Lost and Found (ONC2024)✅

Chapter 7

Percy

2014

After four years of living in Pennsylvania, I'd had enough and wanted to come home. I missed my sisters, and I even missed my parents. About to enter law school at Boston University, I got my own apartment off campus and on the outskirts of the city because I couldn't afford Boston rent and I didn't want to share an apartment with anyone. If it weren't for my parents, I wouldn't be able to afford anything.

Two weeks ago, I moved into my apartment and had yet to unpack. I hadn't done much, except bury myself in books and mind-numbing tasks—anything to avoid doing things I was supposed to do.

Upon entering my apartment, I realized something was off, like someone had been in my apartment. I swore I locked my door.

My heart stopped, my breathing growing faster as the toilet flushed. Standing by my door, I clutched my phone, ready to press 911.

And then he appeared, wearing one of my t-shirts and boxers. "Hi," Kevin said. "Wow... you look older, but it's not a bad thing. You're a good looking guy and—"

I cut him off with a stupid comment. "You're wearing my underwear," were the first words out of my mouth.

"Yeah, it's all I could find," he said, folding his arms across his chest. He anxiously shifted his weight from one foot to the other, unable to stand still.

"I don't think I can handle you being here," I said. "Why do you do this to me?"

"I'm sorry. It's not my fault. I go to sleep and—"

"Yeah yeah, you land somewhere in the past... blah blah blah... Do you live in a psych hospital and come out once in a while to torment me?"

But he didn't really torment me. His disappearances and reappearances tormented me.

"No," he said, approaching me. "I live in a shitty apartment like this one."

"My apartment's not shitty," I said, scanning the tiny room. I had one couch and a chair, and a nineteen inch TV on a stand I bought at Walmart. Neatly stacked boxes filled with books lined the wall. I owned two plates and a handful of silverware. "Okay. You're right. It's shitty."

"I'll leave if you want me to," he said.

"I don't know what I want. Wanna get something to eat?"

For someone I'd only met three times in my life, he felt like a best friend.

"I can't go out like this."

"Well, it's better than being naked," I said.

"I thought you like seeing me naked," he said with a flirtatious grin. My body burned, thinking about his body. His flirting both annoyed and amused me.

"I do. I have some clothes you can wear."

He borrowed both a pair of joggers and flip-flops that were a size too big for him. Even though I wasn't hungry, I accompanied him to a nearby cafe. His stomach growled, making me think he was starving. As if he hadn't eaten in days, he devoured a cheeseburger and fries. I shared some of his fries.

"What are you doing in Boston?" he asked with a mouthful of burger.

"I start law school tomorrow."

"Oh yeah? Where?"

"Boston University."

"Cool. Are you excited?"

"I guess. I like school. I love Boston. I never thought I'd miss my family."