by B C Morgan
“Well, I better go I’ll come back over tomorrow after work,” he says, not affected by my struggle at all and I’m relieved he’s ignoring it.
“Come again,” I say, his mention of having a job throwing me completely.
“Didn’t realise I’d cum a first time,” he replies with a cheeky wink that lifts his entire face up and makes his off handed, stay back demeanour change entirely.
“You know what I meant, I didn’t realise you had a job” I say feeling flustered and his smile is showing that he’s enjoying it immensely.
“I’m trying that whole, self-sufficient bullshit. My dad is trying to make it hard for me to do what I want,” he rolls his eyes like its nothing more than an inconvenience. “I’m working part time at a local garage, it’s a good learning experience, and it keeps me busy until college starts up,” he looks like he wants to be proud, but something is stopping him. Probably his father.
“Good on you H, I’m proud of ya,” I say with a smile and I think he may be blushing.
“Yeah whatever, I don’t need your pride,” he mumbles but his tone is almost husky as he leaves without a single glance back
DING DONG the witch is dead, have fun in your car.
Is this the kind of crap I’m going to be waking up to from here on out. How does he even know where I am? He’s probably just trying to fuck with me, but what if he isn’t. I can’t get far without a car and I don’t dare get behind the wheel, not until I know it is safe.
I don’t know what to do with myself, I’m sitting here with the letters from El and Elijah before me. They’re still sealed within their envelopes and they are tormenting me. My heart is screaming at me to open them but my mind is in self-preservation mode and at the moment, my mind is winning.
My phone starts beeping at me and I see that it’s from Noah, three simple but just as powerful words. I love you.
I love you too Noah bear, I really do. That is what is on my mind right now as I remove my sim card and snap it in half. I do the same to the phone Dante put into my old car. I’ve already ordered a pay as you go sim all I need to do is get to town and then I can pick it up. I need to start fresh and that means, they can’t contact me.
I think I should at least be productive while I’m stuck here; so, I decide to pack. I grab all my bits and bring them down into the living room, I need to be harsh and strict and only take the essentials. If it won’t fit in my suitcase and duffel bag, then I don’t get to bring it along. I think I’m going to head to London, I know Devon could be released soon and it won’t hurt to be close by when he does. Maybe he’ll know who this Dante fella is, it’s not that I want to rely on him to keep me safe but he did it when I was a child, why not now?
I’m so angry with him, for keeping secrets and putting Amias into my life and heart, but Eli was right. I can’t push everyone away and it’s mean, but Devon doesn’t mean as much to me anymore. I still care for him but not as much as my guys and I think fighting evil with evil, is my best chance for survival.
I put my headphones in and turn on Lewis Capaldi, Someone You Loved. I’m so lost in the music and repetitiveness of my task that I don’t hear my door open and a scream tears through my throat as I hand falls on my shoulder and an earphone is pulled free.
“Wow, calm down love it’s only me,” Harrison says as his face comes into view, my heart is beating so hard I’m expecting it to break free of my chest.
“I didn’t know,” I say hoarsely, my throat sore from the intensity of my scream.
“I get jumping and even a little squeal of fright, but that scream goes well and truly beyond that,” he’s raising his eyebrows as he comes in front of me. “No, something else has you scared and I have a feeling you thought I was whoever or whatever that is. How am I doing so far?” His eyes are so intense and he’s daring me to try and deny it, so I’m not going to say anything.
“Mattias hasn’t gotten back to me yet, I don’t have your number, otherwise I would have texted you,” he says as he takes in the room. He already knew I was planning on leaving so it can’t be that much of a surprise to him.
“I don’t have a number right now, I need to pop into town so I can grab a new SIM card,” I say, as I tidy away the mess I’ve made.
“Your provider will send you a new sim out if you ask,” he sounds suspicious but he has no reason too.
“I just want a new sim, is that a crime?” I ask, throwing attitude his way as my hackles start to rise. He’s making me defensive and I don’t like it.
“Maybe, depends on why you want it. So, why haven’t you gone to get one?” He will not drop the attitude either, I do not have to explain myself to this overbearing, moronic twat. But then again, I do need to ask him a favour.
“Well, I was hoping you may take a look at my car and make sure it's working okay?” I ask sheepishly, while I look up at him through my lashes.
“What happened when you tried to start it?” He jumps straight into work mode and I admire that, I’m just not sure how to answer the question.
“Nothing, I just wanted to ensure it was...okay before I got in it,” my teeth are worrying my bottom lip and it won’t surprise me if I draw blood.
“Stop that,” he says as he uses his thumb to free my lip making my breath catch in my throat. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll check it over. Just don’t lie to me okay,” his face looks so severe, all I can do is nod my head in agreement.
He checks it over thoroughly and assures me nothing will happen if I drive it, the only issue is, I’ve piqued his curiosity a little too much. He climbs into my passenger seat and refuses to get out. Even the threat of countless hours of shopping won’t deter the stubborn fool, looks like I’ve gained myself a follower. I’ll figure out how to get rid of him later, as for right now, I have some shopping to do.
FOUR
I MAKE us some dinner when we get back, it’s my way of saying thanks to him for checking my car over. It’s nothing fancy just a lasagne but he helps himself to seconds so I’m guessing he likes it.
“Do you want to watch a film or something, unless you have to get home,” okay, I may have sounded a tad too hopeful by the prospect of him leaving, as his eyes are glinting and a crocodile’s smile crosses across his face.
“Sure, a film sounds great,” he says in a honeyed voice, oh yeah I do not trust that tone in the slightest.
I let him pick the film, well when I say I let him I just gave up the ghost and let him watch whatever would stop him from staring at me so intently. So, we’re watching Insidious and he’s declared it a movie night. How am I supposed to get rid of him?
I sit on the sofa and he sits right next to me, he only moves when I start jabbing him with my feet. He keeps looking at me with this smirk on his face and it’s unnerving for some reason. I sink back into the cushions and curl my feet up beside me, as I watch the film and try to ignore his not so subtle looks.
I get halfway through the first film when a chill works its way through me, travelling down my spine and leaving goose bumps in its wake. I swear someone is watching me, I can feel eyes on me even though H is well and truly engrossed in the film now.
I shiver again and my foot knocks into his leg, he sends me a strange look but he sees something because he’s suddenly sitting up straighter and giving me all of his attention. Pausing the film first of course, priorities and all that.
“What’s wrong?” He looks genuinely concerned and I don’t like it, go back to being cool and unaffected please H. I can handle that.
“Nothing, I guess I’m a chicken shit when it comes to creepy films,” I say nonchalantly, but it only makes his eyes narrow on me.
“Cut the crap Henleigh, what is going on?” His voice is rising and it’s taking on a darker quality.
“I thought someone was watching me, I guess it just spooked me a little,” please just drop it H, I do not want to get into this with you right now. Not that I’ll say that to him.
He stands up and goes o
ver to the window, he stays there staring for a few moments, before he closes the curtains and sits back down beside me.
“It probably is just the film,” he says in agreement, but he doesn’t sound convincing.
I try to settle back down as he presses play once more, but I can’t shake the sense that someone is still watching me. I guess I’m fidgeting because he lets out a deep sigh before grabbing hold of my wrist and pulling me, hard. I lose my balance and tumble into his lap, my head a little too close to his groin for comfort. He clears his throat before slipping his hands under my arms and pulling me against him. Until my head is on his chest and his arm is over my shoulder with his hand resting on the top of my arm.
“Erm H, what are you doing?” It comes out slightly strangled, why am I so nervous around him.
“Don’t read anything into it, I like this film and your constant fidgeting is distracting me. Just relax and let me watch it,” he says simply but his voice is almost husky and I don’t miss the way his fingers trail over my arm in soothing motions. I also don’t stay awake for too much longer.
“MMM.”
It slips out as I start to stir and I feel so comfortable and warm, hang on. Why are there arms wrapped around me? I open my eyes feeling slightly dazed, as I take in the black screen of the tv and then the orange glow from underneath the living room door. Why is there an orange glow? I start coughing and I realise that my eyes aren’t misty, there is smoke filtering in from under the door.
I bolt upright, and I’m hit by a serious coughing fit, I start shaking Harrison frantically and he’s throwing some rather colour phrases my way.
“Wake the fuck up,” I scream, as I smack him across the chest and fall to my knees as the smoke thickens and my lungs struggle to find clean air to breathe.
“Henleigh, Fuck!” I can hear the fear but my head feels foggy and I can barely focus on him.
I hear a tearing noise before a wet piece of fabric is placed over my mouth, is he trying to kill me?
“This will help you to breathe, stay low,” He says thickly, as he squeezes my hand and pulls me behind him.
I don’t know what I thought he was planning to do, but picking up a lamp and smashing the metal base through the window was not it. I’m then in his arms and he tears one of the curtains from the pole and wrapping it around me before I’m tossed out of the window as well. Some of the glass makes it through the fabric and I can feel warm liquid running down from where it cuts me, but the curtain has saved me from the worst of it.
I stare up at my house as the fire spreads and Harrison has yet to follow me out of the window. Come on H, get out. I can’t get to you. I’m terrified and tears are streaming down my face as I face the prospect that he’s inside burning to death and all because I piqued his interest and he wanted to discover my secrets. If he dies, it’ll be my fault.
Something lands on the ground before me and I look through my tears to see my duffel bag and I want to kill him, why would he risk his life to save this for me?
He quickly follows it out and although he’s coughing like a thirty a day smoker, he’s alive and soon he’ll be ready for me to throttle him.
It takes thirty minutes for the fire engines to arrive and the paramedics are not far behind, we’re both okay. We are both suffering from smoke inhalation and they want us to go in to be observed overnight, but I won’t do it. I don’t care if it’s foolish, I don’t want to go into hospital.
“Do you think you can change your girlfriend’s mind?” The paramedic asks and Harrison smirks at me before coughing again.
“Nothing can change her mind,” he replies hoarsely and I’m surprised he didn’t correct the assumption we’re together.
“Fine, but you are acting against our advice. If you start to feel any different, if it starts to get harder to breathe or anything else, please get yourselves checked,” she says, looking at us disapprovingly, but at least she isn’t going to push it.
“I’ll look after her,” he says with a small smile.
“She meant you as well, moron,” I can’t even sound sarcastic, everything is coming out raspy, looks like I’ll have to settle for an eye roll when my head stops hurting.
The fire is eventually put out but the left side of the house is going to take a lot of work to put right. I couldn’t stay there, even if I wanted to.
“Do you know what started it?” I ask and it’s now that I notice a police car has arrived and I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that this wasn’t an accident.
HARRISON TAKES me back to a flat he’s renting, I don’t know how he’s affording this place but he doesn’t leave me wondering either.
“The lady who runs the garage owns this place, she’s letting me stay here until I find somewhere else. She’s a great lass if you ask me,” he says and I can tell by his eyes that he feels nothing but admiration for his boss and landlady.
“Thanks for letting me stay here,” I say despondently, I can’t be happy right now not after what we found out about the fire.
Someone had poured an accelerant across my hallway and up the stairs, meaning someone had been in my home while we were there to set it alight.
I pick the duffel bag up and place it in his living room, I still don’t know why he saved this but I’m glad he did. It’s where I stored the letters, without him I’d never have the chance to read them.
“Seeing as we could have died tonight, maybe you can tell me why someone set fire to your bloody home?!” And now he’s shouting at me, well with his eyes he breaks into a coughing fit every time he tries to raise his voice.
I look down and refuse to meet his gaze and he chuckles this menacing sound which has my eyes shooting up to his.
“Fine, you can stay tonight and then you can get the fuck out of my life, fuck you Henleigh,” he sends so much vitriol at me that I can hardly stand it as he looks at me with such derision before disappearing into another room and slamming the door behind him.
My head is hanging in shame and I give in to weakness once more as I pull out my phone and send a text to Elijah. I may not have told anyone my new number, but I’d never get rid of theirs, any of them. Even Amias.
I’m weak and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be texting you, but something happened tonight and I’m scared and feeling unbelievably fragile. I’ll get rid of this number in a few days, but I have it now if you want to talk. I love you, Your Hen.
I hit send and watch as my phone notifies me that he’s received it and I don’t stop watching it, even as my eyes grow heavy and I fall asleep sitting up with my phone still in my hand. He doesn’t respond and my heart breaks as I realise I’m only getting what I deserve.
An hour is all I get before I shoot awake, screaming and damaging my throat even more. Harrison comes into the room with a disgusted look on his face as he takes in my tear riddled face and the blanket I’m holding in a death grip.
He jerks his head at me before he returns to his room, but this time he leaves the door open. I can’t sleep in there with him or maybe, he’s the best person to share a bed with. He hates me and the very sight of me disgusts him, and maybe I’ll be able to get to sleep if he’s with me.
I only hesitate for a couple more seconds before I abandon my phone on the sofa and slowly approach his door. He’s lying on his bed with his back to me, but his shoulders stiffen as I gently tap on the door. I don’t care if he gave me a head movement, I won’t come in if he doesn’t say I can.
“Just get in bed Monterey, I need some sleep and your screaming and whimpering is keeping me awake,” he says in a monotone voice but I think he’s as scared as me. And he doesn’t even know what is going on, I really am despicable.
My opinion of myself only lessens further as I climb in beside him and turn my back to him, I stare out of the open door and tremble and I cry silently. His arms come around me as he pulls me close, and his hand strokes down my hair.
“Don’t read into this, just go to sleep,” he says thickly and I do fall
asleep and I feel safe.
I WAKE up before H and I quickly get dressed, he wants me to fuck off out of his life. It’s probably better I do it while he’s asleep. I’ve got my bag and my keys in my hand, and my phone is safely tucked inside my pocket. I haven’t checked it to see if Elijah responded, if I don’t check it can’t be a no. Man, I’m pathetic.
I go over to my car and find another note, this one pinned under my windscreen wiper.
I said no boyfriends pretty girl, guess I’ll have to get rid of him as well. If only you hadn’t cuddled up in front of the tv, I may have let him live. But friends don’t cuddle the way you two were. Say bye Henleigh.
We didn’t cuddle until after the curtains were drawn, so how could he know? Oh god, I feel sick. This is too much, I can’t leave Harrison in the dark any longer. I thought I was protecting him and myself, but all I’ve done is put him in harm's way.
I run up the steps and pound my fist against the door, I don’t care if I wake up anyone else as long as he wakes up.
“Great, it’s you,” he says with a sneer, but it’s not going to affect me.
I hear an oomph as I push my way past him and storm into his bedroom, grabbing clothes out of his chest of drawers and start throwing them into the bag he has on the floor beside it.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He asks, dumbfounded by my actions, and I almost want to laugh. Almost.
“I am so sorry Harrison, I didn’t know,” I say desperately, as my throat clogs up on the tears and I thrust the note into his hands.
He looks at me like I’ve thoroughly lost the plot before he starts reading, and his eyes almost pop out of their sockets.
“Is this some kind of joke? Some sort of payback for what I said last night,” I don’t think he really believes this is a joke, but I know he wants it to be.
“You know it isn’t, but I wish it was. I didn’t want to bring you into this or anyone for that matter,” I squeeze my eyes closed, against the onslaught of pain. “I’ve shut everyone out because of one guy and I should have done the same with you. I hoped our enemy status would keep you safe, but then you held me on the sofa…” I trail off as I shiver over the fact that he could see us. Will I ever know how?