100 ways to escape you

Chapter 23

I boldly take the steps towards those doors. It's either this one or... that one because I don't know which balcony is his. It has to be this one or that one.

I am a bit scared. What if he's dead or something? I mean I haven't heard anything from him, his phone is off and he has missed concerts, the one thing that's really important to him.

If he isn't dead, which I sincerely hope, I need to tell him that he has to go perform again. He might get a chance to be signed and as much as Ben wouldn't like me saying it... Black paint deserves this chance to get big. Adrian deserves a chance..

I take a small step further. Then another... and another until I reach the doorbell.

My finger hovers for a moment until I finally press down.

A standard tone and suddenly I can hear footsteps outside.

The door opens and I'm surprised to see a tall lean blonde girl in a bathrobe.

Okay... so maybe he was busy doing other things. God, I am so stupid, that thought didn't even cross my mind. But hey, a whole week? Come on! He still needs to get out, I'm his friend and...

-So, who are you and what do you want?- she says in a nonchalant tone and I freeze for a moment.

-Um...

-Yeah?- she keeps on looking at me patiently.

-Is Adrian home?- I timidly ask, hoping not to have intruded upon something intimate.

For fuck's sake, if they were having sex, I'd rather not know...

-Who?- she asks me.

-What do you mean..who?- I say perplexed. Wait, maybe they didn't bother with names. That happens. That only heightens my suspicions that I should maybe not have come here...- I should go..- I turn but she stops me with her hand on my upper arm.

-Do you mean the musician guy?- she asks me and I stare at her and nod dumbly.

-Yeah, him.- I say.- But it doesn't matter, if he's busy, I can come back later... or not at all.

She smiles at me and releases my arm gently.

-I don't know if he's busy, I rarely see him. But he lives next door, not with me. So you should ask him yourself, okay?

-Oh...oooh...- I blush and smile at her. I feel relieved, like super relieved.

-Good luck.- she smiles at me and closes her door.

Wow, what a nice girl. And really pretty too...

I ring her doorbell again.

-Oh you're still here?- she says warmly and I notice her cheeks have dimples.

-I'm sorry this is going to be super weird, but... do you want to go to a concert? My brother plays in a band and they have good music, I really feel like you should come. Even though I don't actually know you...- I take out a leaflet from my back and give it to her.

She looks it over and nods.

-Yeah, okay, sure. I'm free this weekend anyway. I'll come. One thing though.-she puts the leaflet into the left pocket of her robe.-What's your name?

-I'm Hannah. I live upstairs from you.

-Hi, I'm August.-she shakes my hand.- I just moved like a week ago.

-Wait, yeah so now that I think about it, this is the apartment exactly below mine, isn't it? It's been empty for like a year... wait, did they actually tell you why it was empty before renting it out to you?