After a stop at the corner store, I walked down the hallway leading to my apartment. My neighbor, Alex Cortez, had his apartment door propped open with a medium size box. He and I bumped into each other when crossing paths apologizing in unison.
"Sorry detective Tanner," the young man adjusted the lightweight box in his arms.
For about five years Alex lived next door to me. He, one of a few, was on the quiet side and kept to himself, unlike a few noisy neighbors. I can recall the day he moved in with a roommate sharing the apartment while attending NYU. Since then Alex and I lived in peaceful harmony ever since.
"How many times do I have to tell you, it's Olive," I gently smiled.
Alex nodded his head, "I'll try to keep it down. I'm packing, but I don't think it'll take too long tonight."
I tilted my head at the new information, "Packing?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm getting married in two months, so I'll be moving into another place with my fiancé Miranda."
I formed an "o" with my mouth. Peeking inside the apartment, most of the kitchen and living area is packed up; boxes, bubble wrap, and stacked-up totes were scattered about.
"Congratulations." I offered another smile stepping over to my door.
23 and getting married. I almost couldn't believe it, I'm 28 and single as a nun in a convent. In some way I kinda envied Alex, he looked happy, smiling while carrying a box to the elevator. You can't fake the look in his eyes, he genuinely is happy.
I jammed the key into the lock of the door of my apartment pushing it open. I stepped in kicking the door shut before dropping grocery bags down on the counter. A variety of chocolate treats filled the plastic bags, a few already open from me snacking on the way home. I snatched a candy bar from a bag and trotted over to the bedroom shedding my work clothes.
Once changed I walked out with my hair down biting a chunk out of the candy bar. The sound of the window clicking shut caused me to whip around eyes landing on Jack. A glare adorned my face once he looked up at me as if entering a home by way of the window is standard. I will not be getting used to this anytime soon.
"You know, there is a door right there that you can knock on." I pointed to the front door.
"How boring." He mused with a pout then his eyes darted to my lips.
I scrunched up my face shaking while heading into the kitchen, "Well, it doesn't matter now because I have guests coming over and you cannot be here."
Jack casually walked over to the kitchen watching me grab drinks from the refrigerator. I proceed to un-bag the chocolate for tonight setting them out on the island. Then, I glanced at Jack who watched the whole time.
"Did...you...not hear me?" I tilted my head.
"Oh, I did," Jack answered peering down at Reese's peanut butter cups.
I leaned on both hands against the island a stern expression molded onto my face, "So why aren't you leaving?"
"I'm not."
"What?"
"I'm not leaving," he clarified plainly as he reached for the Reeses.
I saw that and smacked his hand away with a loud pop, "Why not?"
Jack gazed at me seemingly amused by the way he gets under my skin so effortlessly.
"Because as I said earlier, I'll be staying by your side."
I rolled my eyes standing straight crossing my arms, irritation clearly etched on the lines of my face.
"As I recall jumping off a building wasn't staying by my side, you left me alone at work, so what's the difference now?"
YOU ARE READING
Holding On To You
Vampire"When I said I've had a hard life, it wasn't meant as a challenge for the universe to up the ante into a living hell. Let me start from the beginning, this spiral of madness began the night I died after running into a burning building. That's when h...
