A/N:Thanks of course to my beta(theveiledfairy) and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Review it saves lives
I stood in the doorway of my bedroom watching the Latina intently. She stayed silent placing her bags on the floor completely ignoring my presence.
"Well, if that's how she wants this to be I'm perfectly fine with that," I thought to myself as I walked over to my desk, sat down and powered up my laptop.
I could hear her searching frantically in her bag as I logged in. I refused to turn around and proceeded to open my email. It was obvious she was becoming frustrated and I smiled to myself.
"Is there any place I can put my clothes" she asked, making me practically jump from my seat. Her voice was slightly hoarse and gravely. I turned around and pointed to my wardrobe.
"Um I guess you could put some stuff in there," I shrugged nonchalantly. I used the bigger wardrobe in the guest room so I wasn't overly bothered by the intrusion.
"Thanks" she replied, her voice void of any emotion.
"Its fine," I replied turning my attention back to my computer screen.
"Do you like, need help" I offered unenthusiastically.
"No" was her single reply.
I shrugged and thought, "Hey, can't say I didn't try. I mean, she was in my house; she should be making the effort."
I cursed my mother silently. It was one thing to bring strangers into the house, but to actually put them in MY room. I shook my head lost in my own negative speculations.
I caught sight of the smaller girl in my window. Her hair was hanging in her face as she stooped forward to retrieve various clothes items from her battered gym bag. Her expression was blank as she hung a mismatch of t-shirts and pants.
"She's really, really pretty," I mused, taking in the girl's attire for the first time. She wore faded ripped skinny jeans tucked into grey UGG boots that were teamed with a white tank top and a fitted brown leather jacket. She looks pretty badass I thought to myself smirking inwardly.
It didn't take her long to unpack since, from what I could see, she had a grand total of maybe six complete outfits.
I pretended to study something highly amusing on my monitor as she placed the now empty bag in the far corner of my room.
"I'm going to bed," she said to no one in particular, her gaze not meeting mine.
I then proceeded to shut down my laptop.
"Ok," I replied.
It was only as I moved to leave my OWN BEDROOM, that the full comprehension of the sleeping arrangements hit me.
Two people; only one bed. "Shit."
"So we're sharing?" she asked reading my mind and meeting my gaze for the first time.
Our eyes locked and I felt a blush creeping its way onto my face."What the hell?" I thought to myself mildly shocked by my weird and unexpected reaction.
"I'm used to it," she replied as she began removing her leather jacket.
I stood in the middle of my bedroom, letting my paranoid thoughts wander."So were sharing a bed, no big deal. I've shared my bed with plenty of friends; friends being the operative word. For all I know she could strangle me in my sleep."
"Are you going to stand there and watch?" she questioned startling me from my thoughts. I shook my head dumbly before giving her my best death stare. I was probably failing miserably, but whatever.
"I'm going downstairs, pajamas are in the top drawer," I stuttered as I made a hasty exit. I only allowed myself to breath at a functional level when I had cleared the room.
I stood outside my door startled by the events of the last ten minutes. "Had I somehow entered the twilight zone? Was I allowing myself to get flustered by some delinquent girl with a friggen attitude problem? Why did I let her effect me like that? Asking, 'Did I want to watch?' What does she think I am? Some kind of perve?"
I shook my head dramatically. I'd been practically banished from my own fucking room. "Bitch" I hissed as I descended the stairs, glad to be away from Santana.
I stared lazily at television in my living room, the images starting to blur into one as my eyes drooped desperate for sleep. I contemplated making my way upstairs numerous times, but the image of the Latina asleep in my bed pushed me further into the corner of the couch.
I checked my watch noting my mother would be home from her shift in a couple of hours.
"Fuck this," I thought aloud. "It's my Fucking house. It's my room for Christ's sake."
With adrenaline coursing through my body, I stalked up the stairs.
I stopped abruptly outside my door, my hand hovering over the handle. All my resolve had crumbled as the thought of the sleeping girl less than a couple of feet away invaded my thoughts.
"Get a grip weirdo."
I chuckled at the self proclamation.
I turned the handle carefully, cringing as the door hissed and creaked loudly. "Shit".
My bedside lamp was on, projecting a soft glow around the room. I studied the image in front of me carefully. Santana was most definitely asleep (on my side of the bed I might add).
She was curled up tightly, her hand thrown carelessly across her face shielding her eyes. I noticed she was wearing my school hoodie and I couldn't stop the slight smile that crept onto my face. She looked so peaceful.
Realising I was indeed bordering on pervert status, I quickly undressed right there, throwing on a pale blue t-shirt and grey shorts, and tiptoed over to the opposite side of the bed.
I pulled back the duvet carefully, keeping Santana in my line of vision at all times. I gingerly lowered my body onto the bed, careful not to touch the smaller girl. Luckily she didn't move, and was clearly unaware of my presence.
I edged my way to side of the bed and turned to face the wall. Well isnt this just fucking charming I mused.
It wasn't long before sleep hit me.
I woke suddenly to rapid movements, a gasp, and a flash of red darting past my eyes. Startled I sat up quickly, nearly toppling from my bed in the process. Trying to regain my balance I forced my sleep induced brain to survey my surroundings.
I stared in shock at Santana cowering in the corner of my room with my duvet wrapped around her body tightly.
"What the fuck?" I asked angrily still not entirely awake. She continued to keep her eyes fixed to the floor refusing to meet my gaze.
I started to adjust my sitting position when I felt something wet come into contact with my calf. Startled I turned my gaze to the bed, only now noticing the rather large damp patch present in the center.
Santana allowed a whimper to escape, obviously realising I now knew what had occurred.
Slowly, but calmly, I lifted myself off the bed. I was careful not to come in contact with the ominous patch.
I stared at the girl, who was now visibly trembling in the corner. I wanted to help her, to hug her, to do something, anything, but I hardly knew her.
She continued to fix her gaze to the floor her face flush with embarrassment and shame.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, emotion evident in her voice for the first time.
"Santana, its fine," I whispered back, proud and surprised at my quick, yet calm reaction.
I wasn't mad at all, I just wanted to comfort her. It was so weird. She'd just peed all over my bed, and all I wanted to do was hug her.
"Do you want to shower?" I asked softly, reaching for some towels I had strewn across my radiator.
She nodded slowly, her gaze now firmly fixed on the floor.
I decided against engaging her in conversation. She was clearly mortified and I don't think my ramblings were going to help the situation.
"I'll get clean sheets," I stated, surprising myself in the process.
She shook her head furiously.
"Don't, "she answered coldly. "It's my problem. I'll sort it." She moved towards the bed, attempting to keep the duvet wrapped tightly around her waist.
I assumed she was hoping to avoid any further embarrassment.
Without thinking I wrapped my hand around her wrist pulling her towards"Stop," I said sternly, locking my eyes with hers."I'll change the sheets while you shower. It's fine," I repeated.
She held my gaze as her resistance crumbled. Her shoulders drooped and she gasped softly.
"I didn't know," she admitted quietly. "I thought I'd stopped doing it. It hasn't happened in awhile," she finished, eyes fixed on the wall behind my right shoulder.
"You don't have to explain Santana. It's not my business," I answered calmly.
Okay so it was kind of my business considering it was my sheets she spoiled, but I genuinely couldn't bring myself to be anything but gentle with her.
She fixed her eyes on my shorts and I was puzzled as shame spread across her face. I looked down and finally noticed the small wet patch at the corner of the fabric.
"Fuck!" she cried before turning and exiting my room so fast I felt dizzy.
I warily removed the stained shorts, firing them into my laundry basket and slowly made my way to the bed.
I began to strip the sheets and it wasn't a disgusting or revolting chore by any means. I couldn't quite believe I was doing this for someone I didn't even know.
The scary part being that I didn't even mind.
I was too wrapped up in my thoughts regarding the shaken girl, that I was surprised to find I'd dressed the bed with fresh sheets in record time. I opened my bedroom door, pausing to listen to the rapid trickle of water coming from the bathroom before I tiptoed down the stairs.
I turned on the kettle and sat myself at the kitchen table. My mind quickly wandered to the nights events.
The visual of the emotionless robot I'd first encountered, cowering in the corner of my bedroom like a frightened child caused my chest to tighten uncomfortably.
I was pulled from my musings by the sound of the front door opening.
"Hun, what are you doing up?" my mother asked entering the kitchen and proceeding to pour herself a mug of steaming coffee.
"Couldn't sleep," I lied.
"How's Santana? Sorry I had to leave so suddenly. You know how it is. Is she settling okay? Make sure and be nice to her, Britt. She's been through a lot."
"Yea mum she's fine," I lied again, mentally predicting that this would probably become a pattern as far as Santana was concerned.
I was relieved to hear the shower had been switched off; that would have undoubtedly led to suspicion. Then again, how I was going to explain my sudden desire to change my bed sheets.
That was something else I would have to worry about when the time came.
I was pretty sure the Latina didn't want me repeating the events of tonight to any living soul but I was torn on the matter, not sure whether the girl needed any serious help or if I should tell my mother.
"Poor kid," my mother mused to no one in particular, staring absently out the window as she spoke.
This caught my interest and I pushed for more information.
"So, like… what's her story?" I asked softly, trying not to appear to keen on knowing the information. My mother looked at me inquisitively.
"Since when do you take an interest in any of our guest's back stories?" she asked slightly amused.
"Just making conversation," I fibbed leaning back in my chair. Yup. Definitely a pattern forming.
"She's had it really tough Britt. Look, I really shouldn't be telling you any of this but I think it helps explain a lot about Santana and why she is the way she is."
My mother's expression turned serious and I leaned forward slightly, eager to hear more.
"Her mother is a drug addict and got involved in prostitution to fund her habit. Santana's spent her whole life being dragged from whorehouse to halfway house by her mother, if you'd call her that. She finally settles down about two years back thinking she'd found herself the 'perfect boyfriend'; the 'love of her life.' That usual bullshit, and everyone thinks everything's peachy..."
I placed my hands on either side of my chair. "Shit, this was actually pretty messed up," I thought.
"So, neighbors notice something's not right and social services are called. Santana gets removed from the premises as it turns out the mother was too strung out every day to notice that her boyfriend was sexually abusing her daughter. After all that, they brought her to me, and I brought her here."
I gazed at the floor allowing myself to soak up all these shocking revelations. I was rapidly overwhelmed with a wave of different emotions. Pity, grief, sadness and anger each slowly resonating through my body.
"Look honey, I know it's a shock, but I felt it was best to let you know. I know Santana comes across as standoffish and sometimes even cruel, but it's a defense mechanism; she doesn't know how to be any other way."
I nodded slowly at my mother. "Thanks for telling me mum," I told her as I turned to face the stairs, my brain heavy from the various thoughts and emotions wreaking havoc in my head.
"Britt, one more thing…Santana's going to be staying with us a little longer than our usual guests. God knows she needs some sense of normality and structure after everything she's been through," my mother ended, watching me expectantly.
"Yea, um…okay," I nodded, suddenly realising this was probably the longest conversation me and my mother had had since dad left.
"She's going to be starting school with you Monday, Britt. I know she's a year older but obviously she's fallen a little bit behind." My mother nodded to no one in particular and turned to leave, signaling that the conversation was over.
"Well, that explains a lot," I sighed. As I placed my face in my hands, I was surprised at the wetness that met my touch. I hadn't realised I'd been crying. I thought to the girl in my room and how terrified she'd looked; it all made sickening sense.
"She's coming to school with me," I remembered, trying to wrap my mind around the idea. I couldn't decide how I felt about it. My thought process was dysfunctional after the dramatic events of the night.
I slowly trudged up the stairs as my limbs, cold and tired, screamed with each step.
I opened my door more gingerly, and this time there was no creaking or hissing. Santana was sleeping above the covers near the bottom of the bed. She still wore my hoodie, but she had changed her bottoms.
It was clear from her position that she hadn't intended to fall asleep and she'd most likely been sitting there desperately and anxiously pondering the sleeping situation before her body had succumbed to slumber.
I looked at her with sympathy thinking, "No one deserves what you've been through."
Cautiously making my way over to the sleeping girl, I gently lifted the duvet from under her body. She didn't budge, and I figured she was a heavy sleeper. I tenderly hooked my arms around the girl's tiny waist and carefully moved her body to the top of the bed.
Happy with her current position, I settled myself into the bed beside her, stretching my aching limbs.
I froze when my knee came into direct contact with her thigh.
"I can sleep on the floor."
For the third time in one night, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned slightly searching for the brunette's face in the dark.
She obviously took my silence as agreement, and lifted herself from the bed.
Without thinking I reached out, grappling blindly in the dark until my hand connected gently with her side as I began to pull her back down.
"No," I whispered. "Stay."
She gaped down at me in the darkness, the blackness masking whatever emotion danced across her face until slowly, she climbed back in.
We lay facing each other in silence, focusing on our breathing.
"Thanks for… you know," she said, trailing off not willing to speak the words.
"Mmmmm," I sighed, tiredness taking over.
I'm not sure if it was just my exhaustion deluding me, but I'm almost certain she inched a little bit closer to me in the darkness.
I smiled at the thought as I finally let sleep overtake me.
...Tbc...
