"It's a bit small, but I call it home." You invite Arthur in once the key was removed from the lock. He enters in, taking note that your flat is indeed tiny. He laughs lightly, "It is small." Ignoring that comment, you kick off your wet and dirty shoes, leaving by the front door. "I'll go get you a towel and something for that knee." Your voice trails off as you disappear into the tiny hallway leading to your bathroom.
Thankfully this last weekend you cleaned house, well unless you don't count your bedroom. Even as a child, you always found that place to look like a bomb went off in there.
Upon entering the bathroom, you don't hear any floor boards squeaking. You shout from the bathroom, "Make yourself at home."
"Alright."
Now the sounds of footsteps were heard. He was probably heading to the tiny living room judging by the direction of the sound. You quickly collect the things you promised to bring out: a towel and the mini first aid kit. Since you were in the bathroom, you notice that you were still wearing your hat. "Might as well." At least now you have better equipment to fix your hair. Your hands work fast, combing and brushing your locks out as fast as you can.
"Do you live here alone?"
You poke your head out of the bathroom door. "What was that?"
"I said, do you live here alone?"
Shouting back, you reply, "Yeah I do." You don't sound too disappointed in your answer but you start to think if that makes you seem weird. "Calm down girl," You reassure yourself, continuing to brush your hair out, "You'll patch him up, clean his hoodie and he'll be on his way."
Content on your looks, you grab the towels and other supplies and headed off to the living room. You spot Arthur gazing at your small collection of DVDs lined up next to the TV. "Sorry for the wait. " You sigh on positive notes. "I can go ahead and wash your hoodie real quick if you want." You go and toss him a towel, watching him catch it in mid-air. The rest of the supplies were placed on the cozy couch your parents gave you.
"So that's what you look like without the hat?" Now that Arthur was able to the "real you", he seemed oddly surprised. Of course he wouldn't come straight out and say what was on his mind and instead said, "It's a pity that asshole makes you wear it." Even though his words seemed a bit cold and harsh, you knew there was a complement in there. You didn't have the heart to tell him you wore the hat on your own account. That's when you just smiled and mumbled, "Well, it's no big deal."
He smirked a bit and started to peel off the jacket. However, right as he grabbed the bottom end of the hoodie, he stopped. The look on his face clearly read annoyed. "Do you mind?"
Even though there was nothing to be embarrassed about, your cheeks glow a slight pink as you turn on your heels. Quickly you blurt out, "Alright, sorry." While agreeing not to look, well, you couldn't help yourself. You throw a quick glance over your shoulder, as the hood came up, so did his shirt underneath. Arthur must have anticipated this to happen. Who knew under those clothes was a nice kept bod? You continue to stare for a bit longer, it's not every day you get your eye candy. Once the hood came off his head, you quickly turn your head back around as to not get caught peeping.
"Here." He said, tossing the hood at you. You were not quick enough to catch it so the clothing just slammed against your face when you turned back around. Your face is masked with the look of a sarcastic enjoyment. "I'll be right back."
He stops you before you disappear again. "Wait! I don't believe I caught your name."
To think he came all the way here to your place, agreed to offer your help, saved your life, and use your washer and he didn't even know your name. "It's ___." You didn't look at him as you said your name. Arthur probably didn't remember your name the first time since it happened during that little tussle. You quickly head off to washer and dryer located in the bathroom. The enjoyment of having someone new over at your place filled your heart. Up until now, the only person you had to look out for was yourself so being able to help someone else was a nice change of pace.
"Don't you get lonely living by yourself?"
Arthur's voice rang throughout the small flat. Great, just the question you wanted him to ask. You sigh to yourself as the washer started to hum. "Well…"
Before you could even get the second word out, something caused you to go into a coughing fit. "No no no! I can't be sick." You keep telling yourself but you continue on coughing up a lung. "Is everything alright in there?" He shouts. The floor boards started to creak. "Yeah," you shout back, exiting the bathroom. "It's nothing really." This sickly cough continued even after leaving the bathroom. Your hands shoot up to your mouth, trying to muffle the sound but the fit would not stop. "Are you sure you're alright?" The blond asked, noticing that you are bee-lining it to the kitchen.
"Yeah," You lie, getting a glass of water, "It's just dust." You worked quickly to find that cold medicine you bought some time ago. The package was one of those duo medicines; half were for the daytime and the other half were for nighttime. You didn't take a second to actually look to see what was the difference between the two kinds of medicine; all you want was relief. Two pills are popped along with a chase of water and the coughing stopped. "See? I'm fine." You tell him with a smile on your face.
The floor boards creak and squeak as you head over to Arthur now ready to play nurse. "Go ahead and take a seat," you say as you open up the mini kit. In the time span of about five minutes, you were successful in cleaning and covering the cut. However, it didn't mean he wasn't fully cooperative. It still hurt and he made sure you knew.
"Ow! Goddamn it woman, be gentle."
"I'm sorry but I can't help it."
"Bloody hell what are AH! You using?! Acid?!"
"Just shut up and let me do this."
"Oh lord does this hurt AHHH!"
"Hang on, it's almost over."
A few bloody cotton balls and a bandage later, Arthur was all set and finished. You start to put everything away back into the kit as he looks away from you. You two did bicker a lot, maybe he just felt guilty or something. Again, time for another trip to the bathroom. Right before you left, you hear him say, slightly muddle, "Thanks for your help." Your warm smile appeared as you say, "You're welcome." You speak a bit louder as you vanish into the hallway. "I'll put your hood in the dryer and…" Your voice got lost in your throat. It was going to end by saying "You'll be on your way." But you didn't want him to leave, at least not yet. This Arthur fellow may seem cold but somehow you enjoy having his presence around. Instead, you just finish the sentence with "And yeah." Okay, that could have come out better.
The wet yet clean hood was tossed into the dyer and now the hum of that machine filled the bathroom. The first aid kit was placed back under the sink's cabinet. Once you sat down on the ground, the feeling of sleepiness hit you like a ton of bricks. Part of you knew that it would be rude to fall asleep when there was a guest here but the other half was yearning for sleep since you came down with a cold. "Wait…did I take the nighttime one by mistake?" You mind became fuzzy and at this point, you didn't care where you fell into sleep. With your back propped again the wall, you lean to your side, your head resting on the side of the cabinet door. Once your eyes were shut, it was lights out.
A slight groan escaped your lips. Your brain was telling you to wake up but the couch was too comfortable to leave.
Hang on…
"Where…am I?" The whole apartment was dark, who knows how late it was. You remember falling asleep on the bathroom floor but how did you end up on the couch? You don't remember having any record of sleep walking. Everything was in a haze right now but the one thing you knew, you were comfortable and warm. You didn't have a blanket on you but that cozy feeling was probably coming from the hoodie you were wear.
Wait a second…
Even in the silence of the living room, the light hum of a cellphone seemed very loud. You don't bother moving since you didn't care to answer the phone. Your eyes got heavy again and was about to fall back asleep but then something shocked you wake for a moment or two.
The warm arm wrapped around your waist moved leaving it exposed to the air. You didn't want to utter a peep; what in the world was going on? Was someone in the flat with you? The phone kept buzzing and buzzing as your level of fear grew.
"Hello?"
The lethargic voice called out, answering the phone.
"Yeah? Yeah I know."
You remain still, as if you were still asleep. The more you listened though, the more you realized who it was.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Thank goodness the lights were low. The rosy cheeks of your started to burn into a deeper shade of crimson. Your mind races as you try to understand what was going on and how this happened.
"It's what? You're kidding me? That late? Alright, I'll be back soon."
The phone was hung up and everything went quiet. Arthur sighed lightly, whispering to himself, "Guess I better leave."
The couch's weight shifted as he got up from behind you, being careful to not to wake you. Now you were no long supplied with his heat and started to feel the cool and lonely air on your back. There was just enough light to make out his silhouette, taking a moment to stretch and yawn in a hush tone. He turns to you, looking down at what he thought was your sleeping body. Your eyes quickly shut tight, pretending to still be unconscious.
The light and gentle pressure of a hand on your head petted you as you hear, "I'll let you keep the jacket for now." The floor boards creaked as you could hear his footsteps head off into the distance. There was a slight moment of lull noise, you had no idea what he was doing but he paused for something. The steps started up again. The sound of the front door came next once the steps stopped. But you didn't hear the door closed right away. Then, the door shut as quietly as it could be. You were about to investigate what just happened but since you had your eyes closed, you feel back into sleep.
YOU MUST COME BACK~