Chapter 5. Hot and Cold

Eric

The instrumental from one of my favourite movies played as I made breakfast for the mysterious lady and myself. I called my sister early in the morning to take my place at the hospital, lying that I had to be somewhere.

After I heard Gideon's name from Justin's mouth the other night, I knew I had to go teach the bastard a lesson. I had warned Gideon severally to stay away from my brother, but the fool never listened. The last time, I had broken his arms, so this time around I did more than break his arms. Second only to my hate for Lyra, was my hate for Gideon. He was the reason Justin got addicted to drugs. My whole family had been so ashamed and exhausted during that time, but after some months in rehab, he had been able to get clean. So, finding out he was still friends with the bastard got me pissed enough to consider murdering the sleazebag. Imagine my surprise when I got there and found him about to add rape to his number of crimes. I was livid.

"Hope you don't mind me wearing your sweatshirt." I heard and glanced towards the floating stairs. She was standing on the last stair before hitting the ground, her body completely hidden by my sweatshirt. She had put on my sister's old faded jeans and her feet were bare. Her face was devoid of the heavy smoky eye makeup she had on last night, yet I had never seen anyone look so beautiful. It was refreshing to see. She walked towards me and took out a tall stool tucked into the countertop and sat on it.

"You didn't like the shirt I dropped for you?" I asked.

I had dropped the said blouse and the jeans when I returned to the room, panicking when I found it empty. It was the steady sound of the shower that had calmed me down. All my life, the sound of the shower running had never brought me the kind of relief I felt at that moment. I quickly used that opportunity to change and set the clothing items for her on my bed. She was a size, if not two, larger than Diana so I couldn't give her those clothes. Besides, I could tell the two women had different styles. My sister's was more down to earth. More fitting.

"The blouse was my style, I just wanted something that felt homier because of the injury. Immediately my eyes landed on this baby, I just had to wear it. So, I hope you don't mind me going through your closet." She said, her eyes taking in my kitchen.

"For someone who couldn't say much to me earlier, you are quite the talkative now," I commented, wondering the reason behind the change. Her response was a smile and a careless shrug of her shoulders.

"Your shower was magical. I kid you not when I say the me that went in wasn't the one that came out." she said, taking the plate of pancake I pushed her way. She took one look at it and scowled.

"You don't like it?" I said, feeling weirdly self-conscious all of a sudden. It was like her opinion of what I made mattered. She shook her head, confusing me.

"Why serve me one pancake? Did I tell you I wasn't hungry? You kept five on your plate and gave me one like I was begging for food." She accused, her eyes shooting glares my way. The loud explosion of laughter that found its way from deep inside of me surprised me. Here I was thinking she didn't like the food I had prepared when all she wanted was more.

I took her plate and placed one more from my plate. She shook her head, demanding I placed one more on it so it would be equal. I doubted she would be able to finish the food, but I allowed her to have her way. We ate in complete silence, our minds on the food and other things.

"I have to say that you could make big money making breakfast like this." I took my eyes off my food and found that she was done with hers, cleaning her mouth with the napkin I had set earlier.

"Where did you put all the pancakes?" I asked, stark curiosity evident in my voice as I stared in shock at her empty and crust free plate. It was the fastest I had seen a lady that wasn't my sister eat.

Her response was to tap her tummy, giving me a cheeky smile I couldn't help returning. "All in here."

When I was done, I took our plates and proceeded to wash them manually since it was just two. Saw no need to fire up the dishwasher and waste precious electricity. She stayed the whole time even when I cleaned the kitchen, keeping me company with small talk.

"So, I want to say thank you for saving me. I appreciate your help and I don't know how I can ever repay you." She said after we moved to my living room to continue our conversation.

"You know you still haven't answered any of my questions," I stated as I waved off her thanks.

"That's because I don't want to answer them." She looked different from how she had looked some minutes ago and I was left wondering why the sudden North Pole attitude. "Now, if you'll excuse me," she rose from the sofa, "My parents are waiting for me." She winced, grabbing her side gently.

I could tell from the way her face was set that she wasn't going to answer my questions. Which only got me intrigued as I wondered what she was keeping from me.

"Let me take you home. It's the least I can do." I said, grabbing my keys off the centre table. She tried to convince me not to worry about it. She didn't know me well enough to know that even though it was nicely put, it wasn't a request. The poor thing had no choice but to follow me out.

~

Nadia

The ride home was filled with silence. While I passed time by gazing at the tall buildings we drove past, he spent most of his time on the phone, making and answering calls. With his earphones plugged in, I could only hear his side of the conversation and it was monotonous at best. One particular call from a lady named Diana had me setting my ear to listen—not eavesdrop, I do not eavesdrop.

It wasn't like what he said was different from what he said to others, it was more of the way he said it. His posture and facial features were tight like he wasn't enjoying talking to her and would rather be doing something else. It didn't even take three minutes before he ended the call with a relieved goodbye, yanking his earphones out of his ears. I immediately turned back to continue my building and people-watching, trying to pretend like I hadn't listened to his conversation.

"Did you get much from my end of the conversation?" He asked, glancing at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road.

Yikes! I had been caught.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I said, ignoring him as I placed my face on my palm. A loud scoffing sound had me flinging a glare his way.

"It's not like I could switch off my ears, ya know?" I added out of guilt, trying to save face.

"Well, they looked pretty switched off during the conversations before that. You were busy giving me your version of the north pole" He continued in that bored tone of his that had me thinking of pulling my hair out. It was clear to me that he was aiming to make me feel bad.

I expelled the air in my lungs, telling myself I was in the wrong and he was right. "You're right. I apologise." The only reason why I even bothered to utter an apology was that I felt bad about what I did. "So, whose Diana?" I asked to change the topic and erase the spotlight shining on my not-so-shiny moment.

He turned his head my way again, taking his time to quickly study my features like he was committing them to memory. Somehow, a blush crept slowly from my neck to spread out on my face. To dispel the moment, I faked a cough and turned my attention back to the road. Luckily, he followed suit.

"None of your business." He was so matter-of-factly about it that I almost felt ashamed for asking a question so personal. Especially when I refused to answer any of his.

Almost.

"Is she your girlfriend? Are you guys having trouble?" I continued like he hadn't just shot me down with his version of the ice mountain. The frown creasing his forehead was enough indication that he didn't find my persistence charming. I dare say he was displeased.

"Fine!" My hands shot up in the air in surrender, "Since you seem so uncomfortable and angry, I won't ask any more questions about you and Diana."

"I'm not uncomfortable." He answered after we sat in silence for close to three minutes. "I just don't want to talk about it."

Boldly, like I had known him all but a few hours, I patted his right arm placatingly, not bothering to second guess my actions. He turned his head awkwardly to look at my hand on his arm before looking at me.

"It's fine... There is no need for you to argue."

He opened his mouth to say something but my attention had moved to my trouble-attracting friend, Joseph, standing beside a guy that looked vaguely familiar. The familiar guy had a guitar case in his hands and he was listening as Joseph spoke animatedly, his hands all over the place. Something smelt fishy and I didn't like it. Not wasting time, I yelled for him to stop the car.

He marched the breaks, parking expertly in the spot I had pointed at.

"I guess this is goodbye then...." I trailed off, realising I didn't catch his name. My mouth fell open so the words requesting his name would pass through, but I found myself biting my lower lip to keep from doing so. He stared at me with his rather strange grey eyes with specks of gold, like he was waiting for me to say something.

Wow! The man was beauty in human form.

I shook my head to clear the strange thought away, denying what I should have known was going to be the beginning of more.

"Again, I want to thank you for saving me from Gideon. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if he had succeeded in raping me. So, thank you." I told him, opening my palm for a handshake. The way he stared at my hand without taking it almost made me want to draw my hand back and bury it someplace far, never to resurface again. His hot and cold demeanour was beginning to grate on my nerves, but since I wasn't going to see him again, I told myself that I didn't care. I dropped my hand, pretending I wasn't hurt by his refusal to shake my hand.

"Take care." I got down, shutting the door at the same time he spoke whatever words it was he wanted to say. Pushing the incident behind me, I rushed to meet my friend before he could get himself into trouble.