Birdcage

Chapter 12 Dane...

It felt good to be able to show Lila off to Alex; childish I know. My whole life I have lost out on most of my crushes to Alex - my dashing older brother. He has always teased me for being terrible with women, even telling everyone I was gay when we were in high school. There isn't anything wrong with being gay, but I am not - quite the opposite in fact. I love women but I don't chase after any girl that throws a look my way; I have to really feel it, and I definitely feel everything with Lila. I'm laid in bed with her as we speak, running a finger along her naked back as she falls asleep.

I'm still only getting to know her, but I have never felt this way about a woman before. It's all happening so fast but it looks like that is how things work with Lila and I; we don't do things by halves. I feel like we bring the best out in each other; she makes me realise that there is more to life than work and I think I encourage her to live a little more, take some risks and bring out the stronger side to her. She told me once that so far, she doesn't have many regrets in life, however she just wishes she had the balls to really do the things she wanted to do - her words not mine. I vow to myself that if we work out for the long haul, I will take every chance I can to make sure she pushes herself and lives a life of adventure.

Her skin responds to my touch and goose bumps ripple across her skin. She stirs a little, so I stop touching her, wanting to let her sleep instead. I think about settling down myself when I hear a voice coming from the other bedroom in the house. Maisie. I haven't met her yet because she has either been out or holed up in her room. Lila told me that she can be unsociable sometimes when she is low in mood, which apparently is a lot. When I asked about her, she said that she was from a rich family and her father gives her hand-outs rather than work a full-time job. She said that she is quite a talented artist but can act a little spoilt at times. Maisie sounds like hard work if you ask me but for some reason, Lila really cares about her. She spoke about the married man Maisie is dating too, and expressed her distaste for the man in question, unaware that I know all about him.

My work personality kicks in and I can't help myself from trying to listen in on what she is saying. I slowly creep out of bed, trying not to disturb Lila, and slip into my boxers that are laid on the floor. I open the bedroom door and silently follow the sound of her roommate's voice. A floor board creaks under the weight of my foot as I make my way closer to her bedroom door, but she doesn't seem to hear over the sound of her own voice. She sounds like she is having a heated discussion with someone and I struggle to make out exactly what is being said. "...why is this becoming my problem? I have enough to deal with, without you putting this on my shoulders...Pierre, I am not the bloody Madame to one of your little whore houses- control them yourself!"

Whore house? As far as I am aware Pierre Dupont doesn't own a brothel but that doesn't mean it's not true. If it is true then it's a strong possibility that there are girls there that have been trafficked. I also wonder what she means by 'control them yourself'. I am too distracted by the questions in my head that I don't hear her put the phone down and make her way towards the door. The door handle moves downwards and I have just enough time to move away from the doorway and in the direction of the bathroom, so it looks like that is where I was heading. Thank God the upstairs area is so small. I don't have enough time, however, to actually get into the bathroom so I don't have to talk to her.

When she spots me, she jumps back a little, a hand flying to her chest and lets out a little yelp. "Fuck, you scared the shit out of me. Who the bloody hell are you?"

"Erm, I'm Dane - Lila's friend..." It should be the last thing on my mind, but I can't help the little feeling of hurt when I think that Lila hasn't told her roommate about me.

"Oh, shit of course. Sorry, I'm not with it today..." She collects herself now, and takes me in head-to-toe. I suddenly feel extremely naked and a little uncomfortable. However, I can't help the little feeling of relief too, when I realise that Lila has told her friend about me. It's official, I've become a teenager again.