CHAPTER 5
She woke reluctantly upon familiar unfamiliar sheets. She stretched until she saw stars and her head went fuzzy, revelling in those few moments before she remembered what happened the night before.
The memories danced back to the forefront of her mind, one by one like a parade. Her necklace...
"My necklace." She whispered, running her hands over her tangled hair.
"Oh my God, you're awake. You scared me."
She looked over at the startled man who had clearly not slept all night.
He was exhausted. His eyes drooped and his curls clung to his forehead.
"Oh, Steven, I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" He replied, genuinely confused.
"I've- I've taken your bed for another night, I've basically forced you into looking after me... Marc was right about us not- not- working out but it's not your fault at all. It's me... oh, Steven I'm s-sorry..." She stuttered as her breath came shorter and her tears came thick and fast.
As soon as he noticed her choke up he all but sprinted over to her side, climbing onto the bed beside her. He didn't even think as he took her in his arms, just like he did a few hours before.
She tucked her face into his neck and their legs intertwined. His socked feet rubbed against hers and he ran his hands up and down her back.
"You don't need to be sorry for anything, love. Nothing at all." He kissed her forehead.
"But-" She mumbled and he sucked in a breath at the feeling of her lips against his collarbone.
"But nothing. Y/N, I was selfish... I chose for you to enter my life, messy as it is. I brought this on you, not the other way around."
"Steven, you don't understand," she sat up, kneeling next to him on the bed, "they took something from my flat. I may have been brought to these people's attentions because of you but they're after me because of... me.'
Steven sat up against the headboard more fully now, bringing one knee to his chest. She manoeuvred herself to sit directly in front of him, putting her hand on his knee.
She wiped her face with her other hand.
He blinked a few times as he switched to Marc who immediately stood up and began pacing. He was quiet for a while and the painter wondered if she should leave before he shouted.
"Fuck!" He kicked a shelf and some books fell, hitting the wooden floor with a clatter.
"Marc?"
He turned suddenly to her. She was curled in on herself and he bit his lip in frustration and to stop himself from saying something he'd regret.
"Do you-" he huffed through his nose attempting to calm down and put his hands on his hips, "do you know who the guy at the museum was?"
"N-no. He spoke to me like I was... and he did seem kind of familiar? But no."
"What did they take?"
"What?"
"What did they take?"
"It was, uh, just a necklace..."
"All this effort for a necklace? Huh?" He got closer to her.
He rubbed his hand across his chin and bowed his head.
"Yes."
"Must be a pretty significant necklace."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I. Don't. Know." She dictated standing up.
He stalked towards her and she backed up.
"You don't know and yet you went straight to where it was kept?"
Her back hit the wall beside his bed and he put his hand beside her head, leaning into her.
"I-"
"Talk. Please." His tone softened as he shook his head.
She looked into his eyes; they were so close that their noses could touch.
"The necklace was a gift from my dad apparently. I never knew him. Mum told me to always wear it. She always seemed to place so much importance on it. As soon as I moved here, I just... I never did."
"Why did you think that would be what they broke in for?"
"Well, they didn't really 'break in' did they? You did that for them."
"C'mon Y/N."
"A feeling."
"A feeling?"
"A feeling."
He looked at her and somehow knew she wasn't lying. Relaxing, he put his forehead on her shoulder.
She ran her hands through his curls and pushed him slowly backwards until his knees hit the bed and he sat down.
"You know I just had to be sure." He remarked, looking up at her.
"I know. You can trust me."
"No more secrets?"
She hesitated.
"You should get some sleep." She returned, avoiding the question.
She knew he had his own secrets, though what they were she wasn't sure. She wasn't ready to tell him everything yet. It wasn't necessary.
He noticed, of course. He decided to bring it up later.
"It's morning."
"Call in sick."
"Then you'd be going in alone."
"Marc, those people already have what they wanted, clearly. I'll message you when I'm there. I'll message you at lunch. I'll message you as I'm leaving. When you wake up, you can get to work cleaning up my flat." She grinned.
"That necklace meant a lot to you."
"I mean no but yeah, but, it's fine... painting will take my mind off it, right? I'm gonna go to my flat and find some clothes and head off."
"Alright."
"Get some rest."
"Alright."
"Alright." She smiled gently.
Marc switched back to Steven and he put his hands on her waist and pulled her towards him. He hugged her tightly and put his cheek against her stomach. She wrapped her arms around his head.
"Bye."
"Bye, Steven."
He watched as she walked out the door, turning down the hall to her flat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He stayed awake until he got her text. He was curled on his side with his phone cradled in his hands.
He was wiping the screen with his sleeves when it came through with a ding.
Y/N <3 : i'm here! donna is screaming bc you aren't here oop! better go tell her that you're a lil ill boi lol. don't forget to clean my flat and fix my door xx
He put his hand over his mouth, muffling his laugh.
~ Good good! Thank you and, yes, I'll get on it like a car bonnet. See you laters - Steven x
Y/N <3 : byeeeeee
Y/N <3 : got paint on my phone grrrrrr >:(
He put his phone on the side table and dreamt of her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He woke up at lunchtime when he got her text. He undid his ankle restraint and took the blue tape off the door. He knew he didn't really need to do it anymore now that he and Marc had an understanding but Jake... well, Jake did what he wanted.
He picked up the phone.
Y/N <3 : hello. no issues. monching on some pringles and watching some otter videos with the security guy i befriended. he's funny. will probably stay a bit late cus i'm so close to finishing this section of my painting! don't worry if my text is a bit late! see you in a bit x
~ He loves otter videos... Gets annoying when you actually need him for something tho! - Steven x
Y/N <3 : i can imagine lmaooo. have a good rest of the dayyy
~ You too Y/N - Steven x
Y/N <3 : <33
He got dressed and put his phone in his pocket. He found a toolbox in a cupboard to try and fix her door... before realising he had no idea what he was doing and having to get Marc to take over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was around 6:00pm when he finally got the text saying that she was leaving the museum.
Marc stood by his door half hour later, knowing she should be back any moment now.
Should...
She wasn't. It got to 7:00pm when he made the choice to call her.
No answer.
He called her again.
Nothing.
He grabbed his gun, his jacket, his keys... he locked up and rang her again.
After two rings he got through.
The voice that answered was not hers.