Partners

10.

I would say night came faster than I expected. But it would be a lie. My eyes documented all parts of the change between the color of the sky (from bright to dark) and the change in the lighting of the streets and cars (from dark to bright).

Now, I could go into a monologue about the procrastination. But that would be another act of procrastination stopping me from finishing my essay. You might have understood why I always have some unfinished work due tomorrow.

My desk is pointed in front of my window which leads me to believe that might be the fuel of my laziness. I get up close my window, close the curtain. But my mind still wanders to everything other than the main things.

It wanders to my last few days, especially to Elyssa, who managed to hack her way into my thoughts. Maybe my mind is too focused on the thoughts of Elyssa and how we just kind of held hands and how after she didn't even mention it. Or how we never talked about why she made me run away using the back exit. Or why the hell did I go there in the first place?

So, there is no space for me to think about the 2500-word essay.

With a sigh, I got up to get yet another cup of coffee which wasn't keeping me awake at all. On my way I also decided to wash my face too, hopefully, gain some refreshing look to this whole situation.

After a long struggle I managed to finish my draft, and now I am in the process of developing it a bit so it can meet the word requirement. I was feeling pretty productive, to be honest. I finished the essay, wrote for my long-abandoned project, I wanted to try myself in comics drawing. I even read through my notes and study books to mark down what I had to study for next month.

When I finally decided to go to bed it was only 11 pm. I was waiting for it to be like 3 am or something but it wasn't. It's all because of the weather getting dark early, it totally destroys my inner clock and working system.

I looked out of my window and saw people walking up and down the street. Some of them were laughing loudly and obnoxiously, probably drunk or high or both.

I wouldn't say that my neighborhood is bad. But it's not good either. It falls somewhere a little bit over the middle in the category of dangerous and bad regions.

Yeah, we have some junkie living in this building or somewhere in the region and yeah, there are underage drinkers here. Nevertheless, they are not bad people, also the rest of the block is pretty chill.

My stomach reminding me of itself ruined my thought train. I scanned the streets for some open places. Some stores were still open, I looked out for a small Chinese restaurant down the corner. I leaned out of my window to have a better look at it. I couldn't see if there were people there or not.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" A loud voice made me jump and I held window frame tightly. I looked around until a waving hand from across the street caught my attention. "You gave me a fucking fright of my life," I yelled back to Elyssa who was holding back a laugh. People in the street looked at both of us weirdly, but who were they to judge?

I rolled my eyes at her and got inside and closed my window. I was wearing sports clothes (though I never do that much sport) so, I just put on my shoes and walked out.

Elyssa was already on my side of the road when I walked outside.

"Why are you here? Is there something serious or what?" I asked her seeing that her laugh has calmed down and her eyes were moving around like a scanner.

She shifted her attention to me and shrugged. "Nothing' just decided to come and check up on you. Knowing that you would probably go outside late at night."

"Girl gotta eat when she is hungry." I objected as I started to walk towards that Chinese restaurant. "Girl also can learn to cook so she doesn't have to buy food every time she is hungry." I shrugged at Elyssa's answer and continued on my way.

"Why would I do that when I have free food cards," I said and took them out of my wallet to wave in front of Elyssa.

Instead of some work safety insurance or pay rise, my boss gives free food coupons that could be used in his other restaurants. Unlike work safety insurance thing, I can use this one to feed myself.

"Does your magic coupon cover a meal for 2?" I shrug. "Well, it can, if I add 'pretty please' at the end" Elyssa chuckles and nods towards me. "Then do that."

When we turned the corner getting closer to the restaurant, Elyssa glanced around the place and pulled up her hoodie and sank down her shoulders making herself look smaller. I raised my eyebrow to that action of hers.

"There, in the left corner. That's one of the people I.... used to work with. It would be better if he doesn't see me." Elyssa explained to me. I glanced to that corner and saw a sketchy looking guy with a cigarette between his fingers.

Elyssa slowed down to walk a bit behind me, hiding behind my shadow. "Do you smoke?" I asked with curiosity. Elyssa shook her head. "Always hated it. It doesn't even taste good."

I chuckled at her remark. "It's not about taste, it is about habit. You do it a few times and then get used to the feeling of it around you. Kind of calming ritual." I explained. That's how Daren described to me when I asked him about it.

I was 14, he was 17 and had that awful smell of smoke all around him.

"A very interesting way to describe a deadly habit. Did you ever even have a taste of it? It is bad." Elyssa said and put emphasis on 'bad'.

I chuckled. "No never, but my brother always made a big deal about it. He would have gone to a lecture about how taste isn't why he smokes it." I didn't even notice how I blurted out stuff about Daren.

Elyssa quickened her steps and caught up with me, we were a few steps away from the restaurant. "You have a brother?" I shrugged. "I used to," I said and opened the door for Elyssa she nodded and pulled down her hoodie while walking inside.

I went towards the cashier, he smiled and took the coupons. We talked a bit while people in the kitchen prepared the food.

I spotted Elyssa passing in front of the table, she was on the call. When I put down the food she hung up her phone and sat beside me.

I guess we were both hungry, so we dove into the food without that much talking.

"You know, for someone who is just a college student, you have an awful lot of mystery around you. And that's coming from a gang member." Elyssa said after referring to the small talk about my brother.

I smiled. "Maybe you have rather boring life for a gang member." Elyssa turned towards me so I could perfectly see her rolling her eyes at me. Ocean of her eyes had another storm.

Throughout the meal, her leg kept tugging mine. I first thought it was because the seat was small and she was trying to get comfortable, but after I gave in answered with my own tug to her.

I glanced at her and saw her smiling. Before I knew, I had a smile of my own.