Fallen

Chapter 2: Getting Too Involved

I wouldn't usually take awhile lot of interest in what everyone in the building was doing. They had their own things going on. If we met up, we'd talk, they'd tell me what they were up to and doing good. As they got themselves together, they'd move out and get jobs, apartments and I may never hear from them again. I was happy that I could be some help.
Jared was different. He'd go out, look for work and come back to tell me what he'd done. Sure he took jobs that he didn't want, but needed to keep busy and make some money. After a few months, he'd found an agent to take him on and got cast in a commercial. I was surprised that it took so long. He was very handsome, kept himself clean and was driven as well as talented. He'd play his guitar some nights and I could hear it across the hall. I began to look forward to hearing his adventures.

One evening, after getting over zealous and cooking all day (a hobby at times), I looked at the dishes, all over the counter and wondered who was going to eat it all. I knew that people were home, so I went out to the hall and shouted down the stairs.
"Anyone hungry?! I went overboard again!"
Hearing shouts, I knew a lot of them would be running up soon. The food disappeared quickly, everyone saying thanks, lots of the girls hugging me. One dish remained. Chinese noodles with Asian vegetables. Too much for one person. Carrying it with me, I wet not to Jared's door, knocked and waited. When he answered, I just started talking.
"Thought that you'd enjoy these. Made too much as usual." I looked at the bowl.
"I'm not all that hungry but thanks." His voice was oddly quiet.
I looked back up. His hair was a mess, clothes hung off his body and eyes were bloodshot.
"Are you okay? You sick?" I became concerned.
"No." He shook his head.
"Are you taking something?"
"Jesus no!"
"Sorry. I had to ask. Something's wrong. Do you need to talk?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Okay."
He stepped back, I walked in, set the noodles down and waited. Coming behind me, Jared stood next to the table, arms wrapped around himself. He looked lost.
"I...uh. I talked to my mother today." He started.
"Is she okay?" I worried for him.
"It's my brother. He's kinda having trouble."
"Oh Jared."
"Mom's worried that he'll get hurt or in trouble with the cops. He's in a bad place right now."
"No wonder she's worried. We all have our demons to get over."
"I don't know what to do." He covered his eyes, breaking down.
All I could do was step over, put my arms around him and reassure him that it would be alright. He wrapped his arms around me and held tight. I felt a wet drop on my shoulder.
"Bring him here." I suggested.
"What?" He sobbed.
"Your mother's worried. You need to help out. Tell hi to come to LA. He can stay with you and get himself together."
Shaking his head, Jared let me go. "He pretty much goes against all your rules."
"If it makes you feel better and helps any, bring him out. I'm a pretty strict landlord. Maybe I'll whip him into shape." I kidded.
Taking a deep breath, standing a bit straighter, Jared smiled through his watery eyes.
"Really?! Holy shit! Thank you!" He hugged me again.
"No problem. You want to use my phone?"
"Can I? This is perfect. Mom'll be happy about this."
"Let's go. Call and stay on as long as you need to."
"You're incredible. I've never met anyone who cares as much as you do."
"Like I said, we all have our demons."
Back in my apartment, Jared called his mother, told her the news and they talked for a half hour. Plans were made and she'd get his brother on a bus from Louisiana. It would take a couple of days and jared gave her my phone number so his brother could call when the bus arrived. After the phone call, we ate the noodles and said goodnight. Another hit of euphoria went through me.

Two days later, I returned from a regular appointment, hearing the phone through the door. As quick as I could, I unlocked the door and ran to pick it up.
"Hello."
"Yeah. Hi. Is Jared there?" A male voice, deep and shaky, spoke back.
"I'm sorry but he's not home. Did you want to leave a message?" I wondered if it was about an acting job.
"He gave me this number to call when I got to LA."
"Is this Shannon?"
"Uhm. Yeah."
"Hi. He'll be so happy that you've arrived. My name's Lisa. This is my number."
"Oh. Okay. Any idea when he'll be back?"
"Not really. Why don't I pick you up and you can be here when he gets home?" I suggested getting excited.
"Okay. Sure." He reluctantly agreed.
"Great! I'll be there in a little while. Just stay outside the bus station."
"Yeah. Thanks."
I hung up the phone, wrote a quick note to stick on Jared's door, then went to my car so I could go pick up his brother. I could only imagine the look on Jared's face when he got home. The traffic was typical. The more rushed you were, the worse is was. The bus station was downtown, twisting and turning through the streets. It took thirty minutes to get there. Hopefully, he'd still be waiting.
Parking out front, I stepped out, looked around then started walking toward the building. I tried to find someone with similar traits as Jared. Nobody seemed to stand out. I went back to the car, leaned against the door and continued to look at the people walking around the building. I did notice one man staring over. He had shoulder length, almost black, hair, eye brows that came down to a point (thick and dark), and lips that were amazing. Standing just under six feet, he had an aura of dark around him, that I found very intriguing. Noticing me looking, he walked over, backpack over his shoulder. He seemed unstable on his feet, maybe a bit drunk.
"Nice car." He wasn't completely drunk
"Thanks." I continued to glance around. I had no time to deal with this.
"You lookin' to pick someone up?"
"I'm waiting for somebody."
"I'm somebody." He was trying to be cool.
Shaking my head, I tried to ignore him.
"So. A cute chick. A cool car. Who would keep you waiting?"
I laughed. "Does this work for you?"
He shrugged.
"If you have to know, I don't know who I'm picking up. It's a friend's brother. Just showed up."
"Oh shit. Lisa?" His eyes became shocked.
I stood up. "Shannon?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Let's go. Is that all you've got?"
"All I could carry."
"Get in. We'll drive back. You want a coffee?"
"Be a good idea."
"Thought so."
After a quick stop, two coffee to go, I pulled back into the lot. Leading him upstairs, I saw that the note was still on Jared's door.
"You might as well come in and wait. He's not back yet." I told him.
"You'd let a stranger in your apartment?"
"Not the first time. The entire building's full of strangers, now a family of dreamers."
"What is this place, some kind of shelter?"
"You can it that, only people leave when they're ready."
"Nice landlord."
"Thanks. You hungry? I've got lots."
"Wait. This is your building?"
"Yeah. Sometimes people need help and I have the means to."
"And what do you get out of it?"
"Good feelings. Are you hungry?"
"I could eat."
"Have a seat."
Shannon dropped his pack by the door, walked over and sat at the table. He drank his coffee as I found some spaghetti with marinara and basil. I heated it up, set it in front of him and sat across.
"You not having any? He asked curiously.
"I had lunch. Go ahead. And don't worry another manners." I lifted my coffee to have a drink.
Picking up the fork, he started slowly then began shoving the pasta in faster. I tried not to laugh.
"Do you work? Or just take in people?" Shannon finished and sat back in the chair.
"I keep busy." I said casually,
"How can you own a building and not work?"
Everyone always asked me that question sooner or later.
"My father is a developer. He bought the building, renovated it and gave it to me."
"Why would he do that?
"It was a condition."
"A condition?"
"That I get clean and stay that way."
"Ah. Good Samaritan has her own problems." He sneered.
"Everybody has problems." I looked at my empty cup.
"Is that why you so this? Get people off the streets?" He was quieter.
"I've always helped people, animals, whatever. This city will eat you up. I know. If I can do anything to help people avoid that. I will." I explained.
"And you took in Jared?"
"I saw him out in the rain. I knew that he didn't have a place."
"How did you convince him?"
"My car." I joked.
Shannon's face lit up with a wide smile and he laughed freely. "For what it's worth. Thanks."
"What for?"
"Looking out for him."
"He's one of the good ones. Jared's going to be successful at whatever he has planned."
"He's just crazy enough."
I heard footsteps out in the hall, go across the way and counted to myself. One, two, three. The knocking was loud and fast.
"Come in Jared." I called out.
The door flew open. He looked around quickly, saw his brother and ran over. Jumping onto him, Jared laughed and hugged Shannon. It was a true display of love.
"I'm so glad you came." Jared was extremely happy.
"Like I had a choice. Mom bought the ticket." Shannon hugged him tight.
After a moment, Jared sat back and saw me watching the display.
"Shit. Lisa I'm sorry." He willed tears from his eyes.
"Don't. This is a happy moment." I smiled.
Moving from the table, I took the empty plate, placed it in the sink and looked back at the exhilaration plastered over the brother's faces. They needed to be together. They talked for hours about their mother, what Jared had been doing in LA and how much fun they were going to have. I finally banished them at ten o'clock. I needed sleep and to get away from all that testosterone. I trusted that Jared would explain the living rules.