Grass

Sleepless

The deafening silence of your own house caused the blood rushing in your ears to grow louder by the minute. While it was never the craziest of places it was also not normally so silent. The clock on your dresser that listed a time in thin red lines taunted you. You tried to guess what it could mean, based on what you heard.

"Five, maybe?"

You had just woken up in a cold sweat hours into a restless sleep and now needed a reassuring touch from your parents. The dark sky outside didn't stop its eery glow to console your nervousness. You knew what the day you were so restless about meant. Your parents had been slightly worried about it and had slipped a few words about it here and there. Your birthday, more specifically your 18th birthday, have you some sort of special thing according to your parents.

You peeked out the window to find the car gone, and decided to check the living room for signs of life. The squeaky floorboards made your heart pound as you inches into the common area and looked around. Not a single light on or even a note. You say on the couch for a moment and thought.

Why are they gone. Should I...?

You shook your head in dismissal and decided that you would treat yourself and take a step outside. The shoes you kept by the door, mostly for looks, were a bit small on your feet as you painfully slipped them on, unable to properly tie them. Your whole body cringed as the door groaned from you whipping it open.

The morning air hit you like a wall, chilly against your loose night gown that had nothing underneath, which was your norm. The stars beckoned you to step further and further into the empty drive way. Shaking off the cold, you continued to follow the soft light of a single star, seeing it follow the purple line just above the horizon. You wanted to see the sunrise, but you feared the trouble it could get you in. However, it was your birthday and maybe a risk was in your agenda for the day.

A single foot off the driveway threw your body out of its comfort zone. It had been at least a couple years since you had left the property. The shuffle of your scuffed shoes echoed through the empty streets as you followed the changing colors of the sky on the sidewalk. Your anxiety increased as a car passed with its bright lights, luckily you didn't recognize the small red car that roughly pushed you away from the road with its speed.

You continued to walk until you were met with the sight of the sea before you. While you had seen it before, it was only from afar. The grass that met the pavement just before the sand of the beach beckoned you. Instead of heading straight for the grass you opted to touch the ocean, a dream you had once.

It was cold and smelled weird but pleasing nonetheless. You kicked off your shoes and threw your whole body in the ocean, soaking your night gown to your body. Violently shivering, you removed yourself from the ocean sat in the sand as the sun rose from the waters.

When about half the sun had reached over the waves, you heard the sound of a rough motor grow louder then stop, as if someone had drove up to a stop. You glanced behind you to see a man on a motorcycle looking in your general direction, making your heart jump in fear.

"Hey. Are you okay?" His voice was rough, but he seemed concerned. You still quite skeptical and just nodded in return. He got off his bike and walked towards you, causing you to back up into the water.

As he got closer you could make out his scarred up face, something that made you even more fearful, but your fear caused him to be even more concerned. His stern expression changed to a pink glare as he tried to focus on your face.

"What're you doin out here like this?" He cocked his head to the side a bit and squatted down to pick up the shoes you had laid in the sand. "These're kid's shoes." He gave himself the liberty of looking you up and down before throwing his jacket at you.

You gasped at the huge hunk of leather hurtling at you then slapping into your arms. "W-who-"

"Look Ion know what's happenin' here, but you don't look so good. Y'know there could be creeps about, right?" He huffed and adjusted his collar. "I haven't seen you here in Morioh before. Who are you?"

You did your best not to cry as he continued to tower over you, making your nerves go haywire. "I-I'm [y/n]... daughter of the [y/l/n] family..."

His eyes widen. "The hell? Those creeps have a kid?" He looked at you then did a full circle back to you. "I'm Nijimura Okuyasu, I promise I'm not tryna be a creep. I watch over this town with my friends. So, [y/n], tell me why I haven't seen ya round here." He sat down next to you keeping an eye on your terrified expression.

You hesitated to say anything at all. Did your parents never mention you? Was it really that weird that you were always at home? "I've been at home." Despite your answer being honest he did not seem to like it.

Okuyasu reaches over and forces you to put the jacket over your shoulders, causing you to fear the situation even more. "Are you hungry?" he asks, gauging your reaction.

While he was a stranger and you had your instincts yelling at you for even speaking to him, you decided to give him a short nod in response, wanting to know what would happen. He smiled very gently before offering you his hand. You carefully took it and stood with him.

The thrill raging throughout you increased as he walked you towards his bike. He was gentle grabbing you and setting you on the back, but your fears got the best of you as you started to vocalize your terror. "Wh-whoa- AH! What is this??"

He raised an eyebrow at you. "Just hold on to me, okay?" When he set the bike up straight you instinctively grabbed tightly to his waist and let out a cry at the sound of the bike kicking to life.

When he actually started driving you practically begged for your life into his back.