Within You

Chapter Three.

My heart pounds unhealthily, as I gently place Alani on her feet, making my way to the door. There stood a very tall brooding man, in his late forties I believe, wearing a smart black suit and tie as I make my way to greet him.

I open the door looking up at the tall man, feeling a small similarity with his sower looking features. I smile at him politely, but it slowly fades as his face means business and business alone.

"Oh, hi, you must be..?" I say clasping my hands around my back, feeling intimidated by the size of this man. With my height being spot on 5'6 and this man being well over six feet I felt like a fly compared to him. His face scrunched up in disgrace and disinterest as he looks down at me.

"The jackass, you walked into at the dance studio." He answers with a high manner of self respect.

"Oh," I say cheerfully but suddenly realise what he said. "Oh... oh, my God, I am so, so, so sorry about that... would you, possibly, consider coming in and having cuppa as an apology?"

His expression hardens at each word I say, which inspires me to shut my mouth. I don't think he likes me.

"Are you the guardian?" His thundering voice makes my heart speed up, as I try to think quickly and careful about my answers for him. Clearing my throat I smile proudly at him and nod.

"Yes, I'm Ali. It's a pleasure to meet you... Mr...?"

"Nibb." He says with confidence as I suck in a breath to stop myself from smiling at the name.

Mr Nibb definitely didn't seem like the type of man who would get mocked by his name, for he'd most likely have that person dead at his feet for doing so. I raise an eyebrow in surprise at him, but lose it quickly as his line of a mouth slowly dips into a frown.

"Mr Nibb... that's a... unique, name." I say lightly as I pick at my nails behind my back, my nose starts to twitch from a pungent smell.

He breaths in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Can he smell it too?

With an icy look from Mr Nibb , I detect that he wants me to change the subject now. Thinking of something quickly to say to this daunting man I step back from him.

"Would you like to come in?" I ask letting him walk past me into my home. I follow him, leaving the door open, hoping that his unfriendliness will blow out my front door with this damn smell...

"Do you leave your sister home alone?" His voice fills up the apartment, as I lyingly shake my head. I noticed Alani isn't where I last left her, but hear a crash come from the kitchen.

I pop my head into our medium sized kitchen, seeing Alani hold a tin of cookies with a black bible looking book in her hands. I pick up a wooden spoon that has something black on it, making a mess on the rough floor, when I see and smell the disgusting burning substance in the pan with the cooker on high flames.

I yelp in fright, roughly moving Alani far away from it getting a glare in return from her, as I try to die down the flames. I look at the pan with burnt... custard?

For fucks sake, Alani.

I quickly yank it off the hob, switching the hob off fully, while placing the pan into the sink allowing cold water into the pan. Scolding steam bursts from the pan as I jump back, getting the hell away from it.

"You left the stove on, so it could cause a house fire?" His voice tested with warning, as I turn the water off. I let out a nervous laugh as I dry my moist hands on my jeans.

His black eyes, matching his soul no doubt, stare at me in annoyance as he looks at the piles of empty cereal boxes, dirty bowls, plates, and clothe pile by the washing machine.