The Bodyguard (GxG)

Unfamiliar surroundings

The night had been a blur of flashing lights, pounding music, and the intoxicating mix of alcohol and adrenaline. Emily Langston had gone out again, determined to shake off the heaviness that seemed to cling to her every move. The confines of the Langston estate felt like a gilded cage, and she needed to escape, to lose herself in the city's neon-drenched underworld where no one knew or cared who she was.

But now, as Emily slowly regained consciousness, she realized that last night had ended far differently than she'd expected.

Her head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, and every movement made her body feel like it was weighed down by lead. She groaned, her eyes fluttering open to take in her surroundings. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of morning light filtering through half-drawn curtains. It was a bedroom—clean, tastefully decorated, but entirely unfamiliar.

Panic set in as she became aware of the soft sheets against her bare skin. She was naked, and the weight of the situation crashed down on her in a wave of confusion and fear. She had no memory of how she had gotten here, who had brought her, or what had happened after she left the club.

Emily sat up slowly, pulling the sheets around her as she looked around the room. The bed she was in was large, covered in crisp white linens, and next to it was a small nightstand with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin—thoughtful touches that only deepened her unease. Her clothes were nowhere in sight, but a robe was draped over a chair near the door.

Just as she was about to swing her legs over the side of the bed, the door creaked open. Emily's breath caught in her throat as a woman stepped into the room. She was tall, with short-cropped dark hair and a calm, confident demeanor. She was dressed casually in jeans and a loose sweater, and she carried a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and some toast.

"Good morning," the woman said, her voice warm and soothing. "How are you feeling?"

Emily's eyes widened, and she instinctively clutched the sheets tighter around her. "Where am I? Who are you?" she demanded, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.

The woman set the tray down on a small table near the bed and took a step back, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "You're safe. My name's Alex. You ended up here after things got a little... wild last night."

Emily's mind raced as she tried to piece together the fragmented memories of the previous night. "What happened? Did we...?"

"No," Alex said quickly, her tone reassuring. "Nothing happened between us, if that's what you're worried about. I found you at the club—you were pretty out of it, and there was some guy trying to take advantage of that. I got you out of there and brought you back here to sleep it off."

Emily stared at Alex, trying to gauge her sincerity. The woman seemed genuine, and there was a kindness in her eyes that made Emily want to believe her. But the fear and uncertainty were still there, gnawing at her.

"Why would you do that? You don't even know me," Emily said, her voice quieter now.

Alex shrugged, giving her a small smile. "You looked like you needed help. And I wasn't about to let some creep take advantage of you just because you'd had too much to drink. It's no big deal."

Emily's shoulders slumped as the tension slowly drained out of her. She felt a mix of relief and embarrassment wash over her. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling the weight of her vulnerability.

Alex nodded, her smile never wavering. "No need to thank me. Just glad you're okay. There's some coffee and toast here if you want it. Your clothes are in the bathroom—thought you might want to freshen up."

Emily nodded numbly, still trying to process everything. "I... I should probably get going. My father's going to be worried."

Alex's expression softened. "Of course. Take your time. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."

With that, Alex turned and left the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Emily sat there for a moment, the events of the night before swirling in her mind. She felt a deep sense of shame, not just for the situation she had found herself in, but for the reckless behavior that had led to it.

After a few moments, she slipped out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. Her clothes were neatly folded on a small stool, and a fresh towel hung on the rack. Emily avoided her reflection in the mirror as she dressed, not ready to face the person staring back at her.

When she emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed but still feeling exposed, she found Alex waiting for her in the living room. The apartment was modest but cozy, with bookshelves lining the walls and a few pieces of art that hinted at Alex's taste.

"Feeling better?" Alex asked, looking up from the book she had been reading.

Emily nodded. "Yeah, I think so. I'm sorry about all of this. I don't usually..."

Alex waved off her apology. "Don't worry about it. We all have our moments. Just take care of yourself, okay?"

Emily offered a weak smile. "I will. Thank you again."

As she turned to leave, something in her hesitated. She looked back at Alex, wanting to say more, but the words escaped her. Instead, she simply nodded and headed for the door.

The walk back to the Langston estate was a blur, her thoughts tangled in a mess of emotions she couldn't quite untangle. She had been careless, reckless, and it had almost cost her dearly. But more than that, the encounter with Alex had shaken her, forcing her to confront the fact that she was spiraling out of control.

When she finally reached the estate, the sun was fully up, casting long shadows across the driveway. Mia was waiting by the front door, her arms crossed and a look of both relief and frustration on her face.

"Where the hell have you been?" Mia demanded, her voice sharp. "I've been trying to reach you all night."

Emily couldn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry. I... I just needed to get away."

Mia's expression softened slightly, though the worry remained. "Emily, you can't keep doing this. You're putting yourself in danger."

"I know," Emily whispered, her voice cracking. "I know."

Mia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Let's get you inside. We need to talk."

As they walked into the house, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, that she had crossed a line she couldn't uncross. The encounter with Alex was a wake-up call, one she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

But she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't keep running from her problems. Not anymore.