Grandmas House

"To my grandmas' house." I signed quickly, hoping this would deter any further conversation.

"Well, isn't that sweet? Well, why don't you hop in, and we can take you to grannys?" My heart sank. It would be my luck to get the only creep in this city to be fluent in sign language. He sat with his toothy grin feeling triumphant for understanding me. Realizing he said we, I checked the passenger seat to see a beautiful young woman staring blankly at her thighs.

"Don't worry. There's plenty of room for you. She doesn't mind you sitting on her lap, isn't that right?" He glances at the girl who, without lifting her head, shakes it in affirmation setting off more alarms in my mind. He watches me intently with that weighted smile. My head swam, and my eardrums felt the thrash of my heartbeat. I could see the impatience etching its way around his smile.

"Get in the car..." An ember of rage sparked off his words, and I could have sworn I saw his eyes shimmer with a bright iridescent yellow. The haze returned, making my limbs go numb. Quickly I shove my hand into my pocket and grasp my bottle and clench my eyes shut, which the man notices.

"What you got there-

*SLAM*

The sound interrupted him and echoed through the empty streets. A hand came down hard right above the driver-side window.

"Is there an issue here, Rose?" A familiar voice asked. I opened my eyes to see Jeremy peeking his head into the car so the man could exchange eye contact.

"No problem, friend, just offering Rose... A ride home." The man beams his devilish smile up at Jeremy, who starred daggers back.

"Is that right, Rose?" Jeremy glances over his shoulder in my direction, and the man changes his focus to me as well, still sporting that toothy grin. His eyes shimmered again with the yellowish glow making my stomach roll. I manage to shake my head no while turning my focus downward, trying to steady my breathing.

"Okay, time for you to go, friend." Jeremy's voice was calm, but the rage bled through, the man seemed to start an excuse, but the sound of what I only assume was bending metal cut him off before the sound of spinning tires filled the air taking the car down the street and around the corner. My head rested firmly in my lap as I focused my breathing silence rushed me now that the car's engine had faded away. My racing heart slowed until Jeremy placed his hand on my shoulder, making me jump and pulling me from my thoughts.

"Sorry! Sorry... Are you alright?" His eyes matched his tone, kind and concerned. I shake my head in affirmation mustering the best half-smile I can. He sat next to me on the bench drumming his fingers on his thighs as we waited.

"I know you have a bunch of rules and stuff... Lilith told me, but if your grandmother lives close and we can make it there, I think I should take you there instead of waiting for this bus." The haze hadn't lifted yet, and at this point, I was so exhausted. Getting out of the cold just made more sense, and technically, it wouldn't be the house we were going to. I stood with a wobble that Jeremy remedied as we made our way down the sidewalk.

A couple of blocks from the bus stop, we make it to an old ratty apartment building with many floors. We made it through the lobby quickly and entered an elevator that creaked and whined as we rode it to the top floor. It deposited us into a pungent corridor. The smells of different living styles had solidified into a wall of odor. I was already blind to it, but Jeremy, On the other hand, covered his mouth and nose as he turned a shade of green. Noticing this, I picked up the pace to a worn old door at the end of the hall and quickly unlocked it with my keys.

We enter the moderately sized apartment for an older woman. Little knick knacks littered the room, and that natural older people smell overpowered the hallway smells. That allowed Jeremy to breathe easier as he curiously looked about the living room. My body drained of adrenaline, and finally, somewhere I felt safe became heavy with exhaustion. It carried me as far as a comfy-looking old couch so I could crumple into a heap onto it. Jeremy pensively watched from the middle of the living room as I decompressed.

"Could I get you some water?" He asked, mustering up his softest tone possible. I shake my head yes and thumb at a window in the wall behind me. He leaned to peak at a fridge and stove in a small kitchen quickly. He crossed the room and into the kitchen. Out of sight, I closed my eyes and focused my breathing while listening to the soft opening and shutting of cabinets until he found the cups.

"Found the cups!" He chirped like he solved the case of the missing cups, and I couldn't help but think how cute he was on the whole. My mind drifted back to the car and how much bravery it took for him to intervene. Jeremy wasn't the biggest guy, and in this city, hanging his head outside of a random guy's opened car window wasn't the wisest choice, but it did save me. The sound of a running faucet and a glass cup trapping water enticed my dry throat. He checked the freezer for ice which my grandmother kept none of gave up, and quickly made his way to me in the living room.

I open my eyes to the puppyish look on Jeremy's face holding out a cool glass of water. I swiped it from his hands and greedily guzzled from the cup. I was too tired to be embarrassed and just was glad he seemed to like me enough not to judge. I deflate back into the couch, mustering up my best smile and sadly the weakest "Thank you." I could manage. My usual haze had lifted, which prompted me to push my hand into my pocket nervously and toy with the bottle of pills.

Jeremy's eyes flicked to my hand for a moment, then quickly away. Another show of sweetness from him made me smile. I pulled my hand from the pocket and was going to say something when it went limp.

I stared confused at my arm. No matter what I tried, it didn't heed any of my commands. I looked at my other arm and realized I barely gripped the glass. I tried to put strength into my hand but only managed to flick a finger knocking the cup from my hand where it rolls from the couch, allowing Jeremy to reflexively catches it.