Unexpected Encounter

So Close To Rest

Words in BOLD in between "quotation marks" represent thoughts of characters.
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James left Alex's apartment, and waited for the elevator of the building to take him down. He was pretty happy that he'd gotten his jacket back. It was black with a faint dark grey lining of wings on it's back. Leaving the building, James noticed Alex's ex following him. It was too early, however, to tell wether or not the guy was actually following him.

James made a few turns to make sure it was what it was, and as it happens, he was being followed. James got the man to follow him into an alleyway, and stopped there waiting for him to arrive.

"Why are you following me?"

Harry decided to show himself.

"What were you doing at my girlfriend's place?"

James couldn't believe this guy. He told him what had happened and got ready to leave, sure that he hadn't left out any details of what happened that night.

"Hey! Don't turn your back on me!"

"I have so many other things I'd rather be doing, what do you want now? I already told you what you wanted to know."

"Stay away from my girl!"

James took another look at him with a face of boredom.

"According to her, she's not your girl anymore. I'm gonna go now, don't bother me with this again or you will regret it."

"No, you're wrong! She is my girl, and I'll show it to you! You'll see!"

"Whatever, man."

James was expecting the ex to lash out at him, but he kept quiet, and didn't do anything stupid. When James arrived home, he didn't think much about the night before. There was a nice bottle of eggnog someone got him last Christmas, and he was in need of a drink.

There was an uncertainty of what was supposed to happen next. His apartment wasn't big. It was quite small due to the fact that James lived alone. All he had was two small rooms, one was his bedroom and the other had a table and a closet with an emergency kit in it. In the hall, next to the emergency room was the bathroom with a small shower area, in the living room a small couch with a beanbag next to it, and the dining room that was two steps away from the beanbag. There was also a really really small kitchen, that he never used.

He checked his phone to see what the time was, and found that it was still quite early, 10:38 am.

"Guess I'll take a shower and then... go look for another job..."

After taking his shower, James heard knocks on the door. At this point he only had a towel on so instead of going to see who it was he just shouted it out.

"Who is it?"

"Open the fucking door, man, it's Francis!"

So he just went there, and opened it for him with the towel on.

"God... Damn... What the fuck kind of scar is that? Shit, what about that one? Fuck, man... Hey, I know this pretty good skin product that could rid you of all them scars you got, hombre."

James went back inside, and let Francis make himself at home while he went and put on his clothes.

"What do you want Frank?"

"Just wanted to see how you were doing, you know? Catch up and shit."

James got out of his room and, looked at Francis with a serious face, indicating thathe couldn't take much more of his swearing. James had three very strict rules that applied to absolutely everyone when they were in his apartment.

Rule number one, James's apartment was a neutral zone, no matter what. Weapons from the outside were not allowed. He'd take them, and only give them back after the owner of said weapon decided it was time to leave.

Rule number two, no smoking. James had a very, extremely, excruciatingly sensitive nose, and was immensely bothered by the smell of cigarettes, and cigars alike.

Rule number three, the most important rule he had, no swearing was allowed inside his home. Over the years, James noticed that people's behaviors change for the better when they stayed prolonged periods of time without cursing. He even had a swear jar.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the rules... no swearing, and no weapons... I put my gun, and badge on the table when I came in."

As James sat back down on his couch he offered Francis some of the eggnog as he grabbed one of the three chairs James had in the living room.

"Man, did you see that piece of ass down the hall? That girl is smoking, haha."

"Yeah, I noticed. What about her?"

Taking a sip from the bottle Francis started scolding James about his unwillingness to at least have meaningless sex for fun,

"When the fuhhhh... When are you going let a girl in your life? Jim, you don't need to get into a relationship, bro. It is alright to just play with them a little, know what I mean?"

"Unfortunately, I do know what you mean... However, I don't think it's alright. Now, please tell me why you're here."

"I'm just saying, man, the way you's livin' your life ain't healthy. A woman's touch in some private places could sometimes be all you need to--"

"Frank."

"Ok, ok... Well... Something happened."