Temporary Housemate

Chapter Two

 "Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul."

- Thomas Merton

Screaming to draw attention to myself, I threw my possessions to the floor and then everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I turned around and got in to my stance so fast that as I threw my first punch at my attacker I was more than surprised to watch as his hand came up to catch it. Pulling my fist back within seconds, I dropped to the floor and spun my leg underneath his in an attempt to knock him over. I was mesmerized when I watch him jump over my leg; I felt sluggish, even though my drink had been non-alcoholic, no-one had ever come close to completely dodging my attacks like that. He didn’t even seem to flinch! The man had by this time stepped back a little with his hands in front of him as though in an act of surrender

It was then that I decided to size up this instinctively reflexive character, and in doing so my breath hitched. He was perfection! No other word could possibly describe how stunningly beautiful he looked standing there with his palms facing me. My ‘attacker’ had dark unruly hair that framed his well defined facial features, no signs of puppy fat remained in those features. With the plumpest and most inviting lips I had ever seen on a man, and the most wondrous blue eyes, he was drop dead gorgeous. His eyes truly were mesmerizing though – they looked ethereal like the evening sky in summer just as the sun sets and the night is about to claim the sky, when that most luminous blue appears for the few minutes of twilight left. He was tall and well built sporting a crisp shirt and chinos that would make any nun drool over the well toned muscled that bulged underneath such thin layers. As I looked on a polite smile formed up on those magnificent lips and I swear my heart skipped a beat as his face lit up with amusement.

It was only then that I realised I had been staring at this perfect stranger, and that was when time seemed to resume it's correct pace once again. Double checking for drool or anything out of place on myself I looked down at the ground. It seemed my stranger was innocent of any depravities I had concocted in my imagination.

“Well hello. Sorry to scare you there miss…”

Oh my, now that was a voice most women would be happy to listen to for the rest of their lives, so gravelly and low pitched it sent chills down my spine. However, I had already made enough of a fool of myself and quickly pulled myself together.

“Hello. I'm Charlie, sorry about, er, that. I’m well trained in self defence and you caught me off guard.” Taking a chance I thought I might as well lighten the situation, “You’re not actually going to kidnap or murder me are you?”

With a brief chuckle that almost made my knees give out, “Er, no I wasn’t planning on it Charlie, but now that you’ve tried to kill me I may have to consider it.” Which caused his facial expression to form into a smirk.

Briefly giggling myself, I finally looked at him properly rather than from glances and acknowledged my rudeness. “Oh my goodness, sorry, apparently I’ve forgotten my manners. We’re starting over, just give me a moment.” Turning around, I quickly double checked my bags were all accounted for and heaved my massive shoulder satchel onto my back and collected any spilled items.

Turning again I placed a bright smile on my face and reached my hand out,

“Hello, my names Charlotte Louise Hudson, pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The mysterious man had continued to smirk and placed his hand in mine and stated, “It’s a pleasure to meet you too Charlie, I’m Adam Taylor.” He continued to hold my hand whilst he continued, “Right, now we’re passed the introductions, I have actually been trying to catch up with you for about twenty minutes! You walk quickly.”

This put me back on tenterhooks, “You were following me?” I sounded idiotic even to my ears but I don’t like being scared or tolerate stalkers, especially when I was this exhausted.

Running his hands through his hair and making himself unknowingly more attractive, he blurted out “God, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that. I’m too ahead of myself, I overheard you’re conversation with Pete at the bar and tried to get over to you to ask if you’d like me to walk you, but by the time I’d said my goodbyes to my friends you were already well out of the door and down the street.”

Hmmm, fair enough, but “How the hell did you overhear my conversation when even I could barely hear it? And I certainly did not see you anywhere near where we were talking so please don’t ridicule me! Leave me alone please, let me go home.”

“No, NO! That’s not what I meant I wanted to walk you there because I live on the same street myself at the moment! And,” he paused dramatically, plastering a heart wrenching, knowing grin on those luscious lips, “Of course you wouldn’t have noticed me! Being so obsessed with your hands and the floor must be really inconvenient for you!”

I felt myself flush, but thankfully it was pretty chilly out so it calmed down the inferno before it truly embarrassed me. “How dare you! I was looking around, and certainly do NOT remember seeing  you Adam, so stop playing with me!”

“OK, so maybe you did glance around, but if you had actually looked you would have seen me on the table right next to the bar!”

Oh gees, it was inevitable, the blush was back with a vengeance and I felt suddenly on fire compared to the crisp air out in the street, which reminded me. “Well Mr-know-it-all, where exactly are you living on this street?” I snapped out before I could reign my temper in. I DID NOT like being made fun of!

With a slightly guilty expression engulfing his features, Adam simply nodded to the house next to the one we were in front of, I gasped, “b-but, that’s the exact address I’m residing in!” I have not stuttered since I was about ten – I was certainly not liking the influence he was exerting over me. Great, looks like I’ve met my housemate.

He nodded again and answered my unasked question, “Yes, that is the reason why I was trying to catch up with you, I knew I had a housemate arriving at some point in the next few days and thought I’d ask and at the very least help you find the place safely. Shall we?” He asked, extending his arm and gesturing towards the place, “And don’t worry, I have a spare key for you until the land lord can come and introduce himself, he's a great guy, but eternally busy.”

As I walked up to the door, I slid to the side to allow Adam to unlock the plain but well kept door, grateful that any second I would be able to find my bed and collapse. Smiling to myself as I crossed the threshold, I thanked Adam and asked him to guide me to my room.

“Of course, you must be tired. Here, let me take your bags.” I hate being ordered around and already felt awkward enough, “No, I got them, just show me the room thanks.”

I knew I was being bitchy, but what would you expect? Being awake for thirty-seven hours straight, jolted around on an uncomfortable bus and then fearing for your life would take it out of anyone, and for me tiredness and grouchiness were one in the same! Plus my adrenaline high was wearing off now that no danger actually presented itself. I hadn’t paid any attention to where we were going and suddenly realised that we were in quite a spacious room with a rather edible looking bed in the centre.

Once again Adam answered my question before I could ask it, “The bathroom is just through that door on the other side of the room, sleep well Charlie.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. No. Nowhere near, and he looked almost…sad? Baffled, but not enough to ask, I simply nodded and wished him a good sleep.

I ducked into the bathroom, not noticing my surroundings, quickly cleaned my teeth and ran back into the room, replacing my clothes with pyjamas within seconds, before getting into the bed and finally flopping from my lack of energy. As I let sleep claim me, one thought flickered through my mind, how do you get eyes like that?