The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon (3 page)

Most of the houses on the quiet street are more of the same, and like the others, this one has a garage. Or what think is a garage. It looks more like a guest house to me, but hey I’m not complaining.

Thrusting a wad of cash at the driver, I snatch up my backpack and jump out of the car.

I literally run the few steps it takes to reach the front door and I’m already raising my hand to knock before I stop myself. What if they don’t like me? Or what if they won’t rent to me because of the way I look. Glancing down at myself, I know I don’t look the best. Or my best really. I’m showered and wearing clean clothes, but they are hand-me-downs. Short pants that hang off my bony hips, and a thin t-shirt that is so worn I don’t even know what it says anymore. Everything in my backpack is more of the same, so I can’t do anything about that.

Then there is my hair. It’s long since fallen out of the knot I put it in when I first got into the cab. With fast hands, I shake it out before twisting it back up tightly. Once it’s secure, the only thing stopping me from knocking now is me. Here I am just a waif of a teenage girl, who is homeless and on the run from her family. Who really wants to let someone like me move in? And that’s not even mentioning my heritage.

Sighing, I let my head droop as a deep despair courses through my entire body and soul. If my family of demons didn’t even want me, then what makes anyone else any different? I’m turning away from the door and contemplating walking off into the unknown, when the door opens. I freeze.

Then turn to face the person in the doorway.

I turn around to face the most intoxicatingly blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They literally look like something only seen in a crystal clear lagoon. And they just happen to be attached to the body of a boy my age that is grinning like I’ve done something funny. Oh right, my mouth is hanging open. Note to self; try to act normal when coming in contact with the prettiest boy you’ve ever seen. Note. Mouth closing and drool sucked back in and hopefully not noticed. Check.

Clearly I didn’t to the best at catching myself, because he is continuing to grin at me. Only now, his eyes are scanning over me now. Blushing profusely, I flick my eyes away from him. This lands me to scan over his body that is completely blocking the open doorway. He seems to be everywhere, all tall lean muscled proportions of him.

Do not drool. Do not drool.

Keep mouth closed.

He has to be the tallest boy I’ve ever seen, but that’s not really saying much since I’m used to just seeing my brothers (who are like twin male versions of me – who is pretty dang short fyi). There is no safe place for my eyes to land. Not that I’m complaining. He seems to know that he looks good too, after all, who picks tight clothes if they don’t want to show off their bulging biceps. Again, not complaining.

Without being able to stop myself, I work my gaze back to his clear blue eyes. When I do, I’m startled to find that he’s staring right back at me. I can’t help to notice the way his wavy dark hair almost falls into his eyes. It stops just shy of them, and cups his head like a mop that is strategically placed. It definitely makes my own frizzy locks seem limp in comparison. It fits on him though, and it kind of takes my breath away.

Still grinning, he raises one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. A grin forms on my wary lips, like I’m under his spell. And maybe I am. It’s not very often that I’m this close to someone that makes me feel so emotionally weak (in a good way, I mean, my family does it all the time in the bad scary way). That’s when I realize I’ve just being staring like a loon and not saying anything. I mean hey, I’m the one that standing in front of his house. He must think I’m crazy.

I am crazy. Speak. Why am I not speaking?

“Ugh….” I whisper, not able to look away from his eyes.

He chuckles and shifts his focus to behind him into the house. The spell is broken.

“Mom, I think your prospect is here. You’d better hurry though.” He shouts towards the inside of the house, then turns back to me with a grin still stretched across his features. “By the looks of things she’s likely to bolt like a frightened rabbit.”

I scoff at this and narrow my eyes at him. This has little to no effect on him though. He just continues to give me a grin that makes my legs feel wobbly. To stay strong, and not fall over like a weirdo, I cross my arms over my chest. That’s right, I’m not frightened. Not in the slightest. Nope.

Okay maybe a little. But I’ll be damned before I show it.

Instead, I blush even more.

Before I can try to find my voice that seems to have failed me, a short woman comes up behind the boy. She literally shoves him out of the way. This makes him come out the door towards me. On instinct I back away on fast legs. Now I feel like bolting for sure, but their bright smiles stop me. I freeze a good yard away from them and watch with another grin slipping through my lips.

“Oh Chance, don’t go scaring off the only person we’ve had to show up.” She tells him in a singsong voice as she mimics a glare from the open doorway.

Chance (his name is Chance?) backs away from her and closer to me with his arms rose in surrender.

“I didn’t do anything I swear, she seemed spooked before I said anything.” He tells her before he shoots me another grin. “Right rabbit?”

Is he addressing me?

“Ugh….” I whisper in a voice that is starting to resemble something being tossed in a shredder.

I really need to get a grip. What the heck is wrong with me? I grow up with demons and one boy makes me act like I’m starstruck.

I’m not. Not really.

The woman shakes her head and comes down the stairs right for Chance. He doesn’t even move out of the way when she lightly smacks him on the arm. Again, I feel my hackles rise, like I’m about to witness something awful like my family when they are angry. But it doesn’t come. Instead, they smile at one another as she mockingly gives him a stern look. One he brushes off, by making like he’s hurt worse that he is.

Then their eyes are on me. My heart skips a beat. I tighten my crossed arms.

“Don’t let him get to you sweetie, he just likes to pick.” She says to me in her singsong voice.

“Yeah what she says.” Chance tells me.

I mutely stare at the two of them. No voice coming out of me yet.

The woman is the exact opposite of him, except for a matching pair of crystal clear blue eyes. She is more my height, which leaves Chance towering over her. It’s clear she is his mom though, the way she gives off dominance, but in a loving way. She practically radiates kindness. My breath stills and I have the sudden urge to cry, which I never do by the by, not since I was a baby.

Yup, that’s me, a rock. Then why do I feel like I’m getting soft?

“You must be Daria right?” She asks me.

They stare at me, with those bright smiles. I blush. They smile more like they are laughing at an unheard joke. I nod. Blush some more.

“Daria Pigwidgeon.” I stammer.

Finally, my voice is back.

“Nice to meet you Daria, I’m Mellissa Harris. And this goof is my son Chance.” She tells me while glancing at Chance. “Who was just leaving, right?”

Chuckling, he nods and side steps me making his way towards the garage. I have no problem watching his departure, definitely enjoying the view.

Not stopping, he glances back at me over his shoulder, “Later rabbit.”

He winks one clear blue eye at me before disappearing inside the building, and away from my sight. Blushing more than I ever have in my entire life, I flick my gaze back to Mellissa. She is glaring after her son. But again it's more mocking than anything.

“Don’t pay attention to him, he’s always like this. Just likes to get a rise out of people.” She tells me with a smile as she steps over to me and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Would you care to come in?”

Nodding, I let her steer me into the still opened door. We are just reaching the threshold when I hear a noise like gears grinding against metal. Glancing over my shoulder towards the direction of the sound, I watch at the garage door opens. An old-ish red mustang backs up out of it, and I spy Chance seated in the front seat.

I smirk.

Letting Mellissa pull me inside and away from Chance taking off down the street, I can’t help but to think that the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen, drive a car preferred by demons (or at least the men in my family). It’s rather ironic actually. If I was of half a mind right now, I’d bolt for just that reason.

Instead, I stay put as Mellissa shuts the door, essentially shutting me in.

Oddly enough I don’t feel trapped.

I let myself finally relax.

I’m safe.

***

Sitting on my new bed, I feel a sense of satisfaction. I actually have something that is mine and mine alone. It didn’t take me all that long to take the offer that Mrs. Harris (call me Mellissa) graciously offered me. This happened to be a small apartment above the garage (or what she called an in-law suite – whatever that is).

Thankfully I had managed to find my voice again, and even carried on an entire conversation with her. She graciously offered me refreshments, which I couldn’t say no too. And while I munched on freshly baked apple fritter thingies, she led me back outside and to the garage. Since the door was left open from Chance leaving, we breezed right in. We made our way to a set of stairs at the back of the minutely cluttered room.

She pointed out a separate door to the right of the room as we passed by, indicating that I would have my own entrance. It would be slightly awkward to have to use the creaky big door (plus the distinction between that one and the one I left back home) it’s enough to make me paranoid. None the less, I followed her up a set of sturdy stairs to the apartment.

At least I don’t have to worry about tiptoeing around.

Not that I have a reason too.

When I first laid eyes on the apartment, I just knew. It was fate that brought me. There is no other way to describe it. It was, is, too perfect. I have the awful feeling like I’m going to find out it’s all a dream and wake up only to be back home. If that is the case, then I am going to make the best of the situation. So that is what I did when I walked into the tiny living room just shy of the door.

Not holding back a smile, I stepped in further letting Mellissa linger back to let me take it all in. Surveying the room that is fully furnished, in what looks like eighties furniture that you’d try to get rid of at a yard sale right before you bought new, I noticed that to the left is a kitchen nook. Complete with a table that is built into the wall with two chairs. There are two doors on the back wall, a good ways away from one another, and a third door tucked into a corner on the right.

Mellissa explained that the two in front are first the bathroom and the second the single bedroom. Whereas the one in the right corner is a linen or coat closet. Since I have neither, it’ll wind up being empty space. But I’m used to that. So I’m not too worried.

Like the living room, the bedroom and bathroom are both fully furnished and such. But mostly with the linens she spoke of, so looks like I do have a place to put these things.

I have linens. Mine.

Or rented ones, but still.

Everything has a hotel service feel to it, but in a strange way, kind of homey too. After I ogled the place, Mellissa and I sat down at the kitchen table which was stacked with paperwork (like the rental application and lease – I feel so grown up.). We went over everything for what felt like forever, and when she felt like I was really interested and not just being friendly, she asked if I wanted it. I didn’t even hesitate before saying yes, which made her laugh.

Like with the ticket lady at the airport and the cabbie, I instantly dug out my thinning wallet eager to give her the first month’s rent. But before I could rip out a wad of the last of my cash, she placed a gentle hand on mine. Once stilled, I glanced at her questioningly. When she gave me a sympathetic smile, I was a-washed with nervousness.

Warning bells were going off in my head. I prepared myself to bolt.

I could even feel my inner Taser (what I’ve come to call what zaps anyone threatening me) preparing to fire.

I stifled it down when she pulled back her hand and sat back in the chair. For moments she just watched me. I knew what she saw. A malnourished waif of a girl with clothes clearly two sizes too big and small for her. I could almost see her thought process. Why should she rent to a minor with no income, who is so obviously a runaway? I asked myself the same thing. And I wouldn’t if I were her. So I prepared myself to be gracious if she turned me away.

Only she didn’t. Instead, she marked down the rent two hundred dollars. I couldn’t stop my mouth from falling open. This made her smile warmly at me and when I recovered, I returned it. She then went on explaining that rent is due at the first of the month, but since this one is just about over I get an extra couple weeks leeway. Then came the signing. I must have signed my name to a dozen papers, and by the time we were done my signature was nothing more than a blur.

I gave her the money and she gave me an actual receipt back. I clutched it in my hands as we got to our feet. I walked her to the door, and that is when she handed over to me the key. My own key. To my apartment. I could barely hold back the urge to do a happy dance.

Not that I would do that, cough, cough.

And then before she left me alone, she asked me if I would like to join them (her family) for dinner. Never being asked that before (not when I practically have to sneak food back home) so of course I adamantly agreed. Then I was alone.

Am alone.

And I have been the last couple of hours. It’s such an obscured thing to be so excited over, since I’m used to being alone. But right now, in this moment, it’s different. I’m not hiding. I just am. And it’s rapturous.

Forcing myself out of the haze I’ve been in, I make my way out of my room that is still overly bright in the late afternoon because of the two massive windows. Note to self; buy curtains a.s.a.p. Once in the living room, I plop on the couch and contemplate what time dinner would be for normal people. After dark maybe? Or would it be at dusk? Or did I miss it?