Stepping back into the front room with the mugs, we sit on the sofa and have a catch up. Hayley tells me she has a new councillor who is really helping her cope with her depression, her face lights up when she talks about him… something is going on there for sure. We talk for an hour until I tell her it’s time for me to get home, if I’m out much later mum will catch me. As I walk past the front window I notice car headlights, Ah shit, they’re mine. Walking out to try it, I turn the key and nothing happens, damn battery is dead. I try a couple more times pleading with it to start, but it just carries on making a clicking noise until it goes silent all together.
Crap.
Going back into the house I tell Hayley about my car “Well you can stay here dear, I can’t have you walking back in the dark” she protests, “Its fine, I’m only three doors down” mums going to kill me either way, by now she will be way past drunk “I will not have you walking back in the dark. I’ve got a bedroom free as Reid won’t be staying in it. It would be lovely to have some company too” she says with a shy smile. She’s pulling on my strings, knowing I hate being at home and that I can’t resist when she says she lonely, but to stay in Reid’s room? I mean when we were together, I stayed there almost every night, but that feels like a lifetime ago.
I will admit, staying in his room where I feel safe again would be amazing, and I don’t fancy going home to my mum passed out on the sofa “Okay, but just tonight. I’ll make us some breakfast in the morning to say thank you” I say apprehensively, “That would be lovely honey. See you in the morning, you know where to find everything” she says as she walks up the stairs.
Making my way to Reid’s bedroom I’m a little overcome with excitement of seeing it all again. Pushing open the door it’s like a blast from the past walking in here, everything is pretty much how I remember it, dark blue walls with his favourite band posters up, king size bed in the middle of the room with dark blue sheets, it makes me almost want to cry, but I bottle it up and walk over to the on suit. I get my teeth brushed, borrowing Reid’s toothbrush and wash off my makeup, trying to leave everything as I found it so hopefully he doesn’t know someone has been in here. I walk back into the bedroom and realise I have nothing to sleep in, going to the party in my little black wrap dress was a good idea up until now, and I refuse to sleep in a bra.
Way too uncomfortable.
Opening Reid’s t-shirt draw I pick up one of his black tee’s, it smells just like him, I can’t resist but to inhale it, that may make me a creeper, but this is the closest I’ve been to him in 2 years. Slipping off my dress and bra I make the decision to sleep in his t-shirt, he won’t notice one missing, I hope. Slipping it over my head I walk over to the bed and climb inside. It’s overwhelming my senses being here, everything smells like him, it’s all so familiar. Almost instantly I shut my eyes, feeling safer than I have in years.
Chapter Two
Hearing a scuffle, I open my eyes. For a moment I forget where I am until it dawns on me, Reid’s bedroom. Looking around the room I notice a dark figure standing at the foot of the bed, gasping I shuffle up to the headboard. Looking closer the moonlight through the window illuminates the side of the figures face, I realise its Reid.
So much for him not being home tonight.
Not knowing what to say I sit there silently, staring at him “Why are you here?” he says huskily, not moving from his spot,. Okay, dick mode it is. Lifting my hands from the duvet to rub the sleep from my eyes, I reach over and turn on the bedside lamp before answering. I hear him make a choking noise, that’s when I realise he can see I’m wearing his t-shirt, Ah crap.
“Why are you here?” he asks again seeming agitated “Your mum wanted me to visit. I left my headlights on so my battery died, she didn’t want me walking home in the dark even though I insisted, so she offered your room…sorry if that’s not okay” I say quietly. He doesn’t respond, he only stands there stoic. “I’ll just get dressed and get out of your way” I say as I get out of bed, Reid makes a growling noise when he sees I’m just in his tee and my underwear, This is not how I saw my night going. Embarrassed I grab my dress and bra and go to move past him when his arm comes out to stop me “You don’t have to leave” he says, emotion clouding his words, “I’ll just sleep on the sofa or something” or leave I think…. “Stay” he says as he looks back at the bed. His hand runs down my arm leaving goosebumps, he grabs my clothes out of my shaky hands and throws them on the floor. Gently he takes my hand to lead me back to the bed, I knew I shouldn’t have stayed here. Feeling like I’ve been caught in a trance, I let him lead me. I haven’t seen him like this in so long, maybe it’s the alcohol he had tonight, but something inside me won’t push him
