The Girl & the Car

Chapter 2

I pulled into her apartment complex and hopped out to grab her safe. As we entered the building I noticed how crappy it was. Rust along the door handles, bricks breaking apart, holes in the ceiling, it truly wasn't a pretty sight.

"Hello!" Andy called out.

"What do ya want?" An old woman came out of nowhere. She scooted closer to us, revealing her small body being held up by a cane. She seemed friendly at first glance.

"Oh! Hi there, I'm Andy. I called earlier this week about your open studio." Andy smiled, reaching her hand, hoping for a shake in return.

"You were less peppy on the phone. Who's he?" She stared into me. Probably trying to see if I was death coming to collect her.

Yeah, she was that old.

"I'm uh...." I blanked after staring at her for so long.

"He's a friend, who's helping me move." Andy jumped in.

The old woman shook her head and began to move to the stairs. "Elevators are broken, until further notice. Your apartment is on the 5th-floor third door to the right. Apartment 505." She croaked pointing her cane up the stairs. "Rent is due at the end of the month, and if you need something go and bother Gavin down the hall from you, and if he refers to Gladis tell him, I died." She handed over the key to Andy. I watched as she waddled down to her little cubby hole and started to groan and moan, mumbling something about teenagers.

The old woman or Gladis should I say, went retreating down the hall in her hunched and crooked form. I turned my head to Andy as she was beaming at me. "Up we go!" I laughed.

I followed her up the stairs careful not to mistake a step. As we reached her door, the two of us were out of breath and ready to sit down. I smiled at her as she turned the key into the hole. The door swung open and inside was furniture all wrapped up, and boxes all tucked in corners.

"I thought all your things were in your car?" I spoke up.

Shaking her head admiring the room, she said. "Just my clothes. I can always buy more of those. You can set the safe down by the bed." She pointed to the wrapped-up bed.

I watched as she began to tear through the wrappings. I set the safe down and she quickly opened it up. Inside were papers, a black bag, and some personal belongings. Even her purse was in there. Why would her purse be in the safe if she was driving?

"Everything's still here." She mumbled under her breath. She turned and looked at me smiling. Instinctively, I smiled back. She patted the bed, next to her, waiting for me to come to sit. I hesitated for a moment still thinking as to why everything important she owned was in the fireproof safe. She stared deep down into my eyes. "I don't bite." She smirked. I sat next to her as she turned to face me. "So tell me, who are you?"

"Who am I?" I was a little astonished by the question. I mean, I had already told her my name, what more did she need? Her eyes boarded deep into me as I still tried to think of any way she meant to take that.

"Yeah. Who are you, deep down in the heart of hearts?" She smiled, looking for some answer through any movement I made. I was still confused.

"Not many people ask me that..." I accidentally said.

"Well, you seem like a mystery. An unsolvable puzzle waiting to be answered. So tell me, Mystery Boy, who are you?"

For once, someone figured it out. No, someone figured me out. I stared deeply into her eyes finding myself lost in them once again. I reached over her and pulled myself closer. I grabbed her phone from her back pocket and entered the world of technology that belonged to her. Luckily for me, there wasn't a password. Her face grew weary for a moment as I smiled down at her. I entered into her reminders and created a note. "There's a party tonight. If you wanna know more about me, show up and maybe I'll give you my number." I gave her the phone back and smiled. I've never done anything so slick to do that.

Her bottom lip slid underneath her beautiful pearly whites as she gave a quick chuckle.
"Is there a party or are you just giving me your address?" She smirked. I stood up and began my way out the door. Only one way to know if she was truly interested.

"Show up and find out," I said as I closed the door.