First Installment!
“I’m home!” Gwen announced as she closed the door behind her.
An echoing silence followed as she made her way through her empty apartment. With the exception of the TV, couch, and the necessities that came with the apartment, her home was extremely bare. This was something Gwen didn’t mind.
Gwen sighed as she set down her bag and looked to the living room. She stood quietly straining to hear motion from the other room. Silence rang in her ears for a moment or two, but, at last, she heard the soft snoring from the couch. Gwen walked softly into the living room to find the man still where she had left him; out cold.
She bent down and rested her head above him. He still looked badly roughed up from the mugging early that morning. His short, black hair was a skew, along with his clothes. The man was so big his feet hung off the sofa. His muscles weren’t that of a body builder, but they were noticeable. His height was nothing short of ordinary either. It was a wonder that he came close to getting beaten to death…
Gwen didn’t even know his name but he has unquestioningly protected her from those men. She had been in Evanville for years now and hadn’t once encountered a Good Samaritan, especially one of this caliber. God, how she hated this town…
She straightened and returned to the kitchen to unload her groceries. Gwen could only ponder at this man’s strength and bravery as he fought off three armed thugs and managed to run four blocks with her to her home, her sanctuary.
“No!” A loud thud followed along with a quick intake of breath.
“Sir? Are you ok?” Gwen ran back into the living room to see her guest on his back on the floor. His face told her that he wasn’t. “Sorry…stupid question. Here, let me help you.” She took his plate-sized hands and tugged gently.
He grunted in obvious pain but never complained as he found himself back on the couch. The man ran a hand through his muddled hair and looked to Gwen with gratitude.
“Thanks…” He muttered in a low voice.
“No need for that. You’re the one who saved me.” She replied picking up the blanket that followed him to the floor.
He only nodded as he rubbed his sore shoulder. Gwen busied herself by readjusting the blanket back on the sofa.
“You know…I didn’t even get your name.” Gwen said trying to break the silence.
“It’s Hadrian.” The man said softly.
“Hadrian? Well, nice to meet you. I’m Gwen.”
He just nodded.
“You still in some pain?” She asked examining his bruises and cuts.
“Extremely…” He answered.
“Here…I’ll get you some pain pills. You just get back to resting.” With that, Gwen went to her medicine drawer and found what little drugs she had.
“You have a man in your apartment?! What are you thinking, Gwen? He could do anything to you! I’m coming over there right now.”
“Gavin! Please, no, it’s not like that! He’s completely harmless.” Gwen defended to her closest friend. “As a matter of fact, he’s-“
“No excuses. I’m coming over right now.” Gavin interrupted. His tone threatened a hint of warning that she had better stay where she was.
Gwen squeezed the receiver tight in her grip as she listened to him lecture her until he finally hung up to make his way across town to her.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” Gwen yelled in the phone booth in rampant frustration. With each curse, she slammed down the receiver. Finally, she made her way back up to the apartment in fuming aggravation.
Gwen loved Gavin unconditionally, but he could be very commanding when it came to her safety. He considered himself her protector and would not have it any other way. She hadn’t even had a chance to explain the entire story as to why there was a six foot, hulking man napping in her living room. Gwen stomped up the stairs in anger as she tried to think of something to explain to Hadrian about the rash way her friend may act. Nothing came…She simply had to be truthful to him. That is if he was awake.
She reached her door. Gwen took a breath and rubbed her face trying to rid it of her aggravation. Slowly and quietly, she opened to the door and crept in.
She stood at his feet and sighed crossing her arms.
“Hadrian…”
He was asleep again.
“Hadrian.”
Still no response.
“Hadrian!”
He woke with a start and reluctantly opened his eyes.
“I’m sorry to wake you but…I have some bad news.”
“S’alright. What is it?” He grunted heaving himself up to sit.
“A friend of mine is coming over…and he may act a bit, er, stand-offish about you.” Gwen started, wringing her hands anxiously. “He’s a really good friend and just worried about my safety. Please, just don’t take anything he says to heart. Gavin can be a little cold to strangers. I just wanted you to be prepared.” She said unable to look at him.
“I see.” Hadrian nodded. Before Gwen could say another word, he rose up with a stagger and held the sofa for support.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Gwen asked wide-eyed. She took a step towards him as he wobbled towards the door.
“Leaving.”
“No, no, no! I didn’t mean for you to leave! No! Please, Had, get back on the couch. You’re in no condition.” She protested as she took his arm tightly. Looking up at his green eyes, she knew she was right.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble…” Hadrian muttered, grudgingly sitting back on the couch. “Confrontation is not one of my best suits.”
“You’re not! Don’t you worry.”
“Alright.” He sighed.
“Now you rest and I’ll fix some ramen.”
Hadrian didn’t need to be told twice.
“So…you were mugged?”
“Yeah…at first, I thought he was one of them, but he knocked them out before I knew what happened.” Gwen explained “I didn’t know what was going on really.” She sat there for moment, finally feeling the autumn chill wind blow and shivered at the thoughts of early that morning.
“Do you mind if we get upstairs? It’s freezing sitting here.” Gavin asked standing up from the stone steps in front of Gwen’s building.
“Promise me you won’t be rude.” She pleaded suddenly taking hold of his jacket.
“No more than I have to.” He said with a slight smile.
“Seriously, Gav. He’s pretty banged up. I mean, with all those bruises and hitting his head like he did…” Gwen said as she opened to the building door.
“Hit his head?”
“Yeah. If he doesn’t mind, you should look him over and see if you can help. I mean, being a nurse and all…” She spoke jokingly as they made their way to the apartment.
“He has no choice. I am examining him. A bit pointless, if you ask me, not going to the emergency-”
“Alright! Alright! Geez…” She opened the door and let him in.
Gavin went straight to the living room and pulled Gwen with him.
“Gwen! He shouldn’t be sleeping! If he hit his head, he could have a concussion and go into a coma!” He scolded her. “Didn’t you listen at all back in med school? He has to be kept awake. I hate to be a jerk but it is absolutely necessary.”
Then, he turned to Hadrian and lightly slapped his face. “Sir. Sir! Wake up, sir!”
A platter-sized hand came up and took Gavin’s arm into a death grip. Hadrian sat up in a fiery temper. The blood from Gavin’s face fled as it went pale with terror as he stared into man’s fierce eyes.
“Had! Hadrian, calm down! This is Gavin!” Gwen shrieked attempting to pull her friend away.
“He’s breaking my frikkin’ arm!!”
“Hadrian! HADRIAN!”
As quickly as his temper swelled, it receded behind his emerald eyes replacing it with worry. He let go and straightened up in fright. Hadrian looked like he had just run a twenty mile race. Cold sweat beaded at his brow and he could barely catch his breath.
“I’m…I’m s-so sorry.” He gasped. “B-bad dream…”
“Geez…it was like looking into the eyes of Hades for a minute there…” Gavin pointed out rubbing his arm, happy to have it back. “Damn…now I see how you knocked off those muggers single-handedly.”
Hadrian shrunk back from both of them as they looked at him in awe and a hint of fear. He noticed Gavin looking over his wounds with critical eyes and abruptly threw the blanket around himself and held it tight to his neck. For a moment, he looked somewhat like an overgrown child refusing to cooperate.
“Sir…I’m sorry I was coarse, but I think you need some assistance.” Gavin said sternly, not breaking his glower from Hadrian’s face. “Now, are you going to let me help you?”
Gwen mouthed an apology behind Gavin’s back for Hadrian to see. He turned his eyes from her to the ground and simply nodded loosening his grip of the blanket.
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More to come when I proofread it! ^.~
An echoing silence followed as she made her way through her empty apartment. With the exception of the TV, couch, and the necessities that came with the apartment, her home was extremely bare. This was something Gwen didn’t mind.
Gwen sighed as she set down her bag and looked to the living room. She stood quietly straining to hear motion from the other room. Silence rang in her ears for a moment or two, but, at last, she heard the soft snoring from the couch. Gwen walked softly into the living room to find the man still where she had left him; out cold.
She bent down and rested her head above him. He still looked badly roughed up from the mugging early that morning. His short, black hair was a skew, along with his clothes. The man was so big his feet hung off the sofa. His muscles weren’t that of a body builder, but they were noticeable. His height was nothing short of ordinary either. It was a wonder that he came close to getting beaten to death…
Gwen didn’t even know his name but he has unquestioningly protected her from those men. She had been in Evanville for years now and hadn’t once encountered a Good Samaritan, especially one of this caliber. God, how she hated this town…
She straightened and returned to the kitchen to unload her groceries. Gwen could only ponder at this man’s strength and bravery as he fought off three armed thugs and managed to run four blocks with her to her home, her sanctuary.
“No!” A loud thud followed along with a quick intake of breath.
“Sir? Are you ok?” Gwen ran back into the living room to see her guest on his back on the floor. His face told her that he wasn’t. “Sorry…stupid question. Here, let me help you.” She took his plate-sized hands and tugged gently.
He grunted in obvious pain but never complained as he found himself back on the couch. The man ran a hand through his muddled hair and looked to Gwen with gratitude.
“Thanks…” He muttered in a low voice.
“No need for that. You’re the one who saved me.” She replied picking up the blanket that followed him to the floor.
He only nodded as he rubbed his sore shoulder. Gwen busied herself by readjusting the blanket back on the sofa.
“You know…I didn’t even get your name.” Gwen said trying to break the silence.
“It’s Hadrian.” The man said softly.
“Hadrian? Well, nice to meet you. I’m Gwen.”
He just nodded.
“You still in some pain?” She asked examining his bruises and cuts.
“Extremely…” He answered.
“Here…I’ll get you some pain pills. You just get back to resting.” With that, Gwen went to her medicine drawer and found what little drugs she had.
“You have a man in your apartment?! What are you thinking, Gwen? He could do anything to you! I’m coming over there right now.”
“Gavin! Please, no, it’s not like that! He’s completely harmless.” Gwen defended to her closest friend. “As a matter of fact, he’s-“
“No excuses. I’m coming over right now.” Gavin interrupted. His tone threatened a hint of warning that she had better stay where she was.
Gwen squeezed the receiver tight in her grip as she listened to him lecture her until he finally hung up to make his way across town to her.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” Gwen yelled in the phone booth in rampant frustration. With each curse, she slammed down the receiver. Finally, she made her way back up to the apartment in fuming aggravation.
Gwen loved Gavin unconditionally, but he could be very commanding when it came to her safety. He considered himself her protector and would not have it any other way. She hadn’t even had a chance to explain the entire story as to why there was a six foot, hulking man napping in her living room. Gwen stomped up the stairs in anger as she tried to think of something to explain to Hadrian about the rash way her friend may act. Nothing came…She simply had to be truthful to him. That is if he was awake.
She reached her door. Gwen took a breath and rubbed her face trying to rid it of her aggravation. Slowly and quietly, she opened to the door and crept in.
She stood at his feet and sighed crossing her arms.
“Hadrian…”
He was asleep again.
“Hadrian.”
Still no response.
“Hadrian!”
He woke with a start and reluctantly opened his eyes.
“I’m sorry to wake you but…I have some bad news.”
“S’alright. What is it?” He grunted heaving himself up to sit.
“A friend of mine is coming over…and he may act a bit, er, stand-offish about you.” Gwen started, wringing her hands anxiously. “He’s a really good friend and just worried about my safety. Please, just don’t take anything he says to heart. Gavin can be a little cold to strangers. I just wanted you to be prepared.” She said unable to look at him.
“I see.” Hadrian nodded. Before Gwen could say another word, he rose up with a stagger and held the sofa for support.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Gwen asked wide-eyed. She took a step towards him as he wobbled towards the door.
“Leaving.”
“No, no, no! I didn’t mean for you to leave! No! Please, Had, get back on the couch. You’re in no condition.” She protested as she took his arm tightly. Looking up at his green eyes, she knew she was right.
“I don’t want to cause any trouble…” Hadrian muttered, grudgingly sitting back on the couch. “Confrontation is not one of my best suits.”
“You’re not! Don’t you worry.”
“Alright.” He sighed.
“Now you rest and I’ll fix some ramen.”
Hadrian didn’t need to be told twice.
“So…you were mugged?”
“Yeah…at first, I thought he was one of them, but he knocked them out before I knew what happened.” Gwen explained “I didn’t know what was going on really.” She sat there for moment, finally feeling the autumn chill wind blow and shivered at the thoughts of early that morning.
“Do you mind if we get upstairs? It’s freezing sitting here.” Gavin asked standing up from the stone steps in front of Gwen’s building.
“Promise me you won’t be rude.” She pleaded suddenly taking hold of his jacket.
“No more than I have to.” He said with a slight smile.
“Seriously, Gav. He’s pretty banged up. I mean, with all those bruises and hitting his head like he did…” Gwen said as she opened to the building door.
“Hit his head?”
“Yeah. If he doesn’t mind, you should look him over and see if you can help. I mean, being a nurse and all…” She spoke jokingly as they made their way to the apartment.
“He has no choice. I am examining him. A bit pointless, if you ask me, not going to the emergency-”
“Alright! Alright! Geez…” She opened the door and let him in.
Gavin went straight to the living room and pulled Gwen with him.
“Gwen! He shouldn’t be sleeping! If he hit his head, he could have a concussion and go into a coma!” He scolded her. “Didn’t you listen at all back in med school? He has to be kept awake. I hate to be a jerk but it is absolutely necessary.”
Then, he turned to Hadrian and lightly slapped his face. “Sir. Sir! Wake up, sir!”
A platter-sized hand came up and took Gavin’s arm into a death grip. Hadrian sat up in a fiery temper. The blood from Gavin’s face fled as it went pale with terror as he stared into man’s fierce eyes.
“Had! Hadrian, calm down! This is Gavin!” Gwen shrieked attempting to pull her friend away.
“He’s breaking my frikkin’ arm!!”
“Hadrian! HADRIAN!”
As quickly as his temper swelled, it receded behind his emerald eyes replacing it with worry. He let go and straightened up in fright. Hadrian looked like he had just run a twenty mile race. Cold sweat beaded at his brow and he could barely catch his breath.
“I’m…I’m s-so sorry.” He gasped. “B-bad dream…”
“Geez…it was like looking into the eyes of Hades for a minute there…” Gavin pointed out rubbing his arm, happy to have it back. “Damn…now I see how you knocked off those muggers single-handedly.”
Hadrian shrunk back from both of them as they looked at him in awe and a hint of fear. He noticed Gavin looking over his wounds with critical eyes and abruptly threw the blanket around himself and held it tight to his neck. For a moment, he looked somewhat like an overgrown child refusing to cooperate.
“Sir…I’m sorry I was coarse, but I think you need some assistance.” Gavin said sternly, not breaking his glower from Hadrian’s face. “Now, are you going to let me help you?”
Gwen mouthed an apology behind Gavin’s back for Hadrian to see. He turned his eyes from her to the ground and simply nodded loosening his grip of the blanket.
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More to come when I proofread it! ^.~