Kidnapped

Henry seemed to zone out on me and pulled his hand away like I had zapped him. He nodded his head and asked if I wanted to join him and Max for acai bowls in town.

"But, school. It's the middle of the day." We weren't allowed to just leave. My old high school allowed seniors to grab lunch off campus or leave early if they had study hall last period but this high school was pretty strict about attendence. 

"Not to worry, Max has it covered." He smiled and took my backpack, throwing it over his shoulder like my textbooks weighed nothing. 

"Uh, how?" Who can be in two places at once? Someone is going to notice if we go missing.

"Don't worry about it." Henry just shut me down. For a nice guy who is laid back, he seemed awfully agitated by my questions all of the sudden. My completely, understandable, and logical questions. Were they going to murder me? My life is worth more than an acai bowl, which costs $12 before adding anything into it. Naturally, whole foods are more expensive. It bothered my dad and it bothers me.

"Is this how Max gets everything done? Doesn't he have practice today and he's a senior! Doesn't he want to keep his top of the class ranking? Waid, does he have other people to do it for him?" I followed Henry who walked out of the cafeteria with my stuff leaving me little room for options.

A deep cherry red 1964 Chevrolet Corvette convertible waited outside. HOLY MOTHER OF CARS! My dad would have completely lost it over this car. Which was exactly what I was doing while Henry jumped in the back with our backpacks, leaving the passage door open for me. 

"Getting in, Legs?" Even with his 'mightier-than-though' attitude, Max had a voice that could melt the panties off anyone. 

"Her name is Tara." Henry hit his friends shoulder. 

"Right. Climb on in, Tara. I'm not gonna bite." Max and Henry bumped fists. "Yet." He smirked.

Max was wearing his signature look, dark blue straight legged jeans, Speary shoes, Ray Bands sunglasses, and a black v-neck t-shirt. Only the color of his shirt would differ, but black was my personal favorite.

"Umm. Yeah. About that..." I hesitated, "This seems like the start of a scary movie. Ya know the part where everyone in the movie theater is screaming 'don't go in there!' that's what this feels like. So, can I have my bag back please?"

"No." Max said, like it like it was an order. Henry looked down and away from me.

"Fine. Take my textbooks and school ID." I started to walk away when Max jumped out of the car and stopped me. "Seriously, what is your problem?!" I yelled trying to get him to move out of my way. Hopefully someone was watching or could hear me.

"Get. In. The. Car. Tara. Now." I swore his baby blue eyes started to swirl with black. 

I'm going to die. Crazy Ginny was right all along.

I nodded and moved to his car. He closed the door for me and even buckelled me in before sliding over the hood like a 1950's street greaser gang member, jumped in, and revved the engine. 

We sat in silence all the way into town. I couldn't help but admire his car. He must work on it daily because it shines like new and that's not easy to do with a classic car. I caught him watching me at stop lights but didn't want to make it more awkward then it already was by calling him out on it. 

He parked right in front of the Playa Bowls, a spot usually taken up by now. It's 1pm on a Monday and Californian's love their juices, shakes, and acai bowls.

Henry jumped out of the back seat and ran up to the door to hold it open for us. Max opened up my door and offered me his hand, like the gentleman he wasn't. I rolled my eyes and got out without touching him. 

"Why thank you, Henry. By the way, you should join the track team. That was an impressive jump back there. You'd be great with hurdles." I made sure to touch Henry's shoulder and smile at him. 

He was no better than his friend but I could tell Max was the leader of the pack. I honestly felt like we were going to start singing songs from Grease the musical. I've only seen the movie version with John Travolta, but this feels like a freaking time warp. Where are the varsity and leather jackets? The hoop skirts? The saddleshoes?

I went to sit down but Henry insisted that I order something. "You didn't eat lunch."

"How would you know that? Are you two stalking me or something?"

"Just order something. I know you like the juices but get a bowl, they are more filling." Max knew I liked juice cleanses? That's odd. It was my treat during track season to keep as lean as possible. They cost far too much though and I don't think I've had one since the last season. Have they noticed me since last spring?

I looked at them like the crazy people they were and shooed them back while I gave my order to the woman and pulled out my emergency credit card. On the bill this won't look like an emergency but when I explain to Ginny and my mom why I used it, they would understand.

"No, it's on me." Max spoke loudly and the woman put her head down.

"Yes, Al-" She stuttered. Max made a gutteral noise that made her stop mid-word, not even mid-sentence.

"Max, my name is Max, not Al." He gave off the weirdest vibe, but he smiled at her and she went on her way to making my meal. 

I thanked her and even turned to thank Max, although I reminded him it he hadn't given me much of a choice in the matter.

"So, you like cars?" Is he being serious right now?

We sat at a table for four. I tried my best to stay away from Max but he didn't seem to understand what personal space was for. I'd never seen him act like this at school. Henry didn't say anything, just slowly sipped on his shake. 

"My dad did, so I do too." I filled my mouth with fruity and oat mixed goodness so I didn't have to talk. 

"That's cool. I'm not a fanatic but my grandpa left me this and so I fixed her up. I'll bring it by your house sometime - think your dad would like it?"

I was newish to town and not super popular so the most people knew about me were my legs and how fast they could go. Rarely anyone asked about my family.

"I know for a fact he would love it but he's not around. He passed away before we moved here."

Henry coughed up his shake, like it had gone down the wrong way. Max tried to put his arm around me. He looked like I had just told him someone he knew had died, which made me angry. He didn't know my father. He doesn't know what that feels like to lose a parent. 

"Why do you care? You never met him. And why do the both of you look so sad about it? Why are you two acting so weird?!" The woman behind the counter went into the back and Henry walked over to get some napkins but I noticed he locked the door. "Whatever f*cked up sh*t your into. I'm not. So please just let me leave."

Max took my hand in his, not allowing me to back away any further. His hands were so warm and wherever he touched, my skin felt like sparks. 

"I'm sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose your father and in a way I feel your pain as if it were my own pain. I wish I could take that pain away." Max's confession was genuine. I had picked up on him pausing to pick the right words. "I didn't mean to offend you, Tara. I would never intentionally cause you any sort of mental or physical suffering. You... it's just that... I..." He took a deep breath. "You are important to me. I know that sounds crazy since this is the first time we are talking and you have zero reason to trust me," He laughed looking down at my small hand in his. "But trust me." His eyes flickered to mine begging for me to nod or say yes, show any sign of understanding but I didn't trust him.

I pulled my hand out of his grasp and stood up. "You want me to trust you? Do you even hear yourself? You sound like a serial killer. Is Henry your wingman for kidnapping girls from school?"

His eyes definitely swirled into black with golden flecks. "Henry." He seemed to be holding himself back which made this even scarier since he's already acting like a wild beast.

"Take Tara home. Now!"