When She Cries

A girl. I just have a girl under my roof. Not that she's not hot, or cool, or not beautiful in any way, coz she is... just that, girls and me doesn't match. Especially overly- gorgeous brunettes like this. All alone, she and I, in my apartment. What do a guy supposed to do? Score on her. What do I do? Nothing. Great. Dorkenstein. Lamoid. Geek God. Whatever.
She suddenly stirred. I immediately kneel next to her. She opens her blurry eyes and I saw it take her surroundings in. then her eyes settle on me. Her eyes widen but she didn't say anything. Huh. Must be my turn to speak then.
"Hi, I'm Zack and I was the one who saw you lying on the street this morning. I brought you here in my apartment to recuperate. How are you feeling?" Man, I sound like a 40-yr old dad, not a cool 19 yr old dude!

"You could have brought me to the hospital. Or called 911." was her answer.
I felt myself redden. For a geek God, I'm pretty stupid. "Oh. Oh, well, it was pretty sudden and- and I didn't know what to do...."
The girl looked at me a little longer. "I'm fine." she sighed. She looks away, making it apparent that she's grateful for my help and no, she's not talking to me again.
I stood up and went to sit on a chair (she's lying on my only sofa/bed), flicking the TV on. 5 minutes and she still didn't move, still didn't speak. I looked at her. Brunette, curvy, gorgeous, but pale. Like vampire-ish pale. Ok, she's not a real vamp, is she?
"So, what's your name? I'm Zack." I asked her, just to make sure she's not dead yet.
"I know, you already told me." was her reply.

"Ok... nice to meet you, too." I said. If she doesn't wanna talk with me, fine. She's great looking and all, but she just isn't worth breaking my heart.
Another long pause and then, "I'm Holly."
I looked at her again. "O...k... Holly. So, I think you're well enough. Do you want me to drive you to your place? I'll just get the car set-up." I said. I got up from the chair and made to the door when she called me back.
"I don't want to go home."
I blinked. Not sure whether I heard right. "Excuse me?"
"I said I don't wanna go home." She sat up and looked me straight in the eye. "I don't want to go back to that house. Never."

Ok, this is seriously freaking me out. "You mean to say that you ran away from home?"
"It's not a home, it's just a house with people in it."
I have to contain myself from rolling my eyes. "So, you did run away. But, when I saw you lying there on the side-walk, I never saw any bag or belongings of yours. Are you sure you're running away from home and not just strolling around?"
She flashed me an angry look. "I had my hand bag with me. Where is it?"
I snorted. "A hand bag can't really hold all your clothes and stuff. It's in the table." I jerked my head, pointing at the only table where I eat, study, or play.
She stood up and got it. She opened it and pulled out a wad of cash. A handful of $100.00 cash. I felt my jaw drop open.
"I'm richer than you even in my worst state. I don't need to bring my stuff with me, I can just buy them."

I took a moment to collect my thoughts. "Right. Right. Thing is, though, you can't stay here with me. What if your folks start searching for you and get the police to round my neighborhood? I'll get in trouble. And besides, my folks will be shocked and angry when they hear I have a girl in my roof."
"I just need a place to chill for a while. Is that too much to ask?" she shot me a condescending look. "Or, do you just think that I'm just a brunette who will crash with you and doesn't know a single thing done?"
No, I just thought that with her here, I'll look like a total kidnapper or a total psycho sadist who picks on gorgeous girls for my sexual pleasure. "No, I just think that this is a bad idea. And besides, haven't you got school?"
She looks away at me. "I... don't go to school."
"What, you're home-schooled?" I asked.
"Anything wrong with that?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just... I dunno, a gorgeous brunette like you shouldn't be home schooled." I said. It was a very cheesy, corny line and I know she'll just laugh at me.
Ok, she didn't laugh at me, but she twitched her lips, the classic sign of wanting to laugh but can't. We stood there, geek God and gorgeous brunette staring at each other from across the room for a little while longer.
"Where's your food? I'm hungry." she said.
She turned around and made for the fridge without waiting for my answer. "Ugh, you should keep this stocked, you know. Its like population zero in here." she called out to me. "What do you want, pepsi or dr. pepper?" she asked me as though she owns this place and I'm her guest.

"Well, you still can't stay with me. I'll talk with my gal friends and maybe you could stay with them instead. Just not here. Ok?" I insisted.
"I like Dr. pepper so I'll just give you the pepsi, alright?" Holly said as if I didn't tell her anything at all. She tossed me the pepsi but it came short so I have to reach out 3 feet away and pick it up instead.
"Were you even listening to me?" I asked, annoyed.
"Cool your pants off, I heard you loud and clear."
"Ok, so I'll just call my friend and maybe you can stay with her for a few days or so. Good thing she didn't go to her grandma this vacation." It's true. It's the middle of summer vacation and just because I don't have a life, I enrolled in the summer program at my college. It's not that I don't have friends... just that I don't have friends close enough to invite me to their parties.
"Ok, I'll like that." answered Holly.
__________________________________________________________________
"Are you crazy?! I am not letting that brunette snob in my roof for a couple of days, Zack! No questions asked!" whispered Jocelyn to me in her kitchen the next day. I let Holly sleep in my apartment last night because I figured she still needs to recuperate, and let's face it: it's not everyday I have a gorgeous brunette with me in the same place in as long as one night.
The next day though, I immediately phoned Jocelyn. She's just like me, although of the female type. She's also living on her own and this is where I usually hang out. We might look like a couple, but we're really not. Anyway, I thought she would help me out the instant I tell her my problem, but it looks like I'm in for a shock. One look at Holly and she flatly refused to help.

"Come on, Jos, I need you in here! Just take her for a couple of days and that's it, ok?" I asked her, frustration creeping out of my voice.
"If it was a dog, or a puppy, or even a baby you asked me to take in, I'll gladly accept, Zack. But a rich, gorgeous brunette snob? I'm sorry, no." she hissed at me.
"Come on, she won't be a strain on your finances, she's rich!" I reasoned out.
"Oh, sure, she's not gonna bother me financially, but emotionally? Intellectually? I think not. A girl like that is bound to be highly maintained. I moved out of my mom's place so I can do my own thing, not be a maid of some brunette snob, ok?" then she shot me a look. "If you're so bent on helping her, then take her back to her place. You know it's the right thing to do."

"But she wouldn't tell me where she lives!"
"Then ask around." she raised her eyebrows. "Surely that's obvious?"
I stopped, unable to think of a reply.
"Really, Zack. Don't tell me you've taken a liking on that snob that's why you don't wanna take her home?"
"N-not really." I answered sheepishly.
Jos rolled her eyes. "The male species are so easy to predict." then she walked away from me and went back to the living room where Holly was. "So, brunette, I just told Zack you can't be here."
I immediately followed Jos, readying myself for trouble. Jos is sweet, really. But if you piss her off, it's another story. And the top pisser in Jos' list are gorgeous, rich girls who didn't have to work hard to get what they want. Aka Holly.

"Ok, I understand." answered Holly. Wow. She's cool. Not even fazed. She stood up and looked at me. "I'll just get going then." She turned on her heel and walked out the door. She's gone.
"Well, that went well, don't you think so?" said Jos after a long pause.
I didn't answer. I can't believe Holly would just give up like that. But then again, she didn't argue with me much when I told her she can't live with me either. Only thing she's firm though is that she's not going back to her 'house'.
And right now, with just a borrowed shirt from me and a handbag full of money, she's gone. Where will she go? I suddenly remembered her faint figure on the sidewalk. What if she faints again? And this time, it wasn't me there to get her but some creepy old man or a frat member?

"Sorry, Jos, gotta go." I said abruptly. I went out and head straight for the car. "I'm following Holly."
I scanned the streets hoping she didn't get too far. Wait. Stupid of me, of course she wouldn't get very far, she's on foot and I'm following her on wheels! Sure enough, I saw a figure walking a little ways away. I pulled up beside her and rolled my window down. "Come here, I'll take you home."
Holly just looked at me. "I am not going back there. I'm not."
"Not on your house. Mine."
She stopped. "You're letting me stay with you?"
"Sure. But, only for a few days, ok?"
"Ok."

We were silent for a few seconds. And then, "Hop in."
She went around and opened the passenger door and sat. oh, I am so in hot girl's land! Too bad I don't have a convertible so I can boast my luck all over the world!
We arrived at my apartment 10 minutes later.
"Well, you can sleep in my room for now. And if you ever wanna eat, the fridge's open. But always wash the dishes you use, ok? You can get a towel in my cabinet, left door, at the bottom. And you can also use a couple of my shirts while you don't have any. So... I guess that's it." I said awkwardly. This is so weird. I'm actually laying the rules out with a gorgeous girl. A gorgeous girl who will be living with me for a while.
"But, where will you sleep?" Holly asked.

"Oh, I can just sleep in the sofa. Mind you, the sofa is my proper bed since I always sleep late." I said, at a pitiful attempt of a joke.
"Studying?" she asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah." I answered, deflated. "Studying." Another long pause. "So, if you wanna wash your stuff, the laundry's down by the hall. I'll be taking my car to school but you can get a taxi or take the bus when you wanna go out. And... uh... I guess that's all. Really all."
"Cool. So, what do I eat?"
"What?"
"I said, what do I eat? There's nothing in your fridge."
"Oh. Right. Well, looks like we have to eat out then. Or would you just like to do grocery instead by yourself...?"
"Let's just eat out."

"Really?" I asked, not meaning to.
"Yeah, anything wrong?"
It looks like this girl doesn't yet understand the perils of having people see her eating out with me could do on her social life--- if she ever have one. But, oh well, am not about to make her realize that. "Ok, so where do you want to go?"
"Well, I'd like a burger. And fries. And soda." replied Holly.
I know just the place.