Humor Me

Keeping Her Out

Adeline

"Addie...Addie..." I heard the voice in at a distance, but then it started to sound as if it was getting closer and closer.

"Adeline, wake up hun."

"Hmmm???" I made the sound slowly coming out of my sleep.

"Addie, wake up it's 6:35, we should get going."

"We? Where are we going?" I asked in confusion as I slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"I'm walking you home, it's dark out and-"

"NO!" I cut her off in a panic, shouting by mistake. She gave me a look of confusion and I knew I had to quickly cover it up. "Um, what I mean is you don't have to do that I can get home by myself I'll be alright."

"Um, ok but I'm not letting you do that. It's dark out and dangerous at this time." She said as she grabbed her keys.

"No really" I began, getting up and getting my things "I'll be fine by myself you don't have to come with me."

"Listen young lady, I am walking you home whether you like it or not. It's not safe out there and I want to make sure you get home safe. This is not up for argument." She said this with such a defiant face, I didn't have a choice but to comply. I can tell she wasn't going to give up.

"Gosh you sound like a mom." I said trying ease up the tension. It seemed to work because she started to giggle.

"Well you did call me 'mom' before you fell asleep." she said between giggles. My eyes grew wide with fear. She seemed to notice because she face became a bit more serious.

"I-I did??" asked with fear in my voice.

"Yea, heh you did."

"Oh my gosh, I-I I'm so sorry. I can't believe I did that, Emerald I'm sorry I didn't mean too." I said panicking.

"Adeline, it's ok I didn't mind. You didn't do anything wrong." she said with a face of worry.

"I..." I bean as I trailed off lost in my thoughts. "I'm just sorry."

"Adeline it's ok." she said with a wry smile. "Come on let's get you home. Wait, you don't have a coat?"

"No." I replied quietly with out looking.

Emerald disappeared into the bedroom for a few minutes and returned with a light black sweater.

"Here, use this it's chilly outside." I looked at her, and she had a small smile. I silently nodded and just accepted the small gesture.

"Lets go." she finally said and we left.

Emerald

We walked most of the way to her place in silence. Ever since the 'mom' incident back at my place she hasn't looked at me. I honestly didn't see the big deal, she hadn't done anything wrong, and I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything wrong either. Regardless, if she didn't want to talk I wasn't going to make her.

Soon enough, we made it to a building a tall building that seemed quite fancy and guess that's where she lived considering this is where she stopped.

"Well this is my stop, thanks bye." she said rather quickly and turned to leave.

"Hold it." I said stopping her. "I want to meet your parents, I would like to talk to them about what happened today." She looked quite alarmed by me saying this and I figured it was because she didn't want them to know. "Adeline, this can't go unaddressed, they have to know."

"It's ok, you don't have to talk to them." she said nervously.

"Well are you going to tell them?"

"Uh, yea sure. I'll tell them." She said not looking at me, and it put me in a state of disbelief.

"Adeline, look at me." she raised her eyes to look at me, "Do you promise?"

"I promise." she gave me a reassuring smile, but it was mixed with the sadness in her eyes. There was something she wasn't telling me, but I couldn't think of anything that she wouldn't possibly be telling me. Regardless, if she wasn't telling me something it's none of my business.

"Well, as long as you tell them. I'll see you later then." I waved goodbye and she waved back and walked into her building. I turned and started walking home, but I couldn't shake this feeling that something is wrong. It was probably just me being tired, I did have a long day after all so its probably nothing.

Adeline

I waited a few minutes before peering out the fancy building to see if she was off the block. Seeing that she was gone I left the building and walked around the corner to the not so fancy run down building that sat there rotting.

I entered the old building and walked to the third floor, which wreaked of piss and cigarette smoke. Holding my breath I quickly walked to the door at the end of the hall where my door was located.

3F

I unlocked the two locks that bonded the door close, and walked in quickly turning to close the door shut to lock the two locks back, and put on the chain located just above the second lock. I leaned against the front door letting out a sigh, looking at the old run down apartment I was in. It bothered me seeing the old sofa was worn out, the small wooden coffee table in front of it. I glanced over at the old walls that with peeling paint and cracks, then at my run down kitchen that had random bugs coming out of the cracks.

Slugging my feet, I walked into my bedroom where my twin sized bed was and my average sized dresser. I threw my bag and my sweater onto the bed and walked over to the mirror that sat on top of my dresser. I stripped my clothes and went into the bathroom. I looked into the bathroom mirror at the bandage on the back my shoulder. I slowly peeled off the bandage and looked at the bruise, which didn't seem too much better.

I hopped into the shower and the hot water felt great on my shoulder. After being in the shower for what felt like hours, I wrapped a towel around me and walked back into my bedroom and to my dresser.

I pulled out an old t-shirt, some underwear, and a pair of shorts. I put them on , and walked over to my bed to put my bag on the floor. That's when I noticed the sweater and realized I hadn't given it back to Emerald. I decided I would give it back to her next time I went to the café.

I plugged my phone up and got in bed. I curled up under the blanket holding Emerald's sweater, it was a actually a bit comforting. I lay their holding the piece of cloth which smelled just like her, and she smelled like candy apples. Thinking this pleasant thought distracted me from thinking about Emerald walking me home. I didn't want to lie to her but I didn't want her to know that this  was where I lived, nor did I want her to know the truth about my parents.