Watching him drive back to the apartment, his window is down so a light breeze blows his hair around. He has one hand on the steering wheel, and one on his thigh. He’s covered in blood and chaos, one look at him and you’d guess he’s crazy but… he’s beautiful. I want to stay with him, to see what unfolds, but I know I need to get out there and find some independence. I don’t want to be some girl that lives off of him not knowing what’s out there. Otherwise, what was the point of escaping?
Waking up this morning, I find Romeo out of bed already. His spot in the mattress from where he sleeps permanently dipped, I slide my hand over to find it cold. He’s been up for a while. Slipping off the bed, the sheet wrapped around my naked body I step out of the bedroom and find Romeo in the kitchen, putting an orange bottle of pills up into a cabinet above the stove.
“Taking your meds?” I ask, sliding onto a stool at the kitchen island. He turns, his bare chest a little scratched up from the war last night.
“It’s for the best,” he mutters, offering a bowl of sliced fruit for breakfast. He sets it between us. It occurs to me that I should probably see a doctor now that I’m out. Being kidnapped as long as I have my emotions have been all over the place but I didn’t really have time to over think if I was normal or not. Now that I’m free, that will change. I will change.
Taking a slice of watermelon, I bite into it, the juice dripping down my chin.
“So, what now?” he asks with a grim tone.
Finishing my fruit, I lick my lips and stare back at him.
“I guess I go and live like a normal person.” I shrug before sitting back on the stool. “I need to find a place to stay, and to work.”
He grabs a newspaper off the counter behind him and hands it to me. I’m excited for this new journey but I feel like I’m leaving a part of myself behind. I feel a mixture of sad and happy, I don’t know how to feel.
“I thought you’d say that, so I made sure and had Jannet get the morning’s paper. There are a couple people looking for roommates in there,” he informs, pointing his finger at the paper.
Taking it, I feel bad for wanting to experience life. I feel like I’m leaving him.
“We are still going to be close, right?” I question, my head tilted to the side.
He gives a half-smile. “Yeah. I plan on fully interrogating your roomie, and your new job,” he says, popping a piece of fruit into his mouth.
I laugh, liking the sound of that. I’m glad he understands I need to see what it’s like to be free, to see what it’s like to be independent but I’m going to miss him. I really hope we stay close friends.
Romeo is the new king of New York, he can do anything he wants and knowing he wants to protect me even after the threat is gone, is a great feeling.
19
Luna
Pulling a cardboard box out of the back of Romeo’s Navigator, I head toward the yellow door that is squeezed between a juice shop and an insurance company. Carrying the last box up the hard wooden steps, I take a left into the apartment, the smell of incense strong, and the vibrant colors from the couch, curtains, to whatever she has hanging on the wall nearly has me going into shock until I go into my room where it’s three brick walls, and one creamy painted one. I set the box on the twin bed, my room much more subtle than the rest of the place. I don’t know how I will decorate it, I’ll have to wait until I get paid and go looking around to see what fascinates me.
Romeo reaches the front door with a throw blanket from his couch in his hands, and my roommate steps out of her room and begins to hassle him.
“Wait! I need to smudge that!” she says with panic, waving around a roll of burning sage that looks like a giant joint.
“Cassie, it’s fine,” I tell her, walking into the room.
Ignoring me, she continues to wave the smoke around Romeo and the blanket, her red hair tied back in a braid with flowers, and her long wavy dress printed with rainbow designs.
Romeo gives me a look and I can tell he’s two seconds away from shooting her. Snatching the blanket from his arms, Cassie takes a step back, eyeing Romeo. It’s like she can sense his blood lust. She’s weird, I know, but it was either this or having a roommate that hoards everything. I couldn’t even get in the door to find my room. Plus, Cassie got me a job at the Starbucks near Times Square, so she’s the winner. I can’t wait to be able to look out the window at Christmas time and watch everyone walk by in their puffy coats and hats.
“I’m out of here Luna, but…” He hesitates and my heart begins to sink. This will be the first time without him.
“I’ll call you,” I promise, and he gives a tight lip smile, before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Raising my arm, I chew on my nail nervously. I feel so alone all of a sudden, nervous even.
Turning to see what Cassie is up to, I find her doing some yoga pose with that damn joint looking thingy in her hand.
“Hey, do you want to watch a movie, order some food?” I ask her. She doesn’t even look up.
“NO. I do yoga for an hour, then read, take a bath and go to sleep.
