Chapter 18 Naomi #3
“That’s perfectly fine,” Rowan said in that soothing voice of his. I got the impression he was reminding Tweety he was there, in case she’d forgotten. After all, she still hadn’t given direct permission for him to enter. “I can even help clean while you and Naomi have some girl time.”
Another painfully long pause, and although I wanted desperately to kick down the door, I didn’t. This wasn’t like Rowan’s situation, where he was in mortal danger. This was something more delicate.
But God, I was glad I was there.
Finally, the door cracked, and I was able to see my friend.
Whatever was going on, she definitely hadn’t been preening because her blonde hair was matted and frizzy around her head with little ungroomed pin-feathers sticking out, and the soft down on her cheekbones, ears, and décolletage was visibly greasy and sticking to her olive skin.
“Hi, Naomi,” she whispered through the crack, sounding like she was holding back a sob. And if that didn’t just make my own tears rise in response. Instantly, I had a hand through the door. Not invading, but offering it through the gap like a lifeline.
All she had to do was grasp it.
“I’m here for you, Carolina. No matter what.”
There was a creaky sort of nod and then the door opened the rest of the way for us to slip in, the harpy closing it firmly behind us. I was expecting all sorts of strange situations inside, from biohazard to hoarder-level of clutter, but that wasn’t what was waiting.
No, instead it was dark. Really dark. The only illumination seemed to be coming from outside, streetlights and whatnot vaguely managing to make it through the windows.
And it was hot too. Not as hot as the day, but just about as sweltering as one would expect an apartment baked in the summer sun with wind access from only a single side to be.
“Uh, do you want me to turn on the lights?” I asked cautiously, wondering if this was some last resistance to stop us from seeing what she was so embarrassed about.
“You can’t.”
“Um, I have my phone flashlight, I’m sure I can find the switch if you don’t know where it is.”
“No, I mean you can’t.”
I sent my friend a quizzical look that I knew her sharp eyes could see. “Carolina, what do you mean by that?”
She sighed and flopped backwards onto her threadbare couch. “You can’t turn on the lights because they don’t work.”
I walked around the couch and sat next to her while Rowan stood by the wall, giving us space. Always so thoughtful. “Why? What’s going on, girlie?”
“You know that big storm that happened a while back?”
“You mean the one that ruined my Hallmark movie moment?” I asked, and Tweety nodded.
“It apparently did a lot of damage to the transformer outside. Three days ago, it went out completely. Sparks and all.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” I murmured, concern lancing through me. Had she been without a fan or AC for that long? I knew that harpies were temperature tolerant, but still that couldn’t have been comfortable.
“Because I didn’t think it would be a big deal!
We got this building-wide email explaining the situation and saying it should be fixed within the day, and offering cooler bags to anyone worried about their food.
” She let out a snort and I was right there with her.
It was the summer in the city, what were some freezer bags going to do for that long?
“I assume there was no help on the grocery front for anyone?”
“Not that I know of. But anyway, because of that email, I figured it would be back on when I woke up, so I used my power bank for my phone and had a bit of a self-care evening with candles.”
“So the repairs didn’t get done then?”
“No, they did! When I woke up, my phone was completely dead, but I could hear cartoons through the walls, so I figured everything was better. I took a shower and went to make myself breakfast, but it wasn’t until I opened the fridge that I noticed my power was still out.
I don’t know what happened, but it seems like mostly everyone else got their power back. I just… didn’t.”
“Oh, Tweety, and it’s been like that for two days?”
Had she not been online that long? Guilt bubbled up from my stomach. I supposed with all my excitement about cooking for Rowan, I’d forgotten the last time I’d talked to her had been when I was grocery shopping.
“Were none of your neighbors willing to help?” Rowan asked in the tender tone I adored.
“That’s the—” The tears that she had only just been holding back won their fight to spill down her sharp cheeks, her voice breaking up along with it.
“That’s what’s so embarrassing! All I have to do is open my door, go outside, and knock at any of their apartments.
I could ask them to call down to maintenance, and I’m sure one of them would do it! ”
She reached out to me, and naturally I opened my arms, pulling her in so she could sob into the crook of my neck.
I felt like such a terrible friend. Yes, after so many years of her dodging my invites, I’d figured out that she had some anxieties.
But I thought it was more that she was afraid to travel or use public transportation, as well as being around so many humans at once.
I had no idea that she was struggling with agoraphobia.
Hard not to feel like a shit friend, but I pushed my feelings aside to deal with later. I wasn’t the one who needed the help.
“But I just couldn’t! I couldn’t make myself step outside.
I couldn’t even open the door! I thought maybe I could get around it by just going straight down to the office and writing a note to slip into their mailbox.
That way I wouldn’t have to see anyone or interact.
But...” A heart-wrenching sob tore out of her, and I glanced over her head at Rowan.
I was sure we were wearing similar expressions: concern, mixed with empathy and a whole lot of worry tossed on top.
“I feel stupid! So fucking stupid! What kind of adult can’t even go into their own hallway?”
To my surprise, Rowan quietly moved over to us, sitting on the other end of the couch. Not so close that he would be able to make physical contact, but there was something quite soothing about his aura.
“I’ve met people from all over the world, Carolina.
Incredible people. But even the strongest among them had their own little quirks and flaws that were debilitating.
The important thing is that we’re here now, and you’re okay.
” There was something different in his voice, and I wondered if he was slipping some vampire glamour into his gentle words.
Not enough to be some sort of hypnosis or compelling my friend to do what she didn’t want, but just something to take an edge off. Like a lullaby, or a warm bubble bath.
“Have you had anything to eat or drink since the power went out?” he asked.
“Y-yeah.” She sniffled. “I made a smorgasbord with all my frozen stuff and kind of gorged myself that first night, then the second day I ate up all my perishables in the fridge that could be eaten cold. I have supplies to last another day or two with nonperishables, but I can’t order more with my phone being dead, so I was starting to ration things.
Rationing rather than just asking to borrow a charger.
I… I don’t know how I got this way. I don’t know why I’m this way.
But I feel fucking crazy! I was contemplating letting myself starve on bare minimum survival because I couldn’t contact anyone without stupid technology! ”
“Hey, I have an idea. If you’re comfortable, why don’t you give me your phone and your power bank.
I’ll walk to the corner store, charge those there, and pick you up some snacks and food for tomorrow that you won’t have to cook.
Then, once I’m back, Naomi can help you write an email to your management office and we can order some food?
If you wanna stay here, that is. You’re more than welcome at either of our places. ”
Both Rowan and I knew that it was incredibly unlikely Carolina would agree to leave her place, but I loved that he offered. Although I’d never been in Carolina’s situation, I figured I’d get annoyed if people were making decisions for me rather than including me in them.
“Y-you would do that for me?” she asked, her voice still trembling. And if I wasn’t already hugging her, I would have. “You don’t even know me.”
“No, I don’t. But you’re incredibly important to my girlfriend. And even if you were a complete stranger, why wouldn’t I want to help someone in need? Wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah... Yeah, I would. T-thank you.” Tweety’s eyes returned to me, and I saw so much in them, so I hugged her even harder.
Not at full strength—her bones were a bit more delicate than the average magical being’s—but enough to let her know that I wasn’t going anywhere.
“You’re a really good friend, you know that? ”
“I don’t know if that’s true, but I do promise that I am trying my best. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that you hadn’t answered my messages.”
“It’s okay. You’re not my babysitter. Besides, you had a very exciting date to worry about.”
She was trying to get the attention off her, and while I was willing to give her a break from the spotlight and to settle, I wanted to make sure she knew my help wasn’t a one-time thing.
No, as far as I was concerned, this was going to be a long-term endeavor.
I would be by her side as long as she allowed.
“That’s no excuse. Not really. I should have been there for you like you’re there for me.”
“Naomi, you can’t blame yourself for something I purposely kept a secret from you.
I know that’s not what you’re supposed to do with friends, but you’re so accomplished and always on the go.
I wanted to be like you. And the fact that I wasn’t and was actively getting worse instead of better just made me hide things even more. I’m sorry.”