"What's your name?" He asks as he stairs into my eyes, it feels like he can see right through me.
"Malibu Denim."
Again sheer terror strikes his face at the name. His expression is sweat as he escorts me to a lawn chair near one of the police cars.
"My names Salem Berrylooth."
I give him a quick smile, he sits down in the grass beside me and explains what happend. It's mostly just noise to me but I pick up enough to figure out the fire, it started when my mother was cooking, she tried to put it out with water but it just spread the fire. My brother call the firefighters but by the time they got here the entire house was engulfed in flames. My mother and father where dead when they arrived but my brother was alive, he held on long enough to say goodbye to his daughter and wife on the phone but then passed away just after. When I got here they where all dead. We sit there for a good hour before everyone leaves. I turn my head to look at Salem and he's stairing at the house, then at me. He looks so relaxed with his nee in the air and his arm slung over it.
"Can I give you a ride home or somthing."
I consider brushing him off then remember that I didn't drive here.
"Sure, um thanks for everything..."
"No problem this isn't easy. I mean I get it, I lost my sister in a fire."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"No I'm sorry!"
He opens the passenger side door for me and I get in. As we drive away from the house I start sobbing and he lets me. It takes me a good 15 minutes before I stop crying enough to talk.
"So Malibu, where should I drop you? At a boyfriends, friends or something?"
"Call me Mal, and um could you drop me at my apartment?"
"All alone you sure you don't want some company?"
"Ya I guess, but I'm kinda a suffer in silence kinda girl."
He flashes me a smile and I smile back. We drive to my apartment.
➰
When we pull in I see vans everywhere. I try to get out but people swarm me asking questions about the fire. Half of them are reporters some of them where my parents lawyers. Then out of no where I hear him.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO HER YOU'll HAVE TO WAIT."
I look at him and burst out laughing. I'm so surprised that I can laugh at a time like this that I stop that very second and look at the ground. We walk into the building and up the stairs. I stop at the door that says 6b.
"Well this is me."
He stop looks around and leans up against the wall like guys would in high school.
"You sure you wanna spend the night all by yourself?"
I think it over and frankly I don't want to spend the night all alone. But I can't ask him to stay, I just met him. I unlock the door and step into my tiny studio and look back at him. He's actually quite handsome, he's just taller than I am and very buff.
"You wanna come in for a bit?"
He nods and steps in. I rush to the kitchenette to make some sandwiches. When I come back he's sitting on my couch. We devoure our sandwiches and watch some tv. Before I know it he's asleep on my couch, he looks so peaceful. I put a blanket on his muscular body and relax, before I know it I'm out like a lite.
➰
I wake up with my head on his lap. I look up and he's already awake and he's laughing at me.
"How did this happen?"
I smile and stand up, rembering the events from the previous day.
"What do I do Salem, what do I have to do."
He looks up from the ground and into my eyes every second he stairs it's heaven.
"You should probably through a funeral. I mean you don't have to.. But if you want."
That sounds like a good plan, a funeral and mabye it will make me feel better. But how on earth will I be able to afford it. Funerals supposed to be really expensive right?
"Your parents lawyers called this morning, they didn't have tons of money but they had a bit after mortgages and taxes. That should get you through a bit right. Do you have a job?"
Oh sugar, what do I tell him. I kinda really like him.
"Ya I'm a...a...dancer."
"A dancer? Like a ballet dancer?"
"Somthing like that."
He looks at me suspiciously and then quickly brushes it off. We get ready for the day as if we've lived together for ages. I watching doing his morning routine. Then we head out the door.
"Look I hate to impose" he starts off "But I was wondering if you need any help with the funerals or something. I mean I don't have to work."
"Um ya I guess I could use your help."
He smiles and then gives me a hug. It's awkward at first because we barly know each other, but then after a while it feels nice, it feels right.
"Let's go." Is all he says after.
➰
The past few days has been nothing but meetings and greetings. Flowers are all over my studio and Salem has installed himself on my couch at night. My parents left me enough money to pay for their funerals and to live for about a month after that. The funeral is beautiful, flowers everywhere and all my family and friends are here. Salem like my new accessorie he is permanently attached to my arm and not for him, it's for me. Everyone is so kind and generouse it's wonerfull. While we sit in the church as the ceremony goes on and on, I remember all the good memories I had with my family. Like the time we went to the lake to fish and my brother tried to teach me how to swim. As I think of these memories a tear streams down my face just as quickly as it does Salem wipes it away.
We walk back to Salem's car after the ceremony. He stop before opening his door and looks at me.
"I know it's completely the wrong time to do this, but I wanted to know if you'd got on a proper date with me?"
:( poor Mal! And wow… that was quick with Salem and all, though I do suppose that most people (even suffer in silence people) need someone to lean on.
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