Chapter Four
854 Words
Jade
“Bristol.”
I came awake suddenly, sweat beading my brow. For a second I panicked , not able to move my legs only to realise that no one was actually holding me down. The sheets were tangled around my legs, which was the only reason I couldn’t move.
Blinking in the near total darkness I sat upright , my breath coming in short laboured gasps. What the hell had woken me from my dream? A dream that I couldn’t remember but had left sweat pouring down my face and my heart racing?
And Bristol’s name on my lips.
Squinting in the darkness I took stock of the shadowy room. I could barely make out the furniture that lined the walls.
Everything looked like it usually did. There was no one else in the room. Not that I could see anyway so why was I so on edge?
Why wouldn’t my heart slow down?
I wasn’t used to being scared? I had been on my own for so long and nothing had ever really fazed me. Even when I had been burgled I had never felt unsafe in my own home.
Now I felt unsafe though.
All over a dream I didn’t remember.
Sighing I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, shivering slightly at the feel of the cold tile under my bare feet.
I really needed to get a rug for this room. In the summer the tile was welcomingly cool but in the colder months it could be brutal.
Padding out of the room, I did something I never did. I started flipping on the lights as I went.
There would be no point laying in my bed in the dark , I knew that there would be no more sleep for me tonight.
Yawning I glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. Just after Five am.
Definitely no more sleep for me, there would be no point even trying now. Not when I had to start the breakfast shift at the diner at seven am.
So coffee it was.
And then a very hot shower. The hotter the better so I could wash away the remnants of what ever had scared me so much.
In the alley under my window a scream screeched a hissing warning. And I was at the window in a second, twitching back the curtains.
Was someone out there?
Had they been in my apartment? Or been trying to get in? Was that what had woken me.
What had Bristol said?
He couldn’t protect me if I left?
At the time I hadn’t thought anything of it but now….
No, I shook my head. Letting the curtain fall back into place. I was being absurd. I had let a crazy man and his words get into my head.
There was no one in my apartment and no one after me. I was just being paranoid.
All I needed was a hot shower and a strong black coffee and I would feel myself again.
Because there was no one after me.
I was totally safe in my own home.
“Good morning Jade.”
I didn’t need to turn around to know who was behind me.
His voice was like brushed velvet. Sensual. It made my body erupt in goosebumps but I plastered my face with a polite smile as I turned. “Good opening Bristol, how are you today?” I held the half full coffee pot out towards him, tilting my chin. A clear “do you want a cup?”
“I am good thanks, I can only stay a little while but I wanted to apologise about yesterday. ….I…. you look tired Jade.”
Frowning I reached for a mug. Yeah I was tired. Sure I had only gotten up an hour or so before I had to but the sleep before that hadn’t been restful.
“A little, do you want this ….” He didn’t let me finish. “Take our Please Jade, like I said I can’t stay long. “ his golden eyes darkened as he surveyed me. “Are you sure you are ok?”
“I am fine Bristol.” I busied myself pouring scalding hot coffee into one of the take out cups and securing the lid. “Nothing a good nights sleep won’t fix anyway.”
“Sleeping? Is that your plan for this evening?”
“I don’t know what my plans are yet but most probably.”
For a second he looked thoughtful. And then his handsome face split open in a wide smile. “That’s a shame, I thought you might be interested in going to your show opening?”
“I don’t think us going on a date…. Wait did you say my show opening?”
“Yes your work is being shown at Nova tonight. Everyone is very excited.” He seemed very pleased with himself. “Especially the owner. He is a big fan.”
I couldn’t speak. Being showcased at Nova, the hippest art gallery in town was a dream come true for any artist.
And basically impossible.
“You did this?”
He nodded and the first trace of uneasiness flickered across his face. “Is that ok?”
I squealed. “If this counter wasn’t in the way I would hug you , you crazy man.”
“Save the hug for later, I’ll pick you up at eight.”
- Writer
