Hired (A Tom Felton Fanfic)

Chapter 4

                I jolt awake to the sound of an alarm clock.  “What the hell...?”  I mumble groggily.  Then it all comes flooding back to me.  My job, the training, the plane ride, and... “Tom.”  I test the sound of his name on my lips.  I like the sound of it.  I thrust my hand out in the darkness, trying to locate the off button on my alarm.  I give up and instead flip on the lamp by my bed.  Squinting in the sudden brightness, I finally manage to shut my alarm clock off.  The room falls silent.  Dead silent.  It’s unnerving after all the time I spent sleeping in alleyways, listening to the sound of screeching tires on pavement every night.  Unnerving and oddly peaceful.  I sit up in bed and wonder about the day ahead.

                After awhile, I manage to drag my ass out of bed and into the bathroom.  I turn the shower to cold, and I am awake immediately.  I’m not one for wasting time.  After showering, I find deodorant in a bathroom drawer and slap some on before dressing.  I no longer have to look, smell, or act like a homeless person.  I stare into my eyes in the huge bathroom mirror and try to decide who I am now.  My eyes look back at me, dull and expressionless.  “Who are you?”  I ask my reflection, half hoping for an answer.  There is no response.  There is a shit load of makeup in the bathroom.  I hope I’m not expected to wear it.  I’ve always been a disaster zone when it comes to that stuff.  I look tired, so I decide to go with a bare minimum of concealer and lip gloss that tastes like cherries.

                I shove my few possessions into the suitcase and then pack my favorite outfits and a few other items.  As I wheel my suitcase to the door, I take a look back at the grand hotel that I just spent the night in.  I want to remember this.  The first hotel I slept in for a long time.  Then I turn and open the door, breath catching as I do.  There stands Tom in a casual outfit but looking...  Business.  This is business.  I remind myself.  But still, my heart races and my head spins just looking at him.  I can’t be sure if it is my own wishful thinking or not, but I swear he looks me up and down, smiling.  It turns out I may have been right, as he says, “You look absolutely lovely today.”

                I can’t help the girly giggle that escapes my mouth.  I don’t know if he wants me to be flirty or not, so I do a bit of both.  “Why thank you.  You look dashing today if I do say so myself.”  Oh god I totally just sounded like a grandma!  I die internally, hoping he won’t hate me.

                “May I?”  He asks and offers his arm.  My heart melts.  No.  You’ll only end up with a broken heart.  Don’t fall in love with him.  I tell myself off even though I know I can’t stop myself from falling head over heels for him.  I take his arm and remind myself that it’s an act.

                His bodyguard follows us into the elevator with both Tom’s and my suitcases.  When we are down to street level, Tom checks out, his arm still threaded through mine.  We leave the hotel and catch a cab on the curb.  He opens the door for me, motioning for me to get in.  I grin an embarrassingly huge smile to myself as I do.  On the way to the airport, Tom explains what sorts of things I will have to do when I pose as his girlfriend.  What parties I'll go to, which people I will talk with, etc.  We pull up to the airport, and Tom shakes the cab driver's hand and gives him a huge tip.  Everything about him is easy to love.  But I can't let that happen...  If it hasn't already.  We succesfully board the plane, and I sit next to Tom.  The last time I was on a plane had been with my mother.  I shake the memory away.  Halfway through the plane ride, Tom falls asleep.  Some gut reaction tells me I need to put my head on his shoulder and sleep too.  I know I had promised myself that I wouldn't fall in love, but as I fall asleep my last thought is: too late.

Author's note:  Hey guys!  Sorry for the long down time on this story.  I've been working on my summer assignments, because I really want to get them done before school starts.  Happy reading!