Until We Fly: The Guardian Legacy

Chapter 9: Key

-Nim-

"I thought James was coming?"
Köleil moaned, leaning over the back of the chair.

"He is. He's just...with a friend right now."

"Oh...so he'll be here soon?"
She smiled, perking up.

"...I hope so."

I didn't like that strange girl.
Not one bit.

She looked, acted and sounded weird.
I just wanted to stay away from her from now on.

"Hey, Köleil? Where's Jake?"

"He's still in bed. Why?"

"Really? Gosh. I'll go get him."
I said, putting down the cloth I'd been using the clean the sides.

"I thought he had to rest? Y'know, cuz of the hangover he has?"

"I didn't mean he could rest all day..."
I sighed, making my way into the elevator.

As I stepped out, I noticed something strange.
Jake's door...it was wide open.

Raising my eyebrows, I stepped inside and flicked the light on.
And he was nowhere to be seen.

"...where are you..."
I mumbled, looking around.
His sheets were pulled back and his blinds closed.

I couldn't believe it.
He'd run off to get drunk again?!
Even after I'd specifically said he shouldn't...
I had to get him off of that stuff.
This was going too far.

Irritated and stressed, I slumped myself down at his desk and lay my head against it.

Everyone had gone downhill recently.
No one had trained for at least two weeks, not even Jake!
We'd had no calls for help or things to fix in ages!
I hated it!

Slowly opening my eyes, I caught glance of a small shine on the table.
I sat up again, staring down at it.

"A...key?"
I wondered out loud, reaching down and lifting it up.
With my two main fingers, I turned it and examined all sides.

It was pretty small and rusted.
The word 'Room' was written on the side
Odd, Jake's room didn't have a lock. And it definitely didn't look like anything from the house.

What could it be for?

I jumped in the seat as the toilet flushed from down the hall.
Jake...
He...he was still here?

Without thinking, I shoved the key into my pocket and quickly stood up, pushing the chair back under the desk.

I pretended to be making the bed as I heard him walk in.

"Oh, Nim? What's up?"

"I was just checking on you and the room was empty so I...uh..."
My sentence trailed as I turned and saw him.

"Yeah, I just took a shower s'all."

Jake wore only a towel around his waist with his shirt slung over his shoulder.
His hair and...chest...were still dripping with water as he clearly hadn't even begun to dry himself.

My face burned up with immense speed.

"I-I-I-I-I'll just leave you to get ready!"
I shouted, running for the door and slamming it shut behind me.

I leaned back against the door, desperately trying to shake away my blush.

...I hate my sad, little, lonely life...

*****

'James? When are you coming?

It's been over two hours, what's going on?