Finding my Wings

~4

        My head snapped to the large doorway where he stood. He looked so much more different without the hoodie on. His dark hair was wavy and parted around his bright green eyes. Looking casual with his lean arms crossed and his long legs leaning him against the frame, he could easily look like a model from a high-end advertisement for men’s cologne. It took me a second to center my thoughts and remember just what kind of situation I was in.

        “What am I doing here? Where am I?”

        “Don’t you remember last night?” He quizzically tilted his head. His fringe shifting on his forehead.

        “I-I think so. But that doesn’t answer my questions.” I pulled the covers closer to me.

        He nodded and moved inside the room to stand at the foot of the bed. He looked at me and titled his head again. Was that a thing of his?

        “In answer to your questions, you’re here because despite how comfy that garbage heap looked I didn’t think it’d be very good for your health if you’d stayed there. And you’re at my family’s house. I took a taxi last night after I found you. I know you don’t really know me so this must super weird for you, but just what were you doing there?” His posture remained casual, maybe in an attempt to lighten the mood a little.

        My cheeks burned and I lowered my face hoping he wouldn’t notice I was about to cry. “You wouldn’t want to know.” I mumbled into the silkiness of the comforter.

        “I think I would, but I know better than to ask for a stranger like you and I to start spilling our guts out to each other.” That almost made me smile. “I hope you’ll like it here, Keira. It was my decision to bring you here and if you really don’t have anywhere else to go you can stay here as long as you like.”

        His voice was gentle and soothing. But no matter how much of a sweet talker her was I knew better by now to accept this sort of behavior, especially when we really were strangers like he said. “I won’t put you out like that. You seem nice enough but I can’t stay here very long.”

I heard him sigh quietly. “It was my offer so you wouldn’t be putting me out like you said. Not everyone does stuff for their own personal gain. I wanted to honestly help you. No matter what situation you were in I could tell just by looking at you, you didn’t belong there any more then I did.”

        I huffed and looked at him, “What were you even doing there? That’s no place for someone like you to be walking around in.”

        “Speak for yourself. I was visitng a guy my dad knew and needed something for his work. I stopped by the store to pick up a pack of gum and I saw you. That’s no place for a pretty girl like you to be wondering around either. There are some dangerous people around there.”

        My frown deepened and I suddenly felt ashamed. “How do I know your not one of those ‘dangerous people’?”

        He shrugged. “I guess you don’t. But like I said, not everyone does stuff for their own personal gain. I’m sorry if you don’t feel like I wasn’t just trying to help.”

        God, what was with him? Why was he irritating me so much? But despite that his words touched me, and the tears became heavier. I wiped them with the sheet and instantly regretted smudging them with my makeup. “Oh god, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

        He laughed lightly, “its ok. I’ll just let Maddy know to get the sheets later. They need cleaning anyways. You should come downstairs, breakfast is almost ready. There are some clothes left out for you just over there. My mom thought they might be in your size.”

        For the first time I noticed the folded clothes in the chair just a few feet from the bed in the elegant sitting chair. They looked expensive, but the urge to put on something that pretty was winning out. I just mumbled, “Thanks,” and waited for him to get to the doorway again.

        “Oh by the way, you never asked, but my name is Tristan. I’ll c you in a few.” And he shut the door behind him.