After Solitude

Chapter 4

Nikolaus' POV

Zoey was a little hesitant on me picking her up when I texted her, now I see why.

She doesn't belong here. This area is full of homeless people, drugs, and probably black mold.

I watch as two men discretely exchange money for drugs, making my skin crawl.

She deserves better.

I pull a cigarette out of my pack and light it. The burn of the menthol travels through my throat, calming my anger from the fact that this beautiful woman is living somewhere so dangerous.

Her dirty blonde hair bounces as she turns to close the door. She checks the time on here phone, looking around seeing that it's the time we agreed I'd pick her up at.

Flicking my cigarette out the window, I step out of the car. The smile that reaches her eyes when she finally notices me makes me want to just never bring her back to this place.

I survey the area as she walks up to me, seemingly not understanding the danger all around her.

Once she makes it to my car, she shyly waves.

"Hi. Which laundromat are we going to? 'Blue Sun Laundry' is the only place around here that I know of." She suggests.

Oh, she's thinking about my shirt still.

"No need. I'm taking you to get some ice cream." I close her door for her, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Once I make it into the drivers seat, I feel her jumping nerves.

"What's wrong?" My head turns to her.

Her eyes look around the car, "nothing I just- it's stupid." She laughs to herself.

I lean forward, searching for her eyes until they meet mine.

"Nothing about you is stupid, love. What's on your mind?"

Her cheeks slightly flush as the smile grows on her face.

"Why are we getting ice cream?" She answers my question with another question.

Humans like sweets.

"I'd like to get to know you better, if that's alright." I tell her and spot her hand rubbing into her skin again.

Anxiety, a humans cruelest punishment.

"Shouldn't you be angry with me? I ruined your shirt."

I shake my head as I pull out of the parking lot. If I had it my way, shirts would have never been invented.

The drive to the ice cream parlor was quiet. I'm not much of a talker, but hopefully she hasn't been uncomfortable this whole time.

Her face lights up as we walk inside. She inhales the smell of the fresh cookies and brownies they bake for toppings.

Cute.

"Get anything you want." I place my hand on her back, leading her towards the ice cream options.

Her body shivers at my contact which gives me a huge ego boost, not that I needed one.

"I was sixteen when I had my first ice cream cone." She giggles.

"Sixteen? Most toddlers eat it regularly." I state. Toddlers really shouldn't be eating such sweet things, drives them to annoyingly bounce off the walls.