nine

CHAPTER - 9

He looked her over and frowned. Prerna's normally charming, long, curly ginger hair was tangled and in a messy bun atop her head. Dark bags hung below her bright green eyes and a mixture of bruises and scrapes marred her naturally tanned skin. She wore a dirty and faded white tank top and blue jeans. Most likely what she'd left work wearing.

Jenn stepped forward and hugged Prerna gently. A moment later, he let go, looking into her eyes. She

stood about seven inches shorter than him, which

was just enough for him to wrap his arms around her comfortably once more.

When he pulled back, he smiled and said, "I'm glad you're okay." He gestured to her injuries. "You know, for the most part."

She laughed a short sincere chuckle, but after a second the smile fell from her lips. She grabbed onto his hand and squeezed, then said, "Thank you for being here.

It's late and I know it's a pain."

"It's not a pain, Prerna." Jenn returned the squeeze, keeping her gaze. "You should know by now that all I want is to keep you safe. This is exactly what friends

are for."

"You're not just my friend, Em, you're my best friend.

You're my family," Prerna said, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around his waist. His arms rested on her shoulders, holding her head lightly.

Jenn smiled and leaned his cheek against her head and said, "Enough with the mushy. Where's your stuff?" Prerna turned and pointed to the four items summing up her life. His smile faded. "Is this everything?"

"Just about," she said, then called for Ricah. He ran to her and she picked him up, cradling him in her arms.

"That's it." She smiled at her tabby cat, rubbing behind his ears as he purred loudly, his eyes closed, and head leaned against her chin.

Jenn smiled at the tender moment between his friend and her closest companion. While he'd never been much of an animal person himself, he was glad Prerna

had Ricah to comfort her when she needed it most.

Prerna entered the key code into her security system, reenabling the alarm.

Looking at the door, Jenn clutched the extended handle of her suitcase with the cat food sitting against it. He threw her backpack over his shoulder while she stuffed her purse under one armpit and held onto

Ricah with the other. He watched as she juggled the two things and fiddled with her keys.

"Maybe locking the door isn't necessary?" Jenn asked as he stepped outside, still observing her struggle.

"There's still stuff here; a TV, furniture. I could use

those later. Once I find a new place, you know?

Leaving the door unlocked means any regular burglar could pop in and take those. Whereas now they'd have to struggle with the door"

"Or windows," Jenn chimed in.

"Yes, or windows. Then they'd have to deal with the alarm system. So only really dedicated robbers would go through that much trouble."

Jenn scanned their surroundings, suddenly feeling exposed outside. "Yeah, I suppose," he agreed. "But you knowI could always buy you those things again."

"I don't want you to. I have them, might as well keep them safe if I can." Prerna succeeded in locking the door then faced him. "Alright, you ready?"

Jenn nodded. "Yes, let's go."

They walked to the car and Jenn threw the suitcase and backpack in the trunk, then slammed it shut.

He opened the passenger door for Prerna and Ricah.

She got in, holding the relaxed cat tightly in her lap.

Once inside and situated, Jenn ran to the driver's door, climbed in, and buckled himself. He put the car in drive while checking his rearview mirror. He breathed an internal sigh of relief when he only saw the deserted road behind them, nothing more.

The ride to his home was quiet. Both of them were seemingly waiting to discuss the hard stuff until they were parked and safe.

Once they arrived at his gates, he entered in the lengthy alphanumeric code. To finish the security process, the small, but high tech, computer scanned his face. After confirming his identity, the gates opened and Jenn drove through towards the gPrernage.

This place is still locked up like Fort Knox, huh?" Prerna asked, staring at his home before them.

Jenn scoffed. "Fort Knox?" He shook his head. "Think bigger. Better. Much more secure."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled as they pulled into the gArbage and he put the car in park.

"You know, I never understood how you can have such a big house but be so damn pAranoid."

Although Jenn had never technically been diagnosed as "pPrernanoid," his actions tended to leave people around him assuming he was. However, in his own mind, he was simply protecting himself. The situations

Prerna had been in, and he had borne witness to, left

him in a state of constant fear when outside his gated home. It was protected in ways the average person couldn't conceive, and he worked vigorously to keep it that way. Thankfully, he had the funds necessary to keep himself secure with the astronomical success of his tech company which exclusively supplied the United States military with the most advanced technology.

"Trust me, I've never felt safer than in this house."

The gPrernage doors slid shut behind the car as Jenn readjusted so he was facing Prerna. Her eyes locked on the door to her right. More specifically the security

System.

Jenn laid out his hand on the console between Prerna and himself, his palm face-up. Without looking

Prerna instinctively placed her own on top and they intertwined their fingers. He squeezed it once and she

returned their longtime friendly gesture. She looked over at him, breaking her blank stare.

"I wish you knew what it felt like to feel that safe," he said, staring into her eyes. Even though she had the faintest remnants of a smile resting on her lips, Jenn knew better. It was her default setting she plastered on to convince those around her that everything was fine.

However, her eyes told a different story. And it was

never hard for him to see the truth.