wouldn’t have to help him if he hadn’t been dumb enough to think he could handle my job, but forgiveness is gold. I’m more of a fan of silver.

Just about when I was ready to give up, the brown hallway revealed door B 47. A slight roar came from behind the door, probably the droning of the TV. My knock on the door was drowned out by the sound, and I had to lean against the door across the hall to balance my one good leg. Then, I hit a crutch against the door twice with two strong thuds.

After a few moments, the door opened, and a sour stench hit me like a truck. “Wow, I didn’t expect to see you at this party.”

Standing in front of me was Jason’s stupid, hideously white toothed friend, Mason. His dark hair was standing in every direction, but he didn’t seem to care. His eyes shone with a half drunken haze, one that made me uneasy. It was part sane and part insanity, like someone who would turn on you at any moment. I kept my back pressed on the opposite door, as far away from him as possible, especially after our first meeting.

 Looking over his shoulder, I could see that the noise was not the television, but people, crammed inside the small apartment. They reminded me of those guessing games that parents set out for kids at birthday parties where you have to guess how many jellybeans are in the jar. My guess was they defied physics by how tightly packed the group was.

I turned my gaze back to Mason. “A party? On a Thursday?” shaking my head, I redirected my focus, “Where’s Jason? I need to talk to him.”

Mason rolled his eyes and leaned against the door frame. “Oh, him? The loser freaked out last night and stormed off. His stuff was out of here when I woke up. I’d guess he filed for a new roomie. Whatever, more room for me. And them,” he grinned slyly, nodding his head in the direction of the party.

“Wait, but I thought he was your friend. And you two are roommates, since when?”

“Were,” he corrected me, “we were, sweetheart, until he threw a huge fit, worried about getting in a little bit of trouble. The kid doesn’t know how to have fun.” He took a drunken step forward, and I crossed the crutch on my good side a foot in front of me, making him keep a distance.

“Alright,” I turned to go, pushing him back into the doorway, “I’ll just check the office. Uhm… thanks.”

Mason’s arm snapped out and grabbed onto mine with surprising speed. “Oh, come on, come with me. You don’t need him.” Laughter shone through the haze in his eyes.

I dug my nails into the hand on my arm. “No, I really do, kinda important.” My nails sunk in to his skin so harshly that one broke. Finally, he let go of me.

He looked at the bandages and brace on my leg, as if noticing them for the first time. He let out a small laugh, “Huh, wonder where you got that.”

The tone he used made me uncomfortable, and I quickly turned to leave. “Goodbye, Mason.”

He said something, but I ignored it, continuing back down the hall to the school office.

When I finally found Jason’s new room in the maze-like halls, it was so late that I was positive he’d be asleep, but the door opened almost instantaneously when I knocked on it.

“What do you want?” Jason growled. I was taken aback by the harshness in his voice and the gruffness in his appearance.

If Mason’s hair was messy, Jason’s was a wreck. Bronze strands of hair stood everywhere, crisscrossing in any and all directions. He had heavy dark circles underneath his eyes and clearly hadn’t shaven his face this morning. His dorm was already unpacked, but papers were scattered madly about, like he couldn’t pick a place to do his homework.

“I came to talk to you.”

He snorted and tried to slam the door, but my reflexes were still top-notch, and I intercepted it. Jason said in a low voice, “I don’t want your pity, okay? Do you think that’ll help me? Make me feel better, huh?” He leaned in, his eyes boring into me, “News flash, Barbie, I hardly even know you. It’s been what, two months? Do you think that makes us friends? That it means you know me? Because if you knew me, you’d sta-“

I pushed all my weight into the door that we still both held onto, and it flew open inwardly, towards Jason. “Well, Captain Geek, I know about the job, and more importantly, I know when to walk away from things. And I think you need to do just that.”

Jason gritted his teeth and pointed at the door, “Get out Audrey. You’re not invited.”

The use of my name by him made anger swell up inside of me. I pushed him into the nearest wall so that he was facing it, and pulled both of his arms behind his back, letting out a small yelp as I accidentally put weight on my bad leg. I pushed all my weight into him so he couldn’t move. Normally, he’d probably be stronger than me, but it was obvious he hadn’t gotten any sleep. Given that I’ve done nothing but sleep, I had the strength advantage.

“Number one, don’t call me that, you know it’s not okay. Number two, you need to stop this. I thought Mason was exaggerating, but no, he wasn’t. You really are throwing a huge tantrum.”

Jason laughed bitterly. “Well you’re acting a lot like him, so it’s understandable. He did the exact same thing yesterday.”

‘Doing the same what? Pinning him? Calling him a baby? Both?’ I thought to myself, but said, “You’d think that if we were both acting the same way that it’s you. But maybe I’m wrong; you are the genius after all. Guess you know how to handle everything, huh?”

He took a deep breath. I relaxed my hold on him as I thought he was going to say something, but then he suddenly turned around and grabbed me by the waist, throwing my over his shoulder. ‘Guess he does have some strength left.’

I kicked with my good leg and hit his back with my fists, “Don’t you dare- Ahhh! Jason! Put me down! Let go!” I managed to grab a fistful of his hair and yanked it as hard as I could. He jerked, and put me down, pushing me into a nearby wall so that I faced him. He pinned my arms to the wall.

“Handled you pretty well, didn’t I?” He seemed to have calmed down, because his face no longer looked like he hated the world, though he still seemed pretty mad.

Looking right at him, I said, “Why are you doing this?”

Jason’s brows furrowed. “Doing what? Sorry, but if a half assassin walks into your place and s-“

“No, I don’t mean that.” I sighed. “Why won’t you quit? Britt said she’d give you the money you need. You won’t have to worry about Georgia anymore. You’d get to leave this life. Why would anyone say no to that?”

“There’s one reason I can think of,” he said softly.

Then, Jason did the unthinkable.

He leaned in and kissed me.