I reach home and heave a sigh of relief when I open the apartment door. The male with the eyes got his directions right. I am so thankful for his presence, albeit odd that he's always around. Oddly enough, I don't mind the fact that he follows me. Instead of getting creepy stalker feels, I feel... safe. The fact that he won't reveal himself to me only draws me to him more and more, and I find myself wanting to know him. It's an odd feeling I never experienced before now.
When I enter, I spot Gin and Vern on the couch. They stand up when they spot me, and by the look on Vern's face, I know he is angry.
"Where have you been?" he hisses, walking towards me with fast pace. Gin remains standing in front of the couch, and I can see that she doesn't want to get involved.
"I'm sorry," I slip past Vern and to the kitchen. We don't have walls that separate our kitchen and TV area. I place the take out bag on the table. "I got distracted."
This statement angers Vern.
"Distracted, Juliet, really?" he yells at me, causing me to flinch, especially at the use of my full first name. "The streets are no place for a seventeen year old girl to roam at night. I thought you of all people would know better than that!"
I can't take the yelling, so I soften my voice. "Vern," I say calmly, although it doesn't put out the angry fiery look in his eyes. His mouth forms an ugly scowl as he looks at me. "I didn't do it on purpose. If you want to know what happened, I got lost. Okay, that's it. I got lost." I tell him, my hazel eyes unblinking, staring down his green ones. "Someone gave me directions home, and here I am. I am here now, isn't that what matters?"
Vern breaths, nostrils flared, before he finally let's out a sigh. He says nothing, and Gin talks.
"You just had us a little worried, Jules as in the gem." she speaks, her voice almost as soft as mine.
I share a soft smile with her, and I know Vern is okay now. His gaze softens towards me and he holds my shoulder. He says nothing but I can read his eyes: "I lost them already, I don't want too lose you too."
My eyes respond: "You won't."
***
"Goodbye Jules." greets Gin, smiling a dimpled smile at me. "Thanks for the invite, and the company." her eyes flick to Vern quickly, who was shrugging off his jacket, back towards us.
"No problem. Sorry dinner was a bust." I say apologetically, "the two of us can go for coffee tomorrow night though?" I say. I really do want to get coffee with Gin, but I also want to tell her about the mystery man who has my full attention. I don't want Vern to hear because he always goes full on big brother mode. I can't even look in the direction of another man without him imploding.
"Sure." her smile doesn't falter. "Coffee sounds good." during the course of the night we had exchanged numbers, "text me?"
"Totally." I say as Vern stops next to me.
"Bye, Vern." she says and I take this as my cue to leave. I find myself walking towards the fire escape, and I open the window, feeling the wind gently tug at my hair. I then sit on the windowsill, my feet outside.
Vern knew what he was doing when he chose this place, it overlooks the entire city. Lights and cars scream at me, competing with billboards and streetlamps. I place my feet on the windowsill as well.
A question tugs on my brain. How did the mystery man manage to get off this fire escape without falling to his death?
"What are you thinking about?" I hear Vern behind me. Mugs are clanking in the kitchen, and I'm positive Vern is making the two of us coffee again. I don't face him, but remain staring ahead of me.
"Just stuff." I say, my eyes drifting over the city. I lick my lips as a form of comfort, trying to distract myself from thinking about the mystery man.
"Stuff?" Vern asks. I sigh and face him. He's giving me a raised brow look, and I am nervous.
"What did you say about questions, Vern?" I backfire, and he bites his lip as he holds the coffee mugs.
"Touche." he says and walks towards me. He gestured with his head. "Move over."
I oblige and place my van-covered feet on the ground in front of me. I take my mug from Vern and he sits next to me. And so we sit, shoulder to shoulder, in a minute of silence.
I still can't stand silence, so I speak. "What do you think of Gin?" I ask him, and sip on my coffee. Something about the coffee tastes better, sweeter yet more bitter at the same time. Almost like the guy with the eyes.
"She's nice." he sips from his coffee and continues. "Funny. Pretty." he says and sips again. I smile paints my face and he notices.
"I know what your intentions were, Juliet Emma Fenwick." he bumps his shoulder against mine. I laugh and so does he.
"Did it work?" I ask hopefully. Gin is a really nice girl and she deserves happiness. Vern is a really... uptight guy, but he deserves happiness too.
Vern licks his lips and sips his coffee again. "I don't know, maybe."
I smile. "That's not a no, Vern."
"No it's not." he smiles back, facing the front. We sip our coffee until his is finished and mine is nearly there, and I lean my head on his shoulder.
"This is crazy." I say softly.
"Gin?"
"No, everything." I respond, taking another sip of my coffee. "I still didn't cry, Vern." I shut my eyes. "Why the hell can't I cry?"
Vern places an arm around my shoulder and says nothing. I'm thankful, because even though I hate silence, I appreciate it when it approaches after I spill my feelings. Vern knows this, so whenever I have a little outburst, he says nothing.
I feel him kiss my forehead. "What we're going through is not eternal." he whispers and stands up. "Goodnight."
"Night." I respond softly, leaning forward a bit and clasping my hands over my mug. I stare ahead of me until I hear Vern's door shut. "Why can't you cry?" I attack myself softly. I then stare ahead of me and hope the man with the eyes is listening.
"If you're out there," I speak. "I'd really like to meet you." I say, then receive no response.
It's clear he's not there.
I sigh, finish my coffee, and go to bed.
