Takeover

2- Alone

Whatever Happened to You

by Every Avenue

“Make yourself at home,” he said, opening the door at the top of a narrow staircase. She walked into the square living space. There was a little kitchenette on the left side corner, and an unmade bed on the opposite wall. The only other door was in-between the two, for the bathroom, she assumed. 

“Nice place. The smell of meat really completes the atmosphere.” 

“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers. It does it’s job.” 

She nodded, walking aimlessly around the room, looking around for anything redeemable for this place. Nothing exactly popped out at her, aside from maybe the one window above the bed. Even that, though, was covered with some sort of dark clothe, blocking any light from the outside world; a sheet, maybe? 

Turning back around to face him, she said, “So, if I’m not getting rid of you anytime soon, shouldn't I know your name? I mean, it’s only fair. You already know both of mine.” 

He chuckled under his breathe, before looking up to say, “Fine. Reasonable enough. My name’s Evan.” 

A memory flashed through her head of a little boy playing in a garden, but she quickly shook it from her mind. “Evan…?” 

“Evan Garner.” 

It hit her. The little boy from her childhood; his family managed the gardens of the castle. He was her best friend when they were kids, until he left with his family when they were about nine. Her parents just told her they moved away. She never would have recognized him now. But when she thought about it, he still resembled the toddler that liked to take baths in the mud. She couldn't help but smile at the fond memory. 

“Garner… Of course. Should’ve known. You could always be the most stubborn person when you wanted something. Guess you haven’t changed that much.” 

“I should say the same. Years don’t have too much effect on a person’s nature. Especially a person so… unique as you,” he said with a smile growing wider with every word. 

“I’m just gonna take that as a compliment and move on, if you don't mind?” she questioned, slightly scowling at him. 

“Course not. So… How have you been?” 

“Ha!” she barked, “So we are going to have this conversation… okay. I’ve been doing okay under the circumstances, as you know. How about you? My parents never really explained why you guys left. One morning I just woke up and… you were gone.” 

“Yeah, I know. Sorry ‘bout that. Well, I guess it was the same thing for me. My mom woke me up and told me to pack my bags. We were gone before sunrise. I didn't know why at the time but when I asked about it a few months later, I found out my parents had been fired. I guess some stuff had uh… gone missing. Someone had told your parents it was them. They believed whoever told them and told my parents to get lost. We moved into the village and my dad got a job working in a wheat field. Mom knew a friend who ran a bakery not far away and she was able to get a job there. About two years ago, my dad lost his job. He couldn't find work, so all we had was what mom got. It was enough until my dad got sick. He died a month later. My mom and I were on our own for a while, and we managed until there was an accident with one of the ovens at the bakery. It burned to the ground with her inside. Until I found my current position, I ran around doing different jobs here and there. Only enough for some food. I stayed at a friend of my dad’s before coming here,” he said, rushed; as though he just wished he could move on past the old memories as quickly as he could. 

“Wow,” she said, shocked. “I’m sorry. You know, you could've come to us. We would have helped you out.” 

“It had been years since we left, and I didn't know how my parents had left things with your family,” he said shrugging his shoulders up to his ears. 

“Oh. Well, I missed you after you left,” she said, feeling her cheeks turn slightly pink. 

“Yeah, I missed you, too,” he responded with the same reaction. After a few moments of awkward silence, he continued, “Well, the bathroom is through that door. There’s a tub with running water but good luck getting it hot. Um… I’ll take the couch, you can have the bed—“ 

“Uh… no. I’ll be sleeping on the couch. I don’t mind. I think I’d actually prefer it. You take the bed,” she intercepted. 

He chuckled, “Well, I know better than to argue with you.” 

“Smart boy,” she smiled at him. And, apparently awkward silence and stares was becoming a repeated occurrence, for they both sat there for another minute staring at each other, like they were trying to see the people they used to be with each other, and remember the friendship that had meant so much to them both so long ago. It was weird. Almost like a flip was switched, and they were just able to go back to where they had left off. The familiar face gave her a comforting feeling. She missed feeling comfortable around someone. For the last month, it was dangerous to be around people for too long. The change in environment was nice. 

After the awkwardness took over the atmosphere, she decided to break the silence saying, “Okay, well I’m gonna start working on my hair. Uh, do you have a pot I could use by any chance?” 

Blinking furiously, as if I had just woken him up from a trance, he shook his head, “Oh, yeah. Here.” He walked over to the small kitchenette, opening the cupboard beneath the sink. “Is this okay?” he asked, pulling out a gallon pot. 

“Yeah, that’s perfect! Thanks.” She took the pot, placing it under the faucet. Before turning it on, she turned back around to face him one more time. “And really, thanks,” she said sincerely. 

He met her gaze. “My pleasure,” he smiled, but only briefly before he coughed and began awkwardly rubbing the back of his nest. “Okay, well if you’re doing this, I’ll go bathe first.” He turned to the bathroom. 

“Okay.” 

Once the door to the bathroom was closed, she turned on the water, rinsing the metal pot before filling it and placing it on the fire bottom stove top. Once she chopped and ground the walnuts, she placed them in the now boiling water along with the tea leaves. As she stood there stirring in the dyes from the ingredients, she let her mind drift to the little boy who had been her whole life when they were kids. They were the best of friends; attached at the hip. When he had left, she was heart-broken. Although she knew there was no way the move had been his fault, she was angry and hurt. He had left her alone. Now, after all these years, he had finally returned for her.

She didn't have to be alone anymore.