Angel

16.

As I parked my automobile, the tyres squealed against the road. Two metal gates stood closed together ahead of me, prohibiting illegal entry. I shifted my focus to the side, where two professionally dressed young men stood guard on each side of the gate. They approached me as I pressed the automated window-rolling button. His brow wrinkled and his jaw contracted, displaying his exquisite jaw line. His collarbone, visible via his blue shirt's unbuttoned top button. A tiger paw tattoo was etched beneath his neck. "Hello ma'am, how can I help you?" he said as he bowed down to the window level. His face eased as his tensed jaw line softened, but his eyes remained furrowed together. I stared at him, pondering how appearances may deceive.

"Ye-yeah. Um. Actually, I'm here to work as a cleaner. So um..?" As I clutched the driving wheel with my fingers, I said.

"0h yes. "Wait a minute, please," he said, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialling a number. By the end of the gate, the other man had taken his place.

He hung up the phone and approached my car, saying, "yup. That's correct. You may enter, Ms!" He smiled as he approached the gate and pressed a button that caused the two gates to separate.

It was as if the unbreakable power that had bound the two gates together was now being forced to separate them. I drove in the direction of this long driveway.

The house was partially hidden by the merging colour of the sky. The creamy-white painted house greeted me as I drove further down the road.
I stepped out of my car, taking in the breathtaking scenery in front of me.

A circular pond stood in front of the entryway, with two sea lions throwing water back into it from their mouths. Across the pond, gold fish swam in patterns.

The scorching circle of fire that hung loose from the contrasting blue sky was reflecting in the pond, giving my eyes the illusion of sparkling diamonds. I climbed onto the porch's two steps and rang the doorbell. I stared patiently, yet uncomfortably, at the lovely rows of roses that formed a lovely way across the garden.

"Hello there!" said a young boy as the door finally opened.

"Hi.. Hi! "My name is Nyx" I introduced myself, and he gratefully took my handshake. He motioned with his hands inwards for me to enter, and I did so. Two lovely statues stand at each end of the hallway at the inner entrance. On the walls were a few well-known paintings.

His mother enjoys decorating the house, I thought as I stared down at the spotless marble floor beneath my feet. As soon as I stepped inside the lounge, all of my assumptions were proven incorrect.

Metal beer/fizzy drink cans were thrown all over the place, concealing the grandeur of the marble floor.
Clothing that needed to be washed covered the sofas, which looked out of place. The centre table cloth had fallen from the table's corner and appeared to have been used to wipe something.

"You..live.here?" I whispered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Come on, love, I'll show you around," he said, leading me to the kitchen. I breathed a sigh of relief that the house wasn't as large as I had anticipated.

"And this, my friends, is the kitchen!" He smiled, ignoring my disgusted expression. I stared at the dishes that needed to be washed and the luggage that littered the floor. I opened the pantry to see messed-up shelves. I was relieved that I didn't pass out at the sight. I assumed he didn't reside with his mother because his features appeared quite familiar.

"Hey, do I recognise you?" Oh, I didn't just say that! I put my hand over my lips, realising how cheesy that sounded. His broad shoulders drew back as he sighed deeply.

He chuckled as he crossed his legs and rested against the doorframe.

"Ha! "Well, I suppose-" a deep husky voice I recognised cut into his words, "LAWRENCE! "Have you seen the television remote?" He inquired. If you bother to look beneath the pile of clothes! The figure associated with the voice entered the kitchen area.