Chapter 11
Mila
Without a word, he turns and continues walking. Spine stiff, shoulders wide, I glance further down at his ass. Firm and muscular, and his legs…stop!
Rushing forward, I fall into step beside him, the tension between us palpable. It ’ s like gum sticking to the soles of our feet. Each step feels wrong, but we keep walking, ignoring that strange bubble trying to drag our feet down.
My fire?
Maybe he ’ s right; maybe his flare and sparks are what I need. Running in my world takes guts; it takes energy and fuel. Something I don ’ t have. I ’ ve been surviving, coping, numbing. Maybe I need to thaw, begin to feel, and grow enough emotions and fuel so I can one day be brave enough to take control of my own life.
As badly as I want to escape, I just can ’ t stop thinking about what it will do to my father. I ’ m all he has left after mom died. If I run, it will break him, but…I don ’ t think I can survive like this forever.
“ Stop being selfish, Mila.” Dash snaps in annoyance as he slows and looks from left to right.
“ Huh?”
“ I need you to stop thinking about your future and help me with mine. Which way next, tour guide?”
I roll my eyes, “ You ’ re unbelievable.”
“ I know; you can bow down and praise me in your spare time,” he remarks, a playful glint in his eye. His blonde hair shimmers in the sunlight, like a male model in an Italian fashion ad. He ’ s really stunning; it ’ s just his wicked tongue that is the unfortunate part, that and his last name.
“ I think another lackey would go to your head.”
His shoulders widen with pride.
“ You ’ re not changing me,” I declare, crossing my arms defiantly. “ I always act like this.”
“ Sure you do. Tell me, is that during your dreams or only in your head? You and I both know that if I weren ’ t standing by your side, you ’ d crawl back into your shell.”
I bite my inner cheek. Damn him.
Maybe it ’ s his grace, but he doesn ’ t provoke me further. He nudges his head towards the large circular building to the right. “ What ’ s that?”
“ The cafeteria.”
He glances at his watch. “ Let ’ s go eat.”
“ Are you sure?”
“ Yes,” he hisses.
“ Have you ever watched a teen movie?” I ask as we begin to walk towards it.
“ I don ’ t have that luxury, Mila.”
“ Well, here ’ s a lesson then, Dash. Everyone knows a high school cafeteria is a watering hole. Be careful when you eat and drink; other monsters will be lurking to strike.” I plaster on a fake-as-fuck grin along with a bitchy glare. It feels amazing to provoke him.
It feels.