From Foes to Flames-part 9

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Chapter 9

Adeline

I'm woken up by an alarm sat on the bedside table. I groan and roll over trying to ignore the horrible beeping sound, I eventually get up and hit the snooze button on the alarm. I make my way downstairs confidently after feeling less intimidated about last night. I looked around the kitchen for Matao but when he wasn't there, I panicked a bit and rushed into the lounge room. He was sleeping on the lounge like he owned the joint, actually he does so I shouldn't judge. I picked up a pillow and threw it at his head. I wasn't going to let these different feelings for him change how I act. "Your stupid alarm woke me up, you don't get to sleep if I don't" I finally demanded when he groaned and rolled over. It took him a minute to wake up before he realised, I was there.

"Sorry, there's food in the fridge and pantry for breakfast, help yourself to whatever you want" he grumbled out as he stood up and headed for the door. I sighed and went to the kitchen in confusion. He just got out of bed, where on earth is going at 5am in pyjamas? I found some cornflakes and sat myself down and ate, I haven't had breakfast in quiet a while and it's amazing. I heard the door open, and I ignored it as I continued eating. I finally turned around when he headed up the stairs... with my bags. I jumped from the seat and chased him up the stairs, tripping every now and then. "What are you doing with my stuff? Give it back!" I demanded. He just ignored me and walked into his room locking the door behind him before I could get in. I pounded my fist onto the door "let me in! That my stuff give it back! What the hecka re you doing? Let me in please!" I yelled at him, he didn't listen and stayed silent in his room. I slouched down against the floor and the door dreading that he was going to ruin my clothes; I don't have money to get clothes let alone two meals a day.

He finally pulled the door open about ten minutes later and I fell backwards catching myself on his hands. He chuckled before walking out with two duffle bags that I didn't own. "Make sure you are ready for school; we leave in half an hour" he finally told me. Stepping around me and pulling me to my feet.

"But my- "he just turned around and walked away ignoring me. I looked into his room and found my bags on the bed, empty. A small panic washed over me, and I started looking around until it opened his wardrobe. My clothes were sitting on hangers above my other belongings there were a few shirts that i didn't own but I figured he must have left them in there by accident. I got dressed into a baggy white t-shirt that hung loosely over my black jeans. I found my found-on top of a small shelf and threw my hair up into a ponytail before going back downstairs. There are some things about him that I want to know now that he knows some real personal things about me. He is sitting on the lounge on his phone when I get downstairs. He looks up and grabs a bag before walking to the door.

"Come on we will be late; your stuff is at school from yesterday" he says opening the door waiting for me to walk out. I walk past him and see my car in his driveway. I turn to walk to it, but he taps me on the shoulder before saying "save your gas, come with me" I was too tired to protest against him right now, so I just followed him. I walked around the car to the passenger side and got in careful not to slam the door. My mum would have beat me if I did it to her car.

"So, your dad?" I ask not knowing if he would answer or not. he kept his eyes on the road like he was ignoring me.

"Left when I was 10, he was a pretty shady man" he finally answered after a few breaths. "Yours?"

"Moved away when I was little and cut off contact" I answered figuring that our stories seemed pretty similar. We sat in silence for a few minutes before I asked him "why am I here?" He seemed shocked by my question and his posture changed subtly.

"Because your car isn't safe" he answered quietly "and your mum just kicked you out, you have no friends, no family, and I'm the only person who actually knows you."

"So, about what happened yesterday and Monday..." he sighed as I finished speaking.

"You want me to not bring it up" he answered with a light tone of anger in his voice.

"I think I want to forget about it" I replied quietly.

"What if I don't?" He snapped back in a polite manner. I'm dumbfounded for a moment.

"What?" I know what he means but I don't know if I can accept it. The car stops and he gets out with his bag. He didn't reply and we walked to the doors together. I expected him to go to his own locker but instead he stayed by side when I tried to go my own way. I could see so many eyes looking at us as we walked to class. Was he just used to this. Once we got into class, he took the seat behind me, and we waited for the teacher. Class was boring as usual, but it felt so odd having the feeling of Matao's eyes constantly on me. The next two periods went the same and he didn't leave my side once. When lunch came, we sat at the same table across from each other. I let out a small sigh of relief when he finally got up and walked away. I guess someone got hungry or sick of me. I walked to the toilets to take a look at how tired I seemed to everyone else. I just needed a minute to myself. I hear a loud bang on the outside door of the toilets, great here we go again.

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