Chapter 14

When he left for work I decided to sit down and finish my food before it got cold. I wasn't very hungry, so I only ate half of mine. If I couldn't even finish my plate how was I supposed to eat his too? Not that I really planned on it, though. I felt bad wasting the food but I figured if it was a big issue, I could buy more groceries when I start working again. I hope I don't seem ungrateful to Mimzy, because I really do appreciate everything she's done for me. I mean, she let me stay with her and gave me a job, of course I'm grateful.

But I just don't know if I should stay working at her bar. If I did, I would barely see Alastor since he works during the day and I would have to go to sleep late. Dinner would be cold by the time I got back if he made some, and since I volunteered to help around the house and do the dishes, I'd have to do those late as well since he would have probably already eaten. Besides, a coffee and pastry shop reminds me of mom and dad's bakery, It would put me in a familiar place. I'm used to working with sweets and pastries.

I figured I would wait until my job situation with Mimzy was sorted out before I checked out the shop. Though, thinking over it a bit more, perhaps I should talk to Mimzy myself. Despite the fact that I'm a bit nervous to talk to her, I should probably be the one to do it. It is my job, after all. It would be a little embarrassing anyways if Alastor said something to her, it would make me seem like a child. As if I was seeing if my mom or dad could ask for something for me because I was too afraid to do so on my own.

I made my decision and decided that I would tell Mimzy later today. First, I scooped the food and threw it away. I still felt a bit bad about just wasting the food like this but again like I said, if it really is an issue, I could always pay him back for the food that was thrown away. After I finished washing dishes that were left in the sink, it was already 8:00.

I planned on visiting Mimzy around maybe 1:00-2:00, so what to do with all the time I have before then? I know I said yesterday that I already looked around the house, and that is true, but I sort of rushed through, and I didn't get the best look around. I went ahead and started upstairs since I've already seen everything down here. I looked around downstairs more last night when Alastor went to Mimzy's to retrieve my stuff before I fell asleep, his couch is quite comfy.

I walked upstairs and I walked past the guest room-my room, I have literally slept in there, there was no need to go inside and check it out when I had already seen it. The next room was Alastor's, I was very hesitant to go inside. I didn't ask to even go in there, and I feel like it would be rude to just go in.

But he wasn't home, now was he?

So how would he know If I went in there, as long as I don't say anything or touch the stuff in his room, he won't know. As I placed my hand on the doorknob, I began to feel a bit uncertain, perhaps I shouldn't go in. I started to feel something, was it guilt? But I hadn't even done anything yet. Maybe it was my body telling me I shouldn't go in, would I regret it if I did? Is that why I'm feeling like this? I couldn't get it out of my head or the feeling away from me so I let go of the handle and stepped back, I would come back to this room later after I've had some time to decide whether I should actually go inside or not. I didn't go inside his room yesterday when I was looking around either. I walked until I found his office-or his study, whatever you want to call it.

It was rather spacious in there, I could move freely, but it wasn't gigantic or anything. It was comfortable. It was pretty clean and tidy in there too, aside from the few books and papers that were scattered about. I didn't bother to read anything that was on the papers, but I did look at a few of the books.

One of them was called "This side of paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I hadn't read it myself yet. I wonder if it's any good, I am familiar with his work. I've read a book by him before that's called "The beautiful and damned", it was a good read. Well, I thought so anyway. Another one that was on his desk was called "The poems" by Wilfred Owen, this one I hadn't read either. There were more books on the shelves in the room but I didn't look at them.

Something I've noticed about this room, well, this house, is that there's a common red theme throughout the place. Not that it's a problem, of course. I took a few more looks around before leaving the room and shutting the door. There was another bathroom up here but I didn't go over there either because I'd seen it already as well. Nearby the bathroom was a closet full of things like towels, toilet paper, and other necessities. Now the only room left up here that I haven't looked at yet was his room.

Should I really go in?

It's not like he told me that I couldn't but he didn't tell me that I could either. He was going to give me a tour anyway though. I thought it through for a few more seconds before deciding that I would go in, whats the worst that could happen anyways? I walked back over to the room and turned the handle, it was unlocked. I opened the door and took a look around, it was quite spacious in this room too.

There was a large red rug that covered the dark wooden floors. The bed was to the back up against the wall, and to the left was a large window and a red velvety chair that sat in the corner. To the wall on the left, there was a dresser with a mirror on top of it along with a small desk nearby with a few papers scattered on it. Next to the bed was a nightstand with a small lamp, on the nightstand, there was a key.

The only place that was locked was the basement, so I figured this was the key that went to it. It wasn't the house key, I knew that because Alastor had taken it with him. And the house key looked fairly different from this one. I know he said that it was mainly used for storage down there, but I can't help but be curious. I picked up the key and stepped down the stairs.

As I did, the front door unlocked and opened, Alastor had walked in, he looked like he was in a rush.

"Where did-" He was talking to himself before he stopped, he paused when he saw me while I was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He took a look at the key I was holding and before I could say anything he snatched it from my hands.

"Were you in my bedroom?" He asked, shoving the key into his pocket.

"O-Oh I was just looking around and-"

"You were going down to the basement?" He asked.

"I was curious." I said.

"I thought I told you not to go down there." He said, his voice raising a little and his eyebrows now furrowed.

"Um, No. All you said was that you used it for storage." I said.

"Well," He said, he walked over to me and looked me in the eyes. He still had a smile on his face but it looked strained. Was he..angry?

"Do not.." He said, speaking slowly. Though, his voice was a little quieter than a shout.

"..go in there." He said, he seemed to tower over me as he stared into my eyes.  It was almost like there was a fire in them, like the fire was fueled by anger or dismay.

"And do not go into my room without my permission." He said it so sternly, I didn't see it as an issue that I did so why did he? I guess he liked his privacy, I suppose I can understand that. But I was only trying to get a feel of the new house I was staying in.

"Do you understand?" He asked, his tone lowering and his face relaxing. He seemed to be calming down, I never intended to make him angry.

I didn't want to make him angrier than he already was so I nodded my head and cooperated.

"Thank you." He said before walking past me and walking into his room, he came out and down the stairs a few moments later with a few papers in his hands. I guessed that they were the ones that were on his desk.

"I'll be back later." He said.

"Oh, uh A-Alastor?" I said, hesitantly before he shut the front door.

"Yes?" He asked.

"I'm going to talk to Mimzy myself later, and I'm sorry. I didn't know that going into the basement was a problem, or your room." I said.

"It's okay," He said pausing and taking a breath.

"Just don't do it again." He said as I nodded once more before he walked out of the door and shut it. I now knew not to go into his room or the basement, I just didn't know why. And that made me even more curious.

But I left it alone for now, he seemed quite angry when he found out what I was going to do, I could only imagine what he would do if I had actually done it. I just got here anyways, I didn't want him to throw me out because I got a little too curious and went into his basement or something. It is his house after all. I've only just moved back here to New Orleans, to him. I don't want to mess things up.

(Alastor's pov)

I hadn't realized that I left a few papers I'd been working on last night in my room until a little after I got to the station. I didn't bother to knock on the front door when I got back to the house since I had my key. What I didn't expect to see was her about to go down into the basement. I didn't put the key away since I was down there a little late last night cleaning up anything I had lying around that could possibly give me away. When I got done, it was late so I passed out almost immediately when I went back to my room, I didn't think to put the key away. And I forgot to in the morning as well. I just didn't expect her to go into my room, let alone try to go to the basement.

She always has been curious about things, I should've seen this coming. I'm glad that I got there when I did though. I doubt that she'll try and go back down there or into my room again, I'm sure she wouldn't want to make me angry or upset by going behind my back. Especially when I told her not to. She won't have an excuse if she tries to go down there down because I've already said for her to avoid going to the basement. Unless she goes while I'm at work but I can't let that happen so I'll either have to start taking the key with me or find a better hiding place for it. She can get quite nosy, I don't doubt that she'll be able to find it even if I do put it in a different spot. Her being around like this could make hiding my secret a bit more difficult, I suppose I'll have to adapt to her being around.

I shouldn't have raised my voice like that, she seemed startled when I did. I was just worried that she was going to find out, there's no way I can let her. I really do have to be more careful, I didn't put the key away last night or this morning, that part is my fault. I have to watch my tone, I hope I didn't make her too upset. I didn't mean to yell, it just came out. I'd been stressed about leaving my papers because they were for today's broadcast, and when I saw her with the key to the basement, I instinctively raised my voice. I'll make sure to apologize later, I'd hate to do that without saying sorry. Though I can't exactly do that right now, I've already left the house.  I'll just have to apologize when I get back to the house later.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello, sorry I had a bit of trouble figuring out what to write for this chapter but I hope you enjoyed it. And I also changed the name and cover image, I hope that's alright

Word count: 2244