Chapter 16
*Leah POV*
Once inside my apartment, well, correction, our apartment, he put his bag on the floor beside the front door.
I gave him a, what are you doing, look, and his response was, ‘I don’t know, if you change your mind and kick me out, I won’t forget my bag.’
I shook my head back and forth and told him to follow me.
I walked into the bedroom. I knew he had clothes and I wasn’t going to let him live out of a bag while he was here. I didn’t care how long he would stay, a day, a week or month, I needed to make room for his things.
I opened the closet and moved some of my clothes then went to the dresser and emptied two drawers. I turned to look at him and he was just staring at me.
‘What?’ I asked
‘What are you doing? He asked in return.
‘Making room for your clothes, I know it’s not much, maybe I can find more…’ I said while looking around the room.
‘No, No. This is amazing, are you sure?’ he asked.
‘Yes, you’re not going to live out of your bag. I don’t have a lot of things so, lucky for you, you’ll have space for your stuff. I just hope it’s enough space.’ I said while looking around.
I was calculating in my head, if I moved this and that to over there, maybe he would have more room.
‘It’s enough, I don’t have much. Thanks, I mean…this is really nice of you. I know we don’t know each other well, and you don’t owe me anything. So I have to ask why?’ he asked.
I was surprised, yeah I know I had a bad past, so did he, but I was still a good person, well I think I was.
‘You looked like you needed help. I don’t mind you staying here, at least I’ll have someone to talk to. I’ll be less bored. And yeah, we haven’t known each other very long but you know me more than anyone in this city, or probably my whole life.’ I told him.
He smiled and came towards me. I froze and tensed up, and he stopped walking. I hated that, I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me so why did my body always have to panic. I took a big breath in and walked the rest of the way to him and slowly put my arms around him and gave him a hug.
Hugging Jason was strange. Not in a bad way but, Laura always tried to touch me or give me a hug, it wasn’t so bad. I just had a lot of trouble with men.
When I felt his arms wrap around me, I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest. I tried to let myself relax and I know he knew what I was doing so we just stayed that way for awhile.
When my heart was beating normally again, and I was more relaxed I lifted my head and looked at him in his eyes.
I smiled at him and asked if he needed help to unpack his things. He shook his head and said, ‘No, I’m good.’ We let go of each other and I headed toward the living room. I grabbed the small bag and headed towards the couch. Once I was sitting and being somewhat comfortable I got the ball out of the bag and started throwing it against the wall.
I was so caught up in my little game that I never noticed Jason standing against the door frame to the bedroom looking at me. I was having fun, doing little noises with I caught the ball in victory, booed when I would miss it and had to get up and go get it. It really was entertaining. But in a very sad way, I wondered how many people were just so bored that they would do this to entertain themselves.
When Jason cleared his throat that is when I realize he was done unpacking. ‘How long have you been standing there?’ I asked him.
‘Long enough to hear you counting when you catch the ball.’ He said while trying not to laugh.
‘Well, it makes it more fun that way, you have to beat your best score.’ I simply answered.
He came to sit next to me on the couch, while I resumed my amusing game. ‘I can’t believe I’ve never thought about this before.’ I said out loud but more to myself.
‘What were you doing before?’ Jason asked.
‘Honestly?’ I turned and asked him. He nodded so I answered honestly, ‘I would lye down and stare at the ceiling, play a game by myself, read a book. I don’t have lots of them but I read them a lot. Also my aunts had giving me magazines, but they are really old so you have to be careful when you turn the page.’ I answered while shaking my head and feeling embarrassed.
‘Wow, ok, we need to find you some new hobbies.’ He said with a grin on his face.
‘Well I do go to parties, Laura lets me know when and where and I go to her house eat diner, get ready and we leave. I believe that counts as something fun.’ I answered him with a smile.
‘Ok, that one’s fine, but the others, you need to have fun.’ He said.
‘I like school, school is fun.’
‘Wow, you are the first person I have ever met that said that. You like school?’ he asked. I nodded in return, all he said was, ‘Wow’ while shaking his head.
‘Speaking of school, tomorrow is Monday, so I’m sorry in advance when or if I wake you up.’ I informed him.
‘Don’t worry about it, I’m here if you want or need me. Also, I’ll need to go too the library and write up some resumes to find a job.’ He said.
‘Ok’ I got up and went to the kitchen. I opened a couple of doors before I found what I was looking for.
I walked back to Jason and held out my hand. He extended his arm and opened his hand and I let drop the extra key for the apartment. ‘You’ll need this.’ I told him with a shy smile.
‘Thanks.’ He said.
‘One thing,’ I started, he nodded his head, ‘Always, Always lock the door, when you leave, when you’re here, I don’t care just make sure the door is always locked.’ I told him, practically begging with my eyes.
He answered so fast, ‘Yeah, for sure, no problem. I promise, the door will always be locked.’ He slowly stood up and looked at me, like asking permission for something.
It wasn’t long, I understood what his eyes were saying, and his arms were around me again, holding me. Like a shield that would keep me safe no matter what. I let myself relax and rested my head against him. I could feel the tears start building up in my eyes. The door always had to be locked, I had to take every measures to keep myself safe. If my father ever found me, knew where I lived. That door with the three locks was my only hope.
‘I promise, I’ll do anything to keep you safe.’ I heard him whisper in my ear. After I heard him say that, I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed a little, letting him know I appreciate that.
‘I’m glad you’re here.’ I told him. It was true, he needed a place to stay and I needed a friend and some company…before I died of boredom.
When we pulled apart, I decided I should go to bed. It was getting late and tomorrow I had school.
I went to the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my teeth, used the bathroom. Walking out of the bathroom I could hear Jason and the noise the ball makes when it hits the wall. I started laughing at him, which made him lose his concentration and missed the ball.
‘Oops, sorry.’ I said.
‘Don’t worry, I only got as far as 4.’ He answered. ‘Going to bed?’ he asked.
‘Yeah.’
‘Do you want me to sleep on the couch?’ he asked.
I rolled my eyes, I thought we had already discussed this. I looked at him and said, ‘No, the couch will break your back, you’re not sleeping on the floor cause that would be very mean of me to make you sleep there. You can sleep in the bed with me, like last time.’ I said.
‘You sure?’ he asked
‘Yes, But… same rules apply. Got it?’ I said pointing my finger at him and raised my eyebrow.
‘No touching got it.’ He answered then he added, ‘Do you want me to go to bed now?’
‘Are you tired?’ I asked him.
‘Umm.’ Was his answer.
I laughed, ‘No you don’t have to go to sleep now. Play with the ball, when you’re tired come on in.’
‘The noise won’t keep you up?’ he asked.
‘No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.’ I answered him.
‘Goodnight’ I said over my shoulder. ‘Night’ he answered back.
I went into my bedroom, our bedroom, wow that was weird to say. I’d have to get used to that. Grabbed my pj’s and closed the bedroom door. I changed and then got into the bed. I put the long body pillow in the middle of the bed, like I had done last time.
As I was trying to relax, all I could hear was the ball hitting the wall. It made me smile, it was such a great feeling to know that someone else was here with me. Someone good, who wouldn’t hurt me nor beat me, for once I had someone who knew the truth about me and was still here and was willing to protect me, it was great, feeling like this, and it was all due to Jason. It’s so strange how life goes sometimes.
Counting the times the ball hit the wall, made me fall asleep. For once I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
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