Besties - 00

She spreads her limbs out when she rolls over onto her back, catching the other occupant of the bed squarely in the face with a stray arm, which startles him awake.

"Ow," he remarks, rubbing the point of contact.

"Did I get you? Sorry," she yawns casually.

"Again."

"We'd have more space if you got a place and got out of this creepy ass van."

A mock look of hurt crosses his face. "My van's not creepy. It's nice!"

She responds by loudly groaning and rolling over again, returning to her original position and taking the blankets with her. "What are you making for breakfast?"

"What do you want?" he asks as he rises and stretches, accepting the defeat of his ambitions to extend his sleep.

"Whatever is fastest. I have another gig on the other side of town in a couple of hours."

"Do you want me to drive you?"

"No, food is fine. And coffee. Not what you have here."

He rubs his head with both hands to loosen up flattened bed hair. "What's wrong with what I have?" he asks in a higher octave.

"You're not a coffee person, so it sucks. Something expensive. I'll hop in your shower while you do that."

"And I was hoping we'd be lazy in bed together today." He pulls on a shirt as he responds, his words muffled as he slides it over his head. She softly chuckles, still buried bedding.

"You're generous, but not that generous. Hurry up."

He jumps into a pair of sweat pants and then and hops on the bed to hug her through the pile of covers. She squeals in protest, but laughs as her head emerges and they share a kiss, followed promptly by a return to the depths of still warm fabric.

He extracts himself from the mess of the bedding and exits his vehicle by way of the side door, closing it gently behind him and making sure it's locked. He stretches again, while he squints in the morning sunlight, taking a big breath in and slowly exhales out, going through his regular wake up routine of looking for anything out of the ordinary. No police, van is okay, no one hovering in the vicinity. He makes a note of the license plate of a car parked close, but not uncomfortably, as matter of habit. He begins his trek to hunt down his companion's request. Because mine sucks, he scoffs to himself. He's not offended.

The coffee shop is only a couple of blocks away from the lot he overnighted in, so he takes his time to enjoy the fresh air. He's about halfway there when the low frequency feeling of someone watching hits him. He nonchalantly walks to a sidewalk corner and kneels to pretend to adjust the laces on his sneaker as he puts stronger effort into surveiling his surroundings. Nothing seems to stand out, only people starting their days and making their way to places they need to be. The result doesn't make him feel better, so he picks up his pace to complete his current task. He arrives, buys a few items, including an expensive coffee, and, leaves, moving with anxious purpose back to his van. As he approaches his vehicle his eyes dart again to the car he made not of earlier. It's gone.

He unlocks the door to find his companion half dressed and drying her hair. He extends his hand through the open door that carries her request toward her while his attention remains outside. She ties the towel around her hair and accepts the offering, but notices he keeps a grip on the cup even though she is holding it.

"Is everything okay?," she says, tugging the beverage slightly to signal her receipt of it and her rising concern. He pops his head back into the van.

"I'm not sure. Something doesn't feel right. I got you a sandwich and a muffin because I'm gonna kick you out." She tilts her head and pokes out her bottom lip before she takes a sip. "I know, I'll make it up to you, but I want you to be safe." His playful tone from earlier is gone, so she begins to get her things to together and calls a car. In her line of work, it's better to be cautious than not.

His attention returns to the exterior to continue his scrutiny of the current surroundings. Everything seems fine, but his instincts are screaming of a danger he has yet to identify. His companion soon exits to join him.

"If you're upset about me not being able to stay, I'm sorry, damn," she says sarcastically, knowing he will understand this is how she expresses her anxiousness. He turns to look at her, rubbing her back gently as he grins.

"I know, it's sudden. My bad. It's probably nothing, but I like to be sure. Send me a link so I can see your ride home and text me when you get in." She returns his smile as she slides in closer.

"You're such a weirdo, but it's hot when you get all protective," she stands on her tiptoes while balancing her hastily gathered bag on her shoulder and kisses on the cheek as her ride pulls up. "Let me know everything is okay when you can?" He nods, slightly easing the tension. He watches her enter the car and pull off, waving as she goes. His device vibrates to life, letting him know she sent what he asked for.

As soon as she is out of sight, he darts back into his van and reaches under his raised bed to find a case. He pops it open to extract the contents, which he smoothly loads and cocks. He takes a breath to steady his himself and slow down his now pounding heart, buoyed by the familiar weight in hands. He feels his anxiousness dissipate into focus when he sees the shadow of a person cross the back windows making their way to the side, confirming his instincts were correct. He readies his weapon by clicking off the safety.

He is surprised when he hears a light knock on the door even though it is open.

"Hello, Thumose. You are hard as fuck to find. Don't shoot me."

His eyes widen because he recognizes the voice.

"Okatakyie?"

She cautiously pokes her head in around the door, keeping her hands up, making a face of approval while taking in the interior and nods. He continues to stare as she slowly enters, but doesn't lower her arms.

"Hey and damn, it's super nice in here. You even have a shower. Can you stop pointing your gun at me now?"