Lesson 66- Always be on time.
When I wake up in the evening the place is still quiet. Torin isn’t here yet, although a glance at my alarm clock tells me to expect him at any moment. I quickly wash up and get dressed and then check the time again. It’s… Later than I expected. Where IS he? He’s usually here on time or early. I sort of… Hang around in the hallway waiting. Is it weird that I’m anxious right now? It’s just… Torin showing up is as predictable as clockwork. I nearly jump out of my skin when the back door rattles. A moment later there’s a knock. I have no idea what to do. Should I answer the door? I mean it’s probably not a good idea, people DO keep trying to kidnap me. But Torin isn’t here… What if something happened? While I’m contemplating answering the knocking repeats.
“Rina? Are you there? It’s me, Catcher.” I sigh out in relief and unlock the door, opening it and stepping away, careful not to accidentally step out. Catcher peers in through the doorway but doesn’t come inside.
“Why was the door locked?” he asks.
“Uh, Torin isn’t here yet. I guess he’s running late.” I conclude. Catcher’s eyebrows move up to his hairline.
“Torin doesn’t run late. Not ever.” He says firmly. I shrug.
“Well, I’d call him but… Yeah. Maybe you should come in and then call him and find out where he is?” I suggest. Catcher’s eyes go wide and he shakes his head.
“Hell no, I’m not going in there until he gets here. I don’t want to get thrown against a wall again.” He says firmly. I roll my eyes.
“Torin wouldn’t do that again, not without a good reason. You’re here for work. Of course you should come in. I’m here, so it should be fine… I think.”
“You think?” He says doubtfully. I shrug.
“He left me here with Laura this morning.” Catcher seems shocked.
“Really? You know what… I might just wait out here. I’ll… Give him a call. It is weird that he’s not here yet.” He repeats. Catcher pulls his phone out of his pocket and I do my best not to stare at it wishfully. It would seriously be so easy to just steal a phone from someone. But what good would that do? All it would do is ruin any trust I’ve built and I would still be stuck here.
I’m weirdly relieved when Torin picks up the call.
“Hey boss? Yeah, I’m just out back. Oh… Okay. I can? You’re sure? Well… Okay then. Right. Yes I’ll tell her. Okay bye.” Catcher hangs up the phone and nervously steps inside.
“He said he was finishing off an errand and that I could go in and get ready as long as you were awake.” He stands in the doorway looking around.
“This is so weird. Since when does the boss let people in here when he isn’t around?” Catcher asks incredulously and I shrug.
“I don’t know, since this morning? Or maybe since I moved in here in the first place technically. I’ve been here alone every day.” I point out.
“Yeah, but for some reason you’re different. Actually, a lot of things have been different since you came here.” He adds thoughtfully.
“What do you mean?” I ask curiously.
“Well, for starters the monster in the basement takes care of so much of the rubbish disposal that we should probably start paying her. I don’t get late night calls begging me to work anymore either. But mostly it’s the boss. He’s different, he talks more and spends way more time in the bar instead of hiding in his office.” He responds.
“And… How do you feel about that?” I ask suspiciously. I can’t work out what Catcher thinks of Torin. He’s the only one I know who doesn’t call him ‘the demon’ or just by his name. Calling him ‘boss’ does imply a certain level of respect, yeah?
“I’m not totally sure. I mean, the boss is a scary kind of guy, but I’m not dull enough to believe that he doesn’t have feelings, and I’ve thought for a while that he was probably lonely. But he never seemed inclined to do anything about it and it’s really not my business.” He concludes. I frown.
“You never even tried to befriend him yourself?” I wonder and he shrugs.
“I don’t think I’m capable of being the kind of friend he needs.” Catcher answers slowly.
“Why do you think that?” I ask.
“Because I’m afraid of him. We both know it’s true and there’s no hiding it. I can’t really be his friend when such a huge part of me wants to run away when he’s around. Although… He has seemed a little more approachable in the last week. I suspect that must be because of you.” he concludes softly. Once again I’m struck by the stray thought that Catcher should really be recording ASMR videos or something, his voice is so soothing. I shake away the thought.
“I really haven’t done all that much.” I object and he shrugs.
“You’ve softened him. Or rather you’re giving other people a chance to see his soft side a little more.” He decides.
“It’s really not that hard to see. He’s really nice.” I insist and Catcher nods.
“You… Might be right. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t also dangerous.” He points out.
“Dangerous to who? Torin doesn’t want to hurt me, he’s been trying to keep me safe.” I remind him.
“I suppose he’s dangerous to people who threaten the things he cares about.” He decides and I shrug.
“A lot of people are. I don’t really see a problem with it.” I answer with finality.
“Well… Then I suppose you’re the perfect friend for the boss then. Now, I want to get to work. You can relax since you’re taking the later part of the evening.” He waves me off and heads out to the bar.
It takes another twenty minutes for Torin to turn up, and yeah I spend the entire time in the hallway waiting. He arrives with his arms completely full. Under one arm, he’s holding my full hamper of cleaned and folded laundry, under the other he’s holding a package and hooked over his fingers is a plastic bag.
“Woah, do you need a hand there?” I offer but he refuses.
“No thanks. I have it all carefully balanced. If you move anything it will all come tumbling down. But… Maybe open your bedroom door for me so I can put all this down?” He prompts.
“Oh, of course!” I rush over and open the door. He carefully lowers my laundry down by the end of the bed and then holds out the package and plastic bag to me. I take the bag, but not the package.
“What’s this?” I ask, peering inside. It’s something wrapped in foil.
“Dinner. It’s a chicken wrap, I hope that’s okay. Kyle texted that he will be back at work tomorrow.” He adds.
“Oh, that’s awesome, and a wrap is totally fine with me. Thanks.” I tell him gratefully. He offers the package again and I shake my head.
“You might as well open that one. I ordered it for you.” I inform him with a grin. Torin blinks in shock.
“What?” He asks confusedly and I shrug.
“I decided to get you a present. Don’t question it, just open the package.” I urge. Torin eagerly opens the package and pulls out the packing foam. I wait eagerly to see what he thinks of his gift.
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