Chapter Nine.

I was already fantasizing about my life in Articatina, maybe with penguin best friends, (those animals are darn cute).

Then I remembered my ice cream. Wait, my ice cream. Probably melted and all gooey. I have to go save my big tub of chocolate deliciousness, ninja style.

I looked from my window, no Jason. Okay, open the door, stealthily move to his car, retrieve my groceries and sneak back without seeing him or vice versa. Most preferably vice versa. Then lock myself in to avoid seeing him. Forever. Easy peasy.

Maybe you are like, why are you exaggerating? Its just a little embarrassment. Well, to me, embarrassment is embarrassment period, little or big. Like that time I was little and I.... Forget it, like I would recount something that embarrassing.

Moving on. I'd opened my door when I realized two things. Those things aside, today is not really my day. You know that day that is just not yours. Yes, today is mine.

One, seems like my brain went on vacay because I realized that I can't exactly walk to someone's car and open his trunk without his keys. Then two, said he was standing in front of my porch, with my groceries, hands fisted and raised as if about to knock.

Darn, I didn't even remember to peek my balcony. I am starting to think I got stuck at the homoerectus stage, because am currently embarrassing all homosapiens across the world.

Forget Articatina, sinking sand would be real helpful and probably not leave any evidence of me disappearing as well...

While I probably looked constipated, he looked amused. And edible. Uh, I meant my groceries looked edible. Yes, that's it. Just shut me up now.

I refuse to be associated with you, my subconsciousness mused.

"I'd like to do that. With my lips. And yes, you said all that aloud. Although, you would be the first calling me edible."

I shut the door in his face.

Then remembered, my ice cream. I opened the door so fast, it was almost a blur. I grabbed my bags, but I was slow, blame them bags, before I could shut the door, he held it back.

"Can you just disappear, like poof all gone?"

"Now, where's the fun in that? You entertain me. It's been a while I got entertained like this."

"Just leave."

"Ouch, you hurt me. Are you not meant to be super grateful I saved your ass from walking at least ten minutes home? The least you can do is offer me water." I looked at him, unimpressed.

"Really, because you don't have water in your house or what?

He probably drinks all this expensive mineral water, if his house was any indication of his account status.

"I am bored."

"Call your girlfriend." I promise I didn't even know why I said that, it's not like I was getting jealous or anything.

"Well, she is not my, never mind." He turned to leave.

"Am sorry, let me get you a glass." I led the way to my kitchen and poured him a glass of water. I sorted my groceries and packed them up, putting my ice cream and a few other things in the freezer.

I grabbed a box of coco pops and the carton of milk, two plates and two spoons, then placed them on the center island. I offered one of the plates to Jason and he politely declined, looking at me all kinds of weird. His loss.

"What?"

"Who takes cereals at lunchtime?"

"Who cares, I already had something at the cafe, but am hungry again and is there any rules that bans me from eating cereals whenever I want?" He shook his hand like he couldn't catch up with my craziness.

I looked at him suspiciously "Have you been talking with my mom?"

"What? Wow, you are really something else. I mean, I barely know you."

"We can easily rectify that." Just a conversation starter, totally no ulterior motives, whatsoever.

"Okay, what do you want to know?" He played along.

"Okay, how old are you?" Am starting easy. He looked relieved, and answered. "Am old enough to be your grandpa."

I looked at him, "Really?" Sarcasm dripping from the word like soy sauce.

"Ha-ha, am actually 24."

"Wow, grandpa."

He ignored my jab and asked "and you?"

"21." I scooped the last of my cereal goodness into my mouth and let out a small burp, covering my mouth.

"You are really immature, who burps after eating cereal made for kids? Where are you from?"

"Belville, I don't really expect you to know there, its a really small town. You?"

"Am from New Haven."

"Wow, people are actually from there?" He looked at me weirdly. "Yes?"

"That's like the busiest town, I thought, never mind. So how many siblings do you have?"

"Just me." He suddenly looked disinterested.

"Me too, am an only child."

"Okay." I decided to stray from the topic seeing how he was now answering with basically one word.

"So what do you do for a living? Its unfair you know am a fashion designer and I don't know about you."

He stood up abruptly, causing his glass of water to topple over. The small water remaining in it splashed on his shirt and the glass fell down, shattering into tiny bits.

I stood up, "am so sorry, let me get some tissues to help dry....."

"Don't worry, am sorry. Something just came up." He said stiffly and proceeded to walk to the door, without offering to clean his mess.

I muttered ways to kill him under my breath, and walked after him to lock my door after he leaves. Hopefully, forever.

Almost before he opened the door, he turned. "Am really sorry, but I have to go. One more thing, I wanted you to help me contact your boyfriend."

I looked at him blankly. "Jay Morris." Oh, Jay Morris, right. I totally forgot he was my boyfriend.

"He is quite elusive and I want to contact him for a contract of sorts."

"Okay?"

"So as his girlfriend, you would be able to reach him and convince him. So will you help me, unless you were lying about him being your boyfriend." His eyes searched mine with an intensity that made me catch my breath.

"Yes." I breathed. "Good." He left and closed the door after him.

I locked up, leaning on the door and wondered why he'd looked at me that way. Then I remembered, "Yes."

Yes? Yes? Am I stupid or what? I even had the right to refuse after his uncalled for rudeness just moments ago. I wasn't been hypnotized or wait a minute.... Was I?

And besides how on this green earth am I going to find Jay, or even convince him? Finding a needle in a haystack sounds like fun compared to finding the world's most recluse artist. Darn, darn!

Today is so not my day.