I was completely submerged in the water by the time I woke up and I broke out of the surface in a coughing fit. Imagine dying by drowning in a bathtub, how pathetic could I be? "Fuck," I cursed once I took a good look at my watch which I had placed near me but not too close in the water, "I must be really tired," I mumbled and pull myself out of the tub and wrapping the towel that I was neatly folded on the sink counter.
I faced the mirror and sigh, for some reason, I still could feel the man's body pressed tightly towards me as he swayed us back and forth, even for that split second of contact, I felt like I was dancing with him for hours. I move aside a strand of wet hair sticking at the side of my face, it was the second time I had dreamed of those people and it was disturbing, there was no point in trying to assure myself that it was normal when in fact it was not.
A knock came from the door, "Yes?" I stammered out loud and pull myself away from the sink, startled. "Temper? Are you alright in there?" it was Jodie and sigh at my idiocy. I fixed the towel around me and opened the door, not minding that I was nowhere near decent at the moment, "Hey Jodie," I greeted and she grinned at me, "You good?" she asked and assessed me up and down "I'm fine, I just doze off that's all, what can I help you with?" I asked while grabbing my duffel bag and swinging it over my shoulder.
She motioned her hand on the bed, "I left some of my clothes for you to wear, you can keep it too, I don't really use them anymore," she said and pulled something out from her pocket, "And this is a key," she said it as if it wasn't the most obvious thing. She grabbed my hand and placed the key on my palm. I chuckled, unsure of what was happening, "Okay," I trailed off and played with the key in between my fingers.
"What's this for?"
She clapped her hands while her grin widened, "That's the key to your apartment," she squealed and jumped up and down while I just stared at her dumbfounded. "What?" yeah, that was the only thing I could say.
She rolled her eyes and laughed loudly, "Your apartment silly. I reckoned since finding an apartment is a bit tight these days so I decided to just offer you one of the apartments that I own," I continued to gape at her, my jaw hanging in disbelief.
Once I had recovered, I shoved the key back to her and shook my head furiously, "I can't possibly do that, you've done so much for me today and this is too much," I said while she waves a hand in front of my face, dismissing what I said. "Please, this is barely half of what you've done for me back then," she said and shoved the key back towards me I made another move to give her back the key but she held on to my fist and clamped on it tightly, "Take it, I mean it besides, to make you feel a little better cause you're too big of a softie, you also have to pay the rent in my stead since you're living there and not me," she said, smiling brightly at me.
She lets go of my hand and I grabbed hers', "Your apartment's probably expensive, I can't possibly pay the rent since I don't have a job at the present moment," I said trying to sound convincing as possible but she just snapped her fingers, "Aha! I also got that covered, I'll ask Sean tomorrow if he's hosting any interview for any vacant spots in his company, I'm sure we can work things out," she pulled out her phone and typed something before putting it back to her pocket, "You're good with working with anything right?" she asked and before I could answer she nodded at me and grinned, "Of course you are, great,"
This was too much for me to process right now.
I rub the spot between my eyes to ease the growing headache. Jodie had left me and started placing some random things around the room while I stood watching, still wrapped up in a towel and my hair dripping to the ground.
She stopped moving the things around the room and headed to the door and turn to look at me, "Dinner's ready," she said and turn to leave but I called out to her, bringing her attention back to me, "Can I skip dinner? I'm a little worn out from everything that had happened today, will that be alright?" I looked at her, too pleadingly, might I add, like a child on Christmas day wanting to see if Santa is real or not.
"You are really too adorable Temper, of course, you can, I'll be leaving you a leftover in the fridge in case you get hungry at night," she giggled like a kid, "and don't worry, you'll probably find the kitchen easily, just follow the smell, it always lingers," I nodded, thankful.
"Oh and before I forget, I moved that reunion we were supposed to have today tomorrow and you better come," I open my mouth but she pointed a finger at me, "And no excuses," she laughs like a witch before dancing her way out of the room, leaving me in regret.
Typical Jodie, I've always wondered how she got her own company with her rash personality, with no offense of course. I went to the bed and found a pile of neatly folded clothes stacked on top of each other. I checked each one and shoved it inside my duffle bag. Among those piles was a set of pajamas that I didn't think twice to wear and honestly, it was the most comfortable thing I have ever worn in my entire life.
I sat on the bed cautiously and felt myself bounce up a little. I could hardly contain myself and started rolling on the bed, wrinkling the covers in the process. I felt like I was on the clouds and I just wanted to stay here forever, I sigh in content and stopped moving, splaying my hands to the side which hardly occupied any of the space at all. I suddenly remembered my dream again and I frowned, feeling a mix of emotions brewing inside of me. Exhausted with everything around me, I felt sleep drag my eyelids down, pulling me into another slumber, my head drowned in the sea of questions that just seem to pile up more and more.
Then I woke up…just like that or rather the frightening crack of the thunder woke me up and I sat in the bed in silence. The strong falling of the rain pelted aggressively on the window and I shivered in the sudden change of temperature. My throat suddenly felt dry and not to mention my stomach making weird noises. I slid out of the bed and towards the door. I just hope I don't get lost. I walked out of the room and walked blindly down the dimly lit hall, barefooted and only a few sconces to guide my way down the stairs.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, a wonderful smell lingered in the air and I felt my stomach rumble, thankfully, no one was around. I followed the delightful aroma and it leads me to a large kitchen with a tall counter in the middle of it. It wasn't so dark here compared to the rest of the house but it was still dimly lit that I had to make sure I was holding what I was meant to be holding.
I found the fridge without a problem, thankfully, and opened it slowly to reveal the treasure that is offered inside. A plate of steak with a sticky note with my name on it reassured me that it was my dinner and took it willingly. It was getting cold but I had no idea how the microwave worked in this place and where it was so I ate it in one go, not minding how it numbed my tongue but it satisfied my empty belly.
My throat was still dry though and I started to get a little too thirsty. I look around once again and squinted my eyes to try and find where the cups were when someone cleared their throat behind me which made me nearly screamed bloody murder if it wasn't for the piece of steak still in my mouth. I turn to look at where the sound came from and I saw a tall frame leaning against the door.
I took a deep breath and started choking on the steak that was still on my mouth. "-elp meh," I choked out and I heard the stranger's footsteps pass by me in a hurry, the sound of a glass clinking, the faucet turning on and then something being placed in front of me. I blindly grabbed the cup somewhere in front of me, spilling some water in my hurry.
I chug it down and gasped in relief.
"I owe you my thanks, I could have died over a piece of steak," I coughed and I heard the person chuckle, "No problem, it wasn't much of a big deal really," the person said and this person was in fact a guy and I felt shame fill me when he grabbed the empty plate in front of me. "Oh, you don't have to do that," I protested and attempted to take it away from him but he ignored me and washed the plate.
"Thanks, you didn't really have to do that,"
"It's alright, I live here so it's kind of my job,"
I wipe the water on my mouth and coughed again. "Are you alright?" he asked, turning to face me but he was partly shrouded by darkness so he wasn't really visible. I nodded and placed the empty glass on the counter, "That was a bit embarrassing but thanks," I laugh pathetically but to my relief, he laughed along with me, easing my mood a little.
"So who are you?" he asked and I cleared my throat and offered him my hand, "I'm Temperance, Jodie's friend," he took it and shook it gently, "I'm Everest, uhm, Jodie's friend…as well," for some reasons he sounded unsure but I dismissed the thought and smiled, "It's nice to meet you,"
"I didn't know Jodie brought a friend over, how come I didn't see you at dinner?" he asks and walks around the room, sipping a steaming cup of coffee that he made after shaking my hand. "Oh, I went to sleep immediately," I replied and he nodded, "What are you doing up this late?" he asked, "I got hungry and thirsty and Jodie told me that there were some leftovers for me so here I am,"
"You? What are you doing here this late?" I asked and he took another sip of his coffee, "Business stuff. It was supposed to be my brother's job but he had an emergency meeting with the board yesterday and hasn't been home since then so I had to do it," he sighs and took finished the whole cup, "It's a really stressful job," he groaned and I laugh lightly, "Well, I guess I have to head back up, I probably took your time," I smiled at him and he shook his head, "It's alright, Jodie would actually appreciate that I saved her friend," he chuckled.
I duck my head a little and laugh, "Good night then," I headed to the exit and waved at him.
"Night,"