Once Faye got back to her apartment door, she couldn't help but think of the man. He looked so familiar to her, but she knew it wasn't because she saw him in person before. Faye, you probably just saw his face in the crowd before. It's no big deal. Faye thought to herself. She was getting so worked up over nothing. She tried to force herself to go to sleep, so she would be well rested for the concert tomorrow, but sleep never came. She heard her father's alarm clock go off and knew that it was 6:30 in the morning. She rolled off her bed, and landed face first on the floor. She pushed herself up then slowly began to get ready. She put little to no effort in her makeup, knowing that she would just redo it later for the concert and put her hair in a ponytail. She walked out of her bedroom, and heard her father's soft padding in the living room. As she entered the room, the disgusting smell of alcohol. He's been drinking again. Just avoid him. Faye thought to herself. Avoiding her father worked for about five minutes, he started yelling at Faye as soon as he saw her enter the room.
"WHY ISN'T MY BREAKFAST AND COFFEE FIXED, FAYE? JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO EMILY'S HOUSE DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT ME!" Her father screamed. His face a bright red.
"You're a grown man. You should be able to take care of yourself! You can't depend on me ALL THE TIME!" Faye screamed, obviously frustrated. Her father punched her, straight in the jaw. Faye felt all the force from the hit and immediately fell to the floor, grasping her jaw in pain.
---
Jake was annoyed by being woke up with screams from the apartment above him. He got out of bed and went upstairs to give them a piece of his mind. He marched up the stairs and heard screaming behind the door. This must be the one. Jake thought to himself as he banged on the door. He heard a stomping sound and the door flew open.
"What do you want?" A man whose face was covered with anger asked Jake. Jake saw beyond the man's angry face and saw the girl he met last night on the ground, grasping her jaw.
"Faye, are you okay?" Jake asked as he pushed by the man, and ran towards Faye. He saw a bruise already coming upon her cheek. Jake stood back up and grabbed the man by the back of the collar.
"For one thing, I'm tired of your obnoxious screaming, waking me up at 6:45 in the morning. Another thing, you don't hit girls, especially, now I'm making an assumption, you're daughter. I can report you, and they will put you in jail. They won't stand for your crap. Come on, Faye. Come with me." Jake said as he stormed out of the door. Faye's eyes widened in disbelief. She grabbed her book bag and the bag she was using for her overnight stay at Emily's. She quickly followed Jake out of the door, bypassing her father. He tried to stop her, but she ducked under his arm and ran down the stairs.
"Thank you." Faye said as she finally caught up with Jake. Jake turned around on his heels and smiled a half smile.
"For what? Being annoyed? It's not a big deal. Don't sweat it Faye." Jake said. Faye looked surprised and Jake rose an eyebrow.
"What is it?" Jake asked, still looking at the shocked Faye.
"How do you know my name? I don't recall telling it to you. " Faye said, finally catching on that this stranger knew her name.
"You were mumbling to yourself before you bumped into me. The last word I caught was when you said Faye. " Jake said, as he opened his apartment door.
"You can chill here until you have to leave if you want." Jake said. This man is my saviour. How can he always be at the right place at the perfect time? Faye thought to herself. She nodded her head up and down and sat on the man's couch as he started to do other things.
"Well, can I at least find out your name?" Faye asked. Jake shook his head as he entered back into the room.
"You'll find out, eventually." Jake said with a smirk.
