Meeting my Maker

Chapter 7

I listen as the water is turned on, then I put on some headphones and listen to some music. A half hour later the water stops, and soon after he leaves and goes into his room. I wait a few minutes before knocking on the door.

"Come in" Tosha says.

"Hey, mind if I sit down?" I ask.

"Sure" he says, and I sit down on the floor.

"How do you feel?" I ask him.

"Clean, thank you" he says.

"I meant about being here in my home, how do you feel about it? Do you miss your old home at all?" I ask.

"Yeah, I miss it a lot. But despite that I'm also happy that I got to meet you face to face. It's a little embarrassing to admit this but I have been dreaming about this happening" he says.

"I see, well I'm glad you're enjoying yourself" I reply. "There's pajamas in the closet for you right?"

"I think there is" he says and gets up to check. "Yeah, I've got some."

"Okay, well, goodnight then Tosha. See you in the morning" I say and leave his room.

I don't recall the events of that night, it's been so long since that day to remember. But I have a feeling it was pleasant, and later the next morning Tosha helped around the home while my parents were at work and I was at school. When I got home I remember I was feeling a sense of amazement, he had cleaned the whole home and made it look spotless. He didn't have to do that for us, but I know he strongly wants to repay my family for our kindness. The events of that week are a bit fuzzy to me, but I can recall most of the events since that day.

"Miss Nira, please pay attention in class" my science teacher says. "And get your head out of the clouds, I know your name is Skye but please try to focus on what goes on down here."

A few students in my class laugh at that comment, I just sigh and stare at the board as I ignore them. After the school day had ended I walked back home, the streets feeling safer. I'm less afraid of the feelings that come from Tosha, and I've been able to stay positive more often. I arrive home and find Tosha in his room, laying in bed to take a nap. I smile as I watch him, he sort of looks cute while he sleeps. Wait, what am I even thinking?! I can't like him that way! Ew, that's just, no no no. Stop thinking about it.

I close his bedroom door after bringing his bin of dirty laundry out, I may as well get it cleaned for him while he sleeps. The door to the washing machine opens, and I dump in his clothes and start it. An hour later I set them in the dryer, and after another hour I put them back in the basket. I go into my room with his clothes and start to fold them around 5:00pm. I hear his bedroom door open and and his footsteps as he moves down the hall. Then there's a knock on my door.

"Come in Tosha" I say, folding and setting down one of his shirts.

"Hey Miss Nira, I hope the home looks clean enough. I tried to get everywhere I could, even your basement" he says and looks at what I'm doing. "Wait, you did my laundry?"

"Yeah, I hope you don't mind. I saw you taking a nap and I saw the bin also, thought I'd help you with it. You're our guest after all" I tell him.

"Well, thank you for that. I'll be in the main room if there's anything I can help with" Tosha says.

"No need, if you want I have a laptop on my desk there. There's a few games on it if you're interested, just don't go through my other things on it" I tell him as a warning.

"Sure thing, thank you" he says and sits down.

I finish folding his laundry and carry it to his room, I put it all away in the closet and drawers. I come back and find him playing an old RPG I completed years ago. He seems to be enjoying it at least, a smile is on his face while he plays. I lay over on my bed at the other side of the room, I read some stuff on my phone for the time being. I cast the occasional glace over at him, he doesn't seem to notice it. By 6:30pm he finishes playing for now, leaning back in the chair as he sighs lightly.