The girl in the attic

(14)The girl in the attic

The girl in the attic

Chapter 14

Preston's POV

I couldn't fall asleep and by the time morning came I gave up on trying. It was just after six when I decided to get up and take a quick shower while Katie was still asleep, I didn't want to leave her alone once she was awake unless I absolutely had to. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a t shirt and a sweater from my cupboard and ran to my bathroom. It was the quickest shower I had ever taken, I was done and dressed in five minutes flat.

Katie was still sleeping when I was done showering so I decided to go downstairs and get some breakfast. Luckily my aunt and uncle were still asleep and Lina was nowhere to be found so I was able to get breakfast for Katie and myself. I made us some cereal and coffee and headed back upstairs. I would have preferred some toast, bacon and eggs but I wasn't willing to leave Katie alone long enough for me to make it.

I rushed back upstairs and opened the door to my room to find Katie sitting up in bed and looking nervously at me as the door opened.

"It's just me, I got us some breakfast," I said placing the tray on my bedside table and locking the door behind me. Nobody has bothered coming up to my room since I moved in but I wasn't willing to take a chance. I handed Katie a bowl of cereal and then took my own as I sat down on the edge of the bed keeping as much distance as possible between us. We ate in silence, neither of us knowing what to say, this was a very strange situation after all. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her so that I could help her but I knew I couldn't just ask her. I didn't want to scare her away.

When we were done eating I handed her some more tablets and she took them looking grateful.  

"How's the pain this morning?" I asked hoping that she was feeling a bit better.  

"Its better, thank you," she replied with a small smile but I could see the pain and sadness that she was trying to hide in her eyes. They were like a doorway to her soul. I wondered why she always looks so sad.

She looked paler then last night which were strange considering she claimed to feel better. Maybe I was just imagining things, I'm sure she would tell me if she was feeling worse, wouldn't she?

"I want to help you but for me to be able to do that I need to know what's going on. I don't want to push you into telling me anything you don't want to but I don't see any other way," I said hoping that my words don't freak her out.  

"I... I just can't tell you, it doesn't matter anyway," she replied looking torn. I could tell that she wanted to tell me but she was scared of what might happen if she did. There was obviously something seriously bothering her and I had to get to the bottom of it.  

"Of course it matters, you're obviously in some sort of trouble and you need help. I'm not going to hurt you Katie and I think that I have already figured out half of what's going on anyway. I know you were living up in the attic. I saw the mattress and books there the night I found you in the barn and I found a photo of you and Lina sitting with a man and a little baby boy, is Lina you mother?" I asked hoping that I've come to the right conclusion and that she would open up to me since I already knew so much.

She looked at me with a shocked expression on her face and then a single tear escaped her eye.  

"Please don't tell your aunt and uncle," she pleaded wiping away the tear and getting out of my bed. She looked completely terrified.  

"I won't tell them anything, now where are you going?" I asked as panic filled my body, I knew I shouldn't have said anything.  

"I have to leave, I've caused enough trouble already," She stated walking over to the window.  

"You don't have to leave Katie, I want to help you. I won't tell anybody what's going on," I pleaded.  

"I don't need your help Preston," she stated looking me directly in the eyes. Her words cut like a knife confusing me terrible. I barely knew her, how can she possibly be affecting me in this way?.  

"Ok then I won't help you but you owe me big time," I said hoping to get her attention and luckily I did.  

"I know but I have nothing to give you," she replied looking sad.  

"You do have something I want," I said smiling at her. I knew it was wrong to blackmail her like this but I had to keep her in my life somehow. I knew she needed and wanted my help even if she wouldn't admit it.  

"What's that?" She asked sounding confused.  

"Your friendship, I don't know anybody around here and I chased my friends away last night so that I could help you so now you have to be my friend," I said hoping my plan would work. She looked hesitant and it took her a few seconds before she answered. I think she was considering making a run for it.  

"Ok I guess but no more personal questions," she agreed and I could tell the only reason that she agreed to being my friend was because I made her feel guilty.