Chapter 15- Can't Say No

Presley's Point of View;

I started rubbing my knuckles with my other hand. Helping Homer was coincidental but having someone really expecting something from me is different. I always have a hard time saying no to people. I didn't have the guts to back out. So I still looked up from the paper and agreed verbally. "Excellent, I will hear you later then," she said as she got up from the couch with her cane. I got up and followed her as I noticed she was heading for the door.

As I opened the door for her and it swung inwardly I answered, "Uh yeah, you-." I got cut off by someone whose knuckles hit me straight on my forehead the minute the door was opened. "OW! Homer." I exclaimed in pain as I saw who it was.

"Sorry Presley, I was aiming for your door." I held my forehead and Homwer looked shocked by what had just happened.

He tried to touch it but I backed away because it would only make it worse. The best thing to do is leave it alone and if it doesn't stop hurting put an ice cube on it. "Well you missed it, what are you doing here anyway?" I exhaled loudly while taking my hand off my forehead.

"Well I was looking for a girl who's like this short and she has a black cane. Some people say she's been around this building block, have you seen her?"

Homer then seems to gain back some composure and by the way he motioned his hand when signaling how short the person was, I already knew who he was talking about. "Yes, he has," Amelia answered for herself.

Homer's eyes looked down and I looked at my side as he said to her, "Oh there you are; your roommate didn't see you when she came back from class and got worried since you didn't answer your phone either."

Amelia then reached into her other pocket and took out her phone. But when it didn't come on when she touched the screen. "Shoot! The battery died on the way here. I forgot to charge it this morning. Just text her for me and tell her I'm on the way back so I'm fine."

I looked back over to Homer who already had his phone out. "Already done. What were you doing here anyway?"

For the first time, I saw a slight smile from Amelia as she said to him, "Any friend of yours is a friend of mine and I was just about to leave."

Well, this was all good but only one question plagued my mind. "Yeah... can I ask you both one thing; how do all of you know where I live?"

It was a logical question considering that I had no interaction with Homer since the incident. But looking back at me he responded, "Gail, told me that she lived right across the hall from you when she mentioned the building number when I met her in the hall a while ago."

Right, of course. It couldn't be Mitchum since he doesn't know Homer. Amelia then added, "And I heard it from him. So Presley, don't forget what we talked about and be there on time."

"Yes ma'am."

I saw Homer give me a puzzled look as he said, "You don't have to call her ma'am, she's only nineteen so like just 1 year older than you, right?"

Well, that would honestly make her 2 years older than me. I haven't hit eighteen like Mitchum as yet. But before I could say anything in reply Amelia with an expression showing approval and responded, "No no, I kind of like it; Homer, you can learn something from him?"

"I am not calling you ma'am, we're the same age. Anyway, you want help to get back to your apartment." Homer smirked and then answered,

Amelia seemed to take offense to that as she does with everything else people say. "For goodness' sake Homer, I'll leave this building the same way I got in; by myself! You can stay here and play with your friend."

Homer looked unphased by it and answered with a chipper tone,"OK, you have fun."

Was this really the guy who destroyed the computer 3 weeks ago? Well, my dad has his ok times also. Amelia on the other hand must think I'm 5 years old with that statement she made. She didn't even sound like she was joking. I guess it could be sarcasm but Im not going to push the matter any further. To be honest; I don't really know what to say to her so that she won't be offended.

As I watched her walk down the hall I thought about how I still get lost on my way to class. Even though she's a visually impaired person, she has a better sense of direction than I do. I can write down stuff as much as I want but when I'm actually out, it makes no sense to me. I really have to start paying more attention to my surroundings. Homer then spoke breaking me out of my thoughts. "She must think a great deal of you to come all the way here by herself. She almost never introduces herself to anyone except those who she must come into contact with. So you're one of the lucky few."

I've always been in the minority group but there was never anything lucky about it. "Yeah, I don't believe in luck and I'm not sure her seeking me out is a good thing for me either."

Homer's answer to me was somewhat sympathetic. "Ha! Well, look I understand what you mean cause she is what I'd call a firecracker. But to know if it's a good thing or not depends on what she reached out to you for and not so much on how it came across."

Well, he does know her so I guess he could say that. He continued, "Anyway, I have to get to my class now. Oh um, I don't know if Gail told you yet but we're all meeting up at the cafe outside the school at 7:30 pm. You weren't there the last time and things just got so busy. But if you have some free time I really hope you can make this one."

Another invite to somewhere. Why does it all have to happen on the same day? Well, I guess since I would already be outside I should get it all done. No telling when I would leave again. "It's not too far from the school right?" I asked.

Homer smiled as if he now looked forward to the evening. "No, it's just as you walk out of the school's main entrance, then turn left at the second corner with the bookstore then walk straight until you see it. Got it?"

I could ask him again but it wouldn't matter cause I was hopeless when it comes to finding places anyway. I just nodded my head and said, "Um yeah, sure."

He looked at his watch as he replied as he started to walk away. "Great, later then. And I have something to tell you all that I'd like some help with also."

"Ok then, yeah, later," I answered even though internally I felt exhausted about helping with anything more.

As I closed back my door I bit my lip a little as I knew I wouldn't remember any of those directions. My brain feels like mush these days. Maybe I should have written it down as he was saying it. But I would have had to go back inside to get a pen and he had to head for a class to get to. I would have made it difficult for him and I don't need him thinking I'm unusual too. Let's see what did he say again 'After you come out of the main entrance walk straight...'- but straight to where?