You know you've had an interesting night when you wake up in someone else's shirt and boxer shorts, with no bra on. Not only did it feel strange, but I couldn't help but lay paralysed with fear. Why the hell didn't I remember anything? Definitely not a good sign.
A soft groan brought me back to reality with a loud thud. Someone else was in the bed with me? Well this just gets better and better! For the first time in several years, I started hyperventilating when a particularly lean, faintly tanned arm stretched across my torso.
It's alright. I told myself. Calm down, get out… somehow and run. If he wakes up, you apologise. I mean, it's not like he's going to threaten you with a knife or anything… or bite you. Right? Then I paused as my situation came rushing back to me in a more logical manner. I was in a monastery convent thing, wasn't I? What the hell was a man doing here? I was fairly certain that, in a building with such high security, he probably would have been mutilated before he even got two feet inside.
As you can see, it took a long time for my rational side to kick in. And when it did, I realised that the bed I was lying in was far too comfortable to be my own, and far too large. That, and it wasn't my room. It smelled different. Less like a girl's room, and more like a guy's. As my eyes gradually adjusted to the light, they flickered straight to the computer by the window (definitely don't have one of those in the monastery), and then, after a less frantic observation, I managed to get an impression of just how huge his room was. Assuming this was even a he.
It wasn't exactly the time to be burning with envy, but I was jolly well going to do that anyway. "Hmm? Oh, you're awake." I heard a voice mumble; a deep, sensual baritone. It made me self-consciously cringe back into the sheets even more. That shouldn't have been possible. "Your heart's beating really fast…"
The stranger fisted the shirt from barely millimetres beneath my breasts, before withdrawing his hand and sitting upright. I had a moment to feel uncomfortable from the touch before my eyes met his molten honey ones. My jaw dropped. He was gorgeous. Not like Isaac or Heath. Isaac had been the brooding bad boy, but not really my type… and Heath was good looking, but I had a feeling that his good looks had more to do with some sort of mind trickery.
No. This person sitting in front of me made my face blush bright red… but that probably also had something to do with the fact that he was naked from the waste up. "Err… hi?" I squeaked, drawing my hands up to my chest. Even with the shirt, I still felt exposed.
Wonderman - that's what I'll call him, seeing as I don't know his name - was watching me with something akin to confusion. Well, at least for a few minutes, before a brief realisation passed over his countenance. "Oh. You don't remember anything, do you?"
"No…?" I hugged myself tighter, starting to feel even more uncomfortable under his gaze. What exactly happened last night? That's what I wanted to ask, but what came out was: "wh-where are my clothes?"
"Ah, about that…" uh-oh. Wonderman watched my face mould into sheer panic. "Everything from the waist up I was pretty much unable to save." Unable to save? "-I mean, your shorts are fine, and so are your knickers." Holy shit. I lay there, not breathing, feeling my skin flaming with humiliation. He had seen everything. "Apart from the fact that I was unable to get the stains out…" I nearly fainted then and there, but I didn't. Good thing too. "They were saturated in blood." Wait… blood? "The rain got rid of some of it out… but they're pretty much ruined."
"… Did you say blood?" I asked shakily, propping myself up on my elbows. A cluster of muddled sequences of yesterday's events flashed through my mind.
"You were covered in it from head to toe. I had to take a shower after getting most of it off you because it kept getting everywhere. He washed me too? Great. Just great. "You're better now, though, aren't you? You don't feel feverish or anything?"
"… I'm fine…" now was not the time to act like a bashful teenage girl. Even if I was one. "Thank you, actually. I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Think nothing of it." The smile that followed was heart stopping.
We sat there, staring at each other for a few minutes. Mainly because I didn't know what to do next. Should I get up and go, or is there some sort of etiquette to this? "Um, so… err… I kind of have no clothes." He sat there for a few minutes, watching me in silence.
"That's a bit of a problem isn't it?" Was the answer I received after what felt like an age of exchanged stares.
He had the balls to laugh at my predicament. But when he got to his feet, letting me admire the toned, defined muscles on his back, leading up to jet-black hair tousled from sleep, I stopped caring. The tracksuit bottoms he was wearing hung seductively low on his hips… he probably wasn't doing that on purpose. Probably.
"Hang on a second, I'll be right back. I think I know someone you can borrow clothes from."
"Wait…!" I called out, trying to get up only to feel pain suddenly sear angrily on my side. "You're not just going to leave me-" the sound of the front door closing was my answer, "-here...?" Trying to identify the cause of my discomfort, I lifted up my shirt to reveal a very serious looking bandage. "What the hell happened last night?" I muttered to myself, running my hands over it, wincing when I reached the source of my misery on my back.
Being a bad patient I got out of bed. It was a perfectly comfortable bed, but I couldn't sleep. So I found myself in a one story apartment - much like mine - sitting in the kitchen area, staring out the window. The landscape and the atmosphere were so much different here, wherever this was. About two stories down, there was a playing field, and I could hear children yelling and generally having fun. It sounded so foreign, so strange now.
There was a TV in the sitting area, with comfortable, expensive-looking sofas. I scowled. This place was really bringing out the worst in me, making me seem like a bitter woman. So what if he was living the life of luxury? As far as I was concerned, now that I had escaped, I had my whole life ahead of me. I could lead the life of luxury too, if I wanted to.
The empty feeling returned when I remembered that none of my friends could.
Blood. Heath. Death. The wolf. It all came back slowly as I stopped thinking too hard. The fear was like a deep wound, making me shiver uncontrollably.
I didn't cry when I began to remember the aftermath of the massacre that Lynn had protected me from… and the betrayal of someone I considered a close friend. I couldn't cry. All I could do was sit there, feeling hollow while I watched my reflection staring back at me with a haunted expression.
The sound of keys in the lock distracted my attention to the door, before I watched him step inside, closing it behind him. The blush returned again. I still hadn't got used to seeing his face yet. "Here. Ashley said you could use these as long as you wash them and return them. I'll leave the shoes here. You look like you should be the same size."
"Thanks." I took the items he proffered to me, trying to avoid skin contact. "Umm, is this Ashley person your girlfriend?" I asked, my face burning an intensely dark red. "-Because If so, I'm really sorry for intruding."
"Don't worry about it. Besides, Ashley's my brother's fiancée." My eyebrows shot up. I couldn't help it, but it wasn't an answer I had considered. Then I felt bad for bringing it up. "Well, I think now is probably as good a time as any to introduce myself." He sat himself down opposite me, extending his arm towards me. "I'm Jett."
Taking his hand, I shook it, trying to smile and failing. "I'm Jade."
"Well, Jade, it's a pleasure to meet you." He gestured with a tilt of his head for me to go change. "I'm starving. Once you're done doing whatever you need to do, we'll go and get some food, yeah? If you want there's a spare toothbrush in the bathroom. I don't mind if you want to borrow my washcloth either."
I nodded silently, gathering the clothes up into my arms and disappearing behind his bedroom door, listening to the sound of him moving around his apartment. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this." I mumbled, stripping down completely, picking up Ashley's bra. The cup size was bigger, but dubious as I was, it was better than nothing. What was shocking was how it fitted better than any of my own. I decided it would be better to leave that as a topic of conversation for another time; if there ever was 'another time' between us.
The rest of the clothes seemed to fit fine, apart from the jeans which were ever so slightly too loose.
When I finally decided to come out, I was given an appreciative once over by Jett, making me even more self-aware. He grinned, realising he had that effect on me, before I went to hide in the bathroom.
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked me as we walked down the street. It hadn't taken long to realise I was the only naturally blonde girl here, which put me on edge. After being isolated for so long, having people stare was like a major invasion of my personal space. "You were pretty bashed up before… if you want me to-"
"I'm fine." I asserted. I was lying. Every inch of me was screaming with pain, but I was used to it. Jett didn't need to know that. He didn't need to know about my past. The last thing I wanted to do was bring it up and make things awkward. "Just a little stiff."
"We're almost there." He reassured me, giving me that incredulous look that Lynn used to give me when she was worried about me and knew I was lying. Maybe a whole lot more people shared that look. I wouldn't know. I hadn't gotten close enough to enough people to be able to tell. "… Jade?"
Looking up, I felt the faint slide of a tear run down my cheek.
"Come on inside. You must be starving." He was right. I was starving. But I was sort of disappointed that he had purposely avoided asking me anything about myself apart from my name… and if my injuries still hurt. The other part of me that was trying to start afresh was beyond relieved.
"Jett!" A girl squealed from across the café, waving at us conspicuously. A few heads turned, I think. Jett smiled, taking my hand in his and dragging me towards her, careful not to be too rough. "Hey, whose the chick?" She asked, eying me. "She's so cute!"
"This is Jade." As if I couldn't introduce myself. In all honesty, right then, I probably couldn't even form a proper sentence. I was too busy staring at her bright pink and blue hair. "Jade, this is Amelia."
"Most just call me Millie, though." She interjected. Pulling out another chair, Jett sat himself down. I had no choice but to sit opposite the very peculiar Millie, trying not to feel like a third wheel. "Oh, look at her, Jett! How did you find her? Her hair is like… gold."
"Where I come from, it rains a lot, so most of the time it just looks grey."
The two exchanged glances, with a look that I didn't quite understand before Millie leaned forward, grabbing my hands. "I think it's pretty." She stated, lips twisting into a wide grin. "Hey, hey, what are you guys having?"
"The usual." Jett deadpanned. "Hardly gossip of the month."
"What about you?" As soon as Millie turned on me, I shrugged. Biggest mistake of my life. "Well duh, you're new here, aren't you? Ooh! I know! Let me order for you!"
I sat there, utterly speechless. "Millie, that's really not-"
"How about French toast with strawberries?" She pointed to the plate on the table behind us. "And if you can't manage it, I'll help you." I nodded, slowly, not knowing what to say. "I mean, I ordered myself a coffee and a carrot cake, as always… but I saw them ordering the French toast and it just looked so good, so I had to have it! But, my God! If I ordered more food I'd look like such a pig."
My eyes met Jett's, as I tried to demonstrate some of my confusion. I lived with a lot of girls, and none of them were quite like Millie. "Does she always act like this?" I whispered under my breath, watching his expression change to one of amusement.
"She has a name!" Millie huffed defensively, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Sorry, sorry." I apologised, certain that my voice had been low enough for her not to hear.
"-Jett, my man!" Both Millie and I turned our heads to see the grinning, red haired boy standing by the bar. It was more auburn than ginger, in truth, but it was still very striking. Not nearly half as gorgeous as Jett. I thought to myself, fiddling with a sugar packet.
It wasn't long before we were joined by a fourth chair, and another person unable to stop staring at me. "I don't think I've seen you before. My name's Carter." These people seemed to be very accustomed to the grabbing of stranger's hands, but I complied. At least they didn't insist on smothering you with kisses. That was a nasty habit that my grandmother had adopted. "What's your name?"
"Oh, err, I'm Jade." My winning smile didn't feel so winning today.
"Well, Jade, if this idiot here starts shamelessly hitting on you, you know you can turn to me. I'll make it all better." Jett dealt him a friendly punch to the arm, laughing. It was nice that they were trying to make me feel in the loop, but no matter how friendly they were, I still felt like an intruder.
"Do you mind if I get some fresh air?" I pushed my chair away from the table, staring at my lap to avoid their stares. "It's so stuffy in here."
"Don't let us stop you," Millie said, sending Carter a dark scowl when he grimaced at her. Taking the opportunity, I got out of my chair, rushing to the exit without looking over my shoulder, trying to ignore the whispers of the people around me. I couldn't leave, because I had nowhere to go… but this was better than nothing.
I needed to feel the sun on my skin.
I needed time to myself to figure out what I was going to do next.
"If this is too sudden, we can always go back and order pizza. I just thought you might want to stretch your legs… get to know the town. I'm sorry for making you tag along with me." Jett had joined me, looking a little upset. I shook my head, probably a little too quickly, cradling my breasts with my arms. Ashley's bra now made it impossible to fold my arms over my chest without some difficulty.
"It's not your fault. I'm actually glad you took me out… it's just, up until now, I was forced to stay inside. It's nice, having the freedom to do as I please." I realised I had said too much when I caught sight of the grimace on Jett's face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"
"No. I'm glad you said something." He shrugged, sitting next to me on the bicycle rack. "I was just going to wait until you chose to tell me about what happened to you… I mean, I've only just met you, and it wouldn't be fair to suddenly start asking personal questions like that." His eyes met mine, but I shied away, unable to hold his gaze. "But from what I saw, I can tell you've been through a lot. I might not be able to help, but if you need to talk, then I'll listen. If you can't, that's fine too."
My eyes followed the cars racing past us on the road. Modern civilisation almost seemed weird after what felt like a decade of living without it. "Why are you being so nice to me?" It wasn't meant to sound mean, but it did. "How do you know I'm not some horrible person? Some mass murderer?"
"Just a hunch."
"Hunches get some people killed." I said, frowning.
"The more you talk, the more I like you." He chuckled, relaxing back against the wall of the building. I continued to stare off into the distance, plucking petals off a daisy I had found lying on the tarmac beneath my feet.
"Do you mind if I stay at yours for a little longer?" I asked, hiding my face behind my hair.
"As long as you don't mind sharing a bed." He smiled up at me, making my heart beat erratically. When I didn't answer, he said, "of course I don't mind, Jade. Stay for as long as you want."
I laughed nervously, twisting the stem of the daisy between my fingers and thumbs. "Well maybe I'll have to, then."
A/N: fast update!
Can you guess who Jett is? heheheh I had so much fun writing the last two chapters, that I got on a bit of a roll XD!
Do you like, do you dislike? Are you mad at me for not including the vampires... or are you bored of them?
THANK YOU FOR READING!