The Way You See Me

Chapter Nine

I had left Kayla's house after we'd finished our ranting about stupid things in the world and what we wanted to do when we were 70.

The walk home was short since for the most part, Max and I ran. There weren't any jerk kids this time. It was actually pretty nice, relaxing. 

I got home and it was almost dark outside. I had stayed at her house until about 6:30 pm. I knew I had to go home at some point. 

Once I'm inside, I let Max get up and chill on the couch while I make myself a sandwich for dinner. 

I go and sit beside him, clicking on the tv and finding some new-ish movie to watch since I haven't seen it yet. I lean back, relaxing, as I finish my sandwich. 

A few minutes later, I hear a loud bang out front and jump. Max growls, climbing off the couch and trotting to the door. I sit up, frowning, and pause the movie.

I get off the couch and walk over to the door slowly. There weren't any lights outside, besides the ones of the lampposts. I hear men's voices, and they sound like they're arguing. I squint my eyes, tilting my head to the door, straining to hear. 

Max stands beside me, growling at the door. I have to push him to get him out of the way, shushing him as I open the door just enough to peek my head out. 

The arguing gets louder, but I can't tell what is being said. I step outside, leaving Max in my apartment, still growling and pissed at whoever is making this commotion. 

Leaning around my car a bit, I see two dark figures in the middle of the road, shoving each other as they argue. Now I can hear most of what they're saying, but since it's mostly profanity, I can't tell what caused it. 

I didn't want to get in the middle of other people's issues, but I wasn't going to be able to sleep if they didn't grow up and knock it off. 

"Hey! Can you two take this inside or something?" I yell to them from my door, crossing my arms over my chest. They both turn to me, going silent as they stare at me. I swallow hard. What the fuck are they doing? 

One hits the other on the arm with the back of his hand, saying something quiet enough that I can't hear. I bite my lip and turn to go back inside. "Hey!" One of them calls, and I stop, turning to look back. They're walking towards me now, and I reach for my doorknob, opening it and going inside, just as they approach my front step. I didn't realize until now that I'm shaking.  

The bang on my door, causing Max to lose his shit, barking and growling, standing stiff at the door. I back away and swallow again, my throat suddenly dry. They bang on it again, "Open the door, bitch!" One of them yells.

Surely someone had to hear this, right? Our apartments weren't that far apart, someone would hear them and tell them to fuck off, or maybe even call the cops. My heart drops at the fact that if no one does, I'm screwed. I don't have a working phone, I don't have a car that I can drive. All I really have is Max, but I didn't want him to get hurt. 

"Max!" I whisper yell and his ears turn towards me a bit. "Get over here, let's go," I say, and motion for him to come with me. Still growling, he complies, and we go into my room, where he stands guard at the door. I pace the room. Maybe they'd just leave. 

What did they even want? They were fighting before I even went outside, what did they want now?

I sigh and bite my lip, sitting on the edge of my bed with my head in my hands. So much had happened the past two days, and now this. 

I lift my head slowly as my ears strain to listen. I think they were gone; it's silent now, no banging or yelling. They must've gotten bored. 

I stand up and open my bedroom door slowly, tiptoeing to my front door again. Someone knocks, not hard, just a normal knock, and I freeze. Weird.