Natalie #2
“Oh Natalie,” she starts combing the conditioner through my hair with her fingers after rinsing off the shampoo. “You should never have had to hide in the first place. Whomever made you feel like you had to should feel ashamed.”
“Thank you.” I sniff. “Thank you, Pea. It feels nice to have such kind words spoken to me after all this time.”
“Julian doesn’t compliment you?”
“Oh he does. All the time. But because he says it too often, I don’t believe him any more.”
“Ahh, I see.” She nods in agreement. “I understand that all too well.” She gives me a sideways grin.
“But if it’s coming from Julian. He’s being truthful.
That man struggles to lie. It’s fun watching him squirm when he’s trying to keep a secret from me.
” She chuckles evilly. “He’s so easy to tease too. ”
The smile I give her is genuine.
Do you think she can be trusted? She seems nice enough.
“I will appreciate a haircut when you have time, please.” I whisper once she’s finished rinsing my hair.
With me still holding on the bar, she keeps one hand on me as extra precaution and stretches to retrieve the towel from the hook just outside the shower.
Peacock wraps it around my body then gets another to wrap around my shoulders.
Helping me balance she leads me to the chair by the bed.
I sink into the soft cushion, the pain from behind isn’t as bad as before, but I still wince as the pressure hits.
“Sit here and I’ll go get the things I need.” She skips to the door excitedly. What is with this woman?
“Why are you all wet?” I hear Julian ask, then the familiar sound of a spoon hitting the sides of a mug. “Hey, why are you rummaging through my drawers?”
“I’m looking for something.” Peacock replies. I hear more rummaging, then footsteps that fade away. “Stealing some clothes Jules.”
“What, no.” Quick and heavy footfalls follow soon after. He must be chasing her. I can’t stop the grin crossing my face as I listen to the two of them.
“Aww, come on boss. I’m all wet and so is your girlfriend so we need some clothes.” Am I his girlfriend now? We haven’t confirmed anything.
“Then you should have brought your own. I’ll find clothes for Natalie, you can stay wet.” He didn’t correct her. So maybe, just maybe, we are in a relationship.
“No fair, I thought we were friends.” I can picture Peacock pouting.
“I am your friend, that doesn’t mean you can rob my clothes.” I imagine him rolling his gorgeous emerald eyes.
An alarm rings out, it’s almost deafening as it blares. Three seconds pass and it stops. I wonder what that was about.
The other two stay silent. I hear a door slam and some struggling sounds and Peacock is soon coming back into the room, basically tiptoeing like she is trying to be sneaky.
In her arms are some fresh clothes, some scissors and a comb.
“Okay, I’m going to change quickly then I’ll help you dry and dress, okay? ” She says quietly.
“Okay.”
I notice the scars dotted all around her toned body as she strips. Some are a lot fresher than others. But all of them tell a story. Not giving a care in the world she takes off all her clothes and dries herself off. I try my very best not to watch.
Oh shhh, you would peek too.
She throws on some loose tracksuit bottoms and v neck once she’s all dried, throwing the damp towel onto the shower floor.
The pants almost fall off her tiny frame so she folds them over, making them a little tighter.
“Right, now that’s done, let's get you dried off.” She pulls the towel off my shoulders, bends and starts to dry my legs. It reminds me of that one time…
“Will you stay still?” He laughs as I jump away from his towel covered hands and almost crash into the shower screen.
“I can’t dry you properly if you keep wriggling.
” His muscled arms lift me over his shoulder, walks into the living room, and throws me on the sofa, where some fresh PJ’s from the dryer are waiting.
He grabs the towel again and kneels in front of me.
“Then stop tickling me.” I squeal. Jumping again as he dries my feet.
I can’t see his smile but can hear it as he tells me again to stay still.
I didn’t realise he was here when I got up in the middle of the night, my legs covered in blood from where I started my period.
After cleaning up what I could in the bedroom and inserting a tampon, I jump in the shower.
Mr Stalker waited outside the bathroom door for me and insisted on drying me off, which is how we ended up in a tickle fight I could not win.
“There.” He chuckles. “All dry. Time to get dressed right? You do that and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
This man and his damn tea. I roll my eyes and put on the PJ’s, sliding under the blanket on the sofa that smells like him .
I see his hoodie slung over the back of the sofa, I’m tempted to slide it over my shoulders but resist the temptation, for a brief second before grabbing the garment, still warm, and sliding it over my head.
“You came late today.” I call from my seat to the kitchen where I can see only his shoulder. “Busy day?”
“Very.” He sighs. “Today I found out just how sadistic some people can be. But I’d rather not talk about that now.
Now I just want to spend some time with you.
Wanna watch some Stranger Things ?” I don’t reply and instead pick up the TV remote and turn on Netflix.
He comes in with my heating pad and two cups in his hands, puts them on the table and then takes some chocolate out of his tracksuit pockets.
Lifting me with ease, he sits with one leg sprawled out on the sofa and settles me between his legs.
He holds the heating pad against my stomach as he wraps his arms around me and I help myself to the chocolate.
Taking the first bite with a satisfied hum.
“I’ve stocked up the bottom drawer of the fridge for you treasure, and there's plenty of painkillers too if you need, but I would prefer you use this.” He taps my heating pad.
“I’d rather you not be out of it on drugs, even if they are over the counter meds. ”
“Mmm, well if it means snuggling up to you like this, Mr Stalker, I’d happily use this every time.”
“Natalieeeee, heeeelllllooooo .” I come out of my daydream to a waving hand in my face.
“Where were you? Somewhere nice by that smile forming.” she pokes at the corner of my lip.
“I was trying to tell you you can get dressed now.” She hands me some clothes.
“They may be a little big, but if you roll them up like this,” she points to the pants rolled up around her hips, “then they shouldn’t fall down. ”
I nod, reaching back to unclasp my bra. I wince, forgetting about the damaged ribs.
“Here, let me.” She walks behind me and quickly unclasps the horrid thing.
Why do they even exist, they are so damn uncomfortable.
Sliding it off, I quickly put on the shirt and boxers.
Leaving the sweatpants off for now. “Comfortable?” She asks.
I nod again. “Then I’ll get started, I’ll cut it a little at a time until you tell me to stop. ”
“Cut to here.” I say, pointing to just above my shoulder.
She gasps and asks if I’m sure. “I’m sure.
That’s how I used to have it.” That way no-one can pull it either, not as much as they can now with my hair almost waist length.
“I don’t want to hide anymore.” She doesn’t say anything back, just puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
Flips my hair over the back of the chair and starts chopping.
The more she chops the lighter I feel, both physically and mentally.
I look out the corner of my eye to see the mop of damp hair all over the floor around the chair.
“Can…” I start to ask, I have never really had my hair properly styled, yet I’m not sure if I can ask her.
“What’s up?” She asks. “Want me to stop?”
“No,” I go to shake my head but still quickly. “I was just wondering if you knew how to style hair. I have always kind of wanted bangs, but I’m not sure if they’ll suit me.”
“Oh, my, GOD.” she squeals quietly, “you would totally rock some bangs, I’ll even blend them.
Oh this is going to be fun!” I chuckle a genuine laugh.
“And that’s my job complete . I made a vow to myself to get you to laugh today.
” She comes around and stands in front of me, “now close your eyes and I’ll get started on the bangs. ”
A few minutes of silence passes as she concentrates on styling my hair, I keep my eyes closed as she does the last few bits and turns on the hairdryer.
“All done.” She claps once, “you look so pretty!”
“You really do.” Bulls deep voice has me opening my eyes. He stands by the door, a duffel bag in his hand. He no longer wears the full black outfit and instead is wearing a flannel shirt, jeans and a baseball cap. His demeanor is calm, a wide smile crossing his face. “I love the new hair.”
“Thank you, Mateo.” I give him a small smile and nod.
His eyes go wide, then he glares at Peacock.
She bursts out laughing, then hides behind the chair as Bull digs for something in his bag.
He pulls out a knife, it’s not quite as big as his machete, but larger than a kitchen knife.
I look at it intrigued. The blade has a blue-ish hue to it and the handle is a dark purple.
I notice the edge of an engraving, but can’t see the whole design.
“Come on Bull. It was a joke. No need for weapons.” Peacock’s still giggling away behind me, but I can’t laugh.
I freeze on the chair, keeping an eye on the knife the whole time.
My breathing becomes erratic, I close my eyes again.
I trusted them and I shouldn’t have. I knew having friends was too good to be true, especially for someone like me. I gasp for air as panic sets in.
“Put the knife down.” Peacock's voice is stern.