Empath

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Al hung up and closed his old flip phone. Yui was beaming with excitement. He looked like a puppy ready to pounce on a new friend who had just walked into his owner's house. For a second, Al wished he could feel Yui's emotions. He wanted some of that pep and happiness to rub off on him. He felt like it was always the negative emotions that seeped into him and stayed there. He wondered if that was true for everyone.

"Do you boys need your clothes washed?" Anabelle walked into the living room. She was looking at Al, specifically. Yui had changed into a pink silk button-down shirt and faded grey skinny jeans. His pants were high-waisted and his shirt was tucked in so that it poofed out on the bottom.

"Did you bring your own clothes?" Al asked, while observing the boy's fashion choice.

"Of course," Yui said with his signature smile. "I packed everything I needed in my handy-dandy travel bag!" Al hadn't taken notice of it before, but he now remembered that Yui had a bag attached to his motorcycle and it had been sitting beside the bed since they got to the house. Al wished he had had the foresight to bring some necessities, and then he remembered that he left in a rush because Anabelle's life was in danger.

Al looked down at his wide-collared, long-sleeved black shirt. It was starting to smell. He needed deodorant, too, but he didn't want to share Yui's. He'd have to go shopping soon. But maybe after his clothes were cleaned. "Yeah," Al admitted, bashfully.

"I'll find you something to put on while I do the laundry," Anabelle offered, as she stepped closer to Al. "Oh, I have a spare toothbrush as well, if you need it."

Al covered his mouth, self-consciously. He was now painfully aware that his breath probably smelled. "Yes, please," he said, beneath his hand. He smelled his own breath and grimaced.

Anabelle tried not to giggle, for fear of offending her guest. "I'll go fetch those things for you."

Al was going to say "thanks", but he was afraid to open his mouth again.

"I'll get my dirty clothes from the bedroom," Yui said, before quickly darting upstairs. Anabelle went up the stairs behind him. "Where should I put my clothes?" He turned to ask her, from atop the steps.

"Oh, the laundry room is right there," she reached over the railing to point to a door to the left of the entrance to the dining room. The laundry room was on the opposite end of the lobby from the front door.

"Oh, thanks!" Yui practically barked. He quickly went into the bedroom and was out a second later, with his clothes in hand. He came back downstairs and sat on the couch beside Al.

"Do you have time to go shopping?" Al asked, awkwardly.

"Yeah, it's only ten," Yui nodded, "I got some time until my appointment."

"Good, I need to get deodorant too," Al hugged his arms close to his body, as if moving them at all would release his stench. He smelled the air and noticed a delicate floral scent. He thought it was something in the room, especially since the room was covered in floral patterns. Then he turned to Yui and realized it might have been him. "Are you wearing cologne?"

"Yeah," he smiled, and Al thought his cheeks turned a little pink. "It's a little girly, but the ladies love it. Do you want to try it?"

"Yes, please," Al was surprised by his own vehemence.

Yui giggled. "Okay, I'll grab it for you." With that, he bounced back up and bolted up the stairs.

Al was flabbergasted at how the boy had so much energy.

"Oh, sorry, miss," Yui said, softly. He halted to a stop when he almost rammed into the lady of the house while going up the stairs.

"It's alright," she smiled, while holding the supplies for Al tightly under her chin, out of fear that she might drop them. Yui went around her as she walked gently down the stairs, across the foyer, and into the living room.