THE GOLDEN LOCK

Chapter 8: Bath

I woke up to the sound of sirens and as always I tried to reach for the bag with the gold bars but I didn't find anything.
Something cool was pressing on my forehead and when I looked around me I noticed I wasn't inside Zilini's restaurant. Memories from yesterday's dinner started to resurface in my mind and Panic rose inside of me. Did Peter take me to his house?
I tried to get up but as soon as I did that everything started to spin around me and I had to sit again. I was in his bed. The smell of cologne was enough to prove that. He always used this cologne to work.
The smell of fried bacon filled my mouth with water and before I could check out for myself the source of this scent someone opened the door. It was Peter.
"Good morning, Mel, how are you feeling?"
I looked into his deep blue eyes and found myself smiling at him.
"Thanks to you, I didn't end up passed out on the streets, so I'm good"
He smiled back and my heart made a backflip.
"I was really worried about you, Mel" Peter reached out to brush a hair out of my eye.
"I'm good now, don't worry," I said, getting up before he could touch me.
Cecília would be mad if she found out about this.
I tried to cover my dizziness by faking trying to find my shoes even though they were right beside the bed.
"I must go, Zilini will be angry if I'm late and Cecilia-"
"Forget about her," Peter said.
I looked at him confused by his sudden burst.
"I'm sorry, it's just...things have been complicated between us and I would rather not talk about It," he got up and went to the door.
"Come on, let's have some breakfast,"
I followed him to his kitchen still wondering about what could have possibly happened between them. Cecília is one of those girls who can't let go of their boyfriends for even just a second and if a girl lays her eyes on them they're dead. And Peter...he seems the kind of guy who likes their freedom and if Cecilia prevents him from having it, then...it doesn't surprise me if they're having problems with their relationship.
"There you go, hope you like It," Peter put a plate before me with scrambled eggs and bacon and poured orange Juice into a cup before handing it to me.
"Thank you," I said, blushing when our fingers touched.
He smiled and went to his stoven to prepare more bacon.
After I finished breakfast I felt satisfied. I  hadn't eaten a good breakfast for a long time. Father did the best he could with the little we had and sometimes I prefered skipping breakfast so he could have more food for himself. "I already ate, don't worry you can have it all for yourself". That's what I used to tell him even though my stomach protested.
"I'm going to buy you some medicine, meanwhile you can make yourself at home," Peter said, waking me from my thoughts.
"You don't have to do that!" I tried to reach for my jacket where I kept the money I earned at Zilini's. I've been working there for three months now.
"Here, take this," I handed him half the money I had.
"Don't worry, Mel, I can buy you medicine, you don't have to give me your money," he put his hand over mine and his warm touch made me shiver.
I hadn't noticed how cold I was until now.
"Go back to bed and try to get some more rest, I'll be right back," Peter got up and before I could protest more he left the apartment.
I stayed where I was, looking at the closed door. I could leave now and stop this mess I put myself into but it would only turn things worse. It was Impossible to avoid him at work as we always bumped into each other while carrying trays and cleaning the floors. I smiled, remembering the first day we met. I had my nose bleeding because of him and he laughed when I cornered myself while cleaning the floor.
My eyelids were starting to get heavier and I decided that it was best for me to rest. At least until Peter came back with the medicine. I got up and suddenly felt a sour smell that made me gag. It was coming from me. My hair and clothes were speckled with the food I threw up yesterday.
I gasped, thinking about Peter having to put up with the smell. He even gave me his own bed! I went to the bathroom quickly and started to wash off the vomit from my clothes and hair as much as I could. But then I saw his shower behind me and got another idea. Getting off of my clothes, I opened the door to the shower and got in.
I hadn't had a hot bath for so long and it felt so good to finally clean myself without having to use a sink that I found myself falling asleep. I had to slap myself across the face many times but eventually I lost to fatigue and closed my eyes.
Just for a few seconds.
***
"Mel?"
I woke up startled. Someone was bagging on the door.
"Mel, are you in there?" I heard Peter's voice on the other side.
"Yes! I'm sorry, I'll be outside in a second!" I shouted, turning off the water. How long have I been here?
I found a towel in one of the cabinets and dried myself as quickly as I could.
Before I could put on my clothes the door opened and I grabbed the towel, startled.
"Don't come in!" I said, feeling my face burning.
"I won't. I was just going to give you these clothes." I saw his hand appear between the gap with the clothes. He dropped them on the flood and closed the door.
"Oh...thank you" I grabbed the shirt that was on the top and put it on. It was like wearing a dress.
After getting dressed I opened the door and rushed into Peter's room to grab my things.
"Mel?" Peter came into the room looking at me and then looking at what I was doing.
"Peter, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have used your shower, I just-"
"It's okay, after all I did tell you to make yourself feel at home," he chuckled and my heart beat Faster.
"Still, it was wrong of me, but thank you for everything I won't be bothering you any more," I started for the door but he blocked my way.
"You have to take your medicine," he said while putting his hand on my forehead - "your fever is still high"
I did feel like burning up but I don't think it was from the fever.
"Thank you, I'll take it at...home" - which was a restaurant at the moment.
I grabbed the medicine and ducked under his arm to leave but before I could reach the door Peter grabbed my arm.
"Mel, wait I...I have to tell you something," he looked at me with his crystal blue eyes and for a moment I wished I could swim in them.
"Y-yes?" I was certain he could feel my heart beating as fast as a cheetah.
"Since I saw you for the first time I felt something that I never did in all my life not even with Cecília," he was getting closer and I took a step back until I felt the door behind me.
"You are...different, Mel, there's something about you that is just a mystery and that bothers me,"
Ya the fact that I'm a 'thief' running from the police should bother you.
"A...mystery?" I asked, feigning confusion.
"Yes," as he said that he got even Closer and I could feel his breath on my forehead.
I gulped and tried to look away but everywhere I looked there was Peter, only Peter.
"Will you let me unveil your mystery?" His lips got dangerously close to mine and for some reason I didn't pull away.
Closing my eyes I waited for the moment that I've been waiting for a long time.
But it never came. A knock on the door interrupted our moment.
And on the other side there was Cecília.