11 Days

I SAW SOMEONE

Six left to give me time to take a quick shower and get ready. One of the things I couldn't afford to put aside was shave my legs and armpits; it was unlikely that we would end up having s*x tonight even though we had kissed so passionately in public - certainly no one was there to see us - but better safe than sorry. "Maybe it's a bad idea." I told my reflection in the mirror who was looking at me with concern, there was so much nervousness in my expression that I could swear it wasn't me in the reflection. What could happen? It's just dinner, Aviana, nothing special has to happen. Wasn't it rushed? The kiss, this attempted date. People dated strangers all the time, why should it be any different for me? Because you don't trust anyone, Aviana. I didn't trust anyone, and my guard had dropped suddenly, plummeted like a bird that a hunter had just shot at. This shouldn't happen, I wasn't really ready to explore that part of me again. Still I decided to fix myself up a bit - starting by detangling my hair and then dressing in jeans and a light blue tank top. "Makeup, makeup." I hummed as I looked in my hairdresser for my red lipstick, it was nowhere to be found. I looked in every drawer, under the bed, in my backpack I even looked inside the refrigerator and it was not there. The only time I wore makeup was to go to the bar two blocks from the diner. It had other colors, sure, but that red was my favorite. "Have I lost it?" It didn't matter much; I was just going to decline Six's invitation anyway.

I left my apartment rehearsing what I planned to say to Six so I wouldn't babble nonsense when he opened the door. I felt sure of myself when I knocked on his door, when he opened my heart stopped and I completely forgot what I planned to say to him. He had changed his clothes, black slacks and a pristine white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows made him look like a dream come true, out of an erotic romance novel. "I ..." I was a blank disk, it was empty. I had just hatched. "And what's for dinner?"

Six took my hand and pulled me inside then closed the door behind me. His apartment was much bigger and more elegant than mine. The wooden floors were glossy, I could almost see my reflection there, his décor style was more minimalistic, opting for whites and black and grays From the looks of it, everything was new, the paintings, the lamps in every corner… The couches even had the price tag on. This guy really wanted to reinvent himself.

He led us straight to the kitchen, if my mother could see this space, she would go crazy cooking all day. Here there was also a minimalist and sophisticated air, I felt a bit out of place coming here dressed like that. Finally, he released me and handed me a tablet that was loading on a dock on the kitchen island. "Is this included with dinner?" I asked shyly lifting the tablet. Six then opened a drawer and pulled out a slim keyboard and began typing on it, soon word after word began to appear on the screen.

I hope you don't object to mac n cheese and ice cream.

“Wow, that’s all I ever wanted for a first date.”

He grinned and then winked at me before making his way to the oven and popping out a pair of the juiciest steaks I have ever seen with potatoes, asparagus and carrots.

“There’s no way you cooked all that!” I was surprised to see the food he made, I guess from the fact that I only believed that the only man in this town who could cook culinary perfection was Tony and no one else. "Who did you pay to do this for you?" I teased him a little still, he never stopped smiling. Carefully he settled the tray on a cutting board near the sink and came over to where he left the keyboard.

Behind you is a cabinet with individual tablecloths, please take two and place them on the island.

“Okay.” I did as he told me, just in time for him to place two full plates on my side and his side. He also handed me the cutlery before typing again.

Would you like a glass of wine or beer?

“What do you fancy right now?”

I’m leaning towards beer.

“Me too.”

He went to the refrigerator and took out two beer bottles. After handing me mine he gently pushed me aside and slid a high stool chair off the island. "Thank you." I mumbled as I unstopped my bottle, Six winked at me again and leaned in to kiss my cheek. I was supposed to decline the invitation but seeing how much she went to cooking I felt guilty for even considering it.

“Before coming here I had thought of declining the invitation, you know? But here we are.”

That’s not very polite.

“I know but it felt a little bit rushed.”

Six sliced a piece of his steak and offered it to me. For some reason allowing him to feed me seemed obscener than kissing wildly in full view of anyone who might walk by. The meat was juicy with the right amount of char on the exterior, simply… “Delicious.” I said unable to contain my appreciation moan. His eyes darkened at the sound but made no attempt to tease me about it. Then we continued eating and drinking, sometimes I would complement his cooking skills, others I would question him about his decoration preferences. I felt bad every time he had to put down his utensils to answer so I stopped and let him finish. When we finished dinner, I offered to wash the dishes, but he wouldn't let me, instead he asked me to wait for him in the living room and make myself comfortable. Music started playing as soon as I sat down on the L-shaped sofa, turned my head from side to side in search of the source, and found a speaker positioned in one of the upper corners just above the window overlooking the balcony. And now what’s next? Chat for a while? Kiss a little more? I couldn't do this, I needed to get out of here. I got up and strode to the door but before I could turn the knob, Six wrapped his powerful arms around my waist and pinned me against the door. "Shhhh" he whispered in my ear and turned me in his arms.

“I can’t, forgive me.” With a steady pace he guided me back to the couch and handed me the tablet. He lost no time typing furiously into the keyboard.

Did I do something wrong? Is there something bothering you?

“No!” And then with less conviction I tried again. “I haven’t dated in a while and also, I don’t know you. I don’t even know your name and I’m already rubbing against you and coming over for dinner.” I groaned throwing my head back. “I feel so silly.” Six took a seat next to me, he didn't seem to judge me or be about to explode for lack of patience. His fingers caressed my cheek for a long time, his gentle touch relaxed me, and I couldn't help leaning into it. I wanted-needed more of him. When he removed his hand, I felt at loss for a few seconds, then he tapped at the tablet screen.

Many have heard me, but no one has seen me, and I will not speak back until spoken to.

I scowled at the words. “A riddle?” He nodded firmly. “I don’t know…” I looked at Six for a long time trying to figure out the answer. He didn't offer me clues or breadcrumbs to give me an idea of what it might be. “I will not speak back until spoken to?” He smiled a tad boyish it seemed to me, displaying those beautiful twin dimples and then, it hit me. “The Echo.” He nodded and tapped at his chest. “Your name is Echo?” It seemed ironic to me for the simple fact that he could not speak, I wondered if his parents had done it on purpose or if he was completely unconscious. It was a unique and original name even so; I couldn't help feeling special when I knew it. "I like it." I whispered leaving the tablet on the coffee table to take his face in my hands and draw him close to me. I planted a small kiss on the corner of his lips and backed away. “I have to go home. Would you walk me back?” He kissed the tip of my nose and mouthed Okay. Echo got up from the couch taking my hand and pulled me up. I laughed and stuck to his back like a leech, he didn't seem to care at all. Shortly after we were both standing outside my door, I was playing with my keys simply stalling for I wanted to stretch this moment. “I had a good time.” I said as I unlocked the door rather reluctantly. When I opened the door, I saw Echo’s expression transform as he stared into a far point in the darkness of my apartment. “What is it?”

Echo took me out of the way and entered slowly without turning on the light, for a while he stood between the kitchen and the living room looking down the hallway that led to the bathroom and my bedroom. I was getting impatient and followed behind him, as soon as I stepped inside, I realized how cold the apartment was. "How strange, I don't remember leaving the windows open." Echo was still squinting hard; I could tell he was uneasy for some reason. Gently I touched down on his upper arm, “Did you see something?” When he nodded, I sighed, “It’s alright, probably a racoon. It’s not the first time they come in when the window’s open.”

He turned to face me as I reached for the light switch next to the door. “See? There’s nothing.” When the worried expression didn’t leave his handsome face, I decided to take a different approach. “Listen, dinner was on you tonight so, how about we do breakfast tomorrow?” Echo relaxed but not entirely. “Be here at nine sharp and bring the tablet and keyboard with you, okay?” He sighed but otherwise agreed. “Great, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”