Chapter 3

Two weeks later and things had not changed one bit. Angela stayed at home refusing all offers for a night out and she just kept on translating the book that was giving her so much trouble. Georgia phoned her though all the time and she talked about James and his kisses that were keeping her horny and his intelligence and blah blah blah! Who cares anyway? Screw the guy, just don't tell me about it! How can you say that to your best friend though? That's right. You don't. You just shut your mouth and you pretend that you are curious and that you want to hear more...

Anyway, there was one thing she was happy about. Nick hadn't called her and he hadn't shown his face at all. She had no idea what happened but she was glad for this absence. But it was just that ... An absence. The war with the asshole was definitely not over and sooner or later she would have to think of something more permanent to keep him away from her.

How was she supposed to do that? Her mother had passed away 2 years ago when she was still in college and she had no one apart from Georgia to take care of her. Being alone in this world could be very tiresome some days. Even when her mother was alive she had never felt safe. That feeling was taken away from her so violently when she was 13 years old ... After that nothing was the same. There was no safe house, her mother could not protect her and all she was left with was an empty shell of herself, of who she used to be and of who she could become ... Sometimes it was as though she hadn't grown up a day since her 13 birthday.

The phone started ringing and she jumped from the chair. Her heart was pounding. Fear, that god damned fear was always there!

"Hello".

"It's me, Georgia".

"Hi honey. What's up?" Her friend's voice was not normal and she was certain that something was going on.

"I called because I needed a favour".

"Spill it out. Is it about James?"

"Yeah, but it's not what you think".

"Then what is it?", she asked feeling a little bit worried now. She had imagined a break-up or something like that but it was obvious that she was wrong.

"Well, he is sick. Pretty sick actually".

"Does he have a fever?"

"A fever, he is throwing up and in general he is a mess. The doctor said that he will be fine but he needs at least three days to recover".

"Ok", Angela replied. She was still trying to figure out what that had to do with her.

"As you remember I have to go on a trip this weekend..." She was pleading now, "and I was wondering if ... He can't be alone and you always take care of me when I am sick, so I thought that you could do me a favour".

"For God's sake Georgia! The answer is no. Definitely no!" She tried to sound stern and determined. She loved her best friend too much and it was very difficult to deny anything to her but she had to remain firm. This would ruin her. She had to stay away from that man, not be left alone with him for 3 days!

"Please honey! I'm begging here. I have no dignity", she said making Angela laugh. "The stupid trip is mandatory. I have to go, I would go even if I was dying and you are all I have. My parents are miles away and I can't ask Peter to take care of James. The best he could do would be a blowjob, not a soup!"

Angela laughed again but she could not deny that her friend had a point. "What about his family? His friends?", she suggested but she knew that Georgia was calling her as a last resort.

"His parents live in Ireland! Who knew that, right? And as far as his friends are concerned, well can you seriously tell me that you trust all these baboons to take his temperature or cook something? They would think that he is ok, order some pizza and watch porn!"

Angela searched for the words, she really did try to say "no" but she couldn't. She honestly believed that Georgia wouldn't force her to do it but the truth was that she would feel a little guilty if she left him alone. Ok, a lot guilty. And so she said yes.

...

James opened his eyes with difficulty. Someone was trying to wake him up from a wonderful dream he had and he didn't like it. His head hurt and he had to gather his strength just to look at her.

"Where is Georgia?", he asked but his voice sounded strange even to his ears.

"She left last night. I will be here for the next three days. I woke you up so you could take your pills and eat some rice".

"You look great", was all he replied. While she was talking he was observing her closely. Her hair was reaching her shoulders, her clothes were simple and casual but there was something about her that made her beautiful. Maybe the fact that she had a a great face, a sweet smile and that she was completely unaware of her sexuality. That's it, he decided. She is sexy because she is not trying to be. Most of the women sell their sexuality but she didn't and that was intriguing.

"Don't flatter yourself. I can benefit from being here", she said.

"How is taking care of a sick, dirty man a benefit?"

"I wanted to leave my house for a few days. There is a chance", she stopped abruptly and she looked embarrassed.