That Makes Three

Chapter Five

My dreams were a mixture of flashes from the vision and darkness. When I woke up my vision was back. Kind of. Everything was extremely blurry. Though the smell of rotting corpses was even more pungent than before, making me gag and rush to the toilet. 

I wasn't sure what I'd brought up, since I hadn't eaten anything, but flushed it quickly and went to lay back down when I felt a waterproof material brush past me. I frowned. I never put my coat on the banister... that wasn't my jacket. Reaching into the little bowl by the door I grabbed my thick, emergency glasses and put them on. A pit in my stomach opening I turned and ran into the front room to peer through the curtains. Sure enough, an obnoxious red sports car sat dormant in my driveway. He was here? He was here. An icy chill ran down my back and as I turned my heart leapt at the sigh of him sprawled in the couch were I had been, watching me carefully. He took the cigarette from his mouth and blew a few circles my way. I watched as they floated shapelessly toward the ceiling.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" I said, shocked by the hostility in my own voice. He smirked, shaking his head. 

"You're welcome for not having to wake up to an empty home." Getting up he put the cigarette out somewhere I couldn't quite see and started to walk towards me. I sighed, relaxing a little.

"Sorry. I didn't mean - I'm just surprised. I didn't expect you to... I didn't realised you were so..." he arched an eyebrow and I rolled back on my feet. "I didn't know you were the kind of person to stay and look after me so, I guess I'm trying to say thank you." Roman stopped when he was less than a meter away. Looking up into his stormy eyes I smiled gently.

"Yeah well there's a lot you don't know about me..." He whispered, reaching with a single finger and pushing my glasses further up my nose. After a moment of silence he took a strand of my hair and smoothed it out as he spoke quickly.

"I thought about leaving a note but I figured you wouldn't be able to read it and then I thought I'd call you later but I didn't know your number and your phone was locked so, here I am." He said, letting the strand of hair go and lifting his hands up as if to present himself. It was only when I gasped I realised I wasn't breathing. I took a step back, shaking my head to clear it.

"Your cars outside?" 

"I had to walk back to school to get it. After taking Shelly home I came straight back." I peered over him to read the clock that was hanging on the wall. My struggle to see it must have been obvious because he took his phone out of his pocket and held it up to me. 6:30. I'd slept all day? I ran my hand through my hair, trying not to think about the fact that he had spent the day watching me sleep. Or that apparently he had forgotten what personal space was and seemed to be leaning towards me again. Taking his phone from his hand I unlocked it, surprised by the lack of password and searched through it.

"May I ask what you're doing?"

"Putting my number in your phone. By the way, if that's your subtle way of asking me for my number, I am super confused as to how you get girls." I said, taking off my glasses and pushing my hair to one side. Clicking picture I smiled sweetly and took a selfie, changing my photo from a black and white silhouette to the one I just took before holding it out for him. When he began to take it I held it to my chest.

"There all done. Just - please, no dick pics." When he smiled I gave it back.

"Like I could send a dick pic. The screen isn't big enough to capture it all." He muttered as he slid the phone back into his jacket.

"So do you want to have dinner-" as soon as it left my mouth I felt adrenaline rush from my feet to my head, hardening my nipples. Was he going to think of it as a date? Why was I so nervous? I carried on despite the tremor in my voice. "-do you want to stay for dinner. It's the least I could do for you since you did so much for me." I said, twisting my fingers into knots. He bit on his bottom lip, looking between my eyes before taking a step back.

"No. I should go. Godfrey dinners are not ones to miss. Besides, I promised Shelly." When he turned away and reached for his coat I felt a pang of sadness attack my heart.

"Rain check?" He said when he turned and saw I was staring at his shoes. I nodded enthusiastically and opened the door. As he walked out I felt a pulling in my gut. The kind that came with strong intuition.

"What we spoke about... don't tell anybody." I half yelled at him as he unlocked his car. He looked up and even from the door I could see the smirk on his face.

"Why not?" I crossed my arms.

"Because I've lived in this town for eighteen years and am only now just beginning to make friends. They're going to think I'm even weirder and torture me harder." A hint of sadness crept into my voice. I hope he didn't notice. Apparently he didn't, As the smile on his face got wider.

"Oh, so I'm your friend." I laughed nervously, hiding my body partially behind the door to protect myself from the harsh draft.

"I prefer the word acquaintance." I yelled before letting the door close.