Day turns to night, I’d usually be getting ready for work about now but who knows how long it’ll take to fix everything up. So I get to sleep through the night like I suppose a normal person would.

When I wake up in the morning I’m met with an unfamiliar feeling, I suspect it’s being well rested. I don’t want to immediately fall asleep again. I take a deep breath of the chilly air in my apartment since my landlord is too much of a bastard to fix the heat. 

Making my way to the fridge I remember the stack of money Abayomi gave me. I can afford to go grocery shopping and still pay rent. A rare occasion in my life. I get dressed and head out. 

When I exit the building, I see none other than Abayomi.

“‘Sup?” I greet him. He nods back. “You’re not too busy…patrolling the city?” I ask.

“The newblood I encountered had the Eurasian strain, it stands to reason whoever made them has it too. So there shouldn’t be any activity for a while,” he explains. 

“Guess that makes sense.”

“What are you up to?”

“‘Bout to go grocery shopping. My fridge is emptier than my heart,” I joke. Abayomi just looks at me. “Most people would find that funny,” I point out. He shakes his head in disagreement. 

“I’m not so sure about that. I’ll tag along with you.”

“You don’t have something to do?”

“I should see this city if I’m going to investigate around,” he counters.

“Yeah, and the grocery store is the real hotspot.” Though I joke I have no real objection to him coming along. 

We talk as we walk, touching base on what news I read last night. Most of which seemed of no interest to Abayomi, but he takes note of the couple of missing persons I read about; saying he’ll investigate further. When we get to the store our conversation steers to less disturbing topics. As I get my things Abayomi asks me a few questions. I can’t tell if it’s out of genuine interest or if it’s a part of his investigative job. 

Either way, I’m quite dull so there isn’t much to tell about me. Still, hanging out with him is the closest thing I’ve had to a friend in a long time. God knows I need one. 

At the checkout, he has the audacity to offer to pay for my food. 

“I know how to buy stuff, y’know,” I say while reaching for my wallet. He has his out faster with his card already tapped against the reader. 

“Not very fast it seems,” he smugly says. The clerk poorly hides a chuckle at his stupid joke. And when I thought the humility would stop, he starts carrying my bags!

I let the rich, handsome, muscle-bound jerk carry my stuff since it’s so important to him. 

As we leave I say to him,

“What happened to quid pro quo? This seems like it's all quid.” Again, I’m not 100 percent sure I know what it means. Abayomi laughs.

“My friend, let me just help you, please. Think nothing of it.”

“Well, I think that-”

A horrible scream rings out somewhere. We’re only a couple of blocks away from my place. 

“You heard that right?” I ask him.

“Yeah, sounds like I gotta get to work.” 

Ch. 2 End