The Janitor's Closet

5: Breaking It Down

The fourth floor. Room 213. Go past the potted bonsai tree, but not any further than the potted bamboo plant. Turn right when you exit the elevator. Move six rooms down from the left side. Be amazed by our priceless decorations. If I followed those directions exactly, I'd find Jessamine. And my family.

It's about time.

Chung and Charlie were too busy contemplating retiring to their rooms and my grandpa stuck on being irritating that they all gave me little attention. So, I left them to that, and voila here I am, past the bonsai tree and tapping my foot in front of Room 213. Waiting for the door to open all alone because wanting my own keycard...outrageous. It got me a "Shut up, boy!" from my grandpa and a snarled "We aren't dumb" from Charlie. Yeah, I guess they're still testy from earlier. It's kind of sad actually.

The door swings open and standing in front of me is none other than that son-of-a guard who'd choked me at my sister's. His gray eyes flash, "You."

"Yeah, me, now, move along." I say, shoving my way into the room before I remember how much of a freak he is. He gets off on attacks. I glance at him, and sure enough he grins with that queer look.

"Where's Jessamine?" I ask, turning away from him. The short hallway we stand in reminds me intensely of African jungles. It's probably all the shots of green and blue and brown on the walls... or it could be the good-grass colored carpeting.

"Jessamine!" he yells, gaze unflinching. All the sharp features of his cheekbones and nose and chin shockingly unlike his whispery-low voice. I hear feet and her voice. Oh man, oh man.

I look towards the nearest door. Its got a brass knob and is decorated with small encarved drawings I could only see by squinting really close. It's the only door, other the the front, that I can see.

"Yeah Nigel?" She yells from a closer distance. I snap my head to this "Nigel", he gives me an overexaggerated wink. Is he-is Jessamine friends with the guy who stole her and my family from me? No way. No way! What in the world happened while I was gone? Did she get Stockholm's?

Oh no no no. It's not going to happen . I'm not letting her be friends with this freak. I open my mouth to snarl this at him when Jessamine cheers.

"Daniel Adderson! You'd better have come for me-us, or I wud've packed my bags and left!" she says. Her arms and scent wrap around me, spicy like hot peppers accented by spring honey.

"Jessamine," I sigh, my hands tightening around her, my chin resting in her coppery hair, eyes narrowed at "Nigel".

"You okay?" I ask her, leaning back to feel her forehead.

"Yeah." Jessamine smacks my hand away from her forehead, her lips twisted in distaste. I don't believe her. No, I need to test her. But first...

"So where's everyone?" At first, Jessamine just squints at me before huffing and stomping away. She looks back when the only sound of the floor is persistently hers, "Daniel Adderson, you ungrateful ass. Move it!"

"What? What did I do?" I laugh, following behind her, unable to tame my happiness as the so-called Nigel remained behind. She glares at me, the only coherent phrase among her acidic mumbles being my name. I pull her into me warily, her fists punch against my chest, her nails curl against the fabric of my shirt. I should have expected this. My Jessa- mine is just as irrational as the next woman.

"I'm happy to see you, " I whisper against her hair.

~__~

She is glowing. I'm not sure if it's from my presence or all the food out on the table. Either way, her delicious skin is happy, and I'm happy too. Everyone's okay.