Mafia

7 Lupin

After getting dressed in my favorite jean shorts, black sports bra, and off the shoulder t-shirt, Emma, Roxy, and I got some breakfast. Once we finished, Emma showed me where I would be staying and gave me some time alone to unpack and get settled.

Turns out that Emma, Roxy, Tony, and Steve had brought most of the stuff from my apartment. To be fair, there wasn't really much to bring. I'd never been the kind of person that really liked stuff, but the stuff I did have I really liked to have with me.

The room was a little smaller than the one I was in before, but I actually preferred that. The walls were painted a gray-ish, off-white color, and the queen-sized bed had white sheets with a pale gray cover and matching pillows. There were matching bedside tables and a dresser with a tv hanging on the wall above. One wall had floor to ceiling windows showing a view of the city down below. Normally, I'd be worried about someone looking in, but this building was the highest around for several blocks. For a while, I couldn't help but just admire the amazing view in front of me. I'd never been this high above the city. It was absolutely amazing.

"Enjoying the view." I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned around to see Damon leaning against the open-door frame. Today, he was wearing a dark blue t-shirt with black jeans and a pair of vans. He smiled at me, and I could feel myself blush just a little.

"It's amazing," I said turning back to the window in an attempt to hide my blush, "I've never seen the city like this." Damon moved a little closer to me. I refocused my eyes and took a look at our reflection in the glass. Damon was right behind me. I felt my breath hitch just a little at how close he was. I forced myself to take a few breaths and keep control of my emotions.

I couldn't be sure, but I don't think he was looking at the view. It seemed like he was looking at our reflection in the glass. At me. I pushed the thought out of my head and turned my focus back to the view.

"Hope you're not scared of heights," Damon said. I smiled.

"No," I said, "Heights are one of the few things that don't scare me." Damon chuckled.

"Oh really," Damon said, moving closer still, "Then what does scare you?"

"I don't know," I said with a shrug, "Spiders, needles, people..." I clamped my mouth closed. Why did I just say that?! I thought. He'll think I'm a freak! He's gonna think I can't do the job! Then he won't help find whoever's trying to kill me. He'll leave me to fend for myself. Next time someone comes after me, I'll be dead in sec—

"Lupin," Damon said softly, interrupting my train of thought. He was standing so close that I could feel his breath in my hair.

I didn't trust myself to answer while I was trying to pull myself back from the mess of thoughts that had just entered my head, but I didn't want him to think I hadn't heard him. So I gave him a "hmmm" in response.

"Can we talk?" Damon asked. I nodded. He stepped back. I turned around to face him. He looked me in the eye with a serious expression on his face.

"There's something I need to ask you," Damon said, "and I need you to tell me the truth."

"Okay," I said. I bit down hard on my lip, nervous about what he could possibly ask.

"Why do you flinch every time someone touches you?" I looked at the floor. I was too embarrassed to look Damon in the eye. I really didn't want to answer, so I just stood there, chewing on my lip. I clenched my fist to keep my hand from shaking, digging my short nails into my palm in the process.

"Lupin, look at me," Damon said softly. I kept my head down. Even though I flinched, Damon took my chin in his hand and forced my eyes to meet his. Where I had expected to see annoyance or disgust, there was only concern and maybe the beginnings of a flaming anger.