The girl in the attic

(13)The girl in the attic

The girl in the attic

Chapter 13

Preston's POV

She entered the bathroom and it took all of my willpower not to follow her, it was making me anxious letting her out of my site. What if she ran away again? There were two windows in the bathroom and she would definitely be able to fit through them. I listened to her movements and readied myself to make a run for it if I heard one of the windows opening. I heard some more movement and then I heard the sweet sound of water running and I felt relieve fill my body, she was actually going to let me help her.

I walked over to my cupboard and started searching for something that would fit her. She is so small and thin that everything I looked at would just fall off of her so I finally settled for one of my boxer shorts, my tightest t shirt and my smallest hoodie. It's not much but at least it is clean and warm, I'll have to get her some clothes tomorrow.

I placed the clothes on the dresser and sat down on my bed waiting for her, she must have been in the shower for at least ten minutes and I was starting to get worried. I waited another ten minutes and then I couldn't take it anymore. I made my way over to the bathroom door and knocked on it.

"Katie? Are you ok in there?" I asked softly. I really didn't want to get busted. She didn't answer so I opened the door a crack and tried again.  

"Katie?" I asked praying that she didn't run away again.  

"Yes," came her soft voice and I swear I have never been so relieved in my entire life.  

"I just wanted to make sure you are still ok," I said feeling like a complete idiot for checking up on her while she is in the shower.  

"I'm ok, I'll be right out," she answered and I couldn't help but smile

Katie's POV

The warm water felt so good on my skin I never wanted to get out. The water caused the cut on my leg to burn like it was on fire but I didn't care, this was like heaven to me. We've never had a shower and since I've been living here I was never allowed into the house so I had to settle on washing myself down by the river or with the water and soap that my mom would bring for me whenever she got the chance.

I washed my body with the liquid soap for what must have been the fifth time when I heard the door creak open and Preston calling me. I really shouldn't allow him to help me. He is such a nice guy and I have nothing to repay him with. It won't be long now before I left for good anyway.

Preston's POV

"I got you some clothes, I'll just put them on the basin cabinet and then I'll wait for you in my room," I said feeling a bit uncomfortable and hoping she doesn't think that I am some kind of crazy person.  

"Ok," she replied taking me by surprise. I grabbed the clothes from my cupboard as well as some clean towels and placed them on the cupboard next to the basin. My heart was beating heavily in my chest for some strange reason that I couldn't place. I moved as quickly as I could and went to go sit on my bed again. This girl has a really strange effect on me. I've never been nervous around a girl before, I've never even cared what a girl thinks of me because for some reason all of the girls back home wanted me. It felt weird caring about somebody, it is a very new emotion for me and I'm not sure if I like it.

I waited another few minutes before the water finally turned off and I heard some movement in the bathroom. I waited very impatiently needing to see that she was ok with my own two eyes. I was about to go knock on the door again when it opened and she came walking out of the bathroom looking shy but extremely happy. My clothes were way too big for her but it must be better then wearing that old dirty night gown.

"Thanks for the clothes, they're really warm," she said smiling weakly at me.  

"It's a pleasure, I wasn't sure if they would fit," I replied not really knowing what to say to this very strange girl which was another first for me, usually I just said what I wanted not caring.  

"They're perfect," she replied and I felt something squeezing at my heart. I shook my head cursing myself under my breath for letting this girl affect me in such a way. I had to get a hold of myself before I did or said something stupid that might cause her to run off again.

I got up from the bed and stepped away so that she could pass me.  

"Why don't you sit down so that I can bandage your leg," I said looking at the wound on her leg. It looked badly infected. She shook her head in agreement and sat down on the bed all the while watching me carefully. I sat down on the edge of the bed and started cleaning the wound with antiseptic. A soft moan escaped her lips and I looked up to see her small fists clenching tightly together.  

"I'm sorry," I whispered feeling really bad that I caused her any more pain.  

"It's ok, go on," she said clenching her fists even tighter. I cleaned the rest of the wound and then put on some antiseptic lotion before bandaging it. I really hoped that it would work because the wound looked really bad.

"All done, how are you feeling?" I asked watching her carefully.  

"I think the medicine is working, the pain doesn't feel too bad," she replied.  

"That's good, now how about you get some rest?" I asked wondering when last she had a good night's sleep.  

"I... I don't know," she answered looking around the room nervously and I could tell she was scared of being caught.  

"The door is locked, you're safe here. Nobody is going to find you," I said trying to convince her and myself.  

"Ok, I guess," She replied still looking nervous.  

"You can have the bed and I'll sleep on the mattress over there, ok?" I asked making sure that it was ok if I stayed here with her.  

"No, you sleep on your bed, I'll sleep on the mattress," she answered starting to get up from the bed.  

"No way," I said stopping her from getting up by placing both my hands on her shoulders. Her body froze for a second at my touch but then she visibly relaxed and smiled a genuine smile at me.

"Why are you helping me?" She asked looking me straight in the eyes making me more nervous than I've ever been.  

"I don't know," I replied honestly. She shook her head as if she understood and moved back onto the bed.  

"Promise you won't try to run away tonight?" I asked fearing that I might wake up in the morning and she would be gone.  

"Promise," she replied and then got in under the covers and laid down.

I quickly walked over to the mattress that Devin was sleeping on and got in under the covers too, it was freezing cold but somehow I didn't notice until now.