Go to Hell (on hold)

ELEVEN

I snatched up the rose and scurried into my bedroom as fast as possible. Upon examination, I confirmed that it really was perfect. So Owen clipped it to give to me on purpose. That was the most logical explanation I could see. He was the only one who I would automatically associate with the flower, so without any card or message attached, it had to come from him. The question was why.

I went to sit on my bed, but stopped when I saw there was no room. It was covered in shopping bags, as was most of my floor. I sighed. It was going to take forever to sort through everything and put it away. There probably wouldn't even be enough room for all the clothes in my small closet and even smaller dresser.

I dropped a few bags on the floor and plopped down on the bed. My attention returned to the rose. Was it a gift? Or a reminder? Owen didn't seem like the direct apology type, so perhaps this was his way of trying to make amends. If so, I wasn't sure I accepted. He had been right, I was getting out of my room now. I no longer needed him, which made me less than eager to pretend like nothing happened. He had thrown garden shears from me, for goodness' sake.

Someone knocked on my door. 

"Just a second!" I called. The rose felt like fire in my hands. Without giving it a second thought, I pushed open the widow and tossed the rose out, then slammed the window shut. There. Let Owen take that as he will.

I cracked the door then opened it fully when Kota's smiling face greeted me.

"Hi," he said. "I heard you were back from your outing with Gabriel."

"Hi," I whispered back. I looked at the person behind him. "Hello, Nathan."

"Sang," he greeted. I noticed the small stack of books Kota juggled in his arms and giggled. He never failed to bring me things to read. It helped that we had similar tastes in literature.

"Come in." I beckoned them into my room and blushed as their jaws dropped at all the bags.

"Holy shit." Nathan whistled at all the bags. "He went all out. Hopefully he didn't charge it to Mr. Blackbourne's credit. He'd be pissed."

"I doubt it." Kota huffed. He set down the books on the floor near my bed. "Knowing Gabriel he probably charged it to mine." Kota narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the room. "Did you ask him to leave everything out?"

"No, it was like this when I came back." I replied, trying to keep my tone indifferent.

Nathan chuckled. "That has Luke written all over it. They probably delivered everything and he just said to put it in your room. Don't get mad at him about it, he just doesn't think about things like that."

"I'm not angry, just disappointed," I teased.

"We'll help you clean it up," Kota suggested.

"We will?" Nathan asked with a raised eyebrow. Kota shot him a stern look. Nathan rolled his eyes. 

Before any of us could reach for a shopping bag, a scream rang out and a tremor shook the whole manor. Nathan and Kota were instantly alert, and both assumed a fighting stance. Nathan stalked to the window.

"I don't see anything," he said. " They must be on another side of the house." He held up his nose and sniffed. "It doesn't smell like anyone particularly strong is here."

"Go. Find them," Kota commanded. "I'll stay with Sang."

My door crashed open, sending me jumping out of my skin. Dr. Greet panted and glowered in the entryway.

"Kota, we need you," Dr. Green said. Kota ground his teeth.

"Stay with her," he barked at Nathan.