5 - Abby POV
1160 Words
Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot.
That is what I am saying to myself over and over trying to drag this man back to my house, slightly halting to readjust or if he loses his footing.
Left foot. Right foot. C'mon. Almost there.
My house was coming into view. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see that little cottage in all my life.
"Look sir, we are nearly at mine. Then I can call that ambulance on the landline." I had been checking my mobile but service kept dropping in and out so I was scared that I would lose connection.
I rustle for my keys as we reach the front door, the sun had come over the horizon and was shining on us. Swatting at the handle, we tumble in as the door falls open with us.
"Sorry. Let me set you on the sofa." No response. I look and his eyes have closed. Sh*t! I check his pulse - the beats reverberate up my fingers. Thank god!
There was no easy way to do this - I shuffled my arms under his armpits and dragged him to our living room, weaving through our furniture as much as I could.
RING FOR HELP! My brain internally shouts as I roll him onto our sofa. I turn towards the landline, picking it up to start dialling.
*Ring ring* *Ring ring*
My mobile vibrates on my arm holder. Caller - Maeve
I quickly answer "Maeve, can it wait? Got a situation going on at the house."
"Seriously, less than 24 hours with no parents and you got trouble." She chastised in response.
"No, Maeve! I found a stranger hurt, badly, and so he is at my house and I need an ambulance!"
"WHAT! HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF STRANGER DANGER?"
"I PANICKED!" I am still panicking.
"Look, my sister, Adelaide, you remember her? She is just starting her paramedic shift. I will ring her and tell her to go to your house." I could hear the tension in Maeve's voice. I knew she was worried about my choices - I was too! There was a stranger on my sofa who looked like death!
I did not register when Maeve ended the call nor how much time had passed as I watched the stranger sleep on my sofa; passed out would have probably been a better way to describe it. The only time I took my eyes on him was to get him water and a bucket for when he woke up.
He might have just had a crazy night out on the town!? ... I gaze back at my arm holder, which had some of the knives that were in the trees; they were small so I took a couple to give to Earnest, the rest I chucked in the hollow den under a tree.
What kind of night out includes throwing knives?
My thoughts were interrupted by three knocks on the door. I take one last look at the stranger before I answer, like I was scared he would move or disappear when I left the room.
"Adelaide - thank god!" This girl was 5 years older than me but used to look after me and Maeve when she was in her teens. Her caramel skin was encased by her brunette-blonde hair with the brown eyes to match.
"You are just lucky I had no calls - its a quiet morning." She walked past me, heading straight to my living room. "I thought it was bad luck to say the 'Q' word on shift?" I mused, trying to ease a bit of the tension in the atmosphere but was only met with a deadpan stare.
"Look... I know you were trying to help, I mean you literally want to save every injured creature you cross, but this is dangerous. You have no idea who he is and you have him in your house with no one around."
Sighing, I hung my head down low. She was right - typical Adelaide. My shoulders shifted as she placed her hands on them. "I get it, that's why me and Maeve like you and your family."
She glances back at the man on my sofa. "OK, I will check him over and see if I can either find out who he is and/or wake him up. Why don't you make breakfast and shower 'cos you stink of sweat right now." She gives me a playful smile at that last comment.
"You try lugging him over your shoulder from Sherwood to here and let me know how you get on, ok!?" I scoff as I march up the stares, but I do enjoy her cheeky side. It's why I liked having her look after me.
I quickly showered then made my way to the kitchen. "Would you like anything, Ads? I was going to do a fry up for post run." I shout across from the kitchen. "I'll take a bacon butty to go, please?"
So that is what I did, started buttering bread whilst cooking some sausages and bacon - I made extra for the stranger in case he was hungry when he woke up. Hell, if he was just hungover then he would need the fry up.
What if he is a vegetarian?
Hmm... guess I will make scrambled egg then.
What if he is vegan?
For God's sake, if he is then he will have to raid the cupboards. I thought to myself as whisked eggs in a bowl with milk and put them in the microwave.
I started to lay out the little table we have in the kitchen, placing some juices and cereals off centre along with some slices of bread. Now there is your vegan option.
*Ding*
Checking the eggs, I gave them a quick mix again before pouring them into a bowl for serving. I repeated this with the sausages and bacon by putting them on plates to be put on the table. Figures Adelaide could do her butty buffet style once she saw this spread.
"Ads, breakfast is ser-AHHH!" My words are halted as the stranger, who I thought looked like death moments earlier, was now standing in front of me, wearing nothing but his birthday suit.
Keep your eyes up! Keep them up!
He slowly creeps towards me, maintaining eye contact all time. I would be admiring his brown eyes if he wasn't using them to stare deep inside.
Stopping inches from me, he just... stares. "Hi." Was all I could muster out. What he did next really caught me off guard. He slightly crouches and embraces me in a hug, his huge arms encasing me as he puts his head into my shoulder.
Yep, just casually being hugged by the naked stranger I saved earlier.
I awkwardly return it whilst looking over his shoulder at Adelaide, who has face palmed at the scene unfolding in front of her.
- Writer
