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Chapter Four

"Thankyou, within the hour would be great. Ok, cheers, thanks. Bye." I hang up.

"So?" Jo clasps her hands together; kneading her eyebrows and waiting for me to give her the answer she needs.

"Your suitcase.. They reckon someone must have picked it up by accident. And apparently, that person returned it when they realised." I turn to look at her.

"Oh thank God.." She turns away and runs a hand through her hair.

My eyes study both her hand and her hair.

I wonder what it would feel like to touch it.

And then I remember, by the end of the week I will know.

A mixture of anxiety and adrenaline washes over me; forcing me to immediately stand.

"Someone will drop it round within the next hour." I say shoving my hand in my pocket.

"Hero, that's amazing!" I hear her follow me as I head over to the mini bar.

"It's the least they could do." I say eyeing up the contents and settling with bottled water.

"Not them, I mean you! You were amazing!" She praises.

"Really, it's nothing." I say flatly, breaking the seal, removing the lid and taking a gulp from the cold bottle.

"What would you like?" I ask, holding the fridge door open and awaiting her response.

"N-nothing.. What's wrong?" The hesitation clear in her voice.

"Nothing.." I lie. "There's water, fizzy, juice.. And alcohol if that's your..." I pause before finishing. "Preference." I look at her hand and see that it's on mine.

"More goosebumps?" She laughs.

"Yeah? The fridge?! It's cold." I defend myself.

"I'll have some water please. But Hero?"

"Yes.." I answer, still not looking at her.

"I need you to tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing.. I just wanna have a shower and get settled." Technically I am not lying as I do like to make sure I have done everything that needs to be done, that way, I will be able to relax.. Hopefully.

Having everything organised usually helps to both manage and lower my stress, though I doubt no amount of organising or planning is going to make a difference now.

"There's something else, I can tell." She prompts.

"How?" I frown and turn towards her.

"I don't know. I'm normally not that great at reading people.. And I assume that's because I'm not really a people person. I prefer books." She smiles and I feel my frown soften.

"Unlike you." She adds. "With all your friends.." She rolls her eyes.

"Um, how did you-"

"Know? Anna told me. She's always talking about you." She smiles at me.

"Same. Anna has told me a lot about you, too."

"Oh yeah?" Her eyes widen.

"Yeah." I smirk a little, glad to finally not be the only one feeling uncomfortable in this room.

She smiles. "Only good things I hope?"

"Not really." I grin.

Buzzz

My phone vibrates briefly.

"See...?" Jo smiles. "I bet that's one of your many friends.. Girlfriends or whatever."