One Million

Chapter Five

Skylar cracked her eye open. A beam of light came in through the curtains and hit directly on her face. She groaned and rolled over but found it impossible to fall back asleep. Sighing, she sat up. Skylar rubbed her face and glanced around the room. It was empty. She sighed again and crawled out of bed feeling stiff. She hated sleeping in jeans but with Ryan right next door she didn't feel comfortable in her underwear. Skylar scratched her messy blonde hair and realized she hadn't brushed it or her teeth since she arrived. She walked into the living room and was shocked to find the couch empty.

"Sleeping beauty is finally up I see." Skylar swung around to a chair beside the door to the bedroom to find Flicker sitting in it.

"Oh, hi." Flicker chuckled and stood up.

"Ryan put me on guard duty while he went to work out." Skylar could hardly believe that the slim boy with purple hair actually worked out but then again she had never seen him shirtless. "Is there anything you need?" Skylar glanced at the floor.

"A hair and tooth brush would be nice." Flicker nodded and pulled put his iPhone. He dialed a number and held it to his ear.

"Hey. Yeah. The princess wants a hair brush and tooth brush." He paused. "What kind of toothpaste?" He asked Skylar.

"Cinnamon." Flicker nodded.

"Cinnamon... yes. Thanks man." He hung up. "Your toiletries should be here soon. In the mean time would you like a shower?" Sklyar nodded gratefully. Flicker motioned to the bathroom door. "There's a towel on the back of the toilet." Skylar nodded and headed into the bathroom.

The shower was probably the best shower she had had in her entire life. She allowed herself to cry until the tears ran out and let the hot water wash them away. It was the first time she had allowed herself to feel anything since she had been kidnapped. All the fear and uncertainty flooded her. She was used to putting on airs around other but she too had her breaking point. Once she finished she turned off the water and pulled the curtain. She found a fresh set of clothes on top of the toilet and a tooth brush, toothpaste and a hair brush by the sink. She blushed when she realized someone must have come in while she was in the shower.

Skylar took her time brushing her long wet hair and finally brushing her teeth before she got dressed and left the bathroom. Flicker was sitting in the couch engrossed in a conversation with Ryan who sat in the chair beside him. As soon as she walked in, Ryan held up a hand and Flicker stopped talking.

"Hello princess. Did you enjoy your shower?" Flicker asked. Skylar nodded.

"It was very refreshing." Ryan stood and stretched. He was in a pair of basketball shorts and a t shirt with a USA Swimming logo on it.

"My turn, hopefully there's some hot water left." Ryan joked as he made his way ti the bathroom." Skylar walked over the the couch and sat in the opposite end from Flicker. They sat in silence for a long time.

"About yesterday..." Skylar began. "What is Ryan's reason for kidnapping me?" Flicker clicked his tongue.

"Sorry princess, but I'm not going to tell you that." Skylar nodded and glanced at her hands.

"Is Ryan gay?" Flicker laughed, a deep rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate the air between them.

"I suppose after last night you would think that." Flicker looked her in the eye. "No, he is not gay. Trust me, I've tried." Flicker winked at her and Skylar averted her eyes. "Does that make you feel uncomfortable?" Skylar wrung her hands.

"I came from a very conservative family. My parents are Catholic." Flicker nodded.

"So it's not that you're against it, you just haven't been around it." Skylar nodded.