Chapter 15

I didn't expect his voice to raise like that. I mean, it was just some silly key. He never lost his temper like that when we were children. Of course people change, especially over the span of 7 years, but he didn't seem like he changed when I saw him again the other night. He just seemed like a taller version of his childhood self, honestly.

Maybe he was just having an off day, perhaps those papers he took from his room he left. Maybe he was just upset that he left them, they must have been important for him to leave work over. But if going to the basement would have been such a big deal, why didn't he just tell me not to go in there? Maybe there were things down there that he put away that he didn't want me to see. Maybe stuff from his childhood? I'm not sure, but if it is that I suppose I can understand. I guess that's why he was so worried about me going down there, he just wanted his privacy. Really, It's my fault. It must have been locked for a good reason.

There must have been something down there he didn't want me to see and I should have respected that, if it was just some boring storage junk he wouldn't keep the door locked. I shouldn't have snooped around his room without permission and I shouldn't have tried to go down there. Maybe I can talk to him about it when he gets home later. For now, I should be focusing on what I could say to Mimzy, to avoid sounding rude or ungrateful.

~~~

Time flew by as I wandered about, thinking of what to say. I tidied up around the house as I did so that when I left it would be clean and I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning later. I looked at the clock after sweeping and it was 2:45. I was planning on leaving between one and two, it was a bit later than I intended to wait but I suppose that's alright. It's not like she's really expecting me anyways. I dressed into something a little more fitting and walked out of the door. I kept walking until I made it to the alley where it was hidden. I knocked a few times before she answered.

"Hello?-Oh, Y/n. What are you doing here? You aren't supposed to come until later. Here, just come in." She said, moving so I could walk inside.

"That's kind of what I wanted to talk about." I said, spinning around to face her.

"What do you mean, hun?" She asked as she shut the door.

"I don't want to come off as unappreciative or anything, but I'm not sure if I'm the best fit for this kind of place. I'm thankful for everything you've done for me, giving me a job and letting me stay at your house, it was all so generous of you." I said.

"It was a pleasure to have you." She said with a small laugh.

"I know where this is going, and I understand. You don't have to say anymore." She said, walking over and placing her hands on my shoulders.

"So, have you found yourself a new gig?" She asked, taking her hands down.

"It's not anything big but the place is familiar to me, I used to work around in my parent's bakery." I said.

"Is it that new coffee shop that just opened up?" She asked.

"It is, yeah." I said.

"I see, so you're gonna start working there instead, huh?" She asked.

"Mhm." I said, I was just glad she was taking it well.

She held up her finger, signaling me to wait as she went to the back for a moment before returning. Purse in hand. She pulled out a few bills and then held them out for me to take.

"I'm sorry? What's this for?" I asked.

"Take them, it's for the other day. You worked your ass off when you weren't hanging out with Al." She said with a chuckle.

"Are you sure? I really only worked a day." I said before she took my hand and placed them there herself.

"I'm sure." She said with a smile.

"I really hope you get that job, hun. Let me know when you do, okay? You could stop over and we could have some tea as well." She said as I nodded. After that stuff with Al, tea sounded nice. Of course, that wouldn't be happening today though.

After that conversation with Mimzy, I stopped over to the bar, assuming Husk was going to be there but he wasn't. It turns out he didn't show up today, so I couldn't say hello. A little bit later, I said my goodbyes to Mimzy and then left. When I got back, it was around 3:30. When I stepped inside, I was surprised to see that Alastor was back home.

"Y/n? Is that you?" I heard him ask as I stepped inside.

"Yes, it's me." I said, shutting the door behind me. When I turned back around, he was right in front of my face which kind of startled me.

"Where did you go?" He asked, almost in a worried tone but I brushed it off.

"I told you, I was going to see Mimzy. Were you not listening earlier?" I asked, him raising his hands up in defense.

"No, of course I was. I-I must have forgotten. How did it go?" He asked.

"It went better than I expected it to." I said as I took off my shoes.

"That's good, I'm glad." He said.

He started to walk away until he stopped himself and turned back around. He was hesitant at first but then called my name.

"Y/n?" He said as I looked at him.

"I wanted to apologize." He said, walking back over to me.

"For this morning, I mean. I was rude when it wasn't your fault, I should have told you not to go down there. That part was on me, that was my fault. I didn't mean to raise my voice this morning, so I'm sorry." He said.

"It's okay, I shouldn't have tried to go down there without permission anyways, or your room for that matter." I said, it's not like it was all his fault.

"I won't do it again, you can rest easy." I said with a smile, which made him regain his.

"Well, thank you for the reassurance." He said as I let out a small laugh. I didn't realize until I came back, how much I really missed being around him.

"So, now that that situation with Mimzy is cleared up, are you going to try and work at that coffee shop?" He asked as he walked to the kitchen, I followed shortly behind him.

"Yes, I'm planning on it. I'm not sure when yet, but it'll probably be soon." I said.

"Oh, also, isn't it a bit early for you to be home?" I asked, he looked at me with a confused face.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"The other night, you didn't get home until after dark, and it's not even 4:00 yet." I said.

"That's because I worked late, I don't usually stay out that late but I was trying my best to avoid Caleb, and I had a good bit of work to finish." He said.

"What do you have against Caleb? You seem to push him away from yourself and even me, every chance you get." I said.

"I have everything against him." He said plainly.

"You guys got along when we were children, what changed?" I asked as he just scoffed and shook his head.

"Alastor?" I said.

"Hm?" He said.

"Will you ever let me see him?" I asked, and he just stood silent. He stopped what he was doing as well, he looked like a statue. I couldn't tell what he was doing, was he thinking? Or was he just trying to avoid the question?

"Alastor." I said again, my voice just a bit higher than it was previously.

But again, he didn't answer. Instead, he walked over to the fridge and just poured himself a drink. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Alastor, I'm speaking to you." I said, he turned around and looked at me and sat his drink down on the counter.

"I don't think you should be seeing him." He said.

"Alastor, you don't get to control that." I said.

"It's been years, he wants to see me too. And I can't just stay cooped up in here, I-"

"You won't, you're getting that new job, correct? You won't be spending all of your time in here." He said, cutting me off. His smile made it seem like this was some kind of a joke to him.

"I understand that you don't want me to go. The last time I left, I was in Trenton for seven years. But I'm not moving again. Caleb is one of my friends, just like you are. And he wants to see me just as much as you do, so let him." I said, he stood quiet again. Just staring into my eyes. Maybe he was deciding.

"Alastor, please. If not for him, then for me? I'd like to reconnect with him as well." I said as he let out a sigh.

"Fine." He said blandly, I could tell he didn't want to let me but gave in anyway.

"Thank you." I said with a smile and gave him a quick hug from behind. I started walking away before he stopped me by grabbing my hand.

"Where are you going? You're not going to see him now, are you?" He asked.

"Alastor, I'm going to go change my clothes, relax." I said with a chuckle. He nodded and let go of my hand as I ran up the stairs and changed out of the clothes I was wearing.

(Alastor's pov)

She asked me what changed between me and Caleb since we were kids, and the answer is Nothing.

Nothing has changed because I've never liked him, not one bit. But it's not like I could just tell her that. Maybe it's petty, and maybe I'm just jealous but I don't want her to see him. But, of course, I had to give in. I don't know why she wants to see him so badly. I suppose it has been a while since she's seen him-aside from the other day when he rudely followed me.

Despite not wanting to though, I gave in and allowed it. It would have only made her upset if I hadn't, and I didn't really want to do that. Not after what I did this morning, I didn't want to make her feel more upset than she already had been earlier. Maybe if I hadn't looked her in the eyes, I would have been able to say no. The way she was looking at me, made me feel weak, and like I couldn't deny her request.

She came back downstairs and into the kitchen, it showed that she changed into one of her many house dresses. It was light maroon and reached just a little above her ankles, with a white collar, and a small black bow tied under it, along with a belt around her waist.

To stop myself from staring, I grabbed a pot and set it on top of the stove as I got out certain ingredients.

"Ooo, what are you making?" She said from behind me.

"Jambalaya, mother's recipe." I said, her cooking was always wonderful. And Y/n always liked it when she was a kid, I don't see why she wouldn't now.

"Can't wait to have some, it's been a while since I have." She said.

"It'll be a little while until it's done." I said.

"That's okay, I can sit here and wait. I can be patient." She said, though, I got the feeling she was lying.

And she was.

Throughout the time I was cooking, she would keep getting up and peering over my shoulder. Snag tastes in between me putting different ingredients into the pot or when I would turn my back. And then she would say it tastes funny but that it smelled good. The only reason for the odd taste is that she couldn't wait to taste it until it was done. The only useful part of her pestering was that if I needed to take a short break or use the restroom, she would stir it.

I was almost to the point of asking her just to visit Caleb so that I could finish the food without her nagging. I suppose she was just hungry or maybe she just liked bothering me, who knows?

It reminded me of when she came over one time, to Aunt Mary's house. I don't exactly remember what she was cooking that day but Y/n and I were playing hide and seek, it was dark out while we were so we had to play inside. She decided to hide in the kitchen and in the pantry. Or at least that's what she told me. By the time I found her, she was standing on a stool next to Aunt Mary and sniffing the food. Asking what it was and if she could taste it.

When it was done I made her a bowl and set it down on the table, the food was gone pretty quickly. I went to go and throw away some trash but when I went to open the bin I saw eggs in there.

"Y/n." I said while she put her bowl in the sink.

"Hm? What is it-Oh." She paused as I turned around.

"Now, I understand not eating mine, but yours too? Because I know this is more than one plate's worth down here." I said, pointing to the bin.

"Uhh.." She said, her eyes darted around the room, maybe she was trying to find some excuse.

"If you weren't hungry, why did you make food for yourself?" I asked. It's not that I was mad, just confused.

"I was hungry but I got full a little fast, I wasn't able to finish it." She said.

"Oh? But you just scarfed that up." I said, pointing to the sink where her bowl was.

"Yeah, but that's because It's been a few hours since breakfast, and your cooking is good." She said as I chuckled and walked past her.

"Whatever you say." I said as she turned around.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I think I'm going to go take a walk-"

"Could I come with?" She asked.

"I-uh, I'm afraid not." I said.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'd just like to get out of the house for a little, Alone." I said. She remained silent for a few moments before whispering something under her breath before I walked out of the door.

"Hm?" I asked while opening the front door.

"Nothing, enjoy your walk." She said. It sounded a bit sarcastic but I didn't mind it.

"Thank you, I'll be back in a little while." I said before walking out.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello, I know it's been a good while since I posted a chapter. It's been hard finding inspiration for this story since I've been kinda writing this as I go along, and with that, I've also had an awful writer/author's block while trying to write this but I was able to work through it. I want to get back to writing chapters normally again, and hopefully soon. But of course, I hope you enjoyed.

Word count: 2533