11Note: I did this a week or so ago for a March "Spring" themed writing contest. I was a runner up, so, I guess that isn't too bad. Anyway, this is about two of my characters. You'll probably see more of them, as they amuse me so much.
This is Spring Cleaning
Today started off just like any other day. I didn't wake up on time to get to the bus, had to get a cab to go to work, worked for ten hours straight – counting other peoples' money.
Sounds like a great life, right? That isn't even the half of it.
I've only had one friend in my entire life, and he had disappeared for seven years, only to somehow miraculously appear in front of my apartment and let himself in to live with me. Sure, I was glad that he was back, but he hadn't even given any sign that he'd ever return.
But ever since he's been back…weird things have been happening. I mean, really weird. He tells me he's a demon hunter now, that he had been kept in this government facility, being experimented on to become a perfect weapon. Of course, I reacted in the most sensible way: I freaked out. I mean, it's not normal to see your best mate tear apart some giant, grotesque thing in your living room. Right? How would you have reacted?
Anyway, I've come to live with it now…I just wish that Charlie would keep his muddy shoes off of my bloody coffee table – but that isn't happening any time soon. I could just kick him out, but…it's not all that easy. Besides, the moment he leaves, whatever monsters that are stalking me will see me as an easy target. I don't want to be demon food.
As I've said before, my day was as average as ever, but I knew it wasn't going to last long. After I went grocery shopping yet again (Charlie eats a whole lot more than usual now, go figure), I was heading back to my– well, "our"- flat, I noticed an eerie calmness emitting from the building. I knew that it shouldn't send me on edge, but it did.
Never trust something that appears good in this world. It's probably not.
I walked up the steps. Lurking around warily in every direction was someone or something watching me. I felt around for my key, having trouble keeping the grocery bags in one arm while I searched my trousers for the damned thing. Finally retrieving them, I hesitantly unlocked and opened the door.
My eyes couldn't believe what they saw. I almost thought of closing the door and doing it all over again, but even if I did, the sight would still be there.
Charlie was cleaning the flat…with the help of that purple rabbit thing with wings. It was very disturbing to see a creature like that try to mop the kitchen floor.
"Umm…" I forced out, knowing how stupid I sounded while I gawked. "What are you doing?"
Charlie turned around, his rugged, but handsome face breaking into a large grin. I felt even more worried. "Petie!" he exclaimed, coming up to me and taking the bags from my arms. "How was your day?"
"Uh-what are you wearing?" I noticed that the blonde was wearing one of my mum's old aprons. It was not befitting of the tall, usually masculine man at all.
"Oh, this?" Charlie chuckled. "You like? I found it in that closet full of junk. I figured I'd wear it for the mood."
"What…mood?" I asked, backing up slightly, even though Charlie headed back to the kitchen. "And why is that thing here?" I pointed at the creature, eyes wide. "I thought it was dangerous!"
"Who, Chichiri? Don't worry about him," Charlie said with a pat on the imp's head, smiling. He began taking the food out of the bags and putting them away. "It's the first day of spring. I thought that you would enjoy a day of relaxation while I did your spring cleaning for you!"
"Why?" I narrowed my eyes, hands placed on my hips. "What do you want from me? You are still paying rent, Charlie."
He laughed, closing the refrigerator and walking back out again, coming towards me - Charlie always made me uneasy; I never knew what he was thinking, what he was planning to do. He only smiled, placing his hands on my shoulders. This always seemed to remind me how tall he really was, or just how very small and pathetic I was.
"I can't just do something nice for you, can I?" Charlie said softly, his lips near my ear as he whispered.
"Wha-What?" I squirmed away, having felt his arms slowly slink around my waist. "Of course not!" I snapped, flustered. "Because you always want something!"
Charlie only smiled at me, that cocky, know-it-all smile. He held me by the waist again, this time not letting me get away. I glared at him, not giving in.
"Ah, but what if the one thing I want is you?"
I stared at him, taken aback, and then I started laughing. Charlie gave me a confused, startled expression that only made me laugh even more loudly.
"What?" he asked, worried that I may have lost my mind.
"I – I'm sorry," I managed to get out, "but I just can't take you seriously in that apron…"
He frowned at first, and then he started to laugh with me. And then…then…
Off went the apron.