Chapter 20: I Just Want To Go Home
(TYLER)
"No Tyler, I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about Sasha. You and I can never be friends. His little brother and mother are the only ones who know about this sham arrangement, and certainly the only people who can help you with it. That is what makes them valuable to you." Miles hesitates.
"If I were you, I'd make friends with them. But you chose to fight Sasha. No way will end well for you. You'll only end up hurting yourself."
His response has me in a chokehold. Much as I hate to admit it, it is true. But how can I be friends with them? I remain silent because I don't know what to say. I'm not even sure if Sasha's family will welcome me or even consider being my friends. I doubt they would, especially considering where Sasha got me. Do they even know about that bit? What if they treat me like dirt?
"Check the drawers. There are clean clothes in there and in the closet too. Go shower and try getting some sleep. Maybe all you need is a proper rest to think straight. You might be smarter when you wake up." He turns to leave and the door shuts behind him with a soft click.
I shake my head slowly. With Miles gone, I scuffle through the drawers and find many pairs of pyjamas. I pick one that seems to be my best fit and head off to the bathroom. Everything in this house is exquisite. The bathroom is big enough for ten people. All fixtures in here are golden and the floor is jaded in large marble tiles.
I step into the shower and the first jolt of the cold water makes me gasp. But then the water gets warmer. I lean my head onto the wall and let the water flow on my body. I haven't had a proper shower in months, especially one with hot water and all I want right now is to soak in here. The shower at the camp was nothing close to this one, making the shower I'm used to seem like a faulty garden hose.
There are several shampoos, conditioners and body wash that all smell like lavender and areal, smooth to the touch. Back at the camp, I'd be lucky if I found scraps of leftover bar soap for use. I didn't care that someone used them before me or what kind of skin diseases they had, I just used what was available. After all, I had no options. I wash my body thoroughly, wanting to rid myself of the stench of that filthy bathroom back at the store.