Chapter 4

I awoke to the smell of smoke sometime after. I wasn't sure of how long I'd been asleep but from the looks of things it was a really long time. For there was a new center table, a wooden one I noted with amusement, all the glass and mess cleaned up and the papers sorted and stacked neatly on the table.

The scent of the smoke grew stronger. And suddenly I couldn't help but think he'd lit the house on fire with me still in it. But then why would he fist clean the place up, get a new table, set everything on order and...bandage my hands. Now I'm shocked by him again. I still couldn't be sure about the smoke so I got up and headed to locate its source.

The kitchen. I should have guessed. And in it was the usual classic dressed, masked abductor. He must be cooking because the smoke was coming from the oven. I cleared my throat and he spun around.

"You're cooking" I said stating the obvious.

"Yeah. Well baking actually. Chocolate chip and whole wheat cookies with raisins and cinnamon." I closed my eyes and inhaled. Three words. Oh. My. God. When I opened my eyes he was staring at me.

"Smells good?" He asked putting on red padded mittens.

"I'll say," I replied with a smile. He gave me a small smirk before turning to take out the batch of cookies. The heavenly smell filled the air and my stomach rumbled in response. He got out two plates served 4 on each plate, then he went to the refrigerator got out a box of milk and poured two glasses. He sat a plate before me and took the other in his hand along with his milk, heading out.

"You're not eating with me?"

"Do you want me to?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

The response was before I could stop it but I didn't regret it. I couldn't stand being alone again. H sat across from me. I took up a cookie and took a bite. Just as heavenly as it smelled.

"Its delicious," I took the 4th bite.

"Its a family recipe cliche I know," he smirked again. And at that moment it reminded me that he was actually human, that he was an actual real person and that this wasn't some crazy dream I'd soon wake up from.

We sat and ate in silence for a bit. This time I wasn't worried about him poisoning anything. I was really starting to trust him...and like him. I watched as he chewed, his masculine yet luscious lips going in a circular motion, his jaw flexing; and then he swallowed, his Adam's apple going up and then coming back down. I smiled as I remembered doing the same with my dad, and how I liked to poke his Adam's apple and laugh when he choked. And as soon as the memory came it through pain with it. I hadn't read his file yet and I was devastated to. I'm a daddy's-little-girl. I've always loved my father and looked up to him, even through his long hours at work, and I don't want anything changing that.

"How's my family?" I asked, he looked up at me.

"They're doing just fine. Your mom just got promoted to C.E.O in her firm and your dad's still trying to close his new dealership with salesmen from Taiwan," he said it with such ease and certainty. He didn't say anything about them missing me or looking for me.

"How long as it been?"

"Five days"

"Has it been reported?"

"No." This just seriously can't be happening. I didn't want to believe but I had to. Has anyone not realized that the birthday girl wasn't actually at her own party? Isn't Blaine looking for me? And even if my parents think I'm over a friend's house wouldn't they wonder which friend? To expect a call from that friend's mom or dad to say hey Kay-lee's here for a couple days. And if they don't get a call like that within the very next day after my birthday then they should suspect something's up. Its just not right.

"I'm going through them fully today. Nice if possible"

"Its what I brought them here for"

"You won't stay?" I was more of a statement than a question.

"No. I think its best you go through them on your own. Without the presence of anyone else. You'll see why." He stood then, took up the plates and glasses and got to washing them. I got up and made my way to the living room.

I was just about to get to the files when I remembered I hadn't showered. I went for the stairs.

"You're not going to bother?" I turned to him.

"I'm going for a shower first"

"I won't be here when you get back"

"When will you be back?"

"Noon. Tomorrow. That will give you enough time. There's more milk in the refrigerator and cookies on the counter in case you get a little hungry again." I watched as he walked to the door. Put his hand forward and went through. Still couldn't figure out how he got through but it really didn't matter anymore. I went to take my shower so I could get to those files.

***

By the time I was to completely go through the files my limbs were so weak with shock and disgust made it almost impossible to catch my breath.

It turns out my dad wasn't actually my dad, that hen was just a friend of my mom whom she paid monthly to be my dad. My biological father was a truck driver she had had a one night stand with one reckless day of endless beer drinking and the introduction of him to her by the waitress of the diner they were at. As soon as she found out she was pregnant, she contacted Lloyd, my surrogate dad, immediately. It would have been seen as a huge disgrace to the rest of the family and so she didn't let anyone know.

My best friend Jamie slept with our cheerleading couch and begged for the spot for captain as soon as she found out he was going to give it to me. She's been jealous of me the whole time, putting chemicals in my shampoo (I wonder how he found that out), hacking the computer system to wreck my school file and not to mention sleeping with three of my ex-boyfriends. What a s**t.

As for my boyfriend Blaine, he's not really from California, he's from Colombia. Glossy black hair rung a bell. He has 3 brothers who got killed in a battle between his dad and some drug dealers. When his father then lost everything he decided to flee to Australia, without him. And so he shipped him off here in England to live with his uncle. Blaine was also a former drug addict, has a tattoo of a pistol in the middle of his back - which explains why he never wants to go shirtless-and was arrested 3 times since age 12.