A Muffin a Day

Chapter One, The Stranger

Jay

I sat looking at the loading screen of my game console. I sat on the bed feeling bad for myself. Everything had gotten boring recently. My foster mother was out on a date for a week. Not that I would miss her. She was...A whole...Thing. My older brother, Philly, was at work for the majority of the time. And if he wasn't at work, he was on dates himself. I began to wonder how many dating simulations would fix my boredom. I heard the home phone begin to ring, setting my controller down and going out the hall towards the phone. I walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone. "Hello?" I questioned. I heard faint breathing from the phone, it was heavy breathing. I heard a cop car drive past her road, its sirens on. The neighbors must be doing something they aren't supposed to. I heard a plop come from my bedroom, a slight groan following. I set the phone back reaching into my pocket. I retrieved my bear spray. My friends didn't see the use of me carrying it, honestly, you never know. I took a knife out of her pocket and went towards my room. But, when I got to my room, I saw my window was broken open from the hinges. Maybe the dog got the window again..? But...there was blood on the carpet...The blood led towards my closet. I moved towards the closet, setting the knife in my pocket now. I held the bear spray in both of my hands. I opened my closet with my foot, observing the area before I thought about spraying. There was a man in the closet. A man. He pointed a gun at me. He looked calm as ever. A stranger. In my closet. I stood there pointing the spray at him. He sat there pointing the gun at me. His breathing was heavy as if he ran for a mile. He had burn marks on his face, and down his neck. He exhaled deeply, looking her in the eyes. "I apologize for bringing you away from your phone call," He started. "I need a place to stay for a while. I suppose you'd be a good host, and allow me to stay?" My eyebrows furrowed. Allow him to stay!? He's a stranger! "Now why in hell would I let you stay..." He'd stare, "I have a gun? Are you stupid?" I'd remember the bear spray in my hands, spraying his eyes with them. He'd groan grabbing his eyes with his free hand. He would stand now, his gun was lowered, due to him not being able to see to shoot. He blindly swings his arm to grab me, but he misses. He moved his hand now, tears going down his face from the burning sensation. He hissed at me, obviously in pain. I'd try to back away from him, but he must have been able to see me in a blur. He grabbed me by my shirt collar. His eyes blindly looked at me. His face showed how pissed he was. "Listen here you little brat. If you do that again, I will personally come down and beat the absolute shit out of everyone you know. Family or not. Child or elder. Do you understand me?" I nodded, shaken by his words, and his actions. I heard the front door of the house unlock. Making our attention turn toward the door. The man stepped back, pointing the gun back at me. "Who the hell is that?" He muttered. "Jay! I'm going to shower, then I'm going out." Philly yelled out, slamming a door. "Jay? That's your name, hm?" I looked at the stranger, gulping slightly. "Look...I live with family...you can't stay here with me." He chuckled, "You look about twenty-five...and you still live with your family? How sad." He'd shrug, "I already said I was staying. End of story." I'd sigh nodding. "Fine...but you're... fixing my damn window, and not talking to my family" I'd notice the man's shoulder dripping out blood. "...and...what are you going to do about your...bleeding?" The man looked at his shoulder, his sweater's shoulder was covered in blood. He'd groan slightly, grabbing a stuffed bear from my bed and holding it against his shoulder. Possibly trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. I moved over trying to grab it back from his grasp. He turned away so I couldn't get it. This man...If he wasn't a giant I would have beaten his ass by now...I'd punch his chest, visibly mad now. He'd move his head back to look at me, grinding his teeth slightly. "Give...Give it back..." I begged. He'd narrow his eyes, a small smirk forming on his face. "What? Your nerdy boyfriend gave you it?" I'd groan, "No...A friend. And it means a lot to me.." He'd nod, "Good. You have a single one." He said chuckling as he walked away, towards her bathroom. Why did it have to be me... "Wait-" I'd run after him. "What are you looking for in the bathroom-" "Bandage wraps." He said plainly. I would sigh. "Sit on the bed..." We were both sideways, trying to go into and out of the bathroom. His ass grazed against mine. "Sorry-" The man tried to get out before I let out a slight squeal, moving inside the bathroom to move away from him. He'd retreat to the bed, plopping down onto it. I would regain my composure and reached into the counter's contents getting some bandage wraps. I would walk over to him, taking my bear off from him. "It might sting a bit." You warned him before putting alcohol on his shoulder."How did you even do this to yourself.." I'd ask. He would sigh and look towards her. "Wrong place wrong time." I would nod, bandaging him up now. "You're all good now, don't worry about getting infected or something." He'd sigh, nodding. "Thanks, Muffin." I would pause, "Muffin?" He'd shrug, "Don't like it? I thought it was a cute name." I would shake my head, "You don't even know me...Don't go around calling me stuff like that." I would request. The man would smirk, nodding. "I believe I'll call you anything and everything I wish to." I would sigh slightly, shaking my head. "No, you won't. Never ever call me that." I would request. He'd sigh, resting on my bed. The blood from his shoulder on your sheets "Yeahhh... I believe I will." This fucker... "What's your name anyway..?" I'd question. He'd shrug, "Can't tell ya." I'd blink, "Why? How much is your bounty?" I'd joke. He looked at me seriously now. "Archer." He said gritting his teeth. "The last name isn't valuable to you." I'd nod. "Uh-huh..." Weirdo... I felt a slight buzzing coming from my pocket. I picked up my phone and saw a message from my friend, Lacey.

Lacey: "Hey, Jay! Do you want to go hang out? :D"

I looked back at the Archer guy, he was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I slowly looked back at my phone, messaging back.

"Sure...Let's hang out somewhere."

Anywhere away from this creep.