Escape | Updated Weekly

7

Okay. So despite how weird it was to shower in a house I'd never been in before, and the fact that it was Mac's shower. I immediately didn't care when I got in it. That shower was amazing. I can't even describe why. Maybe it was because I had fallen in love with the house. Or the fact that the water pressure felt so nice on my body. I must have spent ages in there just standing under the water never wanting to leave.

I just about managed to pull myself away and grab the towel to wrap around myself. I gingerly opened the door leading back into Mac's bedroom checking to make sure no one was in there. Just like he promised he'd left clothes on his bed for me to wear. It only just hit me now that he wouldn't have female clothes and I would be wearing his.

He left me some jeans which surprisingly fit me quite well. They looked new but we're men's jeans so maybe they didn't fit Mac so he never wore them. He'd also left out a button up blue shirt. It was a little baggy on me but it was manageable once I had rolled up the sleeves and tucked it in a little.

I wasn't sure what to do now that I had finished my shower and got dressed. I didn't want to wander downstairs and frighten his mum. I waited ten minutes and then just bit the bullet. I couldn't hide up here forever. Even though it was tempting. As I came down the stairs I could hear Mac and his mum in the kitchen.

"Don't do it Mum"

"Mac... It's really nothing to do with you"

"He's a lying piece of shit why would you even consider-"

"Mac. Just stop. That's your father that you're talking about"

I could hear Mac scoff. I paused on the stairs not wanting to walk in as they were having a discussion. I really picked a bad time to come down.

"He stopped being my Dad a long time ago. That letter isn't gonna make up for everything he did"

I guess I was right about their family having some issues. Maybe it was just Tom who had the perfect family that never bickered or argued.

"Who are you?" a voice said, nearly making me jump out of my skin. I was halfway down the stairs, next to me peering up through the bars of the bannister was one of the young girls from Mac's family photo. Next to her was the other girl. Thankfully though unlike the picture there was a difference between the two twins. The one who had spoken to me had longer hair and the quiet one had a Bob.

I finished coming down the stairs and turned to them awkwardly waving. "Hi. I'm Eve" the two girls glanced at each other. They looked about 8 years old, but I'm not usually good at guessing anybody's age. "Are you Mac's girlfriend?!" I laughed which I think just confused them. "No I'm..." I didn't know what to call myself. I didn't think Mac would refer to me as his friend. "We just go to uni together" I finished, picking the safer option.

Mac appeared in the kitchen doorway "Hey girls, stop trying to grill Eve". They both giggled to each other whispering behind their hands. "That's Phoebe and Penelope," explained Mac, pointing at each one. Phoebe was the one with longer hair and Penelope was the quieter one.

"Mac, can she play with us?" asked Penelope. Mac shot me a worried look but had a slight grin on his face. "Maybe later" Mac's said , the girls got  excited and scrambled into the living room.

"Sorry" he said once they were out of ear shot. "It's fine. They're really cute". He bent his head towards the kitchen, indicating to follow him there. His mum was by the sink filling a vase up with water. "Hi" she said cheerily, quickly grabbing a towel to dry her hands and offering it to me "I'm Alice" I shook her hand "Eve" I replied. I could see the glance she gave Mac as she pulled away. They all thought I was his girlfriend. "We're housemates' ' said Mac, noticing his Mum's look as well. She raised her eyebrows as if she didn't believe him.

"What do you study, Eve?" Alice asked, going back to her flowers. "I am doing creative writing" I took a seat at the counter trying to sound less awkward. Mac looked just as uncomfortable as me which actually made me feel a little better.

"Wow! Are you working on anything now?" she chopped the bottoms of the stems and neatly began arranging the flowers into the vase. "Erm. Nothing major, we're basically just working on storyboards". I didn't want to admit that I of course had works I had been working on even before uni. I was terrified she might ask to see them.

"Mum used to be a publicist," Mac added, a quick way to explain her interest in my course. "So if you have anything you want me to read-" Mac put his hand up to protest but Alice ignored him. "I would be happy too". He glanced at me and subtly rolled his eyes.

"So Eve" Alice finished with her flowers and joined me and Mac at the counter. "You're the first girl Mac has ever bought home, are you-"

"Okay that's enough" Mac grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out of the kitchen but our escape was cut short when his sister collared us. "Now?" asked Penelope. Mac checked his wrist even though he wasn't wearing a watch.

"Hmmmmm" he said "I guess I've got time, but only if we play football" the girls cheered and ran back through the living room where there were more doors leading to the outside. As Mac went to join them he turned to me and whispered "Careful. They are ruthless at football".

We got outside and the garden looked more like a field. Again it was filled with beautiful flowers and a pond placed at the back of the garden. Mac and his sisters made two makeshift goals. Me and Mac were one team going up against Phoebe and Penelope. Mac was already at a disadvantage, I'm useless at football.

He began by kicking it to me in which I was unprepared for, and the ball flew right past me. Mac found it amusing as I watched it roll past and then had to chase after it. I gave it to Penelope to start the next round. Mac was not joking when he said they were ruthless.

Penelope sprung into action kicking the ball down the imaginary football pitch. Mac ran to meet her attempting to tackle the ball away but at the last second she kicked it to Phoebe who was at her side ready to receive it. I stuck my leg out as a poor attempt to get the ball but Phoebe was too quick for me and before I knew she was scoring.

We played for two hours. It was the most fun I had in so long, even Mac looked like he was enjoying himself. Seeing him with his sister's was so refreshing, he was laughing so hard he could barely kick the ball straight. I could tell from a mile away that he adored his sister's and they adored him back. We were panting by the time we finally admitted defeat, the girls with their young legs didn't look bothered at all.

"Damn" breathed Mac "I need to exercise more". He bent over with his hands on his knees desperately trying to catch his breath.

Alice came out trying to convince us to stay for dinner, but Mac insisted that he had work to do and couldn't. He pulled her in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek and said his goodbyes. Alice even gave me a hug and a card with her number on it telling me to call her if I ever needed advice. Within minutes we were back at the car.

"Your family is so-"

"Mental?"

"No... The opposite. Fun to be around"

He leaned on his car looking over at me playing with his keys.

"Wanna go somewhere?" he asked. I was confused. "Well.. I thought you had work to do" I teased. He grinned back at me looking mischievous. "I just said that to avoid awkward questions about dating". Which was a reasonable answer.

"Where are we going then?"

"You'll see"