I found myself reaching out my arm and holding out my hand, social conditioning taking over before I had a chance to think. I immediately regretted my decision, however, even more so when his ice-cold hand grabbed mine, that same infuriating grin on his face.

I let go almost immediately and shuffled over to my dining room table, giving him an unnecessarily wide berth. I sat down in front of my laptop, then immediately glanced at him, wondering if he’d let me get on it.

Let you? It’s your computer!

I know that, but he’s already proven he has no respect for other people’s property.

You’ve got to man up! Stop letting him run over you!

Oh yeah sure, he can’t run over me if I’m dead.

By the time I was done arguing with myself in my head, he had already ambled over to me, plopping himself down in the chair next to mine, making me flinch.

“So, what are you up to?” He dragged his chair close enough to mine so that he could have a view of the computer screen, and why he did was obvious enough.

“I-I have to work.” I stared at my homescreen, which was currently blue flowers, not touching a button.

“Well, go right ahead. Don’t let me stop you.” I wasn’t looking at him, but he was wearing that grin again, I could hear it.

I methodically opened my tabs, doing the things I would have normally been doing on any other weekday morning. I checked my email, hesitantly at first, then more confidently once he showed no signs of moving.

I opened up a document from the current writer I was working with, a sweet young lady who was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and continued editing her book filled with pirates, swordfights, murder, and a giant squid.

It was silent, the typing of my keys the only sound, and I nearly forgot he was there, and I got so absorbed into the book I actually started humming fragments of songs to myself, probably because I usually had music playing whenever I worked.

But then a low cough came from beside me, and it startled me so hard I hit my knee on the table. The silence was heavy and awkward, and all the sudden I couldn’t focus long enough to get back into the groove of working.

I can’t believe I started humming out loud.

What’s it matter? Hum if you want to!

No, it’s weird. I don’t know.

He’s the one who decided to shove his way in here, he can be the one to put up with your humming!

I wonder… why did he choose to shove his way in here?

He’s hiding from the police, duh.

No, I mean my house. There’s tons of other apartments in Chicago, not to mention this building alone. So why is he here?

Ask him.

What?! No way.

Why not? He’s been chatty enough already.

I don’t want to start a conversation with him. I don’t want him to think I’m getting used to him.

You’re overthinking it. Just ask him.

I fidgeted nervously, casting a glance at the time. It was 11:47, which didn’t really matter in the scheme of things, but knowing that time was still moving forward was reassuring at least.

I got up from my chair, stretching slightly as I walked. Sitting in the kitchen chair for that long had not been a good idea. I pulled out a capri sun from the fridge, then immediately thought about how childish I must have looked.

Really? Poptarts and capri suns? What are you, five?

It’s my goddamn kitchen! I can have whatever I want in here!

Then why are so worried about him judging you? Hm?

I stared at the pictures of my wall, steadily avoiding looking at him. I could feel him staring at me, but I didn’t like the fear that tingled through my spine whenever we made eye contact.

God, just spit it out already. The tension is awful, just say something.

I flicked my eyes over to him, then realized my immediate mistake as his eyes automatically met mine. And, back to staring at the wall again.

I cleared my throat, feeling like this moment was dragging on into eternity. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but they were heavy and I was clumsy, which is why I probably should have waited before saying, “You- um, why did you uh, yeah, why did you come to my apartment?”

Wow, that was…. incredibly… bad.

Thanks for your input.

The guy, or, well, I guess his name is Melve, raised a neat eyebrow at me, amusement flickering in his eyes. “No special reason. Let’s just say you happen to be very, very unlucky.”

A cold sliver of uneasiness slid down my spine, and I got the nasty feeling that he wasn’t telling the truth at all, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I walked over and grabbed my computer, my only response being, “I’m going to the couch,” after which he promptly stood up and stretched out his arms, much like a cat would.

I sat on my couch, nestled into the corner of the couch much like I had been yesterday, very much aware that he could see my computer screen from the kitchen, which he had wandered into.

“I was wondering where you kept the cups?” A deep voice suddenly appeared in my ear from nowhere, and I once again violently flinched on the couch, gripping the sides of my laptop so hard my knuckles were stark white.

“I-In the cabinet above the s-sink.”

“You don’t mind if I use one, do you?” The voice hadn’t moved, and goosebumps spread across my neck from where his breath faintly ghosted over my skin.

I shook my head back and forth like a dog, and then I could hear his infuriating chuckle coming from the kitchen, where I could hear him opening a cabinet and grabbing a cup.

And I suddenly thought of something.

Violet is supposed to drop back by again today.