Chapter 11 #2
Reluctantly, I help her back to her seat, buckle her harness, and shut the door.
Finishing up at the gas pump I make my way around the back of the car then fold myself into the driver seat; unapologetically bummed now we’re officially out of time.
It’s almost five in the morning, her dad will be looking for her, likely on a rampage since she never let him know she would be out until the ass-crack of dawn–fingers crossed he hasn’t been drinking or doing some other equally mind-altering substance.
“Ready?”
Poor thing’s getting tired, she’s slightly slumped in her seat and leaning back a bit more than she was earlier. “Mhm.”
Leaving the gas station in the dust, we’re back on the road and about five minutes from the bonfire.
On our way we pass a few students I recall seeing at the gathering before Nadia showed up and we took off.
Fingers crossed they make it home safely and without having a run in with the cops—though most of the police don’t give a shit in Hazelwood.
They’re too busy flirting at the diner or sitting on the outskirts popping people in speed traps.
Finally, the trees framing the road open up to the field with still several cars remaining and a more relaxed-looking atmosphere.
Of course my boys are here still, patiently waiting for me to scoop them up.
Her friends, unsurprisingly, are loitering too–fuckers can’t do a damn thing without Nadia needing to be present.
I was honestly impressed to see them here before she arrived, they took initiative and didn’t need her to hold their fucking hands; they’re growing up, I’m so proud.
Eyeroll.
I hate them. The longer I’m with her, the more I claim her, the less civil I will be when they come around to hang on her coattails .
Yeah yeah, I know, I shouldn’t judge them or make her choose and the truth is I won’t; but she'll do it when she finally learns she’s out of their league.
Ivy is the absolute worst, she’s going to be a terrible influence on her one day—or leave her high and dry when she needs her the most. I can’t wait, anything to get rid of that trifling bitch.
Though people have filtered out, there are still more here than I thought there would be at give in the morning. At least the fire has died down and it looks like the fire department didn’t show up either with how dry the ground is.
“Oh sweet, my friends are still here.” Nadia chimes in, plucking me from my thoughts.
“Lucky them.” I say dryly. “Sorry, I didn’t…”
“Yes you did. You don’t have to hide it, Rey. I know you don’t like them. They’re all I have though.”
“That’s not true, and you know it.”
Lord give me strength. I don’t want to end tonight with a disagreement. Let me just keep my mouth shut and crawl this car along the uneven pasture. No, no I’m not leaving things between us like this; fuck that.
“You have me, Nadia. I know that’s only one more person in your corner, but it’s still one more. I’ll always be here fighting for you. Tell me…tell me you believe me.”
Parking in an empty space close to where I parked earlier I see another vehicle come in behind us that swings over by her truck. Nadia virtually leaps out of the car before I get it in park but she’s not faster than me. Reaching for her, I snag her shirt, and pull her back inside.
“Sweetheart, talk to me.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore, Rey. I want to go home.”
“Do you believe me?” I ask again, not letting her go.
She won’t look me in the eye and I’m not having any of that shit.
This behavior comes from how her dad treats her.
When things get a little too uncomfortable, she shuts down and it’s like trying to break into Fort Knox.
I won’t allow it, we’re going to learn healthier ways to communicate after tonight. Our relationship deserves that much.
Leaning, I hook a finger under her chin and turn her to me, my free hand circling around to the back of her head, cradling so she can’t look away from me.
There’s sadness there. The untamed laughter from earlier long gone, leaving the emotional fallout of having to leave.
I steal the softest peck from her lips, the bottom one beginning to tremble.
She doesn’t want to talk because that means speaking on her feelings and that prickly exterior is her own protection; she’s hurting I know this, and too damn proud to cry.
“I’m coming back for you. Whether you believe me or not. I may not be able to convince you now, that I’m yours and you’re mine, but I will. Give me a few days, okay? When your dad leaves for work on Monday, I’ll be there to get you. Do you understand?”
Silence—the kind that’s so damn loud it’s deafening. Pressing one last kiss to her forehead, I release her.
“Come on, let’s get out there. I’ll stay until you head home.”
Out of the car, the doors close with a thud as her vulture-esque friends swarming her as mine approach me from the opposite side. We bump knuckles, Wes flies into something completely unrelated, failing to capture my interest. Zap’s at my side, his arms crossed over his chest watching me watch her.
“You going to be able to leave when she does, Rey?” He asks under the cover of Wes’s stupid story.
“Don’t have a choice man. We have shit to do and she has to go home. Pretend everything’s okay and that she’s not going to up and disappear on Monday.”
“Does that mean she agreed? That’s good news, man. I can’t wait to get to know her and see her around on campus. Will be nice to have someone else to talk to other than Wes. Are you still planning on staying in the dorms, or are you going to try and get your own place?”
“Will definitely find our own space as soon as possible. I don’t want her around Wes—fucker is a pig. Then I can have her all to myself without putting up with you two, no offense.”
“None taken. You’re a good guy, Rey. I’m glad she’s choosing you over all of this. You deserve to be happy and I’m sure she does too.”
Ivy is fawning all over Nadia right now, drunk off her ass and hanging on her like a wet blanket.
Not a good look if you ask me but good thing she never was on my radar despite being on hers.
She sets off all sorts of warning bells in my head, the other two aren’t as bad but still.
From the looks of it, Zap hasn’t given her any attention either; he’s got a foul look on his face as he glances at her.
Thank God. Dodged a bullet with that one.
“Girl, you missed it. Oh my god. They were out here doing keg stands, passing joints around. It was like that frat party I snuck out to with Oliver!” Ivy hiccups at the end.
“Dammit, Ivy, that was a secret!”
“It’s alright, Oli, not really my scene anyway.” Nadia responds politely then shoves Ivy off of her, returning to me. Wes and Zap step aside, knowing she is my top priority and forever will be.
“I believe you,” she whispers.
My heart, it’s going to burst. My whole life is standing in front of me, making a promise without meaning to with those three little inconspicuous words.
A couple of car doors slam shut, a few more of the lightweights heading home for the day. When her friends suddenly learn how to shut up and go silent, unease settles over me. I can’t stomach what’s unfolding, hearing the worst voice we could have imagined screaming her name from nowhere.
My eyes snap to the furious man stalking over, he’s on a rampage, his face a deep shade of red and eyes as black as coal.
The second we realize what’s about to happen, we both freeze.