When I was back in my apartment, breathing hard, sweat dripping down my brow, I sank down against the door, letting my head loll back against the wood. Was it unusual to be so terrified? He had only asked me to sit with him. Was it wrong to think the worst of that kind of innocent invitation?

Nope. Nope. It wasn't wrong, because Hermes was intruding on Cody's privacy to have information about me. Definitely not a trustworthy person.

When I had regained my breath, I got to my feet and started for my phone. I wasn't sure why; but I had the urge to contact Cody. I wasn't sure why I thought it would be a good idea. But before I could make it all of two meters from the door, someone knocked. I froze, standing in the middle of the apartment. I realized how bare it was, even trembling in fear. There was only a desk and chair, a litre of water, a notebook, pencils, pencil lead, and a bed. Grey light streamed through the window directly on me. 

The person at the door knocked again, saying, "Open the door." Hermes tried the knob. I wished he didn't know I was inside. He rapped his knuckles on the wood another time, but I still didn't move.

He said, "I won't so much as touch you."

That caught me so off guard that I choked out a laugh and retorted, "It doesn't take contact to shoot the 'invisible man.'"

There was the briefest silence before he said, as if he were baffled, "I'm not going to shoot you. I don't even have a gun, Jinx."

I tensed at my name. I shuddered at the way I could almost taste the lie in his words. I spat, unsure of how long I could hold him off, "I'm not going with you willingly." I paused for a second before adding, "Not because I have any sense of dignity, but because I'm more than certain that you will inflict damage on me."

I could have sworn he was amused with my blunt cowardice and honesty when he reassured, "I won't step past the threshold." 

Irritated, I replied, "You didn't give any conditions, like: I won't step past the threshold while you're conscious, so I know that you're going to knock me out. I'm not stupid. Leave me alone."

There was a new voice. She said, calmly, "Stop harassing him."

Hermes took a step back, by the sound, and defended, "I'm not."

Dianne, our "new voice," said, "Don't give me that. You're disturbing the peace. I could hear both of you from my room, downstairs. Either he lets you in and you keep it down, if this is a lover's quarrel, or he doesn't, and you leave. Now." She knocked on the door and called, "You want to talk to him, or not?"

I gave a nervous laugh and  managed, "No."

I could almost see Dianne jerk her thumb towards the elevator as she bid him, "Get lost." I heard his footsteps receded down the hall, and Dianne huffed, "What is it with people interrupting my studies? I have an exam tomorrow." I heard the elevator ding, then Dianne said, clearly to me, "You're welcome."

I blinked a few times before saying, "Thank you."

I heard the tired smile in her voice when she brushed it off with: "No problem. He's too loud, and I'm not about to fail Classical Civ." There was a brief pause, before she said, "My name's Dianne. Room beneath yours. You?"

"Jinx." (My real name was said, as you know.)

"Well, you know what? Repay my loss of studying minutes with dinner. Tomorrow. There's a restaurant down the street. You know the one I'm talking about?" Her suggestion gave no room for refusal, so I agreed, 

"Sure. I know it. 17 hours?" She gave an affirmative, and I bid her goodbye as I heard her steps fade down the hall. 

So you see, I have accomplished 5 things today: 

I met Hermes officially. 

I pointed out to Hermes that I am a worthless coward. 

Dianne may have overheard a very problematic discussion.

Dianne is now my saviour. 

I am going to eat dinner with a human being tomorrow night. For the first time in four years. 

You, dear reader, probably have other humans to share your meals with. I, for one, cannot ever use the word "other" in such a sentence, as I am not human. But you should appreciate the humans you eat dinner with. At least you're human. At least you're not me. Please never mess up like me. 

Please never be Jinxed.

©Nightingale