The Cage Fighter's Loveless Doll

Chapter Four

I woke with a light groan as I pushed myself away from the metal table I had managed to fall asleep against. I remember Julia saying something about taking Lyn home and asking if I wouldn't mind and stay till lock up. Noah was locking up the gym but she still needed someone at the front desk until then, so I told her I'd be happy to stay. I guess somewhere along the line I must have fallen asleep while working on one of my online classes and looking at the clock it read midnight.

Standing from my seat, I stretched my body while looking around. Most of the lights were off, in fact the only light emitting the building were the glowing exit signs. Did Noah's ass seriously leave me in here, I mean I know he lives here but to be locked in the building was a bit overkill. And just as I was walking around the desk I caught the sound of music playing followed by a round of curses.

"Fuck you." Noah growled. "Had to fucking die on me in the middle of my set."

I looked into the gym to see a bit of light on by the punching bags and a very pissed off Noah tossed his wireless headphones to the side while his phone continued playing his music. He was shirtless, the muscles in his tattooed back rippling as he continued to punch the bag.

I pushed my way through the workout equipment and found a little bench by the man working out. I let myself settle down, watching him and smiling to myself when the man caught me watching. Though he had caught sight of me that didn't stop his workout, in fact I sat there for another three songs before the man stopped.

"I thought I got locked in when I woke up." I mumbled as he moved toward me, grabbing the water I held out to him. "I assume you knew I was sleeping, why didn't you wake me up?"

He shrugged, taking the bottle and downing the content. "Figured you needed it."

"Thank you." I smiled, cocking my head to the side as I caught the head of a serpent tattoo I had only partly seen. It wrapped around his bicep and continued to travel up to which the head of the snake was hidden underneath his shirt.

He did nothing but grunt, though the glint in his eyes caught me off guard. "Don't mention it."

"Would you mind letting me out?" I asked softly though I stifled a yawn.

"Why don't you just stay here?" He asked as he picked up his phone, turning off the music and shifting from foot to foot. "My place is just upstairs and though I don't really have room, you can have the couch."

"I have to get up early, I wouldn't want to wake you up." I told him with another yawn.

"You can miss a day if you're tired." He joked, though I saw the dark look in his eyes as he looked me over. "The bags under your eyes have been getting worse, how much do you actually sleep anyway?"

I shrugged. "Well since Jules has Lyn this week I probably get about five hours of sleep. I've been hitting the books pretty hard, but I get a good eight hours when I have Lyn." I answered as I pulled myself from the seat. "I guess taking you up on the offer of staying here will help me get at least an extra hour in tonight."

Noah nodded, motioning for me to follow him. We walked back up to the front of the building and into the lobby. I grabbed my computer and other things before following Noah past Julia's office and then past the break room toward the bathroom and a door that usually remained locked. He took out a key and unlocked the door, and pulled it open to reveal a set of stairs. Together we make our way up and into a lofted studio apartment. It was simple, nothing extravagant and nothing that showed me Noah's personality, but for something that was above a gym it was really nice looking.

He dropped his keys and phone on the kitchen counter, kicking off his shoes before walking further into the room and flicking on the lights. "Bathroom is to your left, I'll get some blankets and a pillow and set up the couch for ya."

I nodded as I made my way to the couch, watching him take a right and head up a set of stairs that lead up to his bed and disappear toward the closet. A few minutes later he was coming back down with at least two blankets and an extra pillow. He handed them off to me before heading back up to his bed and flopping down on it. The lights stayed on, giving me the chance to set up the couch how I wanted and by the time I got comfortable, I heard Noah snoring.

I smiled to myself before tucking myself against the couch and letting sleep find me. The next time I opened my eyes the apartment was dark and the little digital clock on the stove read a half past five in the morning. I pulled myself up onto my feet before waddling to the bathroom and doing what I needed to before passing out back on the couch. And the next time I woke up was the next morning, light shining in my eyes.

It was quiet and when I looked toward the stove for the time I was shocked to see that it was well into the day. A little past eleven to be exact; why hadn't my alarm gone off? I searched around for my phone that I had left on the coffee table and checked the alarms, they should have gone off. I didn't change anything.

Confused, I pushed myself from the couch and wandered toward the bathroom where I found a little note and a change of clothes. The note simply said that I could take a shower and use a pair of Noah's old clothes that didn't fit him well anymore. I smiled before letting myself shower and get ready for my day. I guess skipping one day of classes wouldn't hurt, I'll just have to catch up on what I missed.