Vrr. Vrr.
Eyes squeezed shut, I slapped around the nightstand until I found the source of the noise; my phone vibrating to alert me that my alarm was going off.
Turning off the alarm, I flopped over on the bed, fully intending to go back to sleep. It wasn't happening, though, and I rolled over to glare at the offending sun, squinting from the brightness. I had forgotten to close the curtains last night.
Stretching out my body, I slid lazily off the bed, landing on the floor in a boneless heap. I stayed like that for a few minutes, spacing off as I leaned crookedly on the side of the bed. When I managed enough motivation to get up, I hauled myself to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
I kept the water cold, knowing warm water would only lull me back to sleep. I had work again, still cleaning out the basement, so I had to get moving. I already missed being an unemployed bum.
After showering, I changed into the plainest clothes I could find in my closet and snagged a cherry Poptart before heading out the door. When I closed it behind me, I heard, "Good morning Grey!" and almost jumped out of my skin.
Whirling around with my poptart hanging from my mouth, I saw Jesper, one of the new recruits from yesterday. He was leaning against the wall, right where the door would block him from view.
Hurriedly, I swallowed the bite of my breakfast (impressively without choking on it) so I could rip into the guy. Who does that? Hiding behind someone's door to jumpscare them, so not cool!
"You startled me!" I accused, scowling at him.
Jesper held up his hands, trying to play the innocent card. "Sorry, sorry. It wasn't my intention to scare you."
I wasn't buying it. "What are you doing out here anyways?"
He grinned and gestured to one door down. "That's my room right there and Cory's room is the one across from yours. I'm waiting for him."
I scanned his face for any hint of a lie before I acquiesced that he probably wasn't out to get me. Choosing to let it go, I moved around him as he took his phone out of his pocket and started down the hallway.
The next moment, I heard the shuffle of long pant legs brushing together as Jesper bounded up beside me. We moved a few paces before I stopped and turned to him.
"Why are you following me? Weren't you waiting for your brother?" Seriously, leave me alone already.
Jesper continued walking, leaving me to catch up to him this time. "He canceled on me, said he was going to read instead of participating in brotherly bonding time. So now I'm following you!"
"Follow someone else. I've got things to do." Childishly, I sped up and passed him.
Jesper did the same, matching me. "But I don't know my way around. You'd just leave me like that?"
"Yeah, I would. Besides, I can't be your tour guide. I also don't completely know where I'm going."
Jesper's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at me. "Seriously? But you've been here longer."
I grumbled under my breath, not happy to be admitting weakness in front of him. "This place is a maze, okay? It's perfectly reasonable to not have it figured out yet. Besides, I haven't even been here that long."
Jesper just shook his head, not saying anything else. I was more than happy with silence, not so much that he was still following me. He had slowed to let me take the lead, intent on inviting himself along.
I led us to the basement stairs, glad that he didn't comment on the loop we made. When I pulled open the door, I felt vindicated at the face he made. See? The basement is creepy.
We descended the stairs and I went right to work turning on all the lights while Jesper stayed frozen on the last stair. Ignoring him, I started prepping, pulling out a trash bag, duster, and whatever else I thought would be useful.
I had texted Ash last night before I went to bed about how I should be sorting things, preferring to avoid meeting face to face as much as possible. He got back to me this morning. All he said was dump whatever seemed worthless and that he trusted me to make the right call.
Yeah, that wasn't helpful at all. Hello? I'm new to this world, how am I supposed to know what has value and what doesn't? Granted, Ash doesn't know this fact, but he still could have given a little more direction!
Whatever. If I accidentally throw away something important, it's not like I'm going to get in trouble for it. Ash doesn't even know what's down here. On that note, if I find cash, I'm pocketing it. Call it my tip.
"Did you lead me down here to kill me? Is that why you took me to the scariest basement I've ever seen?" Jesper called from his refuge on the stairs.
I hid a smirk, trying to keep up a grumpy front. "I'm here to clean. You can leave, you know."
Jesper shook his head and took a hesitant step down, scooting over to me the second he touched concrete. Bumping into my side, he grabbed my arm and held tight through attempts to shake him off.
"I don't know my way around, remember? I'll get lost." He blinked at me, flashing a pathetic pout.
I scoffed. I'm sure if he wandered for a bit he'd find his way. There was no need to stay somewhere uncomfortable when you had the option to leave.
"Fine. Just get off me so I can do my job."
Finally succeeding in removing the human barnacle, I got to work tackling the closest shelf. This one was loaded up with heavy boxes that I had to pull down and sort through. As I did, I disturbed clouds of dust and multiple spiders that had been hiding out.
My nose burned and I desperately wished to sneeze, but it's always when you want it to happen that it never does. My face scrunched up all ugly and I could taste the dust on my tongue. It was so disgusting and I ended up taking it out on my tagalong who was currently scuffing his shoe on the ground and whistling.
"If you aren't going to leave, why don't you make yourself useful and help out a little?" I snapped, a little harsher than warranted.
Jesper took my bad temper in stride. "Sure…" he drawled, "I'll help." Looking at the twinkle in his eyes, I merely grunted and refocused on what I was doing. Why did he look victorious just now?
True to his word, Jesper pulled down a box and started to work, only asking a few questions every so often. We settled into a flow, working together without the need to bother each other. It was… peaceful, and time flowed quicker than it had when I was alone.
We made good progress by the time lunch rolled around, something that Jesper made sure we didn't miss. As we walked out, I let Jesper prattle on about the creepy atmosphere, spiders, and all the old stuff he unboxed. I was tolerating him.
I still found him annoying, but I didn't hold the same sourness at his presence as before. I don't know, it was good having company, I guess. Even if it had to be him. We weren't ever going to be friends, though. Nope, no way was that happening.