Strangers

Chapter 2

6 months later.

It's almost a year. I thought I would do something special for these three people who is more of a family than my real family ever was to me. It been 6, mouths since I have been working and of course they pay well! I am thankful. After we close up.

“Why don't we cook some food a have a few drinks tonight? I've already buy liquor! I am going to phone Kt what do you say?” I asked!

“Okay.” Said Sasha

I head up to my room, and started the cooking… It was Sasha and Noah favorite dishes and then I call them over after I was finished. I had bought two expensive bottles of red wine. Kt came an hour later.

After eating and drinking we talked and laughed a lot. I haven't done this in a while, back then Sasha was the one who would cook a buy expensive wine actually it was taken from the hotel stock's then.

“I miss this.” I saout loudand we all laugh.

“Well, we have do but everyone has been busy lately. ” Said Sasha!

kt then suggests I got a house because it would be better for me in apace and privacy.

"Ahh, are you trying to get rid of me…. Oh, I'm hurt.'

We all laugh.

Kt: No no, just giving a suggestion you know. Instead of paying for a hotel room why not own a house instead.

Sasha: Yeah...that's actually a great idea you should totally get a house, even though I'm going to miss you we could always visit back and forth with your job you could afford it.

Sheila: I'll think about it.

I said to them avoiding the idea. I didn't want to leave because they are so good to me, and they treat me so well we're like family. It was the weekend and so we decided party a little bit we drank till we were out this time around.

Two weeks pass by like rain, I can't believe Saturday is here again. Another drunken weekend after getting our self together and cleaning up the next morning, Sasha start to show me some pictures of houses just half an hour away from the hotel.

“Great.” I said when I saw one I liked.

"Let's go together.” I said and Sasha eyes were wide open, I could only imagine how happy my offer makes her.

"Yes, I would more than love to." She said.

“Next weekend is okay? I just want to spend time with you guys.” I said.

She smiles.

“Okay sweetie.”

And so it was the weekend for the house visiting. The one I saw was sold but another one caught my eyes and I really like it, it had a backyard and it got a lot of space and the kitchen is amazing.

‘I loved it. I want it.’

I whispered among myself just then Sasha comes up to me.

“Do you want it?” Sasha asked me!

“Yes I do but I don't have the cash ready to pay a sign my name saying I own it, the house is a little too expensive but it's worth it I guess. It's such a shame I don't have the money right now to buy it.”

I said as low as I could to Sasha.

“Let me help!” she said.

“No.” I said!

“Oh come on we are family and family helps each other.” She said and I felt weird for a few seconds.

‘But we aren't really family sash.’

“I insist and you can always pay me back. I'm not taking no for an answer plus its only an hour and a half drive to both work and the hotel.” Sasha said and I look up at her!

“Fine okay…..I'm so happy. I'll definitely pay you back.” I said and she smiled.

“Oh, but there is no rush... And you might just find someone to share the master room with. Speaking of… Did you see how beautiful both master and guest room look!?” She added!

And I laugh at what I thought was a joke but when I look back at her she wasn't laughing at all not even a little bit.

“Ahh, you are se..ri..o.us.?”

“Yes, you might never know.” She reply.

“Okay in the far future.” I murmured.

Knowing there is no such thing as love for me, I suddenly remember that the only real love I ever received was from Sasha and the guy's now that I think about it I never told them about the life I left behind or why I left home and why I end up here the way I did! They never ask and well I guess I never tell.

I quickly shake it off again because I didn't want to shut them out of come in to a some what close to them, I became fearful of trusting and letting people in because they always left when things start going right or bad! I just find it so hard to trust people around me. Even Sasha and the guys they seem so cool and easy going yet I still find it hard to trust and let them in.

I feel as if ' if I let them in and allow them get close to me, am going to end up alone and on the run again so I keep them on a safe distance… Better be safe than sorry. I build up this tall bearer and it's very solid so far no one has been able to break it. I'm very sure that they ain't going be anyone who's strong enough to make it break through make in it fall.

⁂•••⁂

Replacement!

A year and a half pass by so quickly. I am glad that I have pay sash back in full.

Ah, why am I so tired today??? I have been working extra hard these past few weeks, but it's all because I want to keep my spot at all cast I was so tired I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

Mr. Le Mr. Le.

I opened my eyes I am lying flat on my back. it's the first time I'm dreaming of my new apartment correction, my new home. My new home I said repeatedly feeling happy to say such words in my mouth as I smile.

When I checked the time its almost 5 in the morning I just kept laying down, I can't believe the time. I got up and head to the kitchen for water before I knew it, it was 7 am. So I made breakfast and lunch together to take with me then get ready for work I was so happy today I thought to myself on my way to work.

*But little did I know how my life was going to change in so many ways.*

I came back from lunch sitting at my desk _Sheila Jackson. SHEILA JACKSON!!!_ I jump a little in my chair only realizing then that I have forgotten all about my dream. I turned to see my boss who has been calling me since may be forever.

“Last, in thoughts I see.” She said.

“I'm sorry, Ms Williams.” Amanda Williams our chief editor and director.

“Y'all can finish up and take the rest of the week an the one ahead off!.”

We could take the rest of the week and we should return to the office a week after the following week??? While my colleagues are all getting excited about this. I wasn't, I didn't like the idea, but I love that we would have a break but two weeks I didn't like the sudden changes though! We have been working really hard these past few weeks, well some of us was... So I went after my Amanda asking her!?

“Why all of a sudden?” She e turns to me and I took a step back!

“Sheila I know you love your job, it's been almost two years that you have been with us... You're very hard working. Look at you asking why? Instead of being excited like everyone else.” She said!

“Thats because I'm”

“Yes, I know you're very different. You always sacrifice yourself and your time just to finish your task on time and help others however, we do this every two years." Amanda said!

“But why I don't get it, explain to me why?” I asked for an explanation which she did seem to want to give.

“Because some of them are going to be replaced you know this.! We talked about it in your interview or have you suddenly forgotten about it?" Amanda ask!

“No, I haven't.” I said to her, I mean how could I!?

“You aren't going to be a replaced, seeing how you're hard working and doing overtime just get things to finish on time.”

She said, and I thought it that really a bad thing!?

“Do you see any of them do overtime?” She suddenly asked me!

“No, but”

“No, but Sheila it's just how it is, which why I have no problem with telling you all of this I'm just give in them the break to prepare them for what's coming.”

“But why give to them a wholed two weeks before replacing them”

Before I could finish she cuts me off. “Keep it to yourself, Jackson, I like you and this is why I feel comfortable telling you about this.” She said with a hand to my shoulder.

“But why do I feel like it's me who is going to get replaced.” I said it so fast I thought she didn't catch a word.

“Do see me take inthe other with me to the higher up or to those meeting or even to lunch?” She ask!

“No.” I reply.

“Then it's not you.” She said.

“Okay, but if there is anything you need anything at all just call me, I'll come running.” She smiles.

“I know and that's why it won't be you, I have already make sure of it. So go home a take rest you'll need it dear.” She said turning me to the stairs to go down.

“Okay.” I said, and went back to my desk.

I stayed in the office till work time was over. Amanda is about to leave. We'll leave together when she saw me, she said.

“I thought I told you it was not you why are you still here!” And smile.

“And leaving all the work to you no way.”

We bout laugh as I clean up my desk putting things together and then we both took the elevator down, it was a silent ride down to the last floor and to the entrance then we were about to go our separate ways. When I suddenly stopped Amanda and asked her! If she knew anyone with the first or last name Le?

“Why?” She asked!

“I had a dream that woke me up at five this morning.” I said!

“Ohh no...” She replies but her face reaction said differently and I didn't say anything about it because I didn't want her to know I saw right through her poker face.

“Okay bye, see you.”

After saying bye, I head home... I got home exactly 7:30 pm I order pizza and take a shower sat in front of the TV after a while I checked the time it's almost 10:00 pm. As I got up I saw someone run past my side window.

I thought I was seeing things because I would normally be asleep at this time. so I ignore it and locked the door. I was about half way up the stairs when I heard sounds coming from the backyard….

My memory drags back to the person I thought I saw and ignores I then exclaimed it could be the guy next door dog' again trying ruin things. *But little did I know what awaiting me.*

I had to get a dog shelter built out there because I was planning on getting one but didn't. I went back down the stairs after I heard a louder noise and follow the hallway to the back door! I open the door and went outside I was so afraid. a little sound would scare the hell out of me.

“Oh God, what am I doing?” I asked myself hen I saw the my green sneakers that I couldn't find!

“I must have left you guys out here and totally forgot about you!” I said talking to the shoes. As I was about to pick up my sneakers I heard a group men talking, I thought god there are so loud for me to hear them all the way back here, one of the said you would better find him. Then I smell blood fresh blood at that I turned trying to see where it's coming from!!!

I said out loud enough so whoever it was could hear, “I won't hurt you you know.”

"I know." A man voice said coming from over the dog shelter.

I was going to turned around face in him when he said don't move, and I don't know how or why but my body obeyed him like I'm a robot in his controls.

“Are you hurt?” “Of course, your hurt, I can smell the blood!” I quickly added.

"Really?" He ask! I felt the hot air from his mouth on the back of my neck.

“W….h...e...n….wh...en did you get so close.?” I asked.!

But when I didn't get an answer I spin around to see him collapsed on the ground.

“Really how am I going to help you, when I don't even know if I can manage to curry you? Ahh, just my bad luck tonight of all night I held his arm and tried to carry him, God, you're heavy.” I said drop him back to the ground.

I decided to pulled him in by his arms instead because if those guys find him, he's dead meat and in my backyard at that. I turn the sprinkler's on to wash away the blood.

“Is he going live because he lost a lot of blood?” I asked myself returning to the couch when I left him.

After I was back inside I walk over look at his wound he had last a lot of blood and by the looks of I couldn't bring to a hospital... Moreover, those guys are still out there so I patched him up as good I could, I then help him up from the couch.

“Oh god, you're heavy!” I said as I struggle to bring him to the guest room.

I have a liking for men's t-shirt so I happen to have a lot of them, I put one on him I went downstairs and clean up. After sometime I was on my way from the bathroom when I heard mumbling, I went see him turning and struggling from what seems like a nightmare.

I went inside and sat next to him trying to wake him up, so he could see that he is safe for now at least after sometime his eyes wide open. He looks relieved and confuses at the same time, the look on his face makes want to hug him & tell it's okay. It's going to be okay. But I couldn't let my guard down. not like this.

Not for a complete stranger whom I helped from my backyard at that. I refuse to let myself feel anything for a complete stranger, not even pettiness, cause I learn that the hard way that not every smile is real or genuine.