Roomate with a killer (Jeff the killer)

Carl

I make my way downtown in the depressing late winter weather. It was close to lunch but still felt like way to early in the morning. I couldn't think straight at all. I was a lot more shaken up by this mornings events then I originally thought. I only got one glance at her newly dead body but it still haunted me. I didn't realize it until now but the thought of death just had a strange affect on me and it made me feel so alone and pointless.

I check my phone to see if Carl texted me since yesterday, he didn't the only thing that read was "I need you to meet me on my street at 11:30 tomorrow" and then my response "fine, why?" And then no reply.

I found myself indoors, so lost in thought I didn't realize I walked into a café. There wasn't many people in the building but there was still one person in line in front of me. The other counter was closed due to the lack of customers. I felt my soft jeans for the bulge of coins and couldn't help but notice my legs were shaking without me noticing. My head snapped towards the menu dimly backlit by a flickering light.

16oz coffee---------------$2.00

20oz coffee---------------$2.25

Meh.

Espresso------------------$2.10

Double Espresso---------$2.60

Blah blah blah ------------####

The menu blurs together like smudges on paper written by a lefty.

Words I can't understand drinks that don't even sound appealing to me. I've never been a fan of coffee but as I look around at all the people sitting drink their concoctions and reading books I take in the silence and just breath in the non stress world of these hipsters. "I could unwind here" I think as I notice the baristo has been trying to get my attention.

The familiar feeling of embarrassment flows over my already nervous body as I step towards the counter.

"Welcome! What would you like?"

The worker says to me with a smile that still lingers from he was

Chuckling to himself about my obliviousness.

"Oh...well...uhhh"

I hesitate which isn't helping my impression on everyone there who is now glancing over at me through their lense less glasses.

I scramble through the menu like how I imagine Jeff looks at the phone book.

"Uhh...I'll have a hot chocolate"

I finally say just trying to get out of the place as soon as possible.

"Sure thing" he replies kindly as his smile fades from his face as he begins making my drink. I imagine a hot cocoa requires a fraction of the effort say a... Machiago Americano espresso fraphapascuino with bark crumbles and natural honey extract on aged whip creme or whatever the hell these people drink.

"Vrrreererrrrr" various noises are emitted from behind the counter as I retract my previous thought of wanting to come here more often.

I check the time on a nearby analog with roman numerals instead of numbers. "God, these people are addicted to different" I think to myself as I estimate how much time I have until I meet Carl.

"Your beverage is ready sir"

The kid says making sure I hear him this time.

"Okay thanks" I step close while reaching my hands in my pocket feeling little change.

"It's $2.00 man"

He adds.

"Okay yeah"

I pull out a dollar seventy five and a dime.

"Hey that's fine"

He says taking putty on me from early probably.

"Okay thanks"

I reply even more embarrassed about my existence than ever as I grab the warm cup and leave the change on the counter more quickly then I probably would of on a normal day. And got out as fast as I could.

The chilly air hits my face and is much worse than I remembered. My hands appreciate being spared by the weather by holding the cup, I was never a big fan of burning my mouth so I thought I would let it cool to a more comfortable temperature. I walk a little farther bringing the thought that has been in the back of my head for a while to my full concentration.

"Why does Carl want me at his street?" I know it isn't odd for Carl to text me to meet him in person but this time it just seemed too odd. He usually told me exactly what he needed to talk about but this time it was abruptly sudden and urgent for some reason, it off put me but I suppressed it as nothing but one of my worried thoughts.

The hot liquid flows through my teeth and under my tongue and between my gyms and checks like a tsunami of molten flavour.

I catch the eye of a women in a car passing me. I watch kids play in the front yard of a house on the other side of the street. Birds flying around, the sun peaking out. Little things make me feel like a real person. I hate living with Jeff so much.

"Jake!" I hear Carl's voice as I round the corner to his street.

"Hey man what's up?" I ask trying to see if this is a serious meet up or not.

"Not much you?" He walks closer to me with a smile on his face.

"Good good" I reply, looking around at the forest across from his street.

Carl is a good guy. He is a good 7 years older than me, he is happy most of the time and he's pretty fun at parties. He has a lot of...connections...yeah, he knows a lot of people I guess and if you need anything he's your guy.

"Hey listen, I have something that could benefit us both here"

He starts explaining as his smile grows.

"Oh yeah" I start, hesitant of what he might say. "What's that?"

"Okay...have you seen the news lately?"

"More or less" I say

"Okay well there is this guy that is killing everyone"

"Oh that's always great" I chuckle, already knowing what he's about to say.

"They call him...uh...Jeff...Jeff the uh...Jeff the killer!"

"Yeah? Well that's great...what are you going to do?" I reply.

"WE!"

"We what?"

"WE are going to find him and capture him!"

"Uh..." Do you ever get one of those moments, where everything has gone so wrong and there is such a big mess in front of you that you just take a deep breath and let it all in?

*I take a deep breath*

"Why would we do that?" I try to throw him off the idea.

"Money!"

"Ehh" he's got a point I think to myself.

"The police will pay so much!"

"Well I don't know" I say. "Isn't that dangerous?

"Well yeah but...it would be worth it!"

I have to find a way to stop this guy from hunting Jeff down and tracking him back to MY place.

"Yeah well...I'll get back to you on that I really have to go man"

"Where do you have to be?"

"I've got a job interview" that's not true...it should be, but it isn't.

"Okay fine...text me later then" he says disappointed.

I run back to my place as fast as I can.