The taxi driver announces, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I hum quietly staring at the view outside the window.

Shit. Is this real?

''Um...are you sure we are in the right place?'' I ask hesitant.

''Yes girl. I already told you it is a weird neighborhood. Did you change your mind? Because I can turn around, although I'm going to charge you the double.''

I check the address on my phone.

This is where Isaac leaves according to Bob.

Now I understand why he didn't want me to come alone.

I promised I was going to wait for him but well, I was never good on keeping promises.

''No, I-I'll get off.''

''In that case chop chop. I don't have all day.'' He says impatient to leave this place.

I'm not blaming him.

''Thanks.'' I whisper, giving his payment.

The taxi drives off and I stand in the middle of the road.

Looking around me, I try to take everything in.

This is the first time I've been to a place like this. I never thought that I lived a privileged life, until now.

I guess Bob was right. I am a rich kid in addition to this.

And I'm sure everybody looking at me right now, thinks the same.

The neighborhood consists of really old buildings, some of them abandoned and probably used as roofs for homeless or drug addicts.

On the other side of the road, there are houses full of damages. Broken windows, destroyed fences, dirt and trash all around.

People are standing outside smoking or drinking, looking at what seems to be the highlight of their day.

A spoiled white kid, going downtown thinking she is hard.

Well I would laugh with myself too.

Taking a deep breath, I find the courage to move from my spot.

I cross the road heading to one of the old buildings. A couple of people sitting on the pavement give me a side eye.

I know, I know...

I look away searching for his name in the intercom.

No luck.

Suddenly the entry open and a tall plus really drunk guy, makes his appearance.

He doesn't spare me a glance before he walks out, holding a bottle with alcohol.

I move aside, to let him pass and take the opportunity to get inside the building.

Good. Now there is one little problem. I've no idea in which floor he lives.

I decide to take the stairs and walk through the corridors.

This place reminds me of the so called Projects. I learned about them a few years back, when a girl from my school lived there.

After a couple of minutes wandering around, I decide to text Bob and ask him.

There is no point in hiding right now.

Before I had the chance to grab my phone, I hear talking and a door in the end of the hallway opens.

''Ok man. I'll see you tomorrow.''

''Don't forget our agreement.''

I recognize Isaac's voice behind the door and a smug smile appears on my face.

Got you.

Waiting for the man to leave, I walk straight ahead and ring the bell.

''What now?'' Isaac asks annoyed, until his eyes landed on mine.

He stares with a blank look on his face.

''What the fuck are you doing here?''

Looking at him, I remember all the reasons I felt intimidated by his presence.

''I-I...'' Fuck. Daphne get it together.

People start arguing down the stairs and Isaac drags me inside.

''Are you stupid? Why did you come?''

Swallowing hard I try to find my voice.

''I-I wanted to see you.''

My voice comes off as a whisper, but I keep my eyes locked with his.

I see him softened for a little, before he turns around.

''Why?''

''Because...I needed to see that you are okay.''

He chuckles darkly at my comment, mocking me.

''And? How do I look?''

I take the chance to study him. He wears a large t-shirt with sweatpants. Most of his body parts are covered, but I can't even focus on them. His face is what draws my attention.

There is a huge bruise under his left eye, his lip is cut open and there are some leftovers of dry blood. Probably because he didn't treat them right.

''What happened to your eye?''

''Rob happened.'' He says, walking to a small kitchen.

''Rob?'' I ask doubtful, following him.

''Yep.'' He opens the fridge taking a beer. ''Do you want some?''

I shake my head. ''Rob punched you?''

He takes a sip leaning over the counter.

''Yes, he did.''

''Why?'' I ask confused.

He looks at me briefly, before he averts his gaze on the floor.

''Because of you.''

''Me?''

''He didn't really appreciate the idea of his favorite, being in the middle of a drug dealing.''

I stay silent taking everything in.

Fuck this is so messed up.

''I'm sorry.'' I say quietly, not dare to look at him.

''For what?'' He asks confused.

''For telling Bob the truth. I should have contact you first.''

''No, you shouldn't.'' He responds shaking his head. ''Besides, I deserved it. I brought you into this mess.''

You didn't.

''Still, I'm sorry.''

He just nods, drinking his beer.

I look around me trying to break the awkward silence.

There is a small living room with an even smaller kitchen. Everything seems in order which takes me by surprise. It doesn't look like a bachelor house at all.

There is no t.v. or any other electronic device. No photos, no paintings...the only personal objects are a collection of books.

I walk closer feeling his stare following me. I let my fingers caress the back of them.

''Frankenstein'', ''The Lord of The Rings'', ''Moby-Dick'', ''The Great Gatsby''.

Wow.

I take one of them opening the first page.

What the fuck?

I look the others too.

There are first editions. How?

I take the last one in my hands. Checking the title, I feel my jaw drop.

''Pride and Prejudice''

Holly shit.

I turn to look at Isaac, silently staring at me while sipping his beer.

''Is this...''

''What?'' He asks.

''R-real?''

''Last time I checked.'' He responds in an indifferent tone.

''B-but how? Do you even know what you have in your hands?'' I say dumfounded.

''I do actually. I've read all of them.''

He walks in front of me, taking the book from my hands, before putting it with the others delicately.

I stand there still in shock. ''How...'' But he doesn't let me finish.

''Why are you here Daphne?''

His question takes me by surprise. But most of all it reminds me the last time I saw him. He called me by my name and then...kissed me.

My eyes drift unintentionally to his lips. As if he read my mind, he licks them looking at me, the atmosphere in the room thick.

''I-I...came to ask you something.''

''Yeah?'' He asks taking a step closer to me.

I swallow hard before I nod.

''So, you didn't come here for me after all...'' He says lowly, his chest touching mine.

I feel tiny under his dark gaze, but it seems like I can't look away. My eyes locked with his pitched black ones.

Taking a lock of my dark hair, he twists it around, before he drops it off and adds in a cold tone.

''That's disappointing.''

Moving away, I finally let the breath I didn't know I was holding.

''What do you want to know?'' He asks sitting on the couch, each one of his hands spread on the back of it.

I stay in my spot, avoiding his gaze.

''Um...it has to do with...''

''Jackson?'' He asks raising an eyebrow.

My head snaps at him and I look surprised.

''What, do you think I didn't notice?''

''Notice what?'' I say.

''Daphne I'm not stupid. I saw the way he was looking at you. You know each other. The question is how?''

''That's not relevant.'' I murmur, looking at the floor.

''No? Then I guess your visit came to an end. I trust you to find your way out.'' He exclaims standing up.

''Wait!'' I move forward grabbing his wrist.

He looks down at me and I quickly recruit my hand back.

''I-I met him a month ago. Inside a movie theatre.''

''Jackson? In a movie theatre? That's odd.'' He says, sitting back.

''Why?''

''Nothing. Go on.''

''And then I saw him again. During a drug dealing inside my campus.''

''That's more like him.''

My heart drops at his words.

So, it is true. Bob was right.

He is one of the dealers after all.

''You like him, don't you?''

He asks out of the blue and I stare at him dumbfounded.

''I-I...''

''Got it.'' Standing up, he moves in the kitchen and takes another beer.

My eyes look at his back.

He is limping. But I don't make a comment on it.

''And now you want to know more about him. Am I right?''

I nod hesitant.

''Well I'm sorry kid, but you came to the wrong place.''

A light frown comes to my face. ''Why?''

''Because I can't talk about him, without talking about my past too. And that's something I don't want to share.''

I stay silent, looking at him sipping his beer.

''Don't give me that look. I'm not Rob. I won't fall for that.''

Biting my lip, I nod defeated.

Go home Daphne. There is nothing here for you.

I move forward opening the door, but before I had the chance to do it, a hand shuts it with a bang.

I turn around, coming face to face with his torso.

He doesn't look at me, while he mumbles something more to himself than me.

''I'm only doing this as a warning to stay away. Because after what you are going to hear, you must be stupid not to.''

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