Cage Gazers

+ Amalgamation of Meats

        Erin was thankful that there hadn't been classes, especially with the shock of.. God, what was his name? Levi? She looked over at him from the oriel window, he was watching Wild Kratts on PBS Kids. No, she thought, his name was Emerson. His last name was, at the least.
She didn't know how he persuaded her to let him stay in the apartment, but the day had been chaos. Her neighbor Jamie from down stairs texted asking if her and her boyfriend had gotten in another fight after all the noise this morning, she didn't respond. He wasn't her boyfriend.
She didn't have a boyfriend, not anymore.
The room was mostly quiet: Erin being invested in her thoughts and Emerson invested in his kids show. There were so many questions, and it was doubtful they would be asked.
"I'm hungry. " Erin looked up and over at the cleft eared man once more, he'd turned off the tv and was staring directly at her. His emerald eyes were hard to look away from, it was a little unsettling.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" She sighed, placing the book she held in her lap under the seat and standing. " Kitchen is four flights down, we finished off the cereal that I had left this morning and I've been entirely reliant on the kitchen and my mini fridge for utility. "
"We could always walk down the stairs?" She groaned at his suggestion; he raised an eyebrow and continued," Or I could walk down the stairs and bring food back up?" Erin shook her head.
"If you leave without me, I can't guarantee I'll let you back in. " she walked over to the door, kicking off her slippers and putting on some old, slip on sneakers. Real shoes. "Even if food is in the deal. " He was to his feet as soon as she reached for her keys, striding to and opening up the door for her.
"So you're telling me there was a flaw in my flawless plan?" She rolled her eyes and went out the door.
They continued to make light conversation down the stairs, mostly banter and sarcastic comments. She hadn't yet decided if he was an obnoxious asshole or just joking, but she was sure that his hair got on her nerves.
There was only one person out on the stairs, a guy that took the bus with her to campus on Wednesdays. They weren't on speaking terms, but they still waved at each other when she passed by. "Who was that?" Emerson asked. Responded with a shrug, having not actually known the guy's name. She made mental note to ask the next time she saw the dude.
         There were on other people around, generally. And when they got to the kitchen, even that was empty(aside from a covered and chirping birdcage sitting beside the sink.). The bright light of midday shone through the windows and into the kitchen, illuminating the otherwise yellow room with a soft white light, highlighting the whitish granite countertops and the honey oak flooring. Erin didn't have much of a chance to enter the room before Emerson came in behind her, heading straight for the cabinets. "What are you looking for?"
        "Something that tastes good. "
       " Peanut butter sandwich?"
       "Yuck." His face contorted and he shook his head, not looking away from his search. " What, are you trying to make me feel sick?" She felt a pang of offense(because peanut butter is the shit) and walked over to the snack drawer.
        "There's chili in the fridge, Mrs. Keller made too much the other day." She only half lied, Mrs. Keller had meant to make that amount, to have her younger neighbors eat with her since her son had failed to show up again, but only two people did. It made the old gal happy, thankfully. He shook his head. "Canned soups?"
"What types do you have?"
"I'm not sure, but they're all in the bottom end cabinet." He opened it, looked around it and shook his head. " Maybe a pot pie, then? There are quite a few in the freezer."
He stood and walked over to it, practically flinging the door of the freezer open. "Chicken and turkey?" He looked over at her, light dancing in his eyes.
"Which one do you want?"
"Both. I did say and, didn't I?" There was a lump in her throat.
"That sounds disgusting. You mean together? Both? At the same time?" He nodded, taking them out.
"Want some?"
"No!" She scrunched up her face, shaking her head. "I don't think I'd every be hungry enough for that." He laughed and followed the instructions on the box.
        Around 20 minutes later he was plating his monstrosity as Erin ate a fried potato and cheese sandwich. It smelt about how you would expect it to, chicken and turkey pot pies mixed together in a horrible amalgamation of meat.
         ... It reminded her of cat food, or dog food. Usually she would think tuna sandwiches reminded her, but... This reminded her of pet food for sure.
         "So, should we head back to your place?" He piped up, Erin looking away from his beast of a meal.
         "Not unless you're going to use your "magic" to somehow make that smell better." She crinkled her nose, pinching the tip for effect," The scent makes me wanna vomit, and I'm sure the taste is just as bad. " He rolled his eyes.
         "Ever heard the phrase " don't knock it until you've tried it?" He said.
         "Heard it, but have you tried eating shit?"
         "No? Gross."
         "Case and point," she said with a not of finality. With that, they ate their food in the kitchen. It was hard for her to stand watching him eat, so she found some snacks— white chocolate reeses? I think yes — and ate them as she waited by the window.
          The rain from the night before had subsided nicely into sunshine, occasionally a car or a biker would ride through a puddle. It was hard to imagine that life was still going on, even her life; she had a creepo stranger running amuck in her clothes eating.. ugh, she didn't even want to think about what he was eating.
         She wanted to think this was all just some dream, that she hadn't arisen to find some idiot naked in her bed, but the sensation of food in her mouth proved her unable to believe she was for too long. She looked over at Emerson.
        He was finished eating and took it upon himself to clean the dishes. It was a sweet gesture, and certainly not one she'd expected; he didn't seem the type to act kind.
        Maybe she shouldn't judge a man for their first encounter alone.