What are you? (Hayley)

After she gave Alex the address, they quickly jumped back on the motorcycle. Hayley passed her hands hesitantly through Alex’s waist, conscious now of the other girl’s presence, but Alex seemed unfazed by it, saying:

– Hold on tighter.

Hayley quickly nodded, but the motorcycle didn’t move and she realized Alex couldn’t see her.

– Okay – she said, and quickly wrapped her arms over the other girl, pressing her cheeks on her back, but if Alex felt uncomfortable, she didn’t show any signs.

The city stretched ahead of them, the wind blew softly her hair, but most of it was shielded by Alex’s body. The girl had a strong and sweet smell, like peppermint and soap and Hayley found herself closing her eyes, the tiredness of the day had finally caught up to her.

She dreamed of grasslands and fields, the soil covered in humus, while she stood barefoot on the ground, feeling the warm sunlight cover her face as the wind sang her lullabies. At a distance, someone called her, and her dream slowly cracked as reality came in.

– Hayley – said a hoarse, familiar voice. – We’re here.

– Uhmm…? – she groaned, still trying to hold on the remnants of the dream.

– We arrived at your apartment. – said the voice again.

– No – she hugged her leathery pillow. – It’s too comfy. I’ll go in a minute.

Hayley quickly opened her eyes. Oh no. She finally had done it, besides having causing trouble for Alex before, now she had hugged the girl as if she was what? Her personal body pillow? And she probably had drooled in the girl’s jacket too…

– I’m so sorry – she said, cleaning the girl’s back. – I don’t know what got into me, I was just…

– Don’t worry – intervened Alex, giving her a comforting smile. – I’m glad you could sleep a bit. You seemed really tired back there.

– Oh… yes – she agreed, fumbling with her words, once again she found herself taking aback by Alex. How can she be this… Kind, the word appeared in her mind, long forgotten. How long had it been since someone had done something like this for a complete stranger? And why?

– Thank you, Alex – she said composedly. – If it weren’t for you…

– Don’t worry – Alex brushed it off with her hands. – I’m glad I could help.

Hayley never felt so confused. What was this girl? She put herself into risk for a complete stranger, then calmed her even when Hayley almost threw them from the bike, and now she didn’t even accept a thanks. Hayley was used to fight for every single thing in her life, to never seek or wait for help, if you want something you should get it yourself, that was her mantra all these years. And now, a random person had just stormed in, giving her things without her having to ask for them and without any prejudices or expectations.

– I should go now – Alex said.

Hayley realized they had been in front of the building she lived for a few moments already.

– Oh, you’re right. Here – she gave Alex’s gloves back. – Thank you.

– No need – she said again.

When Alex’s was about to depart, Hayley found herself tugging the girl’s jacket. – Alex. Wait. – she called.

– What? – Alex lifted the helmet’s visor, stopping the motorcycle.

– It’s just that… – Hayley stumbled her words. – I didn’t thank you enough. I mean yet. You helped so much, and I… I guess, what I’m trying to say is: do you want, I mean, can I do something for you? Uh. Eh, actually, it’s so late, have you eaten yet?

– Uh, what? – Alex asked again, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

Hayley cleared her throat. – Co-come inside, I can offer you something to drink.

Alex shook her head. – You don’t have to do this. I’m al… – she left the words float in the air.

– Please. – Hayley begged, biting her inferior lips in anticipation.

Please let me repay you somehow. But Hayley didn’t complete that sentence.

– Okay – ceded Alex. – But you don’t have to do nothing big. I’m okay with anything.

– Alright – she said, content. Then moved to the building. – Follow me.

She lived in a small, stubby building in Chelsea, on Beaufort St., close to the Thames. In school they taught about the project the government had done to cleanse the river, billions of dollars used to depollute it – some elders even complained about how filthy and smelly the river was in their time (forgetting they were also the ones who helped it being like that in the first place; she dreamed of visiting the Thames when she was a kid, a dream that kept with her even when she moved from Buxton, three years ago. But now, even if the river was closer to her, Hayley barely had time to visit it.

She thought getting an apartment in Chelsea wouldn’t be so bad, in fact, when she contacted the landlady, an old, mummified women that wore a strong, heavy makeup from the 80’s,who reminded her of Yzma – from Emperor’s New Groove, even her nasaled, unsavory voice didn’t faze her dream of living next to the Thames, rather, Hayley thought she was lucky, she would be able to see the river and go to the beach whenever life got tough, and the station was so close, so she wouldn’t have a problem in commuting. Well, that wasn’t at all how it was: the building was still far from the river and even if she wanted to open the windows to watch the dark-blue waters, a “beautiful” scenery of concretes and alleys would greet her back, if it was even able to open the window, in the first place – since a thousand white paint strokes had made it impossible to push the window to the side.

– Sorry for the mess – she said, forcing the door open. – I didn’t have time to clean properly.

Hayley ran without waiting for Alex’s response, grabbing a few clothes that were on the ground. There were books and papers everywhere and the clothes she had got this morning were still on the couch, waiting to go to the wardrobe. Hayley suddenly got more attentive of the smallest things such as the thin layer of dust covering the furniture, a few tableware she didn’t bring back to the sink.

– Uh, let’s go to the kitchen – she caught the plate and a glass that were on the “throw-it-all” – a wooden chair, she never used for anything besides placing clothes, bags, hats, and when she was too lazy or tired: dirty plates

On their way to the kitchen, she saw her lacey white panties on the ground. It probably had fallen from the rest of the clothes in the couch. Hayley almost dropped the plate in her hand trying to grab her panties hidden, hoping Alex didn’t have time to notice it too. She felt her cheeks warming up as the embarrassment took over, but when she took a glance at Alex, the girl seemed to be looking in any other direction.

The “kitchen” was too small to fit two people inside, if she could call it that. It seemed more as a straight hallway that only contained a small space for the sink and the cupboard. Squeezed in between them, an old microwave she got for half the price in a thrift shop, together with a rusted fridge and stove. She didn’t have space to place a table, so Hayley was used to eat anywhere in the house. At least, the sink wasn’t so full and she could quickly drop the tableware there.

– So, what would you like? – she asked. – Maybe some tea? Or coffee?

– Tea is fine – answered Alex.

– Do you have a favourite?

Alex shook her head. – Whichever one you have is fine.

She nodded.

The place was too small for them, that was impossible to not rub on the other girl’s body, when she moved to look at the cupboard. Alex jolted taking a step back.

– Sorry – Hayley apologized.

– N-no, it’s okay. I should be the one saying that.

An awkward silence took the room as Hayley concentrated in the search for the tea. But there was absolutely nothing, besides a few outdated condiments, which wouldn’t be even considered food at this rate.

Hayley sighed, disappointed. – Sorry, I guess I don’t have it.

Her stomach chose the wrong moment to grumble, since she had denied it food for more than five hours. Earlier she was too tired to celebrate and eat and drink, but after the events of that night, the hunger finally took over and it wasn’t like she was going be able to sleep any time soon.

Alex chuckled, pulling her phone. – I’m hungry too. What about I order us something to eat?

Hayley was too shocked to answer.

– Is sushi food alright for you? – asked Alex. – I know a place that does an amazing deep-fried Philadelphia roll.

– What? – she asked, still confused.

– It’s a deep-fried salmon with cream cheese and rice – explained it, Alex. – We can ask for other types as well, but I really recommend that one.

– No, it’s fine – Hayley struggled to organize her thoughts. – It’s just…

– You don’t like sushi? – Alex asked, and the look on her face almost made Hayley want to eat all the sushi she could. How could she say no?

– It’s not that. I like it – she quickly added. – It’s… Are you buying us food?

– Well, yeah. You hungry too, right?

– Yes. I mean… – she agreed, unable to think properly. – It’s not about that. You can’t buy me food. I should be doing that for you.

Alex gave her a quick smile. – Don’t worry, Hayley. Besides, I was already planning on buying something. I’m glad you helped me decide it.

– But still…

But Alex wasn’t hearing anymore. She was talking to someone on the phone.

– Hey, Lon’Qu. – she said. – Yes… It’s not that long. By the way, you still open?... Great. Can you double the amount of the Philadelphia rolls, some Shrimp Tempura and chicken karaage? Oh, and…

She looked at Hayley. – Some tea?... Great. No, I’m not in my usual place... It’s on the Beaufort Street, nº 3**7… Thank you… Say hi to Seiko!

She ended the call. – It’s gonna take about forty minutes to arrive. Is that okay?

Hayley nodded. – Yeah, it’s fine. Thank you.

– Guess we wait, then – Alex drummed her fingers on her leg.

An extended silence prolonged before Hayley remembered they were still on her small kitchen.

– Oh, here. You can sit on the couch. – she offered, noticing her clothes were dirty from the asphalt. – You can wait here. I think I might need to take a bath. Feel free to get yourself comfy.

– Okay – Alex responded, obediently. Her hand was still holding the helmet.

– You can place your things anywhere you want too – Hayley added.

The girl seemed undecided for a moment, before placing the helmet on the “throw-it-all”, then went to sit on the small black couch that only had space enough for two people. But Alex didn’t complain about it.

– I’ll be taking the shower – she announced again. – See you in a bit.