Fantasy Forest 3: Ressurection

17. Home Visit

"Im walking you home." Seally stated as he turned and started hearding us back towards our apartment building.

"Thats really not necessary." I said.

"What about lunch?" Talia asked and then immediately shut up as Seally glared at her.

"From now on you are not allowed outside without my supervision." He said.

"You're kidding right?"

"I am not."

"You can't be serious!"

"But I am."

I looked at him blankly and then turned my back on him and started walking towards the pizza shop in the opposite direction.

"Hey!" He called after me as he ran to follow. He grabbed me by the back of the arm to stop me. I flinched and he immediately let go.

"You are being controlling." I told him and he stared at me point blank.

"I know that." He stated. "But its for your own good."

"Is that guy from before dangerous?" Talia asked and Seally turned to her.

"Very." He said. "He is very dangerous." He then turned back to me. "Promise me you will never go near him again."

"I can try to avoid him if that makes you happy but in a city like this I can't control who I run into. Why is this so important? Who is he to you?"

"Is he your friend?" Talia asked.

"Not my friend!" Seally barked and the girl retreated slightly behind me. I glared at him and he seemed to understand and back off slightly as he softened his tone. "I care about you." He said quietly. "This...its different from last time...I care...and I'm worried about you getting hurt." He mumbled quietly like this to himself for awhile. I stepped away slightly and whispered to Talia to go get the pizza and I would meet her at her place. She looked at me uncertainly but I assured her I would be fine. Seally could be weird but I couldn't imagine him ever hurting me. Finally she relented and went on her way and I turned back to Seally who was still mumbling incoherently. I walked closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder before forcing him to look at me.

"Im not some damsel in distress you have to save." I told him. "I am more than capable of looking after myself and as my friend I want you to respect that."

"Im your friend?" Seally asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes." I said and he smiled slightly but there was something behind that smile that he wasn't too happy with. I could see it in his eyes.

"I'll still worry about you. Promise you won't do anything dangerous."

"I promise."

 "And promise you won't ever go back to the forest without me."

"Of course."

"And promise that if you ever see that bastard Frost again you will kick him where the sun don't shine and flee."

I hesitated and he waited for my response. "Sure." I said softly and that seemed to calm him as he relaxed his shoulders.

"Im going to walk you home today." He said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me away and this time I didn't retaliate and let him lead me back to my apartment. I said goodbye to him on the front stoop of the building and then watched his small figure disappear down the street before turning up the stairs and heading for Talias place. I knocked on the door and she opened it quickly, almost as if she had been standing there waiting for me. When she saw that it was me she looked me over and then sighed in relief as she walked closer and wrapped me in a small hug.

"I was worried." She squeezed.

"Im sorry." I told her as she led me in and sat me down at the couch where she handed me a slice of pizza.

"What is it with you and boys?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You always attract the weird ones."

"That may be true." I muttered as I chewed on my slice. The pizza had been sitting out slightly so the cheese was no longer melty but overall it was still warm. "Speaking of weird guys have you heard from Vince lately?" I asked her and she shook her head. It had only been a few days since I last saw him but it felt like quite awhile (like over ten chapters ago).

"Who cares what he is up to? He's a dick."

"Hey! Isn't he supposed to be our friend?"

"I never really liked him." Talia stated plainly. "He's always been on thin ice and then he left you alone in the woods and that was the last straw."

"I think Ill stop by his place later." I said and Talia looked at me and shook her head. 

"Don't."

"Isn't it weird not to have heard from him in this long?"

"Last I saw him was right before you came back from out of the woods that second time. He was hanging around by the gates and I warned him if he ever tried a bullshit move like that again with you I would kick him so hard his stomach would come out through his throat."

"Gross." I muttered as I took another bite of pizza. "And you didn't have to do that. I can deal with him myself." Talia sighed but didn't argued and we continued to eat our pizza in silence. 

Late that day I did stop by Vince's house to see how he was but surprisingly no one was home. The front door was locked and, while the inside lights were on, no one answered when I knocked or rang the bell. Eventually I just gave up and went home and as I headed back I caught sight of someone I thought I would never see again.