Wild World Comms

Chapter 12: Bad Blood

It didn't take any more than two seconds after those words had fallen from your mouth, that you realised spur of the moment things were not for you; and if they were, they should always be reserved for the outdoors, never indoors, and definitely not your safe place.

So, instead of doing the normal thing and smiling at the person who you had just invited into your house, you turned to face the door, hoping to hide your embarrassment. Shoving your hands into your bag, you felt around until your fingers wrapped around the cold metal of your keys. They rattled erratically as you brought them up to the door, and it wasn't until the fifth attempt of trying to put them into the key hole, that you noticed how badly your hands were shaking.

Mentally willing your hand to hold still, like you had jedi powers or something, you just about managed to slide the key into its place. Holding it there, you took a second to regain your composure. You could feel Dan's presence slowly appear toward your side.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, knowing that you were acting completely irrationally, you turned to face Dan. Water droplets were running from his hair down his face, and he gave you a reassuring smile, wordlessly acknowledging that he knew how you were feeling. Which was enough motivation for you to unlock the door, turn the handle and walk into the hallway of the building.

You started your way up the wooden staircase, hoping that Dan would follow you, and not walk into the flat below yours. Though the echo of feet up the stairs answered that question. Upon reaching your door, you managed to unlock it on your first attempt, pushing it open, and flicking on the light switch to brighten up the hall. This was happening.

Watching Dan close the door behind him, you followed his eyes trailing over the art scattering the walls, before he met your gaze. He looked as though he had been the unlucky one who's been forced to sit at the front of a log flume, and catching sight of the drowned person staring back at you in the mirror... "I'll go get us some towels. Oh, and I can hang up your jacket in the airing cupboard too?"

"Thanks," he smiled, passing you his denim jacket.

"The lounge is on the left, I'll be two minutes." You darted off to the bathroom, not wanting to leave Dan on his own for too long. Dealing with the jackets, you then grabbed a couple of towels, before quickly nipping into your bedroom to hide all of the mess, and yes, the inordinate number of bras, socks and knickers that were littering your floor.

Slowing your pace, so to walk casually into the lounge, you found Dan comfortably sat in the middle of your sofa observing the space around him. "Here you are," you called out, making him jump as you threw a towel in his direction.

"Thank you," He smiled, revealing his laughter lines.

Trying to regain a bit of your hosting credibility you asked Dan if you could grab him a drink. Making your way into the kitchen, you heard him shout "please" in-between the energetic drying of his hair with the towel.

"What would you like?" You called out from the kitchen. The kitchen is only separated from the lounge by a simple breakfast bar, but it definitely adds a new dimension to the place.

"Whatever you're having," he replied.

Coffee was only going to add to your angst, water was going to make you want to pee straight away, and you certainly needed something to calm you down. Pulling open the fridge, you grabbed the bottle of vintage grape juice that you knew you so desperately needed.

Peering round the fridge door you held out the bottle, waving it around "How's this?" Dan spun around to see what you were referring to, but before he could answer you blurted out "Oh my god, your hair!" His cheeks instantly flushed red, and his hand started raking through the flame like masterpiece that you were observing. "No, no. It's amazing. I love it!"