Chapter 20 - The dilemma (1/2)
”Liliane?” whispered a soft voice next to my ear. I groaned and rolled to my side. ”Liliane, if you don't wake up now you'll be late for work,” I peeked with one eye at the speaker. Grant smiled, the light from the curtain creating a halo around his brown curls.
”Go away, my body is sore all over,” I buried my face in my pillow. He pulled on my shirt exposing my back and placed his warm hand on my bare skin. I jolted with my eyes wide open. Sleep vanished.
”Wh-what are you doing?”
”Shh! Just relax,” I felt all my will seeping from my body as his hand grew hotter. I sunk back into my pillow m.o.a.ning. The pulsing pain in my muscles slowly faded.
”What are you doing to me?” I asked feeling light-headed. He took his hand away and smoothed my shirt down.
”Get up! You can't complain about your back anymore,” he tore the blanket covering my legs away. ”Liliane!” he warned. I crawled to the edge with sleepy eyes.
”I feel high!” I yawned. He pulled on my arms, forcing me to get up and literally dragged me to the bathroom.
”You really don't want me to help you take your shower,” he grinned. I blinked at him standing next to me by the sink. What did he just say? ”Anyway, Demos is waiting by the door, he really hates waiting. He will be the one accompanying you to work. You better hurry,” what he said stripped all remaining sleep from my lagging brain. When he turned to leave I caught his arm.
”Wait! I don't want to go with Demos,” I said pleading. He pressed his lips together.
”You've promised. You should learn to keep your promises. Unless it was a lie… which in my opinion is even worse than not keeps promising,” he sighed. Even my puppy eyes didn't seem to work.
”Damn it,” I whispered to myself. He chuckled and grabbed the knob.
”He will bite everyone else...except you,” he smiled before closing the door of the bathroom behind him. His words didn't help ease my racing heart. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth while getting dressed. Those two activities don't go well together. When I emerged from my room, Grant handed me the lunch bag and placed a peck on my cheek.
”Have a nice day,” he waved. I sighed in frustration.
”Not nice, honey,” I whispered to him and his smile widened. Demos was waiting in the entrance his arms crossed over his chest.
”Good morning, sleepyhead,” his face was blank. It was very scary to stand next to him. My heart was about to leap out of my mouth with the slightest movements. I might die young for sure.
”Can you please go easy on me today,” I exhaled feeling tired already. He pushed the button to the elevator.
”I always go easy on you, Liliane,” his voice was unusually low. I looked away when the elevator door opened in front of us. There was an old lady with a shopping bag standing inside. She moved to the side to let us in. I nodded at her and she nodded back. Demos gave her a casual 'hello,' which she answered with a huge smile. I rolled my eyes at them, what the big fuss about Demos. Ok, he was handsome… like knees melting hot. He was a pain in the ass. I frowned at our reflection over the door as the elevator descended to the hall. Jil greeted us with a smile.
”Have a good day, lovebirds,” she waved at us then turned to the old lady with a smile. Both gave us sneaky looks and burst into giggles. I hurried away as rapidly as possible. Demos pulled the door for me and I was happy to be outside breathing fresh air. Old ladies gossips are not for me.
”Can we talk now?” he asked with clear irritation. I didn't like how that sounded. Nothing good can come out when a conversation starts that way. I stayed quiet. ”Are you going to give me the silent treatment again? I thought we passed that?” he added between gritted teeth. I sighed when we reached the corner of the street.
”I was shocked… The blood. God! I've never been around violence,” I muttered lowering my eyes to my canvas shoes. He walked close to me with his hands in his pocket. The proximity of our bodies was enough to give me anxieties.
”I'm sorry, it was not my intention, I wanted to make you feel safe. Not to push you away,” his voice low again. The station was close now, only a few meters away. I looked up at the flow of passengers on the escalator leading to the platforms.
”Liliane, please,” I was about to cross the road to the entrance of the station when he pulled on my arm. I looked up into his sad copper eyes.
”What do you want?” I snapped. He sighed, letting go of me. He jogged to the other side, leaving me behind. Damn, this guy was complex, I stared after him. I took a deep breath and walked in the same direction. Demos stood by the digital board on platform seven. The Transfer was already there.
”Hurry sleepyhead or we'll miss it,” I dashed forward and hopped in just in time before the door closed behind us. I gasped pressing against his chest. My vision wobbled in front of me.
”You ok?” he used his hand to support me. I nodded and pushed away from him.
”I'm just feeling light-headed from not sleeping enough, not having breakfast, and with the thing... Grant did to me,” when I looked up, he frowned at me. ”No need to make that face, he rubbed my back cause I was sore,” I added in a dry tone.
”Grant's abilities are to influence and soothe,” he averted his eyes and kept his arm around my back. I relaxed against him. The spinning didn't cease, he might be the cause for all I know. My attention switched to our surroundings. We were almost at our stop. I watched as the scenery speed away. It made the spinning worst.