Things Unseen

The Aftermath

Waking up the next morning in your bed, you couldn't help but wonder if last night was just a dream. That thought quickly faded as you reached up feeling the bandage that covered most of your forehead. Shooting straight up you wanted to see if Tate was still there, but he wasn't anywhere to be found, meaning he probably left after he made sure you were okay. You were wearing the nightgown that you had laid out on the end of your bed when you unpacked, realizing that he must have seen you practically naked. While in your mind being seen in underwear wasn't that bad, it was about the same as being in a bikini it still made you blush heavily at the idea of it. Your mind was swirling a bit, and it definitely didn't help that you sat up way too fast a moment ago.

Slowly you got to your feet seeing that your trunk was still in front of the door and it remained locked bringing you back to wondering how in the world Tate got in and out last night. Could he have used the window? But that would be a long climb, and the tree was too far away for him to use that to get in. With more questions than answers you knew you would have to ask him when you saw him again, and part of you hoped that it would be sooner rather than later. Why did you have this strange pull towards him when you barely knew him? You guessed it was because he stuck with you during last night instead of running away, he must have heard the screaming or something and came to check on you. After all his house wasn't that far from yours and who knew how far the sound would carry.

Walking over to your dresser you grabbed a fresh pair of jeans, new undergarments, and a pair of socks. Going over to the closet you pick out your favorite sweatshirt because of how sore you were you just wanted to be comfortable, it was over sized and very warm. It was simple black sweatshirt with the words 'Smells like the only Nirvana song you know' embossed in white. While Nirvana was not your favorite band they were definitely in your top five, and the maker of some of your most frequently played songs. Slipping the garments on you knew you needed to do something with your hair which was undoubtedly a tangled mess after sleeping. Running the brush through your hair several times, it was almost therapeutic to feel the bristles scratching against your scalp. Once finished you just used the hair tie around your wrist to throw it into a messy bun. [Outfit: www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=174412616]

Opening your pastel colored flower backpack you took out your iPod and headphones wrapping the buds around the back of your neck for easy access when you wanted them. Zipping it back up you slung it over your shoulder as it went anywhere with you, it contained your most prized possessions. A drawing notebook, a composition notebook, and the copy of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte that your grandmother gave to you before she passed away. It wasn't something that you could easily leave lying around when your father was always on the lookout to find it. Most of the time you even slept with it on your bed because you were so protective over the contents. Pushing the trunk away from the door you held your ear up to it just to see if you could hear any signs of people awake. Biting your lower lip taking a deep breath only to exhale it sharply you unlocked and opened it. All seemed quiet so far as you looked left and right sighing in relief that it appeared as if you were the only one up.

You were trying to decide whether or not you were going to explore the house or go explore the town when your mother stumbled her way out of the master bedroom. She had a black eye bad enough that the sight of it made you wince harshly. "Pretty bad isn't it?"She asked groggily.

"Bad enough to make it look like you went five rounds with Mike Tyson."You grimaced walking over to her. "Do you want me to help you cover it up?"You ask concerned for her should anyone come around, like the police had the other neighbors heard the commotion. "Where is he?"You asked subsequently.

"Gone, he left last night at about three am spouting off about being out of beer and he hasn't come back yet."She said with a semi-relieved tone. "I don't know what I was thinking..."She said starting to tear up. "Why did I think that things would change once we got here?"She asked rhetorically.

"Mom you want to fix your marriage and I think that is amicable even if it is a bit of a misguided use of your energy."You said trying to make her feel better, even though in this situation there wasn't really much that could be done to change things. "Maybe you should see about going to marriage counseling or something. I'll ask Tate if he knows anyone in the area that would be good."You offer with a meek smile.

"I'll try anything to get back the man that I married."She said with a soft smile touching your face lovingly. "What would I do without you?"She giggled as she led the way to her bathroom so you could cover-up the bruise.

"The real question is, what would I do without you?"You replied honestly, knowing that he easily could have killed you last night if she didn't share the result of his anger. Grabbing the cover up stick you had become an expert at this as it was not the first time you had to do it. Lightly shading in the dark areas smoothing it with the light touch of your fingertips hoping that you wouldn't hurt her. Taking out the compact with the powder you dragged it across the area slowly making it disappear as if it had never happened. "There, all done. Let's go make some coffee."You said putting each piece back in the drawer sliding it shut. Nodding your mother followed you as you headed down the stairs already smelling coffee throughout the house. Reaching the kitchen you see an older redheaded lady in a maid's outfit fixing some bacon and eggs on the stove.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"Your mother asks kindly a little confused as well clearly not remembering hiring a maid.

"Oh Mrs. [Y/L/N] pardon me, I am Moira the housekeeper of this manor. Didn't Marcy tell you that I come with the house?"Moira asked sounding a bit shocked herself.

"No-no she didn't, but that's alright. I'm just not really sure if we need a housekeeper however, that is kind of what I do."Your mother chuckled a bit unsure of herself and the situation.

"But I have worked in this house most of my life, I know it like the back of my hand. Surely you could use some help cleaning the floors and the wood throughout the house. I have the perfect mixture to get them to shine like brand new and it doesn't damage them like all those harsh chemicals people use today."Moira said getting a little flustered at the idea of having to leave.

"Mom maybe we should just have her stay, that way you can have time to yourself so you can start painting again."You said looking to her. "I know you have been wanting to."You lamented pouring yourself a cup of coffee, walking over to the fridge pouring some vanilla creamer into it. Stirring it with the spoon that Moira handed to you, you gently press your lips to the edge taking a sip. "And she makes good strong coffee."You laughed handing it over for your mother to try.

"Oh alright she can stay, maybe with the two of us your father will stay off our backs."Your mom laughed after taking a sip, immediately going to make her own cup.

"Thank you both, I hope you will be most pleased with my work. Now it is time for breakfast, it is after all the most important meal of the day."Moira smiled placing a plate of food in front of two of the spots at the breakfast bar.

"[Y/N]?"Tate's voice rang out by the front door causing you to perk up a bit.

A/N: I hope you are enjoying the story so far! Please let me know and I will keep on writing! Also I think I might switch points of view to Tate sometime in the near future let me know if you would like that! Thanks for reading! -A