Blue lights and bruises

Chapter 10

___Sam's POV___

Once I had calmed down Leah took me back inside.

I wasn't exactly sure what had just happened. It was quick and emotional and frankly quite scary. It felt like I couldn't breathe.

I lifted my arm and used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe the streaks of water left on my face away.

"What caused that? Did you just get spooked or something?"

"I don't know what that was, so I guess it was nothing"

Both our voices were quiet compared to the sound of laughter, people and music edging its way through the walls.

"I'm no expert but I think it was a panic attack, I use to have them every now and then." she sat me down on one of the old bar stools we had moved into the back "they're always triggered by something"

I nodded again. As much as I trusted Nat, I wasn't going to go around telling everyone my secrets.

She seemed to get the hint and crouched down next to me.

"I overheard you and The boss lady talking, it's fine if you want to stay here but be warned... I snore"

Her face stretched into a dopey kind of smile and she cocked her head to the side.

I smiled back in a more sickly way. I'm sure I looked a mess but who am I kidding? I always look a mess.

"Thank you," I mumbled "for helping me."

An awkward silence hung in the air.

She was just staring at me, like I was some sort of strange animal she hadn't seen before.

"I better get back to work now... there's a cleaned out space next to the fire door that you can sleep in. I have a few spare pillows and stuff like that if you need them, they're next to that space..." she stood up and brushed a loose strand of black hair out her face. "See you later."

I nodded and she left without another word.

How anti-climactic.

I took a deep breath and got to my feet. The fire exit... where the hell was it? I know I work here but the back is like a goddamn labyrinth.

I took my time wandering around through the towers of boxed liquor until I came to a small corner next to a door with peeling green paint messily layered onto it. I'm guessing that's the so called fire door?

On the very corner of the space there was a nest of pillows and blankets surrounded by a few rucksacks. Twisted around the bags was a wire that resembled fairy lights.

As I got closer I noticed a few more things littered about the nest of bedding, including a small amount of books piled up at the edge, papers thrown around randomly and a small photo in a broken frame.

I decided not to snoop... to hell we all know I couldn't help myself.

I dropped my bags that I had picked up on my way through the maze of junk and crouched next to the nest, picking up the picture with care.

Two girls and what looked like a man, but his face had been ripped out the picture... odd.

The girls in the picture both seemed very happy, they had broad smiled and were hugging each other. The man was sort of just standing there. One of them was obviously Leah, her hair was longer but she had the same stupid smile and bright eyes. The other girl was a mystery to me.

I placed the photo down and began looking at the papers. It all just looked like school notes so I soon stoped looking through them. Nothing bored me like school did.