6 5. Tea (1/2)

I stood in front of a golden 16 and tried putting on a friendly face.

I smiled widely but then thought I looked ridiculous. I tightened my smile, but then thought- why should I be smiling at all? I was supposedly meeting someone who was mourning a loved one.

But Audrey told me that when I didn't smile, I looked like a charming serial killer, which she said made me only scarier. It was a compliment at that time. I smiled faintly, feeling the warmth of the memory thaw my insides.

I then dropped the smile completely and rang the bell. Once. Twice.

The door opened, revealing a tall, well-built guy with nothing but a towel on his waist and a long, brown leather necklace with a rectangular, metal pendant hanging on his chest. His wet, dark hair was standing as his hazel eyes fixed on me.

Ha, Ben should've seen this- I thought randomly and almost smirked.

”Good morning,” I stated formally, but the guy's eyes were still stuck on me. I glanced behind me and cleared my throat.

He stuck out his hand and grinned. ”Good morning. Of course. Please come in.” He said, stepping aside.

Wasn't it weird that he let me in? Wow. Young people and appearances' theory- remember?

I narrowed my eyes at his super enthusiastic smile and almost grimaced, but made sure I didn't disclose my dislike.

Here I was Romeo, not Julius Caesar. I needed to remember that.

I sat on the nearest cocoa-brown couch, and he sat on the one facing mine.

”I am sorry I appeared out of nowhere. Without any formalities.” I started chuckling. ”But I am Sam's family friend, and I would really like to meet her.”

”Ah. Of course. Yeah. She's just...not her best nowadays. She trapped herself in her room since she got the news-” He said slowly, pushing back his wet hair.

”Oh?” I feigned surprise. Of course, her father's death must have been disastrous for her.

”I'm sorry, but she told me not to tell anybody and to simply tell any of her visitors that she'll be okay in a while.” He had an apologetic smile on.

I nodded slowly. ”Of course I want nothing but her comfort.” I felt a little disappointed but knew that not insisting would make it look less suspicious.

”But like, if it's really urgent I can tell her-” He cocked an eyebrow.

”You can?”

Ha, now we are talking- I thought as I pressed a smile.

”Yeah. But like, first, shouldn't you like... introduce yourself? I mean, I need to tell her who is waiting for her, you know-” He said, flustering, and I almost rolled my eyes.

”See, the problem is that I don't think she'll remember me-” I started with a sympathetic tsk.

”All the same then, but it won't hurt if you tell me your name-” He was smiling innocently while I threatened myself vigorously not to do something rash such as the natural (killing him).

”Romeo.”

”Zig,” He said. ”It's nice to meet you.”

I smiled. ”So...will you tell her that a family friend needs to talk to her?” I said urgently.

He smiled in response before getting up and rounding a corner. While he was at it, I took out a cigarette and lit it.

I inhaled deeply, exhaled, then flicked the cigarette on the ashtray on the coffee table in front of me, before hearing the thumping of heavy footsteps.

I killed my cigarette and stood up as Sam came in, dressed in a big T-shirt and baggy pyjama pants. Her jet-black hair was held up in a messy bun and her nose and cheeks were red.

She narrowed her eyes on me, hesitated for a moment, then approached me. She then turned to glare at Zig who was now dressed in a shirt and sweatpants.

She turned to me, her piercing, dark-brown eyes staring into mine.

Daring, hmm.

”Who the hell are you? And who gave you the bloody permission to smoke in my place?!” She said out of nowhere with furrowed brows and pursed lips. I was, to be quite honest, shocked.

”I am a family fr-”

”I don't wanna hear your bullshit! You should've been there for him before any of that happened!” She said loudly and Zig winced.

”I say, let me prepare both of y'all some orange jui-”

”Zig!” She snapped and he retreated.

”It's very important-” I tried getting a word in, but she was a fountain of anger, profanities, and recklessness.

”Then spit it out!” She hissed, her fierceness daggers in my direction.

”It's about you and your father,” I said softly, trying not to lose my patience.

I wasn't here to harm her.

”My father? Why would there be anything about him? I-” She looked confused as she placed a hand on her hips. Her attitude was sorry.

”Excuse me, please,” I interjected with a strong voice. ”I am not here to harm or disturb you. If you do not like what I'm going to inform you, then you can do whatever you wish with me later.”

She scratched her head, pursed her lips, cursed under her breath, and then shrugged. ”Follow me.”

I breathed out in relief. Problem was that if I couldn't get to her in a good way, Father would get to her in his ways. And you very well know them.

I looked at Zig who seemed perplexed, winked at him then followed her into apparently her room.

I closed the door behind us and took in the room. It was surprisingly neat. A big bed to the side, next to a huge window with plants on the sill. A huge desk in the centre with books stacked neatly and sticky notes randomly stuck on the wall above it. There were even a kettle, mugs, and tea bags on her bedside table.

Meticulous.

She cleared her throat and sat on her bed, gesturing to me to sit on the chair in front of her desk. I shuffled quickly and sat there.

”Do you want a tea?” She asked calmly, turning on the kettle.

I motioned for her to stop. ”No-”

”Okay, then it's only for me-” She said quickly, grabbing a tea bag, and placing it into a used mug.