Part 7
Within seconds the door to the bathroom opens again.
"Come in here!" Michael orders.
I look at him in horror. "WHAT?"
"I said: Come – in – here!"
"I understood what you said! But why? I can´t escape anyway."
"But you could lock me in here, if you're smart."
"I won´t!"
"Well, I don´t trust you. So get you ass in here or do I have to catch you?"
I roll my eyes. "Fine, I'm coming."
I enter the bathroom and he locks the door behind me.
"You´re showering with me!" he says to the key in his hand and then he looks at me. "Sit down on the edge of the tub."
"Don´t tell me what I should do!"
He gives me a warning glare – and I sit down as I was told.
"I won´t look away," I declare. Maybe he won´t strip down to nothing in front of me and I can go back to the living room.
He shrugs. "You don´t have to."
Then he takes off his shirt. I hold my breath when I see his sixpack and the well-conditioned upper arms. God, I have to admit it: He's sexy. How would it feel like to lay my hand on his chest?
I shift slightly and look away. I can´t do this! I can´t allow myself to be attracted to Michael Guerin – the enemy.
"I thought you wouldn't look away," he says smugly.
"It´s too disgusting!" I answer way too quickly.
"I don´t buy that, DeLuca."
I look at hm again and try to hide a gasp, as I realize, that he stands in front of me wearing only his boxers.
"I've seen better!"
Liar!
He smiles at me knowingly. "Maybe next time we could shower together?"
"What?" I squeak.
He laughs but doesn´t repeat himself.
***
Fortunately, I survived in the bathroom and I´m sitting on the couch now.
Michael sits in the armchair and rolls a cigarette. I watch his every move carefully. His hands are beautiful and I can´t ignore the temptation to imagine the feeling of his touch on my skin.
Would it be soft and tender?
No male had touched me gently – ever! I can't even believe that I'm allowing myself to think about him touching me. It´s so wrong and it´s so ... not me!
I shiver and try to block out those thoughts about him.
"Are you cold?" He had noticed the gooseflesh creeping up on my bare arms.
"Just a little bit," I lie.
Actually I was just having some sexual thoughts about you.
"You want a pullover?" He asks while looking at me and leaning back.
I nod.
Instead of going to his locker and catch one, he pulls the one he is wearing over his head and hands it to me. I put it on and have to resist the urge to inhale his scent.
"Can I ask you someting?" I try to look at him.
"Depends on your question!" he responds.
"Why are you so nice to me? ... Well, not nice by any means, but you haven´t hurt me physically and you didn't make me sit on that chair the whole day... You´re not like... some of the others in your gang."
Apparently, he has to think about it a few moments. "Well, first, I wouldn't hurt any female physically. Well, unless she has a weapon and tries to kill me. Second," he leans forward and stares into my eyes, "tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you hate Billy as much as I hate him."
Michael faces me quizzically. "I´m right, ain´t I?"
I can´t say anything, because I´m too shocked. How does he know me so well? I haven´t talked to him about my life or anything personal – but he seems to be aware of everything.
"I... I have to go to the bathroom." I croak and leave without hesitation.
***
I came out of the bathroom a few minutes ago.
"It´s late. I´m going to bed now", Michael decides. "I've gotta tie you up somewhere."
I look at him in horror and see the handcuffs at the floor. "What? I'm not a dog!" I say outraged.
"You're a Hurricane, and I don't trust you."
"I won´t try to escape or to kill you – I promise." I mention glibly.
"As I said: I don´t trust you, now give me your wrist," he orders.
"NO!" I scream back.
He sighs and stands up, reaching for the handcuffs. "Don´t be bitchy again."
"Well, then don't be an asshole."
"Give me your damn wrist."
"Fuck you." I yell and hide my arms behind my back.
"Fine." He tosses the cuffs on the table and I can feel the triumph for a second, until he grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.
"What are you doing?" I shout. "Let me go!" I beat my fists against his back.
"Make up your mind: Either you let me tie you up or you'll stay in the bathroom the whole night and you can sleep on the cold floor."
I give up. "All right, fine. Tie me up, jerk!"
He flings me back on the couch rudely. I hear the 'click' of the cuffs on my wrist, then another 'click' – he tied me at the heating pipe. Michael walks to his bed and gets me a pillow and a blanket. "Sleep well", he tells me in a harsh voice.
Screw you, son of a bitch!
Second day of abduction November 1st, 2007 – Thursday - 7:30 am
I wake up when I hear noise coming from the kitchen. I try to stretch out a little bit and the memory of my cuffed wrist and my whole situation comes back abruptly.
"Morning!" Michael says, his tone snippy as he unties me and hands me a cup of coffee. "I'm leaving for work soon. So go to the bathroom, it´s your last chance to pee until late afternoon."
"What? Are you serious? Won't work!" I snap.
"It has to!" He remains cool.
***
Michael is gone. "I'll be back at 5:00 pm. Don't bother screaming – nobody will hear you. Max and Liz live one floor under me, downstairs there's an old man who can barely hear anything and the rest of the house is empty," he tells me and gives me a bottle of water, a candy bar, some magazines and the remote for the TV.
It's only around lunchtime and I'm already bored to death. I can't move very much with my newly-cuffed wrists, so my ass hurts and my body is getting stiff. I've tried to sleep some more, but it didn´t work.
Suddenly I hear sound coming from behind the front door. A key is turned in the lock.
What if it´s Kyle?
I try to stay calm, but my heart is racing.
The door opens slowly.
I sigh... it´s only Liz.
***
"Hey, Maria," she greets me with a shy voice.
"Hey," I respond, still a little unsure.
"How are you?" She takes a seat in the armchair.
I shrug. "How would you feel if you were being held captive?"
She looks at the floor guiltily.
I pull myself together. "Okay, listen! I know it´s not your fault, Liz. I don't blame you for this. I´m just pissed about the situation, but it´s got nothing to do with you."
She lifts her head slightly and smiles. "Michael asked me to look after you and see if you needed anything."
"So basically, he asked you to be my nanny, so that I don't get into trouble."
She shakes her head. "No, and you can't escape anyway. He just didn´t want you to be alone here the whole day." Liz looks at me seriously. "He's on your side. I know, sometimes he´s kind of rough, but you don´t have to be afraid of him. Max doesn´t know that I´m here with you, he wouldn´t be pleased. Well, never mind! I brought you something to eat. It's homemade pasta. Are you hungry?"
I nod. "Oh, yeah, I'm starving."
She laughs. "Okay, I'll warm it up in the microwave."
After a minute she comes back with a big plate of pasta.
"Yum! That´s tasty, Liz."
"I´m glad you like it. Max loves it." Her eyes start to glow as she says his name.
"You are really in love with him, huh?" I try to hide my jealousy.
She grins dreamily and starts to gush, "Yes, I've never felt so much love for someone else. He makes me feel special. Suddenly, my life makes sense. I gave up my family and my freinds for him, because they were against us. But I don´t regret my decision. I would do anything for him, and I know he would do everything for me."
Then she stops, maybe shocked by her own honesty.
I try to smile encouragingly. "You should consider yourself lucky, Liz!" My voice almost breaks.
"What about you? Do you feel the same when you're with Billy?"
I stare at her in disbelief. My eyes water as I shake my head carefully.
Quickly, she tries to change the subject. "I have to go now. I´m working at a restaurant called the 'Crashdown'. My shift starts in 30 minutes."
She takes the empty plate from the table and carries it to the sink.
"Liz..." I call after her as she reaches the door.
She turns around to look at me.
"Thank you... you know... for the company and the food."
She smiles at me. "You´re welcome. See you."
***