Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Katie -

I wrapped a towel through my hair and one around my body.

She was sitting on the bed when I opened the door.

‘You, um, mentioned clothes.’

Dani: ‘Yeah. You'll sleep in mine tonight so I can wash the ones I picked up tomorrow.’

She reached behind her and handed me a pile of neatly folded clothes then I turned to go the bathroom.

Dani: ‘There's not much point in that. I've seen it already, and I'm going to see it plenty more.’

‘What does that mean?’

I asked uneasily looking back.

Dani: ‘Exactly what I said. It's not a riddle, but if you feel better for now, I guess you can humor yourself.’

I just continued to the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

It didn't seem like locking it would really make difference, but I did anyways.

Red boy shorts, red sports bra, black tank top, black socks, black sweat pants, black hoodie.

There seemed to be a pattern, her color choices were about as bright as her personality.

I threw my towels over the shower door and went back to the bedroom.

Dani: ‘Ok, you will be in here with me tonight. There's only two beds in the house, and you're not going to see the other one yet. You want a drink while we walk? To help you sleep? It's been a weird night.’

I followed her out of the room and looked out over the banister at the rest of the large house.

There were a few doors along the walkway.

‘I'm not twenty one yet.’

Dani: ‘Didn't ask for your age, I asked if you wanted a drink. I wasn't twenty one when I had my first either, used to enjoy them too much honestly, but that's not an issue anymore.’

‘Um, sure? I guess, then.’

Demi: ‘Sweet, stiff, or hard?’

We entered the door furthest from hers which lead to a large room.

There was large wooden desk, leather chairs, wooden tables, lamps, shelves of real books, and a bar with various glasses set on top, the bottles below the the open glass cabinet.

‘Um, sweet I guess.’

She got two glasses and retrieved ice from a refrigerator against the wall.

Dani: ‘Ok. So if I tell you I want a drink, I mean I want liquor, and ice. No mixer or anything else. Sweet, is amaretto, stiff is bourbon, hard is tequila.’

She handed me a drink.

Dani: ‘You remember that?’

‘Sure.’

She lifted her glass a little and I did the same, then we took a sip.

Dani: ‘This is my study. I like to come in here to read and relax. There's two chairs, so if you're the type that can't be alone, as long as you're quiet, you can join me. There's plenty of books, as long as you put them back and take care of them, you can read them or I'm sure you'll want to put them on a device as text like everyone else these days.’

‘No one has this many regular books except the major libraries. My school doesn't have this many in ours.’

I followed as she left the room, going back towards hers.

She opened the door closest to us.

Dani: ‘This will be your bathroom, it's not quite as big as mine. Only one sink, but most of the other things. Jets in the tub, stand alone shower. You can pick out towels and paint, as long as it isn't tacky.’

She closed it and we went to the next door.

There was a white love seat, dresser with mirror, taller dresser, light hardwood floors, and white walls with matching curtains.

She stepped in and took another sip of her drink.

Dani: ‘Once I don't have to worry about you so much, this will be your room. You can order different furniture, you'll obviously need a bed. Again with decorations and painting how you'd like, as long as it isn't tacky. There's a door here through the closet to my room.’

She stepped into a large closet the size of my dorm room at college.

It had mirrors on each side of the doors, shoe racks to the ceiling along the walls drawers at the bottom, and racks to hang clothes spaced throughout out it.

Dani: ‘I'm sure you'll fill this in time. Online shopping is one of the more addicting ways to pass the time. I'm going to be monitoring you at first, of course, but in time I won't need to worry.’

‘Fill it? In time? How long am I supposed to be here exactly?’

She chuckled.

Dani: ‘I didn't plan on moving anytime soon. Come on, there's still downstairs to get through.’

‘Wha-what? Wait why...’

Dani: ‘Downstairs. I was going to show you the rest of the house so it's not all brand new tomorrow. It's not like you're getting out of bed tonight to go exploring or anything, I'll see to that, but it's easier if it's a little bit familiar. Stairs are just at the end there, by the study. Need a refill?’

She took a big drink, emptying her glass and I just did the same, trying to make sense of what she had said.