DEAD INSIDE

(33)

I woke up feeling totally disoriented and I panicked.

Where was I?

Then I recognized the sofa and the thick duvet that was keeping me warm. I was in Gregory's room.

I rubbed the sleep off my eyes and realized it was dark outside.

I had no recollection of how I had got there.

"You're awake?" Gregory's voice sounded deeper as it echoed in his spacious room.

"Yeah..." I replied.

"You missed my cousin..." He stated and I could tell it was bothering him so I said, "Sorry..."

"He and I had a chat..." He went on and I grimaced, wishing I was back asleep.

"You did?" I murmured tentatively. What else could I say?

"Yeah... He feels like a fool..." My eyebrows shot up at that. I really hoped we weren't back to square one. "Told me you have been nothing but honest with him from the beginning. He knows he's messed up." He paused. "I have to ask you one more time, though... Do you like my cousin?"

"I've already answered that question..." I mumbled. "He may have piqued my curiosity at first but his constant cold/hot demeanor with me after that was off-putting..." Hopefully, it would be the last time he asked me that.

"What about Bellucci?" He grunted. I guessed he was embarrassed to talk about boys with me like that.

"What about him?"

"Do you like him?" I tried to muffle it but I'm pretty sure he heard my exasperated sigh.

"Why don't you just tell me what's brought all these questions?"

"Nothing..." He growled again.

"If it's nothing then allow me to get back to sleep..." I shot back slightly annoyed now. I turned to my side and closed my eyes again.

He groaned.

"Has that policeman contacted you yet?"

Now, that was a constructive question. I reached for my phone in my pocket and saw that I only had messages from the girls who had been wondering where I was, before calling Vanessa who'd let them know that I was dead to the world.

"No..." I muttered hoping it didn't mean Charles had been lying and my mother was in danger.

I considered calling the forty-year-old man but decided to wait for a more suitable time since it was currently four am.

"How come you're awake?" I heard myself blurt out.

"I went to bed less than half an hour ago..." He said.

"Oh..." It made sense.

Something occurred to me. Was he trying to get a message across? His question about Milo, the way he'd seemed annoyed when I suggested there was more to him...

"Have I outstayed my welcome?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't throw me out in the middle of the night.

He groaned again.

"Don't..." He then began but stopped abruptly. "Don't start over-thinking things, ok?!"

I didn't know whether I should be relieved or embarrassed.

"If it's okay with you I'd like to wait a couple of more days before calling my Dad..." I said, hoping he'd agree. "Hopefully Officer Jenkins will have located my Mom by that point and I won't have to be in your way twenty-four/seven anymore..."