I must have fallen asleep, because next thing I knew Jenny was standing over me, looking much fresher and smelling way better.
"Charlie, it's your turn to shower." Those words were all I needed, I flew off the couch and upstairs to find the restroom.
"Second door on your left!" Jenny called from downstairs. The bathroom smelled like the rest off the house, dusty. Jenny had left the soap on the counter for me. It was old and probably not as useful as it once was. It vaguely smelled of pine and lemon and the chunk I picked up crumbled between my hands. I turned the shower on, the stream was soft but steady and the water was inviting. I quickly stripped and jumped in.
I'm a firm believer that people have never truly experienced a shower until they've gone a month without one. I could have fallen asleep standing up, but my stomach wouldn't let me forget my priorities. So I finished quickly and put back on my green tank top and khaki shorts. I pulled my rubber band out of my pocket and quickly tied my hair up in a messy pony tail.
The dirty mirror showed the reflection of someone I barely recognized anymore. I was fighting a war and it was showing in my face.
Before going downstairs I checked out the other rooms in the house. Most of them still had furniture, and to my pleasure I also found a few clothing options. I didn't want to be greedy so I left everything the way it was and headed downstairs for a much deserved meal.
"You look better." Jenny noted.
"Yeah I bet that shower felt like gold, huh?" Gordy was grinning at me. I nodded my head once. Sam looked at me and quickly turned away
"Well, food's all ready for ya." He pushed a plate of food towards me and my stomach loudly thanked him.
"We found the utensils and stuff all in here." He waved his arm around the kitchen. "This house seemed to have the most left in it."
"How did you know that this place was abandoned?" I asked, as if I didn't already know the answer.
"Staked it for two days." He replied simply. "Not one living soul came around, we are in the middle of nowhere practically. It's not even on a map."
"How did you come to find it then?"
"I knew this place was here, that's how. My great, great, grandfather lived in this town when he was a child." He looked at me expectantly. "Well what about you? How did you know it was here?"
"I didn't, I jumped onto the back of a pickup truck not knowing where it was headed. It stopped on the highway over the mountain. I knew I had to run before the driver spotted me so I hid behind a tree. Then he took off and I was stuck. I knew I couldn't follow the highway so I hiked the mountain to see if I could spot a town and what do ya know I found one." My answer didn't seem to surprise him and he nodded as if he expected as much from me.
I turned from him and went back to eating my food, which I was sure was supposed to be gross but it tasted like prime rib and lobster at the moment.
I could see him looking at me from the corner of my eye. Scrutinizing my every move. I raised my head back up and looked him square in the eye.
"What is your problem?" Apparently the months on my own had put me in some serious need of charm school. He just smiled at me with a sparkle in his eyes.
"I don't know if we can trust you, Charlie. But I am really happy to know that we aren't the only ones left." I didn't know what else to say so I looked up to the ceiling and shook my head and then went back to my delicious dinner.
"I trust her." Jenny winked at me.
Sam laughed, "I'm sure you do, Jenny, you would trust a soul if it meant you got someone else to talk to besides me and Gordy."
"Hey I resent that," Gordy said "I'm great company, it's you she can't stand."
"You both suck, Charlie is already far more entertaining than the two of you jerks." She stuck her tongue out at her brother. And they all laughed together.
They were family and I was a stranger, I had only myself and I could never forget that, but they drew me in like moths to a flame. I was helpless against the hope that I could stay with these people and be a part of that family. For the fourth time that night I locked eyes with Sam. A curiosity burned in his eyes. And once again he won as I turned my head to look out the window. I wasn't even close to satisfied, but the pit in my stomach felt a little fuller.
I was ready to sleep for a year, the day had been a long one and I was excited to start fresh.
"Well there are three rooms in this house, and only two have beds. So we can do girls in one room, boys in the other or if you feel more comfortable, Charlie, you can take the couch."
"You're okay with sharing a bed, right? Jenny smiled sweetly at me. "I really hate sleeping alone and it would be so nice to have girl to talk to."
I sighed, but her charm was wearing me down. "Okay, sister, but I don't do pillow talk."
"Okay so it's settled." Sam obviously wanted to be leader in our little brigade. Well he wouldn't get an argument from me tonight, but I didn't intend to be pushed around. I had already had enough from Gary, I finally had some control in my life and I wasn't about to let some guy boss me around again. I was my own leader.