I yawned and stretched my arms above my head. I lazily opened my eyes and turned to face to Javon, like how I always do after a goodnight sleep, but he was not beside me.

My eyebrows furrowed and I pushed myself up on my elbows. I glanced towards his chair where he usually leaves his clothes and suitcase prepared for work.

It was empty.

I frowned. It was unusually for him to leave without waking me up. Even when he was late, he'd kiss me and bolt through the front door, cursing loudly at the tables or plant pots that stood in his way.

I didn't wake to a kiss or foul cursing.

It was then that my phone beeped and I reached over to grab it. I turned it on and momentarily was blinded by the light. I blinked a couple of times and read the message.

I had to come in earlier than the usual time. My boss is making schedule changes and I forgot to tell you last night. I'll see you around nine.

-Javon

My fingers hovered over the keyboard and after a couple of minutes; I replied with a quick okay and kicked the blankets off. I scratched my stomach and I gasped when I read the time.

"Drakon!" I shouted, running down the hall and throwing open his bedroom door. "Drakon, wake up! We're late for school!"

I shook him hard and he yelled in surprise. I stopped and we shared alarmed looks. A second later, we hurriedly dressed up and ran to the school.

"Why... didn't you... set your alarm, mom?!" Drakon asked, panting as we turned the corner.

"Your dad... forgot to wake me up! Blame... it on him!" I snapped and slowed down once we were steps away from the school's heavy metal red doors. "You behave, okay?"

Drakon nodded, to out of breath to answer. I kissed his forehead and watched as he walked towards the teachers who held the doors open for late-comers.

I sighed and spun around, heading back home. I shivered as the chilly autumn wind swept through, blowing leaves around in circles.

I stuffed my hands in sweatpants and when I got to my front door, my stomach dropped.

I left my keys inside.

I closed my eyes and slowly breathed in, trying hard not to scream for my stupidity. I turned the knob.

"Of course it'll be locked." I mumbled to myself and checked the windows. They were all closed. I circled the house and found my old bedroom window open.

I frowned. Since when was that open? I always left it locked and that window hasn't been opened in years. Maybe when I was looking through old memories, I left it open.

I thought hard about it and shook it off when another chilly wind had me shiver. I looked around the ruined yard for something to climb on. I found an old wooden lawn chair and stood on it just to test it.

I brought it under the window and used the oddly bricks that stood out to climb up. I had used this method all the time when I was younger to escape during night. Mama was usually too drunk to notice I was gone and I could even use the front door without setting off the alarm, but I wanted to feel the adrenaline.

Plus, where was the fun in walking through front doors?

I was almost half way up there when a bird squawked right behind me. I jumped and lost my holding. I landed on my side, barely missing the lawn chair. I groaned and turned the other way where my eyes met a pair of crossed black boots.

My eyes traveled from the boots to a titled mask staring at me. I could almost sense his amusement.

"Oh... You were so close." He greeted, voice husky and muffled.

I narrowed my eyes at him and throw a chunk of dead grass at him to which he didn't flinch when it hit him on the chest. "You be quiet, Mr. No-Help-At-All."

Tristian was leaning back on his gloved hands, his legs crossed in front of him in a relaxed position. "There will be times when someone won't be there to help you. It's better to learn how to do it on your own."

I groaned and laid on the grass. "I'm so tired, though." I whined.

Tristian nudged at the window and I rolled my eyes with a sigh. "Okay. I'm going, I'm going. But don't you dare expect chocolate from me."

I stood up and started to climb back up. I finally reached the ledge and I blew the hair away from my face. "I need to leave a spare key under the mat next time." I said to myself and pushed myself over the window.

I pushed half of my body inside and saw a small mouse dash under the old dresser. I screamed, losing my hold on the ledge. I fell inside and coughed as dust rose. I waved my hand in front of my face, coughing.

"I'm okay!" I said hoarsely.

I stood up and made a note to get this room cleaned up.

And to get rid of that mouse.

I went downstairs and opened the door. Tristian was still sitting in the same spot. Only this time, his attention was focused on something behind him.

I frowned and cleared my throat, wincing at how dry my throat was. "Something wrong?"

Tristian slowly turned to look at me. He shook his head and stood up. "I should get going."

"No, you can't!" I blurted out, turning red when Tristian took a step back, clearly startled by outburst. "I-I mean, you just got here... Why not, um, stay and have a cup of tea?"

"I don't drink tea." He stated like as if he rehearsed it.

"Coffee?" I tried.

"I don't like hot beverages."

"Juice?"

"It has too much sugar."

I raised my hands up. "Water then?"

"I already had some."

I gave him a deadpanned look. "You are coming with me to have tea and cookies whether you like it or not. Part of being friends is getting to know each other."

"But you already got to know me."

"All I know is that you don't like hot and sugary drinks. And that you drank water. That doesn't count."

"My favorite color is black."

"I didn't ask for your favorite color."

"My favorite animal is an owl."

"Tristian."

"I like pancakes."

I threw my hands up. "I don't mean for you to say everything about you on the spot. Getting to know a friend takes time."

"It does?" He asked surprised.

I nodded. He looked away, probably taking it in. I suddenly felt bad for him. I didn't know why he wore a mask and where he lived exactly. The only thing I've seen was that he lived deep in the woods in a secret cave or something. I didn't know how long he lived there and why.

Even if he wore a mask to find his face, he could have easily lived an apartment somewhere in town. He'd probably be called a freak, but he wouldn't be alone.

Yet, he chose to live far away from people and while that should alarm me, it didn't.

There was just something about him that made me feel... safe. I didn't feel so alone with him even though he was a man of few words.

I laced my fingers together and lowered my eyes to my shoes. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't make you do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you don't want to have tea, that's fine. If you wish to leave—Tristian?"

I looked up mid-sentence and he was nowhere to be found. My eyebrows furrowed. I hadn't heard his footsteps departing. How did he disappear like that?

A sound from the kitchen caught my attention and my heart skipped a beat. I slowly turned around, gasping when a black blur flew by the window. I took a step back, getting ready to run when Tristian walked in view of the window. He turned around and lifted two empty mugs.

I put my hand on my chest, feeling more than relieved. I went inside, closing the door behind me. Tristian was leaning on the counter, watching the kettle with great interest. I came around to stand next to him with space between us.

"You have a nice home." He said, cutting the awkward silence.

I crossed my arms over my chest and scratched my ear. "Thank you. It took a lot of work to get it to this state."

Tristian nodded and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "That's a nice kettle."

I laughed softly and nudged his arm with my elbow. "You don't have to compliment everything."

"Oh... right. So, what do I say?"

"Anything you want to ask. I'm pretty open."

Tristian nodded and returned to staring at the kettle. "Why did you move back here?"

The smile slipped off my lips and I slowly shrugged. "My mama died and... when I saw how poorly this house was treated, I just... I don't know. I felt like I owed it to her to fix it up, y'know?"

"I'm sorry about your mother."

I shrugged again. "Me too."

"Do you live here alone?"

"No. I live here with my husband and son."

Tristian turned to stare at me. "Husband and son?"

I nodded. "I've been married to Javon for... almost nine years. My son turned seven a few months ago."

"Oh. You must feel happy." He said, but for some reason there was something about the way he said that seemed down.

"I am, though..." I trailed off, wondering if I should express my thoughts to someone I barely know.

"Though what?" He asked.

"I feel like something is wrong with Javon. He's acting different towards me." I finally said.

"It must be the move. It takes a while to adjust." He offered.

I slowly nodded, but I knew it wasn't that. I've known Javon for years. Since we moved here, he had been quiet when normally he was expressive. Something changed about him and the more I thought about it, the more scenarios ran through my head.

All of which I didn't like one bit.

-------

"Don't you dare." I warned, narrowing my eyes and my hands gripping the table ledge.

Tristian wiggled his fingers tauntingly over his queen, preparing to get rid of my defenseless king. He grabbed the queen and I quickly locked my fingers around his wrist, making him pause before he set the queen down.

"What you are doing is cheating."

"You cheated first! You went twice!"

"I did no such thing."

"Yes, you did!"

"I did not."

"You did to."

"I—" Tristian was cut off when my alarm I set went off. I let go of Tristian and turned it off. It was time to pick up Drakon from school. I threw my phone back on the couch and turned to look at the chessboard. My king was gone.

"I won." Tristian stated smugly.

"I am going to get you back for that. Cheater." I added, standing up and rubbing my lower back.

Tristian followed my led and began putting the pieces back in the box neatly. "You're going to need years of practice then, Varia."

I shivered at how he said my name. He rolled the R with an almost Spanish accent. I cleared my throat and shifted my weight to my other leg.

"Then practice I shall." I declared, taking the box from him and placing it back in the bookshelf.

Tristian hummed to that and started walking towards the back door. "Thank you for the tea. It was nice."

I smiled and stopped by the doorway. "It was nothing. Thanks for coming in, even if it was by somewhat force."

Tristian stood by the lawn chair and shook his head. He turned to look over his shoulder, mask blank as ever. "No. I wanted to. Your home is lovely."

I shifted awkwardly and rubbed my hands together. "Thank you. So, um, see you tomorrow?"

Tristian nodded with hesitation. I smiled a small smile and watched as the trees swallowed him. I closed the door and went started to put the dishes away. I grabbed my mug and the other when it spilled on my hand and over the counter.

"Oh, shoot." I quickly grabbed a rag and cleaned it up. I stared at the mug and noticed he hadn't taken a tiny sip of his tea. I sighed and finished cleaning up.

Afterwards I went to get my shoes in my bedroom. The stairs creaked with every step I took and the shadows seemed to be longer and all pointing in one direction; my bedroom.

I slowed down and pressed my back against the opposite wall. I leaned forward and kicked the door open with my foot. I breathed a sigh of relief that nothing was waiting for me. I went inside and grabbed my shoes.

My phone rang when I was halfway downstairs. I answered it at the last ring and balanced it between my ear and shoulder.

"Hey, honey. Are you on your lunch break?" I asked as I awkwardly hopped on one foot to put my shoes on.

"No. I just wanted to let you know that I won't be coming home tonight. I'm staying here in the office." Javon stated emotionless.

I lowered my foot down. "W-Why? What happened?"

"I have a lot of work to finish up. I'll see you tomorrow." Javon said and then hung up without saying anything else.

I frowned and pulled my phone away, watching as the screen blinked orange and then went dark.