E R version 3 ch1
Driving home alone from the airport was bittersweet. I was content in knowing I would be free to do as I pleased for the next week since both my parents were gone for business but I’d home alone. The only thing to greet me now was Nilla, the family cat. In addition, the friends I could usually count on were all either occupied or lacked the decency to answer my calls.
As I turned onto my brightly lit street I expected to put my car away and run a hot bath before I went to bed. The thought vanished as I pulled into the driveway; I could feel something was wrong. Before my mom and I had left for the airport she had turned on the lights for the front door and the lights underneath the garage overhang. Now however, the lights were all off leaving my house the only one veiled in darkness. Consequently, I sat idling in the driveway contemplating whether or not to leave and come back later.
Out of curiosity, I shut off the car and quietly got out the car making sure not to make a sound when I gently pressed the door shut. As I walked around to the side door a slight breeze blew past me giving me a strange chill. Around me the stillness was deafening and intolerable. Fumbling through my keys, I searched for the key that would unlock the door.
I didn’t need it.
Strangely, I felt no fear as I pushed the door all the way open and stepped into the garage. I stood inside and left the door open a crack, closely listening for any noise that would be coming from the inside of the house. Nothing. Continuing on, I walked into unknown territory as I opened the door to the kitchen and stepped inside.
In the darkness illuminated only by the full moon that leaked in through the patio door, I could see three figures sitting at the stools that lined the counter, their breathing clearly calm. For a moment I stood still, searching in my mind for the rational thing to do. I didn’t have to think for very long.
“Just turn on the lights,” the man in the middle spoke. Suddenly I was annoyed.
“What are you doing in my house Ryan? Who are these other people?” Dropping my keys in the bowl next to the door and turned on the overhead lights. Everyone squinted with the unexpected light. Finally I could see that to the left of Ryan was his father Charles but the man on his right was unfamiliar to me. He was older than me but much younger than Chuck. The man stared tiredly at me with his slate blue eyes running his hand through his short, black disheveled hair.
“Rose, I hate to ask you, but we need a favor.” Ryan asked without shame, almost like he expected me to help him. I spat out a laugh as I grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water.
“You expect me to help you? Ryan, have you lost your mind?” I turned around and eyed the strange man who sat back and looked away.
“Don’t mock me, this is serious.”
“You’re absurd.”
“Just give me a second to explain.”
“No, I want all three of you out of my house.”
“Rose, let’s be civilized. Let Ryan say what he has to say. We’ll talk about it and if you don’t agree we’ll leave.” Charles condescendingly spoke to me, defending his pathetic excuse of a son as he stood up and walked over to my side.
“You know, I could have all three of you locked up for breaking into my house, don’t you? I don’t know where you go off thinking that I’ll do you a favor.”
“Sssh, Rose, calm down. We all know that you wouldn’t do that. Now just listen to what he has to say.” Chuck gave my shoulder a firm squeeze showing that one way or another I was going to hear what they wanted me to hear. Defiantly I nodded, shrugging his hand off of me.
“Ok, first off, Rose this is Ethan Brighton, Ethan this is Rose Treggler.” Politely, I walked over to Ethan and shook his hand. Taken off guard, Ethan returned the gesture. “He needs a place to stay for a couple days because he just came into town and needs to look for a place of his own. We would let him stay with us but he needs to be up here.”
“You came all the way up here from Kansas City just to ask me that? What if I say no?” Although I wasn’t in the mood to talk to Ryan, I enjoyed toying with him, making him as annoyed as I felt being in the same room as him. A look of disgust began to develop on his face.
“Look, I didn’t come here to get harassed. I paid for what I did. Now what’s your answer?”
“I don’t even know Ethan. How do I know he won’t attack me as soon as you leave?”
“Rose, I promise you I’ll stay out of your way. I just really need a place to stay. You’re the last person there is to ask. Please, even for one day I’ll truly be grateful.” Ethan’s serious unwavering voice caught me off guard. There was something in it that hinted at more, something they weren’t telling me. Something in me told me not to let him stay, that it would be a big mistake. Still, the worried look in his eyes told me he urgently needed help.
“Fine.” I spat as I turned around and dumped the rest water out into the sink. Opening the door to the garage I spoke directly to Ryan. “Don’t think I’m doing this for the both of you. As of now, you have no part of this and I want you out of m house.” A little too much happiness surfaced as I ordered Chuck and Ryan out of my house. Obediently Ryan stood up, more than aggravated by my behavior and walked towards the door. When he got to me he paused, looked me in the eye and held out his hand. Respectfully I shook it, giving him a nod as he disappeared into the garage. Chuck however, thought he would engulf me in a hug; I took it but stood there awkwardly with my hands at my sides.
“Ethan, before we go, we should probably talk for a little bit outside.” Without a word Ethan got up and followed Chuck. Before he got past me I stopped him.
“Hey, do you mind putting my car away?” I reached into the bowl and grabbed my car keys. Without hesitating Ethan held out his hand for me to drop them in.
“Thanks.”
Somewhat confused about what had just happened so quickly, I shut the door and walked over to the dining table pulling out a chair. Sitting with my head in my hands I marveled at how in less than ten minutes I had foolishly invited a stranger to share my house with me. Worse yet, this stranger knew Ryan and his father, something that told me that he was someone to be careful of.
“Rose wake up, I think you’d be more comfortable sleeping in your bed.” Ethan was standing over me shaking my shoulder.
“I wasn’t sleeping.” I said rather loudly as I lifted my head up to see what time it was. Already it was half an hour past midnight.
“I’m sure you weren’t. Now just go on up to bed, I can take care of myself down here.” I stood up stretching amazed at how easily Ethan towered over my short stature.
“Well Ethan, you have a good night.”
“I guarantee you, this will be the first good night for me in a long time. We’ll talk in the morning.” He gave me a pat on the back as I tiredly walked with him through the doorway into the living room and climbed the stairs to my room. At the top of the stairs Nilla greeted me with a meow of satisfaction and followed me into my room. I shut the door without bothering to turn the lights on and felt my way around for the clothes I wore to bed. While I pulled the shirt over my head and the shorts up to my waist I couldn’t help but think about how quickly I’d decided to let him stay without even factoring in any consequences it might result in if someone found out.
Exhausted, I jumped into bed and lay my head on my pillow. My mind fought to think about anything as my mind drifted off into a peaceful nothingness. The last thought was of how strangely alluring Ethan’s eyes were.