Chapter 20
1896 Words
Thirteen's POV
My hands grip the pages of the book forcefully as I sit in my seat in the café booth fuming. I adjust the fake glasses on my nose yet again as I pretend to be interested in this stupid book.
I was irritated with Jason, who wouldn't get off my back this morning about how the plan I came up was never going to work, and blah, blah, blah. I was mad at Devin who I found going through the new phone I had picked up this morning. But most of all I was pissed off because of how I woke up.
Cody had his arms wrapped around me. Now, normally that wouldn't bother me at all. If it wasn't for the fact that I felt all warm, comfortable, and safe. Safe to say I was livid.
I feel like tearing this book in half and I probably would too...if it weren't for the fact that we were currently sitting and waiting for Mr. Zack Martin to show up.
By we, I mean me and the boys. Jason and Devin were currently sitting at a table outside right by the entrance. Cody sits in a booth by the back door, and Chase sits at a table in the middle of the room.
I had reviewed his daily routes one more time and had concluded that this was where he spent most of his time. He would come here to study, hang out, or do whatever else. He's also a major player. So we're using that to our advantage. All we had to do, was make sure he notices me.
Of course, it probably helps that I'm currently sitting in 'his' booth.
Apparently, he doesn't sit in any other booth ever. So naturally, I decided I was going to sit in it. And I am...and it's quite comfy.
"Uh excuse me?" A loud voice asks, breaking me out of my train of thoughts.
I glance up through my eyelashes to look at the owner of the voice, my hair shielding my face. Target acquired. I turn my gaze back to the book, ignoring him.
"Excuse me." He states a little louder.
I continue ignoring him, pretending like my book is the most interesting thing in the world.
"Excuse me." Oh, I hear his teeth gritting together this time.
I flip a page in my book.
"Excuse me!" He roars. I glance up at him again, holding my head up high and letting my hair move out of my face. I watch as he seems to be at loss for words.
"Yeah didn't think the nerdy looking girl was pretty did you?" Devin snickers through the earpiece. I mentally roll my eyes.
I continue to watch him for another minute before turning my attention back to the book.
"Well hey there." He says, his voice sounding so much nicer than it did earlier, as he flashes me a heart-stopping smile. I snort.
I flip a page.
"What you reading?"
I flip another page.
"Do you want something?" I ask, my tone slightly rude. He gives me a lazy grin.
"Why no, no not at all. What makes you say that?"
I stare at him, face blank, "You came over here looking hell-bent on murdering me and now you're trying unsuccessfully to get my attention."
"Can't a guy change his mind when he sees a pretty face?" He says smoothly, any other girl would've already swooned and jumped in his arms. But unfortunately for him, I'm not your average teenager.
"Not without sounding like a girl." I retort.
"Did it hurt?"
"Pardon?" I ask, trying to sound like a polite little girl.
"When you fell from heaven?"
"Nope, but it hurt crawling up from hell."
He begins to laugh loudly and takes a seat across from me.
"I never said you could sit down," I state as I glower at him.
"I don't need permission to sit at my booth."
"Funny I don't see your name on it." I retort calmly.
He pulls a sharpie out of his pocket and writes his name neatly in cursive on the end of the table. He grins at me when he finishes and I scowl at him.
"Have we ever met before?" he asks, as he studies my face. I give nothing away as I reply.
"Yeah, I'm the receptionist at the STD clinic."
I hear both Chase and Jason choke on whatever it is they're drinking. Devin starts laughing, and Cody just lets out an exasperated sigh.
He throws his head back and laughs louder, not having a care in the world who stares.
"I'm serious." he chokes out between his fit of laughter.
I shake my head. "I'm not from around here, just staying with some relatives. And I don't think I'd forget a guy like you." I give him a disgusted look.
"What? don't like what you see?" he mocks.
"I've seen better." I flip another page in my book and focus my attention back to it.
"What are you doing for the rest of the day?" He asks, a mischievous look in his eyes. I close my book and place it on my lap.
"I'm going to finish my book then I'm going to go home and take a long shower to rid myself of your stench," I reply with a straight face.
His smile grows wider on his face. "No, you're going to go somewhere with me." I raise my eyebrow at him.
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I told you to."
"You're not my parent, sorry." I pull my book up over my face and pretend to read it. It's snatched from my hands.
"Hey-" He places a finger on my lips, the other hand holding the book out at as far away from me as possible. I glower at him.
"You'll get this back after you come with me." He states, his eyes almost glowing with mischief.
I pretend like I'm pondering the question.
"I'll just get a new book." I finally say, and begin to stand, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist. I feel my body stiffen.
"Please? I'll buy you another book."
I glare at him. "Fine." He smiles widely and grabs my hand dragging me out of the café. I nod discreetly at Devin and Jason as I pass by them.
He opens the passenger door of his car and motions for me to enter. As soon as I sit down, he closes the door.
"I'm muting my earpiece till I have any information to report, don't try to talk me out of it cause I've already made up my mind. Go back to the house and track the signal from there. Do not, I repeat do NOT follow us." I order the boys. The sounds of groans and protests cease when I mute the earpiece and put it in the pocket of my jean shorts.
Ah, the beautiful sounds of complete silence.
The car door opens and Zack sits down, putting his keys in the ignition.
"You know I never got your name." He says.
And there goes the silence.
"Adrianna," I reply.
"Now why do I get the feeling you're lying to me?"
Smart kid. "I don't know, maybe I am, maybe I'm not." I shrug innocently. "To be fair I don't know whether or not you're actually k********g and killing me so..." I trail off.
He laughs, "Well you did get in my car. So any death is on you."
I place a hand over my heart dramatically. "Why how rude." He smiles as he turns down a winding road.
"You're actually quite entertaining when you're not trying to murder me with your hurtful words." He teases.
"Murdering someone with words isn't possible."
"You're right isn't the saying; 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.'?"
"Well I guess I'll just have to find some sticks and stones then," I mutter, he laughs again.
"Now why would you want to break my bones?"
"You'd look better."
"No. But I would be the center of attention, everyone would want to sign my cast. I'll let you go first." He winks at me.
I snort. "I feel so honored, and I'm pretty sure college students have better things to do than sign casts."
"Oh please everyone loves me."
"Except me."
"You don't count."
"Well you said everyone, so I just thought I'd point out to you that I don't."
"Why are you here?" he groans and bangs his head on the steering wheel as we come up to a stop sign.
"You forced me to. This is all on you."
"I'm regretting my decision."
"You should be."
He pulls the car into the side of the road and steps out.
If he really has plans on killing me...man the roles are going to get switched big time.
He opens my door for me.
"Come on we don't have all day."
"Oh, really I thought we did," I say sarcastically as I step out of the car. He starts leading the way down a narrow trail, leading into the forest ahead of us.
"Where are we going?" I yell out to him as he races down the trail with me close behind him.
"It's just a little further!" he shouts back over his shoulder to me.
I roll my eyes as he begins to slow down. "This isn't suspicious at all, everyone just parks their car on the side of a dirt road and leaves it, and then leads they're victim into the wilderness to their death, yeah sorry to tell you that-" I stop talking as I push through some branches hanging low and step into a grassy field.
A large pond is connected to a small river which drops into the pond, creating a small waterfall. Flowers line the edges and sand covers the bank.
"Whoa."
"And I've shocked her into silence." He announces loudly. "Let's have a moment more of silence to reflect on how incredibly amazing I am."
"It's beautiful."
"I know I am."
"Way to ruin to everything," I reply as I finally to turn to look at him. I turn back to look at the waterfall.
"I found it once when I was exploring." he starts. "I needed somewhere to come to clear my head sometimes, so, I started coming here. Never told anyone about it." I turn to face him.
"Then why show me?' I ask quietly.
"You don't seem like an easy girl to impress much less shock but...I think I accomplished both."
"Yes hurray for you." I retort sarcastically.
"There it is."
"There what is?" I ask.
"Your smile."
I freeze up as his words register in my head. I hadn't even realized till he pointed it out that I had been smiling. I turn away from him. I was forgetting who he was and letting my guard down.
I feel his hand cup my chin and he tilts my head up, forcing me to meet his eyes.
He smiles at me.
I don't move.
He lowers his head, his gaze flickering to my lips.
He gets about a centimeter away.
My knee shoots up.
He starts cursing and crumbles to the ground, and before I know it, I'm smiling again.
What can I say? The face he's making is quite comical.
- Writer
