chapter three - Ignoring Demands

Being the ever so brave girlie that I am, I faced Six and told him what a mistake I'd made and begged for his forgiveness. He told me everything was fine and that it was nothing; that he completely understands. That is also a lie. I ran like a chicken that I am. I got to the class so flustered that my calculus teacher was instantly worried about me.

After convincing her that I'm fine, she let me take my seat, which Summer had graciously saved for me. Bless her youthful soul. She passed me a note: what the hell happened? Why do you look so flushed? I wrote back: I met Six.

She raised an eyebrow at me before responding: "Ok, and? I waited a while before responding, and I hit him in the eye with my calculus textbook before running away. I take my blessing back! The stupid girl burst out laughing, and Six chose that moment to walk into class. The shiner I caused starting to appear under his eye, which only made Summer laugh harder. By now, even the teacher thought she was losing it.

"Miss Acosta, would you like to explain why you're laughing?" Mrs Ferret asked."I'm sorry, Mrs Ferret. Miss Solano is an idiot," Summer replied, wiping away her tears. Yes, she was laughed that hard. "Please keep whatever it is to yourselves!" Mrs Ferret snapped. "Yes, Mam," Summer nodded.

Throughout the rest of the lesson, I could feel Six's gaze burning into me. I knew that he was looking at me the entire time, and u was super uncomfortable. I was grateful when the bell for the next period sounded. "I wouldn't look so happy if I were you. We have all our classes with six too," Summer giggled.

"I hate you," I glared at her. "I would love me if I were you. Just now, I let you sit next to him. I'd like to know how that would go," she threatened with a sly smirk on her face. Now I see why she's Cash's girlfriend!

True to word, Six was there for the last classes of the day. By the time the last bell went, I couldn't have gone to Noah's car fast enough. I watched as people approached their cars or their parent's cars, but my brother was nowhere in sight. I almost jumped out of my skin when there was a knock on the window. I rolled the window down.

"Yes?" I said, fighting to remain calm. "Out," was all he said. Can someone say caveman? Nonetheless, I stepped out of the car, scared out of my mind. He's most definitely taller than Noah by at least two inches, which means he's all the more intimidating for me.

He also looks very much Italian, which I find hot. I was leaning against the car, and my heart sped up when he trapped me against it. I was surrounded by his scent. He smells like very expensive cologne.he didn't say anything.

He just had me against the car, looking into my eyes. I don't know what he was looking for. We were even breathing the same air from how close he was. I was just missing my inner wonder woman who would be brave enough to close the distance. His eyes were cold and calculating, and yet my heart was tattooing itself onto my ribcage from his intense gaze.

I felt like he was looking straight into my very soul, taking me apart under his scrutiny. My want on side wanted him to take me apart in other ways. Wait! Dirty mind say what? "Uh guys?" My brother called out. That was enough to snap me out of my daze, but it apparently did nothing for the guy who was still looking at me.

I was still trapped, and I shot my brother an SOS look, but he just shrugged and waited for Six to finish his weird staring. He just got up and left. "What was that about?" Noah asked once. Six was gone, "Like I know! He just came here, demanded that I leave the car, and then he had me trapped against it for however long," I replied. "Ten minutes, he said.

"What?" I asked. "He had you trapped against the car for ten minutes. Everyone was counting, and since it looked like you weren't coming out of your trances soon, I had to be the one to cut you guys off from your clear sexual tension," he explained. Ten minutes?!? "It wasn't sexual tension! If anything, I think he wasn't going to kill me," I defended. Noah scowled,”because?”

“I hit him with my calculus textbook.” I mumbled. Just like Summer, Noah burst out laughing. “You're the one who gave him his latest shiner? First day at school, and you wound the most popular boy in school. That's a classic!” he chuckled.

“What do you mean by his latest shiner?” I asked. “Oh nothing! Let’s get you home,” he said. She sighed, taking the keys from me. I was left to my thoughts since Noah decided to shut me out by playing Coldplay’s latest album. We made it home to an empty house, and I assumed both Dad and Violet were still at work. Violet runs her own interior design company.

I headed up to my room, in much need of a pillow scream match. When I was done, I took off my scarf before heading down to get myself some food. While I was waiting for my noodles to finish up in the microwave, my phone rang. It was Westley calling. “Hey Wes,” I sighed, answering the phone. “You gave Six a shiner?” he chuckled.

I groaned. “Not you too.” I’m sorry. He just looks so baffled by the whole thing,” he said, laughing. “He's there with you?” I asked. “Yeah! We’re all hanging out at his place. I’d invite you, but he looks like he’d murder me for even extending the invitation,” he replied. “So he's mad at me, and I have no friends,” I sighed.

“I didn’t say anything about not being your friend, and I'm pretty sure Cash, Eli, and Summer feel the same. Six is just mad because for the first time in his life, he's been stunned by a beautiful girl,” he scoffed. I was grateful that my cheeks couldn't be seen over the phone. “Hang up the phone.” That deadly voice sounded. “Make me,” Westley told him.

“I will shoot you in the knee and end your football career right here, right now,” Six threatened. “DON’T DO THAT!” I accidentally shouted. “Rochelle says you shouldn’t do that,” Westley told him, sounding very chuffed at that. Why? I have no clue! " He left the room,” Westley informed me. “Wow, I upset him that much?” I asked.

“You could say so! Anyway, don't sweat it. He’ll come around. I think you just took him by surprise, that’s all, "he said. “Thanks wes. I really needed that confidence boost,” I said happily. “I still can’t believe you hit him, though,” he burst out laughing again. I could hear Cash, Eli, and Summer killing themselves in the background. ”I'm hanging up now,” I said before doing just that.

When I’d eaten, I headed up to the study to do my homework. Since I had missed out on the first two weeks here, I had quite a lot of catching up to do. I worked all the way through to dinner, which actually shocked me. “Mija, dinner's ready,” Violet came to tell me. “I didn't even realize i’d been busy that long,” i said while stretching. “Tough day?” she asked. “Of sorts,” I nodded before we headed downstairs.

“Hey pumpkin! How was school?” my dad asked. “It was ok,” I sighed. Noah tried to stifle his laugh with a cough, but of course, he failed. “And now?” Violet asked him. “She hit Six in the face with her calculus textbook. He's sporting a nice little shiner because of her,” he said breathlessly. “Six? As in the troublemaker?” my dad asked. “I don't know about troublemaker,'' I admitted. My dad pursued his lips. “I'd prefer you to stay away from him.”

“That's not going to happen,” Noah scoffed. “And why not?” my dad asked him. ”there's something going on between them. None of us know what it is as yet, but there's something there. The fact that he didn't do anything to her for hitting him is the biggest indicator, "Noah replied. What? “You think he likes her?” Violet asked. “It's a possibility, but then again, this is Six we're talking about. No one knows anything when it comes to the guy,” Noah said with a shrug. “Except that he's a dangerous criminal!” My dad exclaimed.

Noah rolled his eyes. “He's never been caught or proven guilty, dad. ”I will catch him out one of these days!” my dad mumbled. “Honey, why are you so set on catching him out anyway?” Violet asked curiously. I was just as eager to find out. “There's something not right about the boy.

Why doesn't anyone know who he is? Why does he call himself Six, for heaven's sake?” My dad asked. “Ellie could find out for you,” Noah smirked. I choked on a pea. “I'm sorry, what? ” Yes! She could prove that you're worried for nothing!" Violet said excitedly. My dad scowled. ”I don't like the idea of her getting close to him.” Thank you, Daddy, for never failing me! “Come on, dad? What does she have to lose?” Noah asked. “She's sitting right here, and she doesn't like the idea either!” I commented. “She doesn't seem to have a choice since she is probably on his watch list now anyway." Noah smiled.

“You're kidding, right?” I asked. “Nope! I told you there's something there, and it's only a matter of time before it explodes like the Fourth of July,” he replied with a shrug. “Excuse me,” I said before heading to my room. I don't know why, but I was seriously panicking. It was probably because I had injured a person my dad thinks is dangerous, and now my brother was telling me that the very same person might be after me. My phone buzzed, indicating a new text message, 06:30. Be ready. It was him. I knew it was him without even having to guess.

Did he mean that he'd be here at six thirty? Why would he be here anyway? I go with Noah to school, and I don't need a ride from anyone else. Plus, it would be best to avoid him in any case. I went back downstairs, but I didn't mention the text to anyone else. Thankfully, the topic had shifted away from me. We spoke about other things before going our separate ways after dinner. I went to finish the rest of my homework before heading to bed.

I woke up to my alarm ringing at 06:30. That's the time when I get up, with Noah taking me to school, and yes, I blatantly ignored Six’s text. It took a few seconds to realize that while I’d heard my alarm go off, I wasn't the one to switch it off. I turned to the couch in my room, and there he was. My eyes widened, and my whole body went cold, and not from the breeze coming in through the window either. He was dressed in all black, looking at me with furious eyes.

The shiner was still there, and it looked worse than it did the day before. I couldn’t move for a good five minutes until his eyes moved to the clock beside me. 06:35, he was showing me that I was wasting his time, and yet I still couldn’t move. He sighed in annoyance and got up from the couch, heading for my bathroom. I heard the shower water go on before he left the bathroom and went into my closet.

That was enough to kick me into action. “What are you doing?” I asked him as he analyzed my clothes. He ignored me, and I watched him pick out an outfit for me. I could only guess that it was chilly out again since he picked a pair of black jeans, a gray sweater with a black pair of kissy lips on it, a black tank top, and a pair of gray vans. I stood in front of my underwear drawer, and he surprisingly respected my privacy.

He walked out of the closet and planted himself back on the couch. From his eyes, I could tell that he was waiting for me to get done since he was clearly intent on not talking to me. I grabbed my underwear, clothes, and accessories and took them with me into the bathroom to save myself from an awkward situation. I got ready in record time, deciding to let my hair dry itself as I tied it up in a messy ponytail. When I was ready, I stepped out of the bathroom to find him still sitting on the couch, this time texting. I cleared my throat, and he looked up.

He took a while to analyze me, and it took everything in me not to squirm. He nodded in what I assumed was approval before heading over to my window. I watched him climb out and rush over to the window to see where he'd gone. He’d gone onto the tree and then climbed down. When he landed, he showed me his watch and signaled for me to come down. I grabbed my stuff before heading down, and Noah and my dad weren't even down yet, while Violet was there getting breakfast ready. She looked up at me in confusion, and I could see her itching to ask me a question about my early presence. “I, uh, have to leave now,” I told her.

“Is that Six’s car outside?” She asked amusingly. “Yes?” I squeaked. “I won’t tell the boys, but be careful, okay?” She hugged me. “I will,” I said, hugging her back. I thankfully made it out without seeing my dad or Noah. Six was leaning on his car by the time I got out, and he surprised me by opening the door for me. I got in after thanking him, and he closed the door before coming around to enter on his side. His whole car smells as heavenly as he does, which I guess makes sense.

I was once again a bundle of nerves as we drove away from my neighborhood in silence. I wasn’t sure whether I should speak or not, so I opted for silence. He was clearly enjoying not hearing my voice, or so I thought. “Do you always let strange guys kidnap you?” he asked, his tone void of any emotion. “No,” I mumbled, and my cheeks tingled. “Oh, just dangerous strange guys, then?” He shot me a look. “Are you dangerous?” I countered, and he rolled his eyes. “Don't you think that's a question you should have asked yourself when you found me sitting in your room?”

“What were you doing in my room anyway?” I asked with a scowl. Again, you should’ve asked that question much earlier. For all you know, I could be on my way to selling you as a prostitute right now,” he replied. My eyes widened. “Are you?” he shrugged. “Who knows? ”Let me out of the car!” I demanded. “Calm down, blossom,” he deadpanned. What the heck? “Blossom?” I queried. “Yes, blossom,” he replied. Well, alright then!

I chose to ignore him, not even knowing where we weren't headed to school. I texted Violet to let her know in case the school called her or dad. She told me that she would make sure that dad's phone was always busy, so they would call her and that I should be safe. We were on the road for quite a long time and even fell asleep. When I woke up again, we were still on the road. The radio was off, and Six looked lost in thought despite the fact that he was driving. I reached out to turn the radio on, and I jumped back so fast when his hand shot out and smacked me.

Someone’s got ninja reflexes! “I am not five!” I shrieked. “Then stop acting like it. Why do you want to turn on the radio?” he asked, not bothering to look at me. “Because that's what normal people would do,” I replied stupidly. He scoffed but didn't say anything. “Give me your phone!” I demanded for the fun of it. I was blown away when he actually handed it to me. “What now?” he asked. I blushed. “I didn’t think you’d actually give it to me.”

“I know, which is why I gave it to you. Would you like to go through it?” he asked. “Do you want me to?” I asked in confusion, only to get a shrug in response. Now I know why he didn’t mind. Six’s phone is borderline brand new, and I’m not talking about the actual phone. I mean that he doesn’t have any messages (except the one text he sent me last night), a call history, photos, videos, or even an internet history. He only has Cash, Eli, Westley, Summer, and, surprisingly, Noah and I’s numbers only.

“What on earth do you have a phone for?” I asked him. I hadn't realized that the car had come to a stop and that he was watching me. “I never said that was my only phone,” he said before leaving the car. He came around to open the door for me, and I was surprised to find that we were in what looked like a deserted location. “Is this the part where you kill me?” I joked. “Yes,” he replied seriously. I stood still. “You're kidding, right?” I asked lowly. “There's only one way to find out,” he asked.

“That I can’t tell you, but I can show you," he responded before he started walking away. I followed after him, not sure where he was headed. We were literally in what looked like a clearing that was surrounded by trees all around. He suddenly stopped and looked around before squatting down and pushing something. The ground beneath us began to shake, and I felt it drop, opening some kind of trap door.

He walked back to the car, signaling that

I should follow him. I did as instructed

and we got into the car before he drove

down into the ground. I looked back to

watch the trap door shut close before

facing forward. We were driving in what

looked like an underground tunnel. I was super fascinated not only by what was around me but by the boy beside me.

He was focused on his driving, and it

seemed like we were the only ones here.

We only drove for about two minutes before we reached a huge titanium door. He stepped out and went to get a hang and retinal scan before the door opened. He got back into the car and drove us through before the door closed. This time, we only drove for seconds before parking. He came around to open the door for me, but I wouldn't step out.

I was too confused."What is it now?" He sighed,irritation clear in his voice. " We drove all this way, and through this cool but creepy place, for a gym?" I asked incredulously. He crossed his arms. " What exactly were you expecting blossom?"

"I don't know! With the whole secrecy thing going on, a gym is the last thing I expected!I huffed. "So, you're not leaving the car then?" He asked. I stepped out, and he looked pleased by that. He opened the back door and got a sports bag out- my sports bag. "Go change: "What? When did you get this?" I asked. "While you were getting ready. I didn't invade your privacy. Your clothes are separate from your underwear, and before you ask, I threw the bag out the window while you were still in the bathroom, which is why. You didn't see it," he replied.

I was surprised he even bothered to tell me that. "Uhm, ok, but what am I changing for?" I asked. " Just go change," he said before turning and walking away. As he walked away, something occurred to me. How did he know that my gym clothes and underwear were in separate places to begin with?