The Step In Girlfriend

Chapter 1 As Thick As Thieves I walk through the door dumping my soaking wet bag as I went, slowing my pace I enter the living room dripping wet, I was making a little puddle on the carpet. Laying on the sofa asleep was my darling boyfriend, normally, I would leave him to sleep for a few hours, but he caused this. He was supposed to pick me up from work but didn't show, now that would have been fine if it didn't start to tip down with rain. Now I know what you're thinking, why didn't I like phone a taxi or get a friend to pick me up? Most of my friends are still at work and the friend that I normally got a ride with is on holiday! None of the taxis were running either, so it was either Roman pick me up or walk. I waited outside of work for an hour thinking there could be traffic, but no it's just he decided he needed some beauty sleep! I could have been like a normal person and woke him up calmly, but let me tell how not normal I really am. Just seeing him lying there all peaceful and warm, wasn't sitting well with me and my new puddle under me. I make my way over to the kitchen taking a bowl from the cupboard, I start to fill said bowl up with cold water. Before you say I'm going too far, I thought about adding ice so I'm not all bad. I carefully carry the now quite heavy bowl of water back to the living room; I hover over sleeping beauty before dumping the cold water on him. He immediately sits up breathing heavily looking up at me, I just stood there smirking. "What are you doing?!" He asks loudly looking down at his wet clothes, at least we're matching now. "What was that thing you were supposed to do around 3pm?" I ask calmly looking at him, I'm not gonna lie when I say that was a great stress reliever. He looks rather confused for a second before realisation fills his face, he takes a look out the balcony window where he discovers the torrential rain outside. "Babe, I'm so sorry I must have fallen asleep" he says getting to his feet, him too now making a puddle. "Oh, don't worry, that was a good stress reliever which means you’re safe for another day, but now you have the task of drying the carpet and the really wet sofa" I smile walking away and towards our bedroom, as I make it to the door, I hear him laughing from the living room. I love the kind of relationship we have, we don't take anything too seriously, which with the type of person I am a great thing! Me and Roman met when we were in our last year of school, but I knew of him years before. Him and a few of his annoying friends sat behind me in so many of my lessons, that's what I assumed Roman was going to be like. But one day, he approached me after lesson and asked me on a date, now once again I thought this guy was super annoying. But I also didn't have very good self-confidence, so when this guy actually showed an interest in me, I couldn't say no. We ended up going on that date and he actually wasn't annoying! We started dating and the rest of history. I moved in with him and his annoying friend Austin nearly two years ago now, I would have moved in with him sooner but as like I just implied, his friend is really annoying! Roman and him have been friends since they've been little, they've done everything together and I mean everything! I had just finished drying my hair when the front door opens, Austin's voice echoing through the house. Why does that man have to be so loud? I just roll my eyes as the bedroom door also opens; Austin stood in the doorway. "Don't you know how to knock; I could have been naked?!" I ask while he just raises an eyebrow walking into the bedroom anyway, Roman close behind him apologising to me. "I wouldn't have minded, you could have given me a free show" Austin shrugs taking a seat on the bed and watching me, I turn my body around to look at the annoying man staring back at me. "Payton" he says with a smile, I take a look to Roman who was also staring at Austin confused. "Austin" I say just saying his name like he just did with mine. "I'm glad we've got each other's names established, but why are you sat on the bed just staring me out?" I ask with a raised eyebrow, now you might understand why I say he's so annoying. "Have I ever told you how pretty you are and how much I truly value our friendship?" He asks smiling sweetly from the bed, no he's never told me that but from that sentence I know he wants something. "What do you need?" I ask crossing my arms over my chest with a raised eyebrow, he could have just flat out told me he wanted something from me and not sat there wasting my time. "I need to borrow some money, normally I'd ask Roman, but I know he's going on that business trip in a few days, you're the only other person I can ask" he says sitting up straight while I just roll my eyes, but I couldn't really say no, could I? "How much and what do you need it for?" I ask reaching over to grab my phone from the desk, it would be quicker to do a bank transfer, this not being the first time I've needed to send him money. "£500, yes I know it's a lot, but I might have accidentally run up a huge bill at the bar down the road. The owners threatening to call the police and get me arrested if I don't pay him by the end of today" he says giving me the long sob story, I shake my head before successfully sending him over the money. It takes a few seconds to process before his face lights up, I'm not lying when I yell you the amount of relief that was on his face. I mean obviously he doesn't want to get arrested and I'm not the type of person just leave him to deal with it alone. "Thank you so much Payton, I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I get paid" he exclaims running over and placing a huge kiss on my head, which I was very shocked about. "I have to go to pay this now, I'll order pizza for dinner!" He shouts before he bolts out of the bedroom, seconds later the front door open and closes. "Is he okay?" I ask Roman whilst standing up from my chair, Roman hadn't moved from the spot he was standing in but was just staring at the wall. "He's been acting off for a few weeks now, I wish I wasn't going on an eight-week business trip when somethings clearing not right with Austin" Roman sighs which I did have to agree with him on some points, I also didn't want him to have to leave for eight weeks and something was clearly off with Austin. "While you're not here I'll keep an eye on him, as much as that man annoys me, I don't want you worrying about him while you're away" I smile walking over to stand beside him, I knew having to watch over Austin would be mentally tiring for me. Roman looks over smiling at me, he takes my arms pulling me in for a hug. I hold him tightly whilst hearing a car skid away outside, but Roman laughing slightly snaps me from that. "I bet when I come home, you two are gonna be as thick as thieves" he jokes which does make me roll my eyes, yeah like that's ever gonna happen. Chapter 2 What’s Going On? It was a few hours later, the whole time I'd been helping Roman pack for his trip. He co-owns this technology place, they're hoping to sell this new piece of tech which if I'm being honest, I have no idea what it does. Him and his business partner are going to have a bunch of interviews with a long list of companies all over the world, hoping a few of them will invest in his idea. He asked if I wanted to join him, but I knew I couldn't take that much time off work, so as much as it's gonna hurt to be away from him for two months. It will all be worth it when he's able to get the right funds to make his new invention, even if I still have no idea what it does. "Make sure you don't forget to wear a tie in every interview, I won't be there to drop one off for you" I tell him whilst zipping up his suitcase, the number of times I've had to sprint to an office on the opposite side of town just to give him a tie. "I'll try not to" he laughs as the front door opens and closes, this tells us Austin is back from paying off his debt to the bar owner. "Payton!" He shouts his voice like always echoing through the house. "Can you come in here please, I'm in the bathroom, only you!" He shouts which does make me look up at Roman, who was also sending a confused look to the door. I shrug my shoulders making my journey out of the bedroom and towards the bathroom, while Roman stayed behind packing the rest of his things away. I walk up to the door knocking twice, for some reason the bathroom door was locked. The door soon unlocks where Austin's face pops out, when he was satisfied that Roman didn't join me, he takes me by the arm and pulls me into the little bathroom. I stand there totally confused as he locks the door behind us, why is he being so secretive? "What are doing?" I ask as he turns and shows me his blood-soaked arm, my eyes immediately go wide as I stare down at the huge gash. "What happened?" I ask moving closer but didn't take ahold of his arm, I didn't want to hurt him as it already looked like he was in so much pain already. "The man at the bar didn't like that I was ten minutes late paying my bill, he grabbed ahold of a glass and smashed it over my arm" he explains whilst whining slightly, what kind of owner would treat his customers like this?! "I can't tell Roman because then he'll get worried and won't leave for his trip, he really needs this break and I can't take that from him" he whines leaning up against the counter, blood now dripping onto the floor. "I can take you to the hospital-" I suggest but he was quick to cut me off immediately, wouldn't he want that to get professionally cleaned up?! "We can't! Please Payton, I know we don't see eye to eye, but I really need your help" he pleads with me, I take a look at his face which held so many emotions that I've never seen on Austin's face ever. "Okay, I'll help you as best as I can" I say giving in to helping him, but I knew I was gonna need some first aid things that I don't think we have. "I'm gonna have to head out to get some bandages and things" I say about to walk out the bathroom, but he takes my hand stopping me from opening the door. "You can't leave me in here, Roman will come and ask what's going on" Austin whisper yells like Roman was hiding behind the door or something, but I knew Roman wasn't like that. "Then how do you expect me to help you, Austin! You want me to help you, but you don't want me to leave to get the things I'll need to help you! Do you know how backwards that sounds?!" I ask now also whisper yelling, I get why Austin doesn't want Roman to find out because Roman does need to go on this trip, but I didn't know what the dude wants from me! "I'll drive you there, you can head in the shop while I wait in the car" he says opening up one of the draws pulling piece of cloth out and wrapping it around his arm, where is that even from? "Are you sure you're going to be able to drive with one hand?" I ask while he whines in pain pulling that cloth tightly, that might make the gash worse. He just nods his head before unlocking the door, but he doesn't fully leave yet and begins to look both ways. Once I guess the coast was clear, he bolts out of the bathroom and over to the front door. When that man wants to run, he can run! I roll my eyes leaving the bathroom, just as Roman walks out the bedroom sending me a confused look. "What's going on, why's he left in such a rush?" He asks confused looking around, where he soon spots the front door wide open.