I Wonder If I Care as Much

Chapter Twenty Six

His third phone call sat on the bed beside him, putting her shoes on. After the first one hung up, and the second got confused and clocked out, he tried a third time, wondering why he needed to talk so bad at two in the morning. She was a good listener. Gave him a lot of advice, and in return he gave her his address. They still talked, he even made her a cup of tea, which she gladly accepted. She was funny too, and would make jokes to cheer him up, and bring a smile to his handsome face. He'd look at his hands when he talked, then look back up to see his audience had scooted closer on the couch. She'd say she couldn't hear him. He believed her. Sometime during the night the 'little devil' took his form, and left him lying there on the bed, out of breath and out of mind.

Her weight shifted on the bed as she leaned down to pick up her other shoe from the carpet. Her red hair was a mess, and she combed it through with her fingers giving it a wind-showered look. She took to buttoning her shirt up, pulling it over her shoulders with a sigh. Then with a turn of the head, addressed him. "My name is not Hannah," she said.

He turned to look at her, and her back was already facing him again. "She's-she's just a friend of mine."

She scoffed. "A really good friend by the sound of it."

Angus put a hand to his head. Laced with sweat and hurting a little. He closed his eyes hoping maybe the woman would think he fell asleep, and leave without giving him any trouble. But he knew she wasn't unaware of her surroundings. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"Me too."

A knock on the door surprised the both of them, Angus then realizing he forgot to put up a notice. He looked to his companion, who grabbed her earrings from the nightstand and put them on. She looked at him too when the visitor knocked a second time. "It's not my hotel room."

Sighing he sat up, the room spinning a second or two. Regaining his senses, he scanned the room for his clothes, only seeing his shirt lying on his suitcase, his jacket still on the couch in the living room, his bathrobe in the bathroom, and his pants completely hidden from his view. He checked throughout the sheets for any sign of them, the knocking outside growing more consistent. "For fuck's sake..."

"Jus' grab something!" Angus gave her a look as he pulled the sheet off the bed, signalling with his eyes that she needed to move in order for his actions to work. She complied, then sat back down to put her other earring on. Angus wrapped the sheet around himself not unlike a dress, and answered the door, standing slightly behind it.

"Is this where 'Young' is staying?" A man stood in the other side, dressed like he worked there, even at such an hour. It made Angus feel even more aware of his attire.

He cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, that's me."

The man ignored Angus' appearance and situation and for that he was grateful. A paper was given to him, no envelope or anything. "This was taken at the front desk from a phone call a few rooms down. They asked to take a message and send it to you."

"Oh, thank you," Angus said, giving his best smile he could manage. With a polite bow of the head, the man left. Before reading a word Angus stole to the bathroom and grabbed his robe off the counter, changing into it. Dropping the sheet off on the bed and heading for the living room to sit on the couch, away from the transgressions committed in the other room.

Only a few words were scribbled on the paper. No names, just a few words regarding an emergency, come to room four oh four, and be quick about it. Room 404 was Malcolm's room. Angus didn't like the sound of an emergency, and was quick to look for his pants. The woman came out of the bedroom and stopped him. "Who was it?"

"Man with a note." She let him pass to the bedroom.

"Who from?"

"No one."