Change of Heart (NaNoWriMo 2011)

Chapter 2

Jariel woke up behind a dumpster, covered in old, damp, newspaper and his leather jacket. His expedition yesterday had left him with nothing but more reasons why he despised humans. They had met his expectations, but he already knew that they would. Mortals were nothing but selfish beings. They thought that the world revolved around them and threw a fit when they realized it didn’t. They didn’t care if another person was suffering, they wouldn’t extend a helping hand. They were nothing but pests. Jariel stood up, peeling the newspaper off of his bare chest and putting his leather jacket back on. He brushed the hair out of his face, stuck his hands in his coat pockets, and continued to look for a better place to sleep, as well as food. He was starving.  The streets of New York were crowded again, but that wasn’t unusual. For some reason people liked to flock to New York, thinking they had some sort of talent and could make it in the big city. People didn’t have the heart to tell them that most of their dreams wouldn’t come true, and they would in fact, fail at life. Jariel just thought that these people were liars and needed to tell the truth, instead of pasting a smile to their face and telling the person with a big dream that they were going to make it.

            The day went on slowly, with no luck. Jariel questioned to himself how they expected him to survive without anything to eat or a place to stay. Did they wish for him to be homeless?

That is when it hit him.

Of course they wanted him to be homeless. They most likely didn’t want him to survive in the first place. They expected him to wither away and die; to become only a memory. He clenched his fists in anger. He would show them. He decided then and there that somehow he was going to survive. He would find his way back in to Heaven and give Elise a taste of her own trickery.

            Jariel was too lost in thought to notice the homeless man that was garbage picking ahead of him. In a disaster that was inexorable, Jariel bumped in to the dirty, old, man, causing them both to stumble.

            “Watch it!” the old man grumbled, his head snapping up to see Jariel, who was just as upset.

            “I wasn’t the one standing in the way.” Jariel responded flatly.

            “You must be new, because I haven’t seen you around here before and I know most of the people in this area. Been here a while, you see,” the old man said, placing his hands on his shopping cart, “so I’ll go easy on you this time.” He winked. He started to walk away, pushing his shopping cart along with him, and waved for Jariel to follow. “C’mon, I’ll buy you something to eat. You look like you need it more than I do.” Jariel, feeling as if he had no choice, reluctantly obeyed.

            “The name is Isaac.” He said, after a moment or two of awkward silence had passed.

            “Jariel.” He replied, hoping that, introductions aside, the old man would be quiet now. Isaac looked as though he hadn’t bathed in months, which was probably the case. He had long, matted, hair that went down to his mid back and was wearing a green rain coat, covered in God only knew what. He smelled like something that had recently passed away. All in all, he repulsed Jariel. However, he was in need of something to eat, and so he continued to follow him.

             He followed Isaac to a diner called Joe’s. On the outside, it didn’t look like much. It was rundown and looked as though it could fall apart at any moment. The stepped inside and were greeted by the smell of coffee. A young woman who looked to be in her early twenties stepped up and lead them to their seats, twirling a strand of her auburn hair around her finger.  Jariel’s stomach growled and he wondered when, and if, he would get his next meal after this.