A Fiend as a Friend

Chapter 7

I was already out of breath when he finally stopped in a room. He'd been dragging me for like five minutes. I closed my eyes to catch up on my lost breathe before looking up at him.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"The men's wing. Now, this is the thing. We have a concert tomorrow and I have no song planned out." Then he gritted his teeth and with a very angry voice, he said,"And that's because I had to attend a very useless audition."

"So, what's my business with that?" I noticed that his face turned pale at once.

"You are the new singer, aren't you? Or haven't you been told your duties yet?"

"I have been told. My question is how is this my business."

"You are...are getting on my nerves, little elf." Right now, he was glowering deep at me.

I smiled. If he was bringing fire, I would bring water to extinguish it. So, it was so appropriate to return his glare with a smile. "Let's talk when you stop calling me that." I began to walk away but he pulled me back to his front with his hand.

"Don't you dare walk out on me. Aren't you just too rude on your first day?"

"This isn't our first time meeting, though. If you had left with me a good impression the first time we met, I would probably not be this way with you."

"Can't you differentiate between work  and play?"

"With you, I can't. If you need help, I can just sing the song I sang for my audition tomorrow. That's cool, right?"

He obviously calmed down, but as usual, his proud self wouldn't let him tell me that. "I guess we'll have to do it that way. I really don't know how the audience will bear to hear your voice."

"I'll surprise you" I said before walking away from him. Okay, I was so going to get lost. I didn't know how to get back to my wing. I thought of going back to ask Mike, but I imagined him smirking at me. I couldn't stand that. Just as I rounded a corner, I bumped into someone.

I sighed deeply and looked up to see the obstacle on my way. It was Thomas. I gulped immediately and then, I noticed he was only dressed in his boxers. What the hell?

He screamed and ran away immediately, leaving me dazed. He returned minutes later fully dressed.

"What are you...you doing here?" He was pointing a finger at me and his lips were quivering.

"I...huh... Mike brought me here. I'm sorry I bumped into you. I just didn't expect anyone to be dressed so...huh... I mean er...i wasn't expecting to see anyone dressed like that in the afternoon. Most things like that are seen in the morning."

He ran his hands through his hair. "That is why you were given your own wing. You don't have to come here for anything."

" Mike brought me here", I reiterated, emphasizing my every word.

"Then what are you doing roaming about?" His tone was accusatory. Almost as if he didn't believe me.

"I didn't know my way back. Look, I'm really sorry for bumping-"

"She bumped into you? Oh my goodness, that's wonderful."

Okay, I knew that voice. I didn't even have to look to know it was Mike.

"What is?" Thomas asked, looking over at him.

"She bumped into me too."

"Were you half naked when she bumped into you? You don't know how annoying this is. No girl has ever seen me that way and it hurts to have such a good record broken by a... huh...I don't know, really."

"I'm sorry, Thomas", I said, wished I could just disappear.

"Well, she bumped into me with her car and guess whose car had the greater damage. Hers. So, what is your new name, elf? Little miss bumper. "

I decided to hold back my anger. Talking back would just get me in trouble. "Can you please direct me back to my wing?"

Thomas frowned for a minute before nodding. "Look at this red line on the floor."

I looked down and noticed for the first time that there were lines on the floor. One was red and the other was blue. "Okay."

"Yeah. Trace that line. It will lead you back to your wing."

I muttered a thank you and then turned to glare at Mike. He smirked and walked away. I hated him so much.

******
I almost freaked out when the blue line brought me to a dead end. I just didn't get. I made sure I followed the line without looking elsewhere and then, I found myself at this dead end!

Somehow, I felt Thomas had tricked me and for that, I got really angry. There was absolutely no way he could have made a mistake since this was his house. He knew every hook and corner of this building.

I clenched my fists until I felt my nails digging into my palm. Slowly, I made my way back, following that same blue line. I was looking down and didn't know when I bumped into someone. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Hey, Felicity."

I slowly opened my eyes and looked up. "Hello, Scott."  He was the only guy I actually liked since he had complimented on my song at the audition. "Sorry I bumped into you. I wasn't looking." I was actually glad he was fully dressed.

"Yeah, S'alright. Are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern and somehow, I loved him for that. He was nice, way nicer than Micheal and Thomas.

"Yeah. I'm just surprised I got this job. You know, there were fifty contestants. I... I... " I let my voice trail off. I blinked hard and tried to fix my gaze on Scott. Okay, I was lying about this.

He sighed and pulled me into a hug. "You did well. That's why you were chosen. Stop crying already."

I frowned. Was I really crying? I touched my cheeks and sighed. I could  win an award for World's best actress.  I pulled away from him and wiped my cheeks. "Thank you."

"No problem, dear. We are here for each other."

I blushed scarlet red when he called me 'dear'. When did I start to like pet names? "Yeah." I smiled at him and looked down shyly.

To my utmost shock, he held my hand and intertwined our fingers. Oh God! "It's time for lunch. Bailey would be mad."

It took me some time before I could register what he was saying. I was too distracted by his touch. Call me silly. "Who is Bailey?"

"Our cook. Her meals are excellent. Just wait till you try it. You'll probably get filled just by inhaling the aroma of her food."

Seeing the way he praised her cooking, I kind of got jealous. Nobody had ever praised me like that except for my parents. And I doubt "Felicia, you could win an award for being a glutton. You eat so well that I just get filled seeing you eat" was a praise.

"I can't wait to eat your food Felicity", he said, smiling widely at me.

I choked on my own spit and coughed until tears formed in my eyes. Cook? Me? What a wonderful way to make me feel sad. He patted my back. "Should I get some water?"

I shook my head and managed to smile at him. No, let me put it right. I think instead of smiling, I just stretched my lips--at least I could call that smiling.

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