Chapter 5
After a long time of tossing and turning, I finally managed to pass out. I had woken up feeling exhausted. Whether from last night's job or staying up late with a weird feeling in my gut, it didn't matter. Hopefully a nice shower and food would help.
I took a quick shower and got myself dressed for the day. I head into the kitchen where I find Chase standing over a cutting board chopping away at some veggies. The aroma was wonderful and my stomach growled at the thought of cooked food.
I stride towards the fridge and open it, hoping to find some eggs and bacon for a simple late breakfast. I feel eyes staring at my back and I turn to find Chase watching me.
"Are you going to get something or just letting the cold out?"
My cheeks flush as I quickly close the fridge door. "I'm just trying to figure out what to eat for lunch."
Chase stares at me for a moment longer before saying, "I'm almost done prepping for the night. I'll make you something. Just don't get in my way."
Although he could've said it nicely, I take his offer and step out. I sit at one of the tables and lay my head against the cushioned back. The feeling of last night still lingered on my hand as if it were still happening. Why couldn't I shake this feeling from my head?
Thankfully, Chase soon came out with a steaming BLT, the crisp bacon poking out the middle. I tell him thank you before shoving the food into my mouth. He leaves without a word, as usual, and leaves me be to scarf my meal. I savored the salty flavors of the mayo and bacon and the crunch of the toast. Kathy soon joins me and bugs Chase to make her something as well. He grumbles but brings her a BLT as well. She then tells me that he comes early to prep on Saturdays since they're the busiest. Most everyone sleeps in on Sundays and everyone's closed up for the day to rest and relax, including the bar.
We finish our meal and Kathy said she has plans with Owen and she'll be back when it's time to open. I didn't want to include myself but I honestly had no idea what I could do with my free-time. Chase wasn't exactly on my list of people to hang out with. All I could do at this point was walk around and explore and learn the area.
I leave the bar and wander around and wind up in the overgrown field of my grandfather's farm. I step up the remaining and broken stone path till I reach the decaying door. The handle remained, although it had seen better days. I'm sure it was beautiful in it's prime. The smell of mildew and rotted wood fills my nose as the door creaks open. I cover my face with my hand as I poke my head inside. Streams of light scatter across the dilapidated floorboards through holes in the roof. My eyes continue to survey the small room to see an old kitchen- the appliances all rusted or missing- and a large bed in the opposite corner; it's sheets clearly chewed on by something.
Pieces of wood that held up the ceiling have fallen and parts of the wall are broken and bent. I figure since I'm here I might as well help out a bit and make Dale's time here faster and easier. I step inside the house and breath through my mouth to avoid the smells. I start with the bed sheets and mattress and toss them outside the house in a pile. I grab some furniture that could be refurbished and put them in a separate area near the barn.
Nearly an hour has passed and I feel like there's more to do than when I started. I decide to move one last piece-a large bookshelf with old tomes and books. I shimmy it away from the wall, breaking old cobwebs that had attached themselves over time.
I slide it along the floor when my foot falls through the wood and I curse as I trip. My hands reach for the bookshelf to balance myself but I end up pushing it backwards instead. I watch in horror as it collides with one of the fallen beams with a crash and blocks the door. Sounds of snapping wood echo through the old house and I quickly try to pull my foot out of the rotten hole. My ankle bleeds from the cuts the wood left. I search for a window and find one only a few feet away. I limp towards it but the lock is rusted shut and I strain to open it.
Pieces of wood and stone rain down as the roof starts to crack apart. My heart races and I brace myself for the end. I crouch down and cover my head but I feel myself being lifted up by strong arms. The roof caves but I somehow manage to make it out just in time.
Before I can say anything, I'm dropped onto the dirt and grass outside and I flinch at the sound of an angry voice.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
I look up at my hero only to find myself staring at golden eyes scrunched by lowered cobalt brows. Heat rises in my cheeks and anger fills me. Of all the people to rescue me, it had to be him. I remain silent.
"What the hell were you doing in there, anyways? I know you're not the brightest, but even you should know that place isn't safe."
"It's none of your business," I blurt out. Embarrassed anger coursed through me and I couldn't stop myself from yelling back.
"Oh, that's right. I forgot, nothing is my business when it comes to you. Sorry for intervening on your reckless behavior-Again."
"I was just trying to help make it easier for your dad to repair the house."
"Putting yourself in harms way is not helping anyone."
"I get it. I'm sorry," I say and try to stand up. My ankle screams in pain and my sock is stained pink from the blood. I quickly fall back on the dirt.
"Damn, Akari," Luke says squatting down and looking at my ankle. "You're lucky I happened to be nearby."
"My knight in shining armor as always," I mutter.
"You need to have that looked at," he says and gently touches my ankle. I hiss in pain as he pulls off my shoe to reveal some swelling.
"Is it that bad?" I say.
"Could've been worse," he says. I sigh in frustration. He was right and I hated it. I feel his eyes on me and I look him in the face as he says, "Sorry I yelled at you. It's just- if something happened to you-"
"I'm fine," I say. I force myself to stand up but stumble as I put pressure on my foot. Luke's hand grasp my elbow to help me balance.
"Let me help you," he says and scoops me up. I cling to his neck in surprise. I remain quiet as he walks toward town. We reach the clinic and he opens the door and an elderly woman gasps at the sight of us.
"What in the world happened?" She says and Luke shows her my ankle. She ushers us quickly into a tiny room with a bed and Luke places me gently on the white sheets. Soon the doctor- A tall oriental man with ebony hair tied back behind his head- comes in and examines my ankle.
He states there's no breakage and I let out a relieved sigh. Jin says I'll have to stay off that foot for at least a few days and ice it to help the healing. I just started at the bar and already I'm causing trouble for Kathy.
Jin leaves and it's just Luke and I that remain in the small room.
"Thanks again," I say and lift myself off the bed. I gently set my foot on the floor and wince. The pain was still terrible.
"I'm sure Kathy's wondering where you're at. I'll take you home," Luke says placing a gentle hand on my arm. I shy away.
"I can manage. You've helped me enough already the past week. I'm sure you're tired of it by now."
"Exhausting. Annoying. Just a few other words you could add to that statement," he says folding his arms behind his head with a grin.
I roll my eyes and step past him with a limp.
"I was just kidding. You don't have to push yourself," he says behind me. I hear his boots scuff the tiled floor as he stands beside me. He stops in front of me and I look up with a pout. "You're crazy if you think climbing down those stares is going to be easy."
I sigh, "Fine you can help me since you're so insistent on it."
His smile only grows and he lifts his hand and taps a finger to my forehead. "That's what friends are for, idiot."
My scowl grows. He only smiles as he lifts one of my arms over his tall shoulders and wraps his own around waist to help me along. We leave the inn and sure enough the steps were a challenge. Thankfully, a few steps down he got impatient and just carried me to the bottom.
We reach the inn and I feel the need to properly thank him even if I don't necessarily want to. He did help me a lot today.
"Thanks again. For today," I say unable to look him in the eyes. I can only imagine the egotistical grin spreading on his face.
"You know how to make a guy worry, don't ya?" He says in response. I'm caught off guard and look up to find his face serious.
"That doesn't sound like you."
"I'm a mystery, Akari. There's things about me you don't know."
"Maybe it should stay that way," I say teasingly. I wait for the smile to grow but it fades instead.
"You should get inside," he says and reaches for the door but I ask him, "How long have you lived here, Luke?"
He stares at the door for a moment before opening it and says, "My whole life."
Before I can say anything, Kathy and Owen notice us at the door and Kathy rushes over and covers her mouth when she sees my foot. "Oh my goddess, Akari. What happened to you?"
"I might have been in a place I shouldn't have been," I say and limp inside. I wait for Luke's assistance but it doesn't come. Instead, Kathy grabs my arms and tugs me gently towards a nearby chair.
"Owen, can you be a dear and grabs some ice from the freezer, please?" She calls and I hear a chair scoot as Owen leaves the room. Kathy elevates my ankle on another chair and clicks her tongue. "Looks like you're off duty for a while."
"I'm sorry," I say.
She doesn't respond but I follow her gaze as it lands on Luke standing in the doorway. "He helped me," I mutter. "He actually saved me."
"She was in the old house trying to clean it up. I found her before the roof collapsed." He said with his arms folded and a unreadable face.
"You've got some explaining to do," she says sternly towards me then returns her gaze back at Luke. "Thanks for helping her."
"Yeah," he says. "I should get going."
"Already? You just got here. Don't you want to stay for a drink? I'm sure Owen could use the company tonight since I'll be busy with customers."
"Nah. I promised Pops I'd help him with stuff. Later." He looks at me briefly before leaving.
"That's strange," Owen says a second later while handing a small bag of ice to Kathy.
"What is?" I ask.
"He never refuses a free drink. Somethings bothering him."
Was it something I said? My ankle screams as the ice touches the tender skin and I bite my lip to keep from whimpering. Kathy frowns at me like a mother would to a disobedient child. "I hope you learned your lesson, Missy. What were you thinking of going to that house without the proper tools and equipment. You're so lucky Luke was there."
"I know. I said I was sorry."
"Don't think I'm letting you off the hook either. Your foot may be useless for now but your hands aren't. You'll be scrubbing dishes tonight and helping Chase in the kitchen. He won't be happy but it's better than letting you sit around doing nothing."
I purse my lips in a fine line knowing I damn well deserved this. I guess I'd be spending more time with Chase than I anticipated.