Scarlet scars

Chapter 21: Help

Scarlet

“You can go back now” I said when I reached the door and noticed he was still following me. He refused to let me go alone. He would either bring me home in his car or he would walk me home. And I’m sure you can guess what happened.

“Didn’t last time teach you a lesson about leaving your car unattended?” I asked folding my arms up on my chest.

“Thomas already got the car and won’t you invite me in?” he asked and I gaped at what he said. I wondered if he was on a mission to get me killed.

“Did you hear me when I said I needed to do my chores and I had no time?” he was giving me puppy eyes. Like really? The Jerald standing at my door giving me puppy eyes. No one would believe me if I said this in public. But anyway who could say no to that?

“Okay I’m helping you and nothing you say is going to change my mind” he pushed past me and into the house and I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I asked him as I closed the door behind me

“This is better than everything I’ve done in years, besides it’s my fault your chores piled up. I owe you this” he said looking around the house. This was so sweet and I felt so warm inside. Apart from Adeline, no one has ever been this good to me. To go as far as helping me out with my chores.

I was still hesitant but I went ahead and brought out the cleaning materials. We took to cleaning and talking and catching up. He asked me about my studies and I talked about Adline, Mr Grande and how I wished I could get a good posting job immediately after graduation. time seemed to be moving fast as we did this and that around the house.

He had his sleeves rolled up and might I add, he looked hot. I know you are probably tired of hearing it but, I might never stop saying it.

I asked him why he let Thomas work my shift and his response was that he knew I wouldn’t agree to ask for sick leave, so he had to ask someone to stand in for me. But I complained that it must have been unfair to Thomas and he went like “he was glad to do it. Besides he had a lot of free time and he didn’t know what to do with it”. It must be hard having such a boss. I feel bad for the guy.

We were done after two hours with the cleaning and the laundry. He sat on the couch and I could tell he was exhausted. I went ahead and sat next to him wanting to show him my appreciation. I wouldn’t have been done with everything by that time if not for him. I even had enough time to rest.

I saw him try to massage his temples and I moved a bit closer to help him. Immediately I touched his skin, he opened his eyes to look at me and I could have sworn I felt something in places weirdly odd with just one look from him.

I pretended to focus and kept on massaging his head.

“Do you do this kind of work every day?” he asked, his eyes still closed.

“Not really” I said letting go of him and tried to straighten my ponytail. “It’s just that my cousin Michael is coming tomorrow and they might uhm- maybe throw him a homecoming kind of thing party?” I lied and I thought I did a great job because he looked at me for a few seconds and nodded. I continued to massage his head in silence.

“Cally?” he called out breaking the silence

“Mhm” I responded. He turned to face me and took my hands in his.

“I want you to always count on me and know that no matter what I will always be there for you. I know I haven’t been around and I have no excuse for that, but I’m back and here for you” He said his gaze intense “do you hear me?” he asked to which I just stared into his eyes dazed.

No one has ever said anything like that to me and it felt so warm. I couldn’t speak. I just kept on looking at him until he wiped away a tear. Hold up! Why was I crying? I’ve been strong for so long and only cry when it hurts but here I was crying because of his words.

He looked into my eyes with so much emotion that I shuddered. His eyes went down to my lips and they lingered for a while as his thumb brushed them slightly. I suddenly had the urge to lick my lips and before I even had time to process what was happening.

I felt something warm on my lips and my eyes were still wide open in surprise.

He was kissing me, I couldn’t believe it. I closed my eyes as it came naturally to me even though a few seconds ago I was worried that I wouldn’t do it right. Our lips moved in sync.

I felt his tongue brush against my lips and I parted them, to which his tongue delved into my mouth and he continued to kiss me passionately and the way he held me like a glass ornament that would break any time. It was as though he was telling me everything he wanted to say to me in that kiss and I felt it. We kissed until we were out of breath.

We rested our foreheads on each other as we breathed in and out. I found it hard to believe that it had just happened. We stayed like that for a few minutes until I heard the sound of a car. The sound of a car on a Saturday evening? This cannot be right. I got up to check who it might be through the window and when I saw who it was, I felt blood drain from my face and I stood there without moving.

There were three cars outside and I assumed the third one was Michael’s. I only remembered hearing them say they had gotten him a new car but I had never seen it.

“Is there anything wrong Cally?” I heard Jerald say and honestly standing there, I had forgotten he was there and only then did I realise what was happening. I was so going to be dead a few minutes from then and no one would even remember my name.

“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost... Who’s here?” he said lifting the curtain to take a peek and I just stood there contemplating on what I should do. I heard car doors slamming and only then I thought. I couldn’t let them see him. I started to pull him away from the window towards my room. That’s all I could think of. It could at least buy me more time. but he was as heavy as , something heavy. and he want even budging.

“Wait, is that your family?” he asked a bit louder than id liked and I started pulling him faster as I heard more car doors slam. I was panicking and he was making things harder for me.

“Wait where are you taking me, won’t you let me meet em” he said trying to loosen the grip I had on him. He really was on a mission to get me killed. I just gave him a look, more like a glare and that was enough to shut him up and got him moving.

I led him to the stairs and I could hear voices approaching.

I realised his suit jacket was on the sofa and I whisper yelled "go up the stairs" to him and he must have sensed the urgency and fear in my voice as he didn’t try to argue. I picked up the jacket and quickly ascended the stairs. I found him at the top waiting as he didn’t know which way to go.

I led him through the hall and straight to my room. As soon as I closed the door to my room, I heard the voices in the house and I assumed they were inside the house. I was shaking as I didn’t know what I’d do about the tall man in my room.

He stood there looking all around my room as if looking for something he had put there. His tall frame almost touched the roof where it was slanted and he looked like a masterpiece in my old shabby space. what am I saying, he was a master piece.

My thoughts drifted to our kiss in the living room and I felt a flutter in my stomach and I wanted to feel his lips on mine again. 'focus! we need to find a way to escape death' my conscious reminded. I took my eyes away from him because it was the only way I could think properly.

“They shouldn’t be home today” I mumbled as I walked to my small window to check how high it was and if he could survive a jump. Even I had thought of jumping from this window more than once and I know it’s impossible to not break bones or worse, die.

“Is this your room?”

‘I could have taken the risk and let him out through the back door but the time it would to unlock that heavy door. But maybe he could have hidden somewhere in the kitchen till it opened, I mean what are the odds that my aunt or anyone would go straight to the kitchen’ I thought as I left the window.

“Scarlet?” he called out and I mumbled a yes.

‘What was I going to do’? I heard a shuffle beside me and in a second Jay was standing in front of me. He cupped my face and I looked at him all thought leaving my body at once. He leaned in and in the next second his lips were on mine. I forgot everything for a moment and wanted to feel this way forever. The kiss was slow and passionate and I could tell just how much he cared about me through it. Just then I heard voices and footsteps approaching and I broke the kiss.

“Jay, you need to hide please” I said pushing him to the side of my bed and I could feel he wanted to protest but I cut in before he spoke his mind “please, and don’t say anything, we’ll figure out a way” I whispered, making him squat as I shoved my beddings on top of him. No one comes in this room anyway, unless I’m up late.

I could hear a male and female voice just outside my door.

“do you have to come here Michael? You know you could have just called her down. That room is messy and it smells like dung in there” I heard Amelia say. I sighed and stepped forward to open it before they could come in. I was happy Michael was home though.

“Do you have to talk bad about her all the time Amelia? You could at least…” I opened the door cutting off whatever he was about to say and he turned from Amelia to me and when his eyes landed on me, he had this huge smile on his face.

"Scarlet!" He exclaimed as he engulfed me in a huge hug I could barely breathe. I hugged him back and soon as we parted he lifted my hand up and looked me up and down.

“You have grown up so much since the last time I saw you, what have you been eating” he said jokingly and I blushed.

“It’s because you haven’t been coming home for holidays since… mhm 2 years ago” I said smiling and I could see Amelia rolling her eyes out of her sockets. Even my talking irritated her.

“I could barf at this lovely site” she said sarcastically and this time I rolled my eyes. I flashed her a fake smile