Friends

'Pain.'

Pain was the only feeling I felt at that moment. My head was banging in agony, and I couldn't even find it in me to move my body. It felt like I was tied down and couldn't move of my free will.

After what seemed like an eternity passed before I could open my eyes. Only to be met by the ray of the sun that seeped through the crystalline window.

“Shit.” I groaned as I shifted uncomfortably on my bed just to find it a lot comfortable than mine, and it was softer than my rock bed.

Snapping my eyes open, I realized I wasn't in my room, and I wasn't in my bed. The pain was overshadowed by the fear that had begun building into its climax in me.

'How......'

Startled, I jerked off the bed only to be hit by an agonizing headache.

“Argh…”

'Where the fuck is this freaking place?' 'Why the fuck am I here?' 'What on earth happened to me?'

I began walking around the room to find any clue or any escape route. My eyes widened in shock when I stood in front of the mirror.

“Fuck.” I muttered.

I wasn't in my damn clothes, instead I had worn a big shirt and a pair of briefs. Not only that, but I tried thinking back to what happened to me and all I could remember was I was in the rain drenched all because of him.

Remembering how he had spoken to me brought a fresh wave of anger.

'One problem at a time.' My subconscious screamed at me.

Walking to the door, I was so grateful when I twisted the knob to realize that it wasn't locked. I opened it as quietly as I could, looking at both sides of the corridor before making my escape, only to find that I had been upstairs the whole time.

“Is she awake?” I heard someone ask suddenly when I had finally found my way into the living room, making me freeze on the spot.

“No.” The voice that spoke next had me gasping.

“Xender?” I muttered. “What in the hell is he doing here?”

'Let's get out of here.' my subconscious kept shouting.

Continuing my mission, I had gotten to the entrance when the door suddenly flung open, halting me.

“Char!” I heard a familiar squeaky voice above me.

Raising my head, I saw Sydney, who looked at me equally wide-eyed.

“What's happening here?” I heard a voice behind me and I groaned in frustration.

“Hi Xender.” I laughed, void of humor, as I faced him.

“Char, when did you wake?” he squinted his eyes at me as he walked forward to where I stood, so he could place his hand on my head, and I rolled my eye.

“Few minutes ago… I guess.” I said, slapping his hands away from me.

“You are supposed to be in bed and not here.” he accused, hands akimbo.

“What happened to me?” Immediately I asked, Sydney hugged me from behind and began to sob.

“Char….” she sniffed.

I twisted myself in her arms. “Wha… Sydney?” I wiped the tears in her eyes with my fingers. “I thought…. I thought I … I had lost you.” she said in-between sobs.

Confused, I pulled her into my arms, patting her back.

After the whole tension had calmed, I was checked by Xender and forced to eat and take medicine. They briefed me on what had happened to me.

“You are saying I have been in bed for two freaking days?” I asked in shock and Sydney, who had been dabbing her eyes, nodded. “Damn.”

“You were the one who brought me here?” I asked Xender.

“Yeah.”

“Oh.”

'Why are you disappointed? You were expecting him?' my subconscious sneered.

“You don't need to worry, I called your place of work, and they gave you two weeks off.” Xender said, and I snapped my head up.

“Wha… You shouldn't have done that for me.”

“You needed the rest. Moreover, someone named Alex came visiting, he said he's the head chef, and he was fine with you not being at work.” I could no longer feel my eyebrows at this extent

“You mean Alex came here?”

This time it was Sydney who answered me. “Yeah.”

“You idiot. Would you stop crying? It's driving me nuts.”

“Why did you leave like that?” she snapped back.

“I needed to clear my head.” I retorted back.

“Clear your head? Clear your head in the bloody rain? Wait until Diane hears of your excuse.”

“Don't drag Diane into this?”

“Not until you tell me why the hell you acted like that.”

“It's none of your business!” I shouted at her, which I regretted immediately when I saw her drag a harsh breath in shock. “Sydney, please.” I pleaded before laying back on the bed, facing the other side.

When I heard departing footsteps, I looked behind me to catch her sad face as she shut the door behind her as she and Xender left me.

Shutting my eyes, the tears I had held back, came out freely.

******************************************

I was finally allowed to leave the house, which I later found out to be Xender's, after series of pleading and proving to him that I was perfectly fine. As for Sydney, she had lost touch with me since the day I woke up, and I was thankful that she didn't inform Diane about what happened. Though I felt guilty because she was only after my welfare, but I had shut her off.

Xender took me home and made sure I ate something, since I had insisted on eating in my home in the excitement to leave his house that held me like a prisoner.

Immediately he left, I jumped on my couch while I watched reruns of movies I missed while staying at Xender's.

I was already dozing off on the couch when I suddenly heard a knock on my door. Dragging my lazy feet I opened the door, who I saw had my jaw dropping.

“Dave?”

“Char.” He nodded before he went pass me, into my apartment.

“Charlotte!” A hug engulfed me.

“Zoe.” I couldn't get more surprised.

“We're sorry we didn't come earlier.” She said when she freed me.

“No…. No worries. Come in.” I invited her in.

“You've not been eating well. You look scrawny.” Dave stated.

“I… I…" I stuttered

“Thank Goodness that we brought some food along.” Zoe said, placing brown paper bags on my kitchen counter.

Dave began placing the table, while Zoe swatted me to come over.

“You shouldn't have bothered.” I said as I walked over to them.

“Well, I love bothering.” Zoe said, pulling out a kitchen table. “Just sit and enjoy.”

“Ok.” I shrugged. “ I just ate, but I don't mind eating more.” I said, holding up the chopsticks.

The pasta and meat sauce tasted heavenly, and I couldn't help control that appetite.

After the food, Dave disposed of the plates while Zoe braided my hair in the living room while we watched the marathon of the City Brothers.

“I just love Brandon, he's so handsome.” Zoe said dreamily.

“No, Drake is.” I retorted.

“I disagree, Brandon's perfect and not like Drake, who acts like a jerk.”

Turning my head to face her. “Don't call him a jerk. You are just jealous.” I pulled my tongue at her.

“Jealous of what?” She smirked.

“There are a many reasons for you to be jealous, but to mention a few.” I paused, so I could turn my whole body around. “Let me admit first that Brandon is cute.” I said, and she grinned. “But…but, Drake is handsome, has those well sculptured abs, has those kissable lips and his eyes? OMG! They are damn sexy. Have you seen those graceful walks of his? He's like a dark knight that I want to keep with me forever.”

When I finished talking, she was tongue-tied. Giggling, I turned back to the TV, satisfied.

“What are you both arguing about?” Dave asked when he entered.

“Nothing.” Zoe said hurriedly as she got back to my hair.

I felt the chair deepen behind me and I knew he was sitting behind her. “Are you certain?” He teased.

“Yeah, just ladies talk.” She said dismissively.

“Okay, if you say so.” He said before bending over. “I'll give you anything you want if you tell me what you were discussing ." He whispered into my hair and I faced him in amazement.

“You're certain?” I was now grinning, and he nodded.

“Do you care to carry me along in your whispering party?” Zoe asked, her fingers leaving my hair once again as she looked from Dave back to me. When she saw my face, she knew immediately what we were saying.”No, Charlotte.” She mouthed to me.

Ignoring her, I looked back at Dave. “What would you give to me if I told you?”

“What you want the most?” He said and I gasped.

“You mean you'd buy me a MacBook, the latest edition ?” I asked unbelievably and he nodded his head reassuringly.

I looked back at Zoe to see her disappointed face.

Not taking my gaze from her, I spoke. “She was saying about how you have been the best and blah blah." I blurted, and I saw how a shade of crimson crept to her cheeks.”But I told her that you weren't half of my boyfriend.”

Immediately it left my mouth, I regretted it.They were both staring at me wide-eyed and jaw dropping.

I wanted to turn my back against them, but Dave grabbed my arm, stopping me halfway.

“You have a boyfriend?” He asked.

“Yeah, forget I said that.”

“Hell no. How can I?” He paused, still surprised. “What's his name?”

“I won't say until you've gotten me my MacBook.” I stubbornly said, turning back to the TV.

Half regretting that I had mentioned a boyfriend and half happy I was getting a MacBook soon.