𝐿𝑜𝓊𝒹 𝒮𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒

Chapter 9: Hangman

I sat under my tree for I don't know how long. But it seemed I gotten lucky because my neighbor pulled up. She was a sweet old lady and I mentally thanked myself for being sociable with her. I scurried over there once she got out the car. Making sure not to scare her I gently tapped her "Do you need assistance?" I asked talking some bags off the ground

She smiled knowing it was me "Oh, thank you Aza. My good for nothing husband rather sit on his ass watching his bullshit shows instead of helping me," She opened the door for me and told me to set the bags down in the kitchen. After I helped her with the bags I helped put the food away. Naturally, I earned a sideways glance from her here and there. I forgot that my bandages were on full display which gave people the opportunity to ask what happened. Trying to avoid her questions I hurried to the living room until I remembered I needed to ask can I use her phone.

"Helen, may I use your phone?" I asked

She laughed "Of course you can. I forgot to thank you for teaching me how to use it. iPhones are being upgraded every year it seems!" She threw it over to me. It caused me a mini heart attack knowing if I didn't catch it'll shatter but luckily the tips of my fingers caught it. I stared at the numbers for a few minutes. "What's wrong honey?"

"Um, I'm racking my brain trying to remember my friend's number well the last four anyway," I found myself pacing and eventually tuning out any sounds that could distract me. Until it clicked that Helen had her number already listed in her contacts from when I had used her phone last time. An irritated growl escaped my lips she noticed this and chuckled lightly. The first two times she didn't answer but on the third time she had but she used her Spanish accent she mastered.

I told her I need her to pick me up as well as borrow some clothes but she played it off like she was a foreigner and had absolutely no clue what I was trying to explain to her. Maybe she wasn't too sure of who I was. But then again how could she not? We've been friends since diapers and she knows I'll wring her neck if I have to walk over to her house. After countless minutes go by she finally agreed to come after giving me such a difficult time! I huffed marching to the living room throwing myself on the couch just for me to get back up to answer the door.

"I'll get it, Helen!" I yelled almost running to the door.

"Wow, it really was you. And here I thought someone was messing with me," she stuffed her face with chips.

"Thank you, Helen, for allowing me to use the phone. I'll be taking my leave now," I turned on my heel closing the door behind me. "How did you get here that quick?"

"Alice? Yeah, I believe that's her name said that she tried contacting you but your phone said it was no longer in service and so I decided to come to your house to check it out,"

"My phone wasn't disconnected. I was in a..." she eyed me suspiciously showing she wanted me to continue. But I couldn't tell her the truth because then she would be in danger. Hell, I shouldn't even be around her right now. This is something I must bear with by myself. "I was in the basement and there was no service. My cousin broke his bike and I heard information from one of his friends that he managed to crash into a pole. So without thinking, I rushed over there forgetting to tell people my whereabouts..." that was good believable if I might say so myself.

"So why were you in the basement?" She questioned

"You know how he absolutely adores the hell out of that bike. If he could marry it and have kids with it I swear he would. I was down there trying to pry him away from it. He was the one with a broken ankle but he insisted on fixing his bike instead of resting." I sighed looking at her. She laughed agreeing with me, and so I laughed as well, she had believed every word of that lie I told. I never did like lying to people but if it meant to keep them from being worried for my well being then I would do just that and so much more. Just when I thought I was clear from questions her eyes wandered to my bandaged wrist. I put them behind my back speed walking until I got in the car.