Caught in the Middle

Chapter 3

Before I know it we are pulling up to a two story house in the middle of the suburbs.  I glance around the neighborhood, definitely a rich part of town, one that I'd never been to.  Gavin parked in the driveway and shut the ignition off and turned to me a scowl on his face.

"Here's how this is going to go..."  He paused glancing up at the house, "Since it's late my roommates are probably asleep, but if they are not... you are just a friend needing a place to stay for a while." 

I nodded keeping my mouth shut.  I was becoming very nervous but I held myself together. 

Gavin opened the door and slammed it shut making me jump.  Why was I so jumpy?  I had to get a hold of myself.

I quickly stepped out of the car and joined Gavin who was now unlocking the door.  He stepped in and we were greeted with a very dark house.  I heard a t.v. in the house but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from.   Gavin laid his keys on a table in the foyer and started up the steps grabbing my wrist to pull me with him.  While we were walking down the hallway a door in the middle opened and out stepped a lanky guy with red hair a sleepy look on his face.

"Gav, why are you home so late?"  He asked then his eyes widened as he looked at me, "Who is this?"  His surprised look turned to a smile as he started to flirt.

"Just a friend, Paul, go back to bed."  Gavin said and pulling me after him to the last door at the end of the hallway. 

He turned on the light and I had to squint at the sudden brightness.  I quickly glanced around the room which was a very good size.  Big enough to fit a king size bed, a desk and chair, on one side, and a couch and television on the other.  There were two doors separating the couch and bed, I guessed one was a closet and the other a bathroom.  I stared at Gavin who had sat down on the bed and started taking off his shoes.

"You can make yourself at home."  Gavin said glancing up at me, "It's not like you are going anywhere soon." 

I nodded but didn't move, I was just too scared.  What were his intentions with me? 

Gavin moved off the bed and over to the dresser, making me flinch at his sudden movements.  He smirked at me and pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a roomy t-shirt.  He turned and handed them to me, "Bathroom is the door on the right." 

I nodded and without a word walked to the bathroom shutting and locking the door.  I looked at the mirror and gasped as I took in my reflection.  My long black hair was tangled, making it look like a rat's nest.  My make-up was smeared making my eyes blood shot, hiding the color of my blue eyes.  I stared at my reflection taking in my high cheek bones and bunny slope of a nose.  In a way I almost looked exotic with my tanned skin and slender figure. 

I let out a sigh and turned on the bath water to take a quick shower.  I couldn't wait to let the warm water rush over me.  I stripped out of my dirty torn clothes and stepped swiftly in the shower.  My muscles relaxed under the hot water as I started washing my hair with shampoo.  I found a razor in the tub, and decided to shave my legs while I was at it.  It had been such a long time since I had had enough time to actually groom myself in a bathroom.  I was usually rushed, or washed in a lake or a bathroom somewhere.   Once I was as clean as I was going to get I dried my body off and wrapped a towel around my head.  I put on the sweatpants having to pull the drawl strings tightly to keep them from falling down.  I pulled the t-shirt over my head and couldn't help but smell Gavin's cologne that was caked on it.  I found a comb in a drawer and combed my hair getting out all of tangles making my hair come right above my butt.  

There was a sudden knock at the door and I jumped, "Y..Yes?"  I stuttered.

"I have a toothbrush for you."  Gavin's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

I opened the door to see Gavin with his head turned holding a toothbrush out.  I couldn't help but smile at him as I took the tooth brush, muttering a quick thanks and closing the door again. 

I brushed my teeth, making sure to give them a good scrubbing.  After I was finished I smiled at myself in the mirror liking the way my white teeth gleamed back at me.  After taking a couple deep breaths trying to calm myself, I opened the bathroom door and walked out stopping when Gavin sat up quickly on the couch; he had been reading a book laying down.  I looked down at the floor letting my hair fall in my face, "Thank you for the clothes."  I said looking down at the floor not able to meet his eyes.

"um...  Your welcome?"  He said but it sounded more like a question.  I raised my eyes to him and noticed that he was staring at me wide-eyed.  He seemed to realize what he was doing and looked away.

"you can sleep in the bed, I'll take the couch."  He said at last grabbing a pillow and blanket and going to the couch.

"I don't...  I mean... I can sleep on the couch."  I said glancing at the enormous bed.

He smirked at me, "Afraid I might try to join you in the middle of the night?"

I blushed looking back down at the floor, "No, it's just... it's your bed... and..."

"It's ok, you have the bed."  He said cutting me off in a voice that said the argument was over. 

I nodded and climbed up on the bed laying on one side and pulling the covers up to my chin, as Gavin switched off the light.  I laid there as a million thoughts went into my mind.  Where was Jackson?  What was in the package?  What was Gavin going to do with me?  I didn't know how long I had laid there but I heard a rustling and Gavin sighed, obviously not able to get any sleep either.  He quietly got up and walked over to the bed.  I held my breath as he came closer trying to calm myself.  He sit on the edge of the bed and my heart started beating frantically.  He raised a hand and I waited for him to pull back the covers roughly.  His hand came closer and closer until he gently swept the hair that had fallen in my face away.  I stayed very still willing my ears to listen to any kind of movement, but he didn't move.  I tried hard not to blush at the thought that he was just sitting there staring at me.  Before I knew it sleep was succumbing and I could no longer fight it.  I let the darkness take me and I welcomed it. 

"Good night Jules."  I heard Gavin whisper as I feel into a deep sleep.

Laying in that bed with Gavin watching over me, was the best night's sleep I had had in a while.