An unidentifiable feeling surged in me, somewhat a mix of anxiety and adrenaline. I thought about the only memories I had made throughout this time. I wanted to think about this, think it through, but really I believe I've already made a decision.
"You mean memories I lost?" I giggled half-heartedly. "I, um, I don't think I'm done here, though. I don't want to leave with all these loose ends. You'll come back, right?"
Kaiholo tilts his head down, nodding softly.
"Yes, I suppose I will come back. I just don't know when, and if it'll be a good time."
Kaiholo raised a welcoming hand.
"Goodbye, Jen. Another time, then?"
You could hear Jean voicing his concerns about the time you've been gone, and Kaiholo started taking a few steps back with the ghost of a smile.
I gently touch his palm. "You better fucking come back. See you!"
Walking just fast enough to avoid running out of breath, I return to Jean and Anubis when they aren't looking. "Sorry," I grinned sheepishly, "I got distracted by the snacks." They exchanged glances and shrug, leaving the matter alone.
"You get me anything?" Anubis joked as Jean popped open a bottle of cheap whiskey, turning it upside down as it poured down his throat. Anubis paused, furrowing a brow at Jean.
"You were supposed to drive the other half of the way home." Anubis utters.
"I was getting a migraine, I wouldn't have been any better sober."
Anubis scoffs and crosses his arms.
"You were fine, you could have lasted another thirty minu-"
"Anubis." Jean's glare could pierce through steel. "Just drop it."
I watch the two snap at each other. Sighing quietly, I suggest, "I can drive. I remember how to." Without giving Jean a choice, I proceed to get into the driver's seat and slide the key in the ignition. The two stare at me for a moment, as if I had betrayed them. "Okay, yeah, I don't have my license on me, but we won't get pulled over. Get in."
Jean took the backseat to lay down and Anubis got shotgun. I pulled my seatbelt on and adjusted my mirrors. this is just a test to see if i know how to drive hhahhahaha
Though you had arrived at Jean's house, your mind was still transfixed on a moment during the drive. You had hit a stoplight, just barely missing it, so you had to sit there for a while. Anubis was distracted by whatever was on his phone, and you weren't sure if Jean was asleep, and frankly you were afraid to turn around and check.
But, for some reason, you felt eyes on you. You looked around the outside, even glanced through the windows of a few other cars nearby. Right before you gave up, you locked eyes with him. Where had you seen him before? He looked painfully familiar, as if you two didn't meet on good terms.
He stared at you with the same curious glare, as if he was trying to remember where he had seen you too. Unfortunately, he remembered too soon and he started to approach you. Luckily, the lights turned green, and you accelerated a bit too aggressively as you drove off.
Anubis sludged down the hall into his room, but Jean found a spot at the bar and poured a cup of whiskey. He eyed you and pulled out a second cup, pouring one for you and gently sliding it down the surface towards you.
I frowned, not exactly wanting any alcohol, but after the eye contact with the familiar stranger, a couple of sips of whiskey didn't seem so terrible. Now would've been a good use of my memories. I tried to think about what would make sense. Have I lived here before? Is he maybe following me?
Unless I met him recently.
Taking a seat at the bar, I gladly accept the cup. "How's your head?"
Jean let out a gentle chuckle as he took a sip.
"I didn't actually have a headache, I just needed an excuse to drink."
He studies you as you sit down and take the drink. You could tell he had a lot on his mind, but he, for some reason, was quiet. As if he didn't want to force conversation. He leans forward, resting his arms on the table as he sighs.
"Did you really need an excuse though lmao cmon jean
shut the fuck ur up
"Hey, can I say something really weird?" I ask out of nowhere. After this next comment, I am sure to be kicked out of this house, but my seemingly impulsive personality has kicked in. "Like hella whack?"
Jean furrows his brow at you, a little confused, but he straightens his posture and gestures an affirmative hand towards you.
"Humor me."
"You, have really nice hands," I say, unable to hold back a smile. I start to take my first sip but I put the cup back down in fear I'll start laughing and choke. In waiting for a reaction, I wonder why he got me a drink in the first place, instead of leaving me to my own business. Maybe he's just being polite.
Jean chokes on the sip he was taking as the cup clangs loudly on the counter. Jean's silent for a moment as he tries to quietly swallow his sip. He doesn't look at you as he inhales.
"Is that a metaphor, or do you actually like the look of my hands?"
"A metaphor? God, Jean, you're hilarious. An absolute comedian. No, dumbass, I just like the look of your hands, the fuck?" I roll my eyes, then turn my body towards him slightly. "Dude, is something bothering you right now?"
"Other than your weird interest in my hands?" Jean utters, shaking his head. "No, nothing's…nothing's bothering me."
He leans forward, placing his elbows on the counter as he takes a sip and turns his body away from you. Though this seemed pretty rude, Jean's always been like this, and he wasn't sure whether or not he actually meant to be rude.
"It's late though, you should sleep."
ItS LaTe ThOuGh yOu shOuLd SleeP
I squint at Jean despite the fact that he isn't looking at me. "So… you're gonna offer me a drink, not talk to me, not even let me finish the drink, and then send me to sleep? I think that's a little bit unfair, Jean." I finally take my first drink and the burn of the whiskey is INTENSE.
Jean turns his neck to gaze at you, something unfamiliar to you in his eyes. Almost as if he was studying you, but he wasn't studying something foreign, he just seemed to be searching you for something.
"That's how I treat Anubis so if you don't like it, get in line."
He merely brushes your complaint off as he takes another swig of the drink.
"If you think you can't finish your drink within the next ten minutes, then let me have it."
"But, I'm not Anubis. Treat him however you'd like, I don't care, but I'm not him," I sigh, wondering if this conversation would get anyways. I have come to realize I am a persistent person, but I don't plan on changing. I move the glass farther away from Jean. Resting my arm on the countertop, and then my head on my arm, I look up at Jean. "I can't remember anything, Jean. All I know right now is that I want to know what the hell is bothering you."
Jean held back several words as he watched the cup slide away from his reach. He heaved a sigh to fill in the silence of time that it took him to decide what he wanted to say.
"You're too soft, Jenny," He begins, crossing his arms and tilting his head back to squint at you. "You can't stay with us if you can't handle the consequences this life comes with." He watches you closely, waiting for you to respond.
My jaw drops due to the amount of offense I just consumed. My brain immediately goes to formulate a defense, but all that came out is, "That's what you're worried about?" I straighten up and rub my face. The issue is, he isn't wrong. "Alright, fair. I'll leave in the morning." I take my last drink of whiskey before getting up to dump the rest in the sink.
Jean watches you carefully, the sound of the whiskey falling into the drain resonates in the room as Jean stands up, puts the bottle away, and leaves the room, leaving his last sip of whiskey in the glass on the counter. Though he seemed a little tense, he held himself back from slamming his bedroom door.
You gaze at the moon. She's beautiful. She gazes back at you with a smile. You reach out to touch her.
You never quite reached her. When did this happen? Where did she go?
You land-were you falling? You land in someone's arms. Who is this person? Do you even want to know?
Flickers of what never was hit you like heartbeats.
"But, you saved yourself. That has to count for something,"
Out of sight, out of mind, right?
"She wants to continue, so don't try anything like last time."
When was the last time you were alone, Jenny?
"Don't want to start a family for that very reason, too."
The strange man spoke.
"Looks like your special boy over here can't control himself like a normal fucking android. Had to teach him a lesson yet again."
That's when you remember; the man you saw on the drive home; it was the same man who brought the beat up Roger back to you.
You sit up in realization, almost as if the sudden surge of memory made you realize you'd been dreaming. Were you dreaming? It's hard to tell these days.
Pulling the blankets off of my body, I leave the couch and approach Jean's room. I'm about to knock, but hesitation creeps into my hand. Instead, I silently walk to Anubis's room. I don't know what's going to happen, but my knuckles softly hit the door.
"Come in," his voice mutters. I open the door to find a fatigued-looking Anubis sprawled about the bed, his arm on his forehead. He stares blankly at the ceiling but then glances at me. "What?"
"I'm being kicked out and I'm hoping you could help me find some more information for the last time. I don't know whe- if I'll see you again, so…" I look at Anubis, such a weird creation.