Tarantism

12

Sang

It's dark out when I close up the studio. Owen leans against a grey BMW. At first glance it's identical to Victor's, but once I got closer it was just a shiny grey where Victor's is more metallic like glitter. Owen comes off the car and opens my door as I step up next to him.

"Good evening. How was the studio today?" He asked as he gestured for me to get in.
"It was good. The kids are learning new things." He nodded as if to say a silent that's good. After a minute he shut my door and walked around and got in. He looked at me after starting the car. His intense stare unnerved me. I knew he wasn't trying to be intimidating, but he just had this aura about him that made me shiver. He noticed unfortunately.
"Are you cold?" He started adjusting the knobs in the car. It wasn't cold, not by a long shot, but I just let him do his thing. I sat back finally letting everything catch up to me. The exhaustion of the past few days was evident. I let out a long sigh and turned to him.
"Have you found anything in my price range? I don't mind crashing with Eli, but I don't want to over stay my welcome. You know."
He looked out the window as he pulled into traffic. He tapped his fingers on the wheel as if contemplating something before he spoke.
"Actually, I may have a solution for you. Hear me out completely before you say anything please though. Okay?"
It made me a little nervous that he would say that but I was intrigued. I slowly nodded my head and gestured for him to continue.
"So as you know we, as in the guys and I, bought all the apartments on the floor we live on. There are 9 of us and 5 apartments. We all share so there is actually one apartment that was going to be converted into a den of sorts like a play room that could be used for family or guests. As of this moment it's empty. I haven't talked to any of the others yet, but I know for a fact they wouldn't care. It would be yours alone. We could work out a rental agreement to your liking. The apartments were bought in full, so there is nothing owed. You can decorate it however you'd like. The floor is solely ours, so no one comes to our floor without us knowing. You would be safe most definitely and we are all within shouting distance if something was to happen. Ok I think that is all for now. What do you think?" He took a deep breath and glanced at me.
I stared at him and blinked a few times. He was seriously crazy. I'd just met them. He was offering me a place to live and didn't even know me. None of them really did. I had trust issues for good reason. Could I trust his words to be sincere? Was this some twisted joke he was playing? His voice cut through my thoughts.
"I can see your mind throwing a million questions at me that you aren't voicing. You don't look as happy as I thought you would be either. What are your concerns? I can try to explain better if you let me know what's going on in that head of yours."

I took a deep breath and let it out. He wanted to know my concerns. Well here goes. He was going to find out just how many issues I had.
"You don't know me. What would possess you to offer an entire apartment to a stranger? Is this your idea of a joke? I don't want to owe anyone anything. I was under someone's thumb for way too long to be back in situation where I am controlled again. I don't trust easily as you can see and none of you have done anything to prove that I can trust you. You're a group of good looking guys that happen to be nice to me. How do I know you're good people? You could be murders. I could wind up on a missing person poster at Wal-Mart. Not that anyone would care or anything but still I think you've totally lost it." I huffed shaking my head.
We had gotten to the apartment at that point and he silently got out of the car and walked around before I could open my door he was there. I climbed out and went to walk away when he grabbed my wrist stopping me. He turned me and looked in my eyes with such fierce determination I had the urge to look away but somehow couldn't.
"I'm far from crazy. This is what we do. When we care, we do it with no holds barred. In the school we all attended, there were rules that we followed . Family first was one then trust your family. We do for those we care about not because we have to, but because it's just an inherent reaction. If one of us needs something one of the others helps. It is always unconditional. There will never be an expectation of something in return. Even if you were to live there and then leave you would never owe any of us anything. I know that we haven't know you very long but this is not a joke nor would any of us act like it was. You can trust us. I swear it. If you want to have a group discussion with the others that's fine too. You can even have Eli come and ask any questions he has. We would never hurt you." He looked at me with genuine sincerity as he reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. I didn't know what to say. I looked at my feet and nodded.
"Ok I want to talk with everyone and Eli. I'll make my decision then. Is that ok?"
He smiled a tiny millimeter smile that made my stomach flutter. "If that's what you wish. Let's go up and get the others gathered up. You can call Eli to meet us when we get up there. I'll show you the apartment too." He motioned us forward. Walking to what may be a brand new beginning for me. But good things rarely happened for me so I was not holding my breath. Or well not a lot anyway.