Hellcat

Chapter Two

When I woke up the next morning, it was quiet. There were no sounds in the apartment except for the faint hum of the fridge and the air conditioning. Silently, I forced myself onto my feel. My side ached, but it wasn't too bad. I took this time to just look around. Morning light poured into the living room from the tall windows. The whole space was sparkly furnished, but somehow everything matched. I had a feeling Matt's friend Foggy was the reason.

Seeing the glass slider from last night, I noticed now that it was frosted, giving an illusion of privacy. The sound of my bare feet pattering softly across the concrete floor was too loud in the silence of the apartment. Peering through the glass, I could make out a shape lying under the blankets of a queen-size bed. I recognized the shaggy brown hair instantly. A frown tugged at my lips. I wanted to leave. I needed to, but something made me stay. Maybe it was Matt's words of warning last night. "If you're not here when I wake up, I'll track you down and drag you back here". That's what he had said. I wondered if he meant it. He hadn't tried looking before.

Sighing, I turned and went into the kitchen. Searching the cabinets, I found a coffee mug and the grounds. I brewed a fresh pot, waiting patiently before pouring myself a cup. I didn't bother with cream or sugar. It didn't really do much for me. Bitter, sweet; coffee is coffee to me. I wandered around the apartment, peering out of the window. On the building across the way, there was a large, illuminated billboard. I knew Matt didn't care about it. He probably got the apartment for cheaper because of it. Unlike normal people, Matt didn't care about the billboard. He couldn't see it.

Looking around some more, I found a set of stairs leading up. Bored and waiting for Matt, I followed the stairs. At the top was a single, plain door. I stepped out only to feel a chilly New York City morning breeze. I was still in my camisole and I think I pushed off my jeans in the middle of the night. Wearing nothing but my underwear and camisole, I stepped out into the cold. I wasn't aware that Matt had rooftop access. But I guess that was a bonus of the cheap apartment.

Lost in my thoughts, I left the door open behind me as I stepped out and leaned against the edge of the building. It was like the builders knew people would be up here because they built up almost a half-wall. I leaned against it, cup of coffee in my hand. It warmed me as I sipped at the nearly black liquid. Sounds of traffic and people below filled my ears. The wind blew strands of blonde hair into my face. I shook my head, getting the strands to move out of my face. Just for this moment, here alone on the roof, I let my mind wander. I let all of the problems of the last few days – the pain of the last few years – disappear.

"Allison?" I heard a faint voice call to me from inside. My mind snapped back to now. It had been flying free. Free from the burdens of my life. But now it was back to reality. "Allison!" Matt's voice shouted as the sound of pounding feet came up the stairs. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he froze. His breathing was even. I could barely hear it above the wind. But it was heavy too, like he had been worried.

"I thought you'd run off," Matt called to me after a moment of silence. "Worried about me?" I threw over my shoulder with a smirk. Matt stood at the open door with a guarded expression, wearing thin sleep pants and a plain t-shirt. "I woke up and didn't hear your heartbeat in the other room. I wasn't sure if you'd run off or if someone took you," he explained simply as he finally made his way towards me.

"Couldn't smell the coffee? Hear the breeze from the open door?" I asked him teasingly. He had been worried. He hadn't immediately heard my heartbeat and feared the worst. "I wasn't focused on that," he said, his tone stern. "Clearly," I continued to tease before taking a sip of my coffee. A particularly cold breeze slammed into me and I felt the skin raise on my exposed limbs as my body gave a small shiver.