I'll be There for You

Chapter 3: You Just Can't Stay Away, Can You?

Waking up slowly Hayley heard the sound of something pounding. 'Was that the freakin' neighbors?' Snarling, Hayley sat up in a daze and then she realized that the direction of the sound was coming from her left not from above her. Pushing herself to her feet, she rubbed her eyes and grabbed her robe, wrapping it around her body tightly. Coming to stand in front of the door, she peered out the peep hole.

Groaning internally, Hayley stared at her landlord's angry expression and then winced when he began to bang on the door again. "Who's that?" Hope asked from the doorway of her room.

"Nobody, honey. Go back to bed," Hayley called, watching her daughter shut her door, she flipped the lock and pulled the door open just wide enough to edge her body into the opening. "Hello, Mr. Crouger. I know that I'm a little late on the rent. But I'm working on it. I swear." Forcing a smile, Hayley felt like vomiting from the anxiety that was making her nerves fray.

"That's what you said last month. An' the month before that, Hayley. An' this month you're two weeks behind. Did ya happen to see the notice on your door yesterday or did ya just ignore it? 'Cause, honey, I don't think that you're that stupid." Crouger snapped, leaning close enough to Hayley that she had to resist the instinct to slam the door in his face.

"I want my money, sweetheart. And I want it now. I don't care what you have to do to get it. Or you're out on your ass on Friday night. And don't think that I'm kidding," Crouger told Hayley, licking his lips. "Unless you can think of some other kind of arrangement."

Hayley was about to kick her landlord where it was going to give him the most pain when she heard the sound of someone approaching. 'Thank you, faulty boards that creak in this God forsaken hell hole,' Hayley thought. It was the only thing that was preventing her from being charged with assault after she kicked the crap out of Crouger.

"Hello, Hayley. How are you this morning?" Elijah Mikaelson called from three feet away. Hayley could only blink. This could not be real. How had he found her? Did he follow the cab yesterday? Or did he have someone track her for him? Maybe the blonde followed her? "Good morning," Elijah said cheerfully to Hayley's horrible excuse for a landlord. "I'm Elijah Mikaelson, and you would be?" He extended a hand to Mr. Crouger who straightened up to all of five feet seven.

"Hey, buddy, I'm Mr. Crouger. I run this building. Can't say that I've seen ya 'round here before but ya look familiar," Crouger stated, examining Elijah in the dim light.

'If he bothered to pay for new lights then maybe he could see something,' Hayley thought darkly. Now, how was she going to get rid of both of her unwelcome visitors since she had a lot to do today?

"Oh, I own a small business in the Quarter. We do advertise. But my face does not appear in them and I rarely meet the clients who stop by to make purchases unless it's something very specific. However, I have been told that I have one of those faces," Elijah said with his calm tone that soothed Hayley's nerves. Crouger was about to reply when Elijah spoke again. "May I ask what it is that you need from Ms. Marshall?" he checked his wrist watch. "At six in the morning."

Crouger seemed to not be able to think as he stared at Elijah whose hands were folded in front of him. Nothing about Elijah screamed that he was trying to intimidate Crouger. His posture was relaxed. His suit did not say "I've come to thrash you within an inch of your life." But something about the glint in his eyes looked like he was challenging the landlord. "I... I... She... She hasn't... She hasn't made the rent yet." Crouger finally managed to say. He seemed almost apologetic as his eyes moved to the side.

"Oh," was all that Elijah said. He did not even bother to look at Hayley before he pulled out his wallet. "Would you be willing to take cash? I seem to have forgotten my checkbook." Elijah inquired as he began to flip through the bills inside, making Crouger's eyes widen with hunger at the cash that Elijah was flashing. "How much does she owe you?"