Fortune Cookie

Part 4

Startled, I jumped. “Why the hell did you do that? He could be dead!” I whispered furiously.

Cody shut the window. “He’s only unconscious. The bastard got off easy.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. Cody didn’t answer, just swung over the side of the fire escape and jumped down landing gracefully. I didn’t need to hear Cody’s answer to know it, it was probably better that I didn’t know the details. Just the way the guy looked at me told me that the guy was let off easy with concussion.

I looked down at Cody, contemplating how to jump down. The fire escape had ended abruptly and the only way down was jumping. Cody looked around the alley, impatient to get moving. “Jump down already, I’ll make sure you won’t get hurt.”

“Uh-huh, very reassuring,” I said sarcastically. I took a deep breath before jumping. When I hit the ground it was on my feet, but the impact sent me falling forward. Before my arms could move to break my fall, Cody caught me and helped me to my feet. “Thanks.” I picked up my hat that came off and put it back on.

Cody pulled his hat forward to conceal his face and did the same to mine. He also pulled the hood of my jacket over my hat. From afar I would look like a guy and in this neighborhood, we probably didn’t look the least bit suspicious. With one last glance around the alley, Cody led me out to the street. It was a different street than the one I took. We headed away from the station I had used to get here.

I followed Cody through the neighborhood. We went down streets and alleyways that I would have steered clear from. After a while, Cody stopped and motioned me to stay silent. I was about to ask what he was doing when I heard voices heading in our direction. Before I could make out the voices, Cody looked down at his watch before suddenly turning to the alley next to us. He headed down it. When he noticed I wasn’t following, he stopped and turned around. Sighing irritably, he impatiently waved his hand for me to follow him. I gave him the “I thought you wanted me to stay here,” look before following him.

We followed the alley to a main street, which quickly took us to a subway station. Halfway down the stairs, Cody suddenly stopped again. He turned to me and whispered, “Your terrible luck is rubbing off on me.” He turned his hat backwards and pulled his hood over it before he took the couple of steps to where I stood. Cody pulled the hood off my hat and slide his arm around my waist. I let him guide me down the stairs. Once we’re at the bottom, I slide my arm around his waist with my head down, playing the demure girlfriend.

We only took a couple of steps when it felt like the temperature took a sudden dive. The air smelt like a chilly winter even though it was spring. Goose bumps rose on my arms from the sudden change. As we walked, I heard the sound of footsteps approach us. “Yo, Cody!” shouted a man. We came to a stop a few feet from an awaiting train.

“Hey, man!” Cody released my waist and gave the guy a high-five that turned into a sort of handshake deal.

I lifted my head just high enough to get a good look at the guy. He was tall, pale with bright blue eyes and blond-white hair. He wore baggy dark color clothes. He kind of looked gothic like didn’t get out in the sun enough, if ever.

“Haven’t seen you in a long time. What brings you down here?” asked the man.

Cody gestured over at me. “Taken my girl home. What are you doing out? It’s a little early for you.”

The man laughed. “Early start today.” The guy looked over at me. “So are you going to introduce us?”

“Sorry, my bad.” Cody didn’t sound apologetic. “Seth meet Roxie. Roxie, Seth.” I gave a hesitant smile and a shy wave meeting his eyes only for a second before looking down. I meekly said hi. “Anyways, we gotta go catch the train.” Before Cody finished the sentence and had time to react, Seth came charging at me.