GINGER PHOENIX a novel by M. Cairol Yakup

Chapter 12

AVERY'S LOSS

Azzim had uneasy sleep. Ginger's small flat was so pitiful. It had no bedroom, no couch, no television and no furniture at all. Her house was so messy and the floor was dirty, oily and sticky. Azzim had never been into a dirtier house before. Ginger was nowhere on being hygienic and to him, that was so unacceptable for a girl, regardless if she was a vampire or not.

The house had strong rotting smell he nearly got himself vomit with the contaminated air in Ginger's house. He had to be very careful on the things she offered to him for eating from now on. He was just not comfortable there and wished he was at his own apartment, on his own warm bed.

Azzim had to sleep on a thin blanket on the floor. Ginger had no mattress or bedat all in her house. He wondered how she could ever sleep on the hard floor. His body was itching and the pain on his back was getting worse. If he knew that the condition of her house was like this, he would never to follow her in the first place.

Ginger was leaning against the front door staring blankly at him. She wasn't sleeping or doing anything but sitting like a statue. The living room was just too small for two persons. But Azzim really thought they could have enough space if she ever put some effort cleaning the house. He would do it for her.

"I would love that," Ginger said, knowing what he was thinking. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused!"

"It's okay! I don't think I like your place but hey, as long I could stay away from Avery, I've no complain!" Azzim decided not to sleep anymore. He sat down and he made sure not to lean on the wall. The walls in her apartment were as murky and sticky as the floor.

"You're sweating," she said as she turned to him.

"Do you have some clean clothes and towel?" Azzim rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't stand the itchiness now. He had no doubt that the blanket that she lent him was as dirty as everything in the house.

"It's over there. She instructed him on a cupboard next to the bathroom. Azzim hadn't been to her bathroom yet.

"Is it clean?"

Ginger seemed to be offended with his words. Azzim laughed. He didn't mean to be rude, but considering he had never been into this kind of situation before, he was being paranoid about cleanliness. Surprisingly, Ginger laughed too.

"It's clean," she said. "You better take your shower. I think I have some baggy shirt and trouser in there as well. You can use them."

"Thanks. I'm not really fan to your house, but I want to say thank you for letting me stay here for today, Ginger."

"You want to get away from him. I understand that. That's why I asked you to come here."

"No, it's not because you understand, but it's because you can read my mind! If you can't read my mind in the first place, I bet you wouldn't have a clue!" Azzim protested.

"Either way, I'd know honey! You're fraternizing with the vampire who thinks he owns this place. I lived with him long enough before you!" Ginger said, dragging the words lazily.

Azzim raised his eyebrows to her words. Ginger made her point.

"What kind of relationship you're having with Avery?" She wasn't making fun of him but she asked him in a serious manner. She was curious.

She could just use her power to read his mind and she would find out what exactly he felt towards Avery. But instead, she kept asking him, over an over. Azzim had already given his answer but Ginger didn't seem to get it. But ironically for the first time, he wasn't as annoyed as he was earlier this morning. In fact, he felt more open about it. He could tell her.