Escape

Now what?

Kristy's crisp laugh echoed through the room. "What can I do? Everybody loves me. I mean have you seen this face?" 

It was their turn to laugh. 

Right. 

"OK fine. Mike can take you to town. He's the boss so he can take a day off whenever he wants to." Kristy winked at her.

Which made her wince. 

"I'm fine. I can take a cab or bus doesn't matter."

"Oh honey. You have to walk an hour before you can even reach the main road. And good luck in getting a cab in this part of the world." 

"I can take you Van." Michael said. Looking at her with his forest green eyes. "I will be your dedicated driver today." a peek of a dimple which she ignored.

Oh no. She can't leave this house.

"Seriously I'm fine. I'll find a way. You two go on your day I don't want to be a nuisance." 

Kristy rolled her eyes and Michael just sipped his coffee.

"Nonsense. I'm not taking no for an answer. Go on get dressed I'll meet you back here in an hour."
She sighed. This cousins are just something else.

An hour later, showered and dressed Vanessa paced her room.

She can't go. She does not want to go. But the cousins will surely find it odd why she wouldn't.

And the fact that she said she will go but didn't? 

A knock on the door made her jump in surprise. 

"It's me." Michael said through the close door.

She tiptoed closer. Should she pretend she's sleeping?

Another knock.

"I'll be out in a minute. Wait for me downstairs."

She slapped her forehead. Now what?

Waiting for a few more minutes before making her way downstairs,  Michael was already standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets with a very charming smile. 

What does she do?

Five more steps and a plan suddenly came to her. In a blink of an eye, her body came crashing down the rest of the stairs. 

Michael rushed to her side cursing and asking if she's alright.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." she winced and tried to get up.

An arm came around her back. "Don't get up. You might have broke something." His face was painted with so much worry she almost feel guilty. 

Kristy and Bryan came running to them. Asking too if she's alright.

"Call 911" Michael said. 

"I'm fine." again she started to get up but his hand held her arm firmly. 

"Don't."

"I'm OK. But I think I sprained my ankle." 

All set of eyes turned to look at her ankles, she rotated the right one and winced. Already it was starting to swell.

Oh thank the heavens. 

"Mike what are you doing?" Kristy's loud shriek made her bite her lip. "Carry her at least to the living room so she can sit or lie down." 

She had no time to protest as Michael put his arm around her and lifter her up.

On instinct, she circled her arms on his neck. Their eyes met before he strode to the living room. His face stony.

On everyone's insistence a doctor was called to check on her, and to stop the healing she had secretly pulled hard on her ankle. Just in time for it to swell when the doctor came.

He declared a mild sprain and advice her to take it easy for at least a week. By the time he finished wrapping her ankle it had already healed.