Whispers on a Wing

Chapter Thirty

Why was I here? Why the hell could I not just pack up my crap and fly as far and as fast as I could?
I was sitting in a tree just outside Jakes window, hiding in the leaves as I watched him sleep face down into his pillows. He still had last nights clothes on, the jeans that hugged his thighs just right and the dark T-shirt that strained against his chest when he stretched.
Was this creepy? Watching him sleep through his open window as I sat hidden in the trees? Probably.
I ran my hands down my face, my fingers still shaking slightly from the adrenaline. I knew I was going to crash hard once that wore off and then probably panic all over again.
I rested my forehead against the trunk of the tree, the bark biting into my skin as I tried to calm my breathing. I needed to act like I had everything sorted and under control if I wanted Jake to believe that everything was alright and sorted.
I released a final slow breath before jumping out the tree and gliding to his open window.
It was early and his room was at the back of the house, overlooking his empty garden, but I still felt exposed having my wings out this close to civilisation. I needed to get in and get them hidden before anyone sees me.
I clung onto the mantle as I jammed my fingers under the window, pulling it wide enough for me to fit through, and slipped in without making a sound. It helped that Jake was passed out, probably from all the alcohol he had after I left.
I quietly dropped my bag at my feet and pulled out the two belts, strapping them against me underneath my top. Jake shifted as the metal buckles clinked against each other but relaxed back into his pillow with a soft snore.
This was so reckless, so stupid, but I couldn't seem to get myself to turn and leave. It was like my body had a mind of its own, wanting to be near Jake and making sure we were all good before I left.
Next I pulled an oversized jumper out from my bag and shoved it over my head before finally his letterman jacket he'd given me all those weeks ago. It had a few black patches on it from where the smoke and soot had gotten into the fabric, but other than that it was still more or less intact.
I'd left my coat at Alices and there was no way I was going back to get it, so this would have to do, I just hoped he didn't ask for me to give it back to him. It wasn't a perfect substitute, there was no hood to hide the slight bump in my back where the bend of my wing sat, but I had little other options. Hopefully he wouldn't notice.
Once I was sure everything was hidden and I'd done everything I could to hide who I was from him I took a tentative step forward, and then another, until I was close enough to touch him.
I gently wrapped my fingers around his ankle, over his jeans, and shook his leg slightly. He groaned, mumbled slightly about him mum giving him five more minutes and I couldn't help the small grin because of course he wasn't a morning person.
I shook a little harder and leant down to whisper yell at him. "Jake? Jake wake up."
He suddenly shot up in bed, so fast he nearly head butted me, but thanks to my fast reflexes I managed to dodge out the way just in time.
"What the hell-," he started yelling but froze when he saw me standing there. "Kathy? What happened to you?"
I guess I should've expected that. I hadn't seen myself in the mirror but I'm sure I looked a state after crying my eyes out and quite literally running through a burning building.
"I-," I stuttered but froze as I watched Jakes eyes trail down my body, his expression increasing in concern.
"How did you even get in? I locked the door before I went to bed."
"Oh, umm I climbed through the window," I explained, pointing behind me to his still open window. "Listen Jake, I know you said to leave you alone until I was ready to be fully open with you-,"
"And are you?" He asked, his voice loosing that slight rasp people have when they first wake up.
"No," I shook my head, fiddling with the elastic sleeve of his jacket.
"What the hell happened?" He asked again, his voice increasing as he seemed to finally catch sight of the scorch marks on my clothing.
He got out of bed and stepped towards me but froze as I took a step back. If he got any closer, showed me even an ounce of his usual caring self, I'd no doubt break down into a million pieces right here in the middle of his bedroom floor.
"Why do you smell of smoke? And why are you covered in black soot?" He sounded measured, his voice steady and quiet, and I knew he was trying to keep control of his emotions for me. It made my heart break that little bit more for him.
"I um... I need to leave. Me and my mum, we've even compromised and we need to relocate now before we get caught." I hated lying, but it had to be done.
"What do you mean you have to leave? Kathy were you in a fire?" His voice was rising in volume, his own panic starting to settle in, and I quickly took a step back towards him and shushed him.
"Jake be quiet, your mum can't know about-,"
"She's still on shift," he waved my concerns off. "Please Kathy, tell me what the hell is going on."
"My house it kind of... well it caught fire a bit and I had to go in and-,"
"You went in? Kathy you never run into a burning building, not for anything," his eyes were wide, panicked at the image of me running into fire and I couldn't help but smile softly up at him was his whole body literally screamed of concern.
"I know I know," I waved him off. "I've already had the lecture."
"Have you at least gone to see a doctor to make sure you don't have any smoke inhalation or burns?" He sounded exasperated, almost as if he knew the answer but couldn't help but ask anyway.
I stared up at him sheepishly. I knew I didn't need to see a medical professional, knew any burns or wounds I may of suffered would heal without a scar, but I couldn't bring myself to lie to him and say I had seen someone. It was completely ridiculous, all the lies I'm telling him and I couldn't bring myself to tell a simple one like a doctor and already seen and cleared me.
Jake sighed a long, drawn out sigh and took my hand gently in his. "Come on, my mum has an emergency medical kit in the kitchen and has taught me enough about burns to know what to look for. But if I see one wound that I think needs medical attention then we are going, do you understand?"
"Yes dad," I smirked and rolled my eyes following him out the room as he dragged me behind him by my hand still clutched tight in his. It was like my body needed the reassurance of another person right now, even if that person was someone who just a few hours ago told me he wanted me to leave him alone unless I was ready to confess all to him.
"Are you going to tell me how it happened?" He asked, lifting me by my hips until I was sitting on the kitchen counter. He was so close I could smell his aftershave he'd put on the night before.
"Are you even safe to practice first aid after going to a party last night?" I asked, trying to change the topic.
He let out a small, almost defeated breath as he stared down at his feet before glancing back up to look me in the eye, looking like he was almost resigned to his fate. "I'm fine Kathy, I didn't drink last night remember?"
"Oh, I just thought that because we... you know... and I know you like-,"
"You think that because you caught me black out drunk once after a fight with my dad I'd get drunk after every fight I have? Give me some credit," he huffed and pushed away from me and the counter.
Guilt sat heavy in my stomach as I watched he crouch below the sink and pull out a large medical bag. He was right, I kind of had assumed he'd have a few drinks after I'd left, even if he did tell me he was driving home. It was a wonder he hadn't kicked me out after all the way I'd treated him, how I continue to treat him apparently.
"I'm sorry," I sighed, rubbing my temples with my fingers as a small headache started to bloom. "Maybe my self imposed exile for all these years has made me socially inept or something."
"All good," he waved me off, but I could tell I'd hit a nerve. "Here, drink this and take some of these," he said, handing me a large glass of water and a few pills.
"What are they?" I stared down at the two pills resting in the palm of my hand.
"Tylenol, for the headache," he gestured to my head as he grabbed a chair and pulled it over until it was right in front of me. "I'm not planning to drug you and keep you hostage so you can't leave."
Wait, why did I feel suddenly upset that he wasn't doing that? Not the drugging part but the making sure I don't leave part.
I shook my head, ignoring the slight throb it caused, and took the two pills along with the whole glass of water.
We sat in silence for a second, Jake cleaning the grazes on my knees I didn't even know I had through the ripped fishnet tights.
"I'm sorry," I finally whispered, filling the awkward silence as it stretched on.
Jake froze in whatever he was doing for a second before going back to wiping them down. "Nothing to be sorry for," he shrugged, blowing on the cuts to dry them so he could plaster them up.
My skin broke out into goose bumps as his cool breath seemed to almost caress my skin. I wasn't cold, but my body was reacting as if it was.
"There is actually, so much," I whispered, fighting the rise of heat as it bloomed in my cheeks. "I'm sorry I've treated you like crap when all you've done is be nice to me and try to help me. I'm sorry I can't seem to get my act together when I'm around you, but mostly I'm sorry I can't tell you more about myself than I already have."
Even though Alice had betrayed me, that she'd spent our whole friendship lying to me, her feeling of acceptance when she'd seen my wings and not run had felt heavenly. The idea of having someone by my side, fighting my corner whilst knowing everything there was to know about me was almost addictive in a way I couldn't explain.
Did I want that again? Did I want to trust someone enough where they knew the whole truth about me and I wouldn't have to hide from them anymore?
My parents knew I was here, I was leaving anyway, so where was the real harm in telling Jake the whole truth? Worst comes to worst he calls me a monster like my parents and... tries to kill me? No I don't think that was him.
"It's alright Kathy, you-," but before he could finish the doorbell rang.
Jake frowned over his shoulder at the door, clearly annoyed that someone had interrupted him. "Who the hell is calling this early?"
Even though the sun was up it was still early, the clock on his cooker reading just gone seven and I frowned at his retreating form as he went to go answer the door.
I heard muffled voices as he answered the door but when the voices turned silent I frowned and slipped off the counter. What was happening out there?
I stepped closer to the front door, using the wall of the stairs as a shield so I could try and see what was going on, but the angle was wrong. I did manage to make out a few words though.
"... see some ID.... Need proof..." that was Jake. Why did he want to see someone's ID?"
The other voices were unintelligible, muffled as they spoke softly, but I could tell it was a man and a woman.
I stepped closer, curiosity urging me forward as well as something else, something bordering on panic, but I couldn't figure out why. Something felt off about this whole thing and the last thing I wanted was for Jake to get harmed in some way.
I tool the final few steps around the corner, wanting to help Jake in some way, but when I caught sight of the two people standing in the threshold of the doorway, a gun in the mans hand and a knife in the woman's, I froze.
My parents had found me.