The stranger upstairs

Gwen's pov

Two days later…

I had spent two days secretly taking food to the criminal I had hidden up stairs and he had done nothing but annoy me.

I am a little bit aware of him, the way he looks at me makes me blush. I couldn't tell if he was judging me or… sizing me up.

Men like him won't go for girls like me right?

“What are you thinking about?” I heard Polly, I jolted almost pushing a bowl off the countertop.

“Nothing” I answered with a smile turning to her, “when did you enter?”

“When you were lost in your thoughts” Polly answered as she opened the Fridge. “I came in here to remind you that it is time for the bakery shopping, Jimmy and Grace will attend to the customers” Polly said as she closed the fridge.

“Oh…oh that's true” I have totally forgotten about the shopping.

“Don't tell me you forget about it?” Polly asked as she opened the bottle of water she had brought out from the fridge. Throwing me a look, “is something bothering you?”

“No” I lied, turning away from her, I know she didn't believe me and luckily she didn't push. “I will go get the truck key and my jacket then meet you outside” I said to Polly without waiting for her reply, I busted out of the kitchen.

I made my way upstairs. When I got to my room, it was ajar. I frowned, stepping into my room.

I glanced around to find Cristóbal near my drawers and opened, “What are you looking for?” I questioned him,

He turned, standing up. “For a smoke?” He stands up clutching his side. “Are there any cigarettes in the house?”

“You are hurt and you want to smoke?” I scoffed, “that wound of yours is close to getting infected and you want to smoke.” I folded my arms.

“I just want a smoke” he shrugged, I shook my head and walked towards him, I opened my drawers and grabbed the truck keys. “I am going out, please stay quietly and return to your room” I told him as I grabbed a jacket before stepping out.

“God let him heal up real quick and let's get out of my house” I mumbled as I ran down the stairs.

When I entered the bakery, two men in suits were in the shop questioning Polly, Jimmy and Grace.

They have tattoos on their arms and face, they look like some gangsters. five heads turned to me at the same time.

“What's going on here?” I asked, Looking at my friends.

“They were just asking some questions about some strange occurrences” Polly answered,

“Okay” I gave a tight smile, a little uncomfortable with the man.

Polly turned to the men, “We don't know anything about it” she tells them.

One of the men’s gaze settled on me, I looked away.

“Alright, we will leave now” Another said as they headed towards the door but not before the one who was looking at me threw his head over his shoulder to look at me.

Polly let out a sigh that everyone in the bakery could hear, “Thank God, they left already.”

“What do they want?” I asked, stepping down the stairs completely.

“They ask if we have happened to see someone around here, three nights ago but we didn't see anybody right?” Jimmy asked, looking at me, Grace and Polly.

Grace shrugged, pushing her glass off her nose bridge, “yes, no one saw anything,” I said.

“Yeah…” Polly said, her eyes settled on me. “Why don't we go where we intended to?”

It was kind of stiffed in here suddenly, I guessed everyone is kind of scared.

As I and Polly walked out the bakery towards my dad's truck, I asked about the men. “Those men are gangsters right?” I asked that made Polly stopped as she glanced around.

“Shhh” Polly hissed, “Don't use that words, they are dangerous people and they more than just any gangs” she whispered.

I opened the truck door, “Are they're Cristóbal's men?” I asked, this time dropping my volume.

“No, These ones are different and I don't know what they are doing here because it is not their territory” Polly answered as she fixed her seatbelt.

“Territory?” I said, “you seems to know a lot about this people? Can you tell me what you know?”

Polly looked at me weirdly, “I don't know a lot about them, Gwen. I just appear to know some certain things and I don't think you want to know about it”

“But you can tell me?...” I pushed.

“No” she disagree, “Let’s focus on driving?”

I started the truck as I pout my mouth playfully, “I will act like you are not treating me like a child” I mumbled.

★★★

“And that's the last one” Jimmy said as he carries the last bag of flour into the kitchen. I didn't do much lifting but i am already breathing hard.

“I am worn out” I let out dropping into a arm chair which is behind the counter. “I feel like I will pass out any moment”

Grace came out from the kitchen and gave me a glass of water, “Here drink” she said,

“Thank you” I smiled as I take the water from Grace and whispered thank you, Polly came out from the kitchen.

“What happened to your phone?” Polly asked and that got me to seat up because I haven't get a new phone since Cristóbal smashed my old one. Not that I can afford one right now but how do I come up with a lie.

What do I say happens to my phone, Polly, Grace and Jimmy looked at me like they were expecting a quick answer.

“Erm…erm…” I cleared my throat,

“Your father texted he was worried about you, he said you wouldn't answer to his texts, where do you keep your phone?” She asked again.

“I lost it…in….the lake.” I laughed at the end of my words, glancing at my friends who had this serious look on their face.

Maybe my lie isn't serious after all.

I hate lying because I am not a good liar and I need to drive Cristóbal out of here.

“Okay…. That is a little weird thing for you to do but you are human afterall” Jimmy shrugged and I smiled, nodding.

“You should get a new phone” Polly said, “I will let your father know your phone is lost in the lake”

They believe me after all. I heaved a sigh