My eyes slowly flutter open and I groan loudly feeling like I’ve been hit in the head with a ton of bricks. A leather cushioned surface is underneath me and I frown at it, blinking to regain my clear vision.
“Jedd?” I call out quietly in the dark, my eyes narrowed with confusion. Panic begins to bubble inside me as I notice I’m in the back seat of a car I don’t recognise.
I immediately sit straight up, grimacing as pain shoots up my side from the sudden movement. My eyes widen as I realise my hair is coming loose from my ponytail and my shirt has risen, exposing my bare stomach.
The first thought that comes to my head?
I’ve been attacked or kidnapped.
My breathing immediately begins to quicken and I let out a small strangled noise that sounds like a cat. I glance around, forcing myself to stay calm, assess the situation and not have a panic attack.
I’m completely alone and notice all four windows are tinted black, blurring out the world from the outside. I reach over, my hands trembling as I attempt to pull open the door.
It doesn’t budge.
“Hello?” I cry out, feeling my throat tighten and my oxygen restrict.
Oh god I’ve been kidnapped and I’ll probably be killed within 24 hours.
“Hello?!” I repeat, wheezing as I try my best to pry open the door. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, reminding myself of breathing exercises to remain calm.
As soon as I open my eyes I begin to grow desperate, intimidated by the darkness surrounding the car. I’m trapped, locked inside with no way out. I can’t remember how I got inside the car. I can’t remember anything. I sit up on the seat, sniffling away the scared tears rolling down my cheeks. I interlace my fingers and place them on my knees, waiting for a miracle to happen.
“Dear god. I know I haven’t prayed to you since I was six years old but I really do think I’ve been kidnapped and I need you — ”
“Are you praying?” A voice asks in disbelief as I hear the car door opening from the outside. I immediately snap my eyes open, exhaling deeply.
My eyes meet with Brody Baxter.
He’s leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest. His green eyes are looking directly at me, shining in humour. The strands of his dark hair are damp, falling over his forehead.
“Y-You’re my kidnapper?!” I yell at him, my mouth hung open. I scurry to the far end of the car, holding one hand out towards Brody to keep him at arms length.
“Stay away from me.” I warn him seriously, my eyes narrowed. Brody grows silent, his mouth twitching at the corners. Moments pass before he bursts into laughter and I stared wide eyed, confused.
“Okay, you’re seriously crazy.” I mutter, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. Brody continues to laugh, bending over while his entire face lights up. His laughter slowly dies down, an infection smile on his face. I watch him laugh at me for a few moments, noticing a faint dimple in his right cheek.
I can still feel my own tears staining my cheeks and I sniffle, reaching up to wipe them away. Brody continues to smile at me as he leans down, using the car top as his support. The gold flecks in his eyes twinkle in my direction,
sending me swirling in a state of awe. I feel myself staring back, my mouth parted slightly at his beauty. Moments of silence pass between us and I notice him staring at me the exact same way. I drop my gaze to the floor of his car, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment.
“I didn’t kidnap you Bella,” Brody said, breaking the silence between us. He leans further in, sliding into the seat beside me and shutting the passenger door behind him with a soft click. My eyes widen as I realise he locked us both in the car. . . Together.
“Uhm, B-Brody?” I stutter at how insanely close he is to me right now. The tip of my trainer is touching his leg and I can’t help but stare at it.
“Yeah?”
As he turns to look at me, he frowns and tilts his head to the side. I squirm underneath the intense scrutiny of his gaze and my mouth begins to dry out. Without warning he reaches over, his hand inching closer to my face.
I suck in a breath, feeling frozen in place as his intoxicating scent wraps all around me. He shuffles closer, his body pressing up against my leg as his hand closed over something on my shoulder. I feel my hair tumble around the nape of my neck and my shoulders falling softly.
“Here,” Brody whispers, handing me my hair tie. I swallow the lump in my throat, unable to open my mouth and say something in response. Instead I reach out for the hair tie and hold it close to my chest.
“Thank you,” I mutter, pulling my legs closer into my chest. I can feel Brody’s burning stare and it begins to make me flustered. I hate wearing my hair like this.
“What happened?” I ask him quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. Brody doesn’t respond and I glance up to find him staring at me, his eyes transfixed. I feel my chest tighten at the sight of it. He suddenly snaps out of it, clearing his throat and averting his eyes to the seat in front of him.
“You passed out in the gym, I carried you back to my car.”
He leans back which causes his shirt to ride up, exposing the start of a very toned stomach. I feel my cheeks heat up further, the blush creeping up my neck and to the tips of my ears.
“Are you blushing because you keep checking me out?” Brody chuckles, sitting up straighter and adjusting his shirt with a smirk on his face. My mouth immediately drops open from being exposed —
“N-no, of course not!” I lie, cursing at myself silently for stuttering. I shake my head, attempting to change the subject.
“You carried me?” I question nervously, my hands trembling slightly. I’m not accustomed to talking or holding a conversation longer than a few seconds with anyone of the opposite sex, besides Jedd.
“Yeah, is that okay? I wasn’t going to leave you in the gym lobby.” Brody responds, frowning a little from my reaction.
“I’m sorry if I was heavy,” I mutter, covering half of my face with my hands in embarrassment.
“Are you joking? You barely weigh anything, you’re tiny Bella.” Brody corrects me, his eyes lingering on the strands of hair lying around my shoulders. I pause for a moment, wondering whether he’s being truthful. Maybe Beatrice and her friends lied to me to break me apart? As I’m thinking, I don’t realise Brody is staring at me intensely, his lips settled into a soft smile –
“You look really beautiful with your hair down.”
I completely freeze, feeling the oxygen knock itself right out from my lungs. Instead of reacting like a regular person, I squeak in response. I can’t help it, I’ve never been complimented before.
“Oh god,” I mutter, squeezing my eyes shut tightly as Brody bites down on his bottom lip, attempting to contain his laughter. I hide my face behind my hands, internally slapping myself for being such a dork.
“Don’t be embarrassed, it’s cute.” Brody says confidently. A silence falls upon us and I blink, turning away from him. No matter how hard I want to believe his words, I can’t. Beatrice’s words continue to play over and over again in my thoughts, taking away the last ounce of self confidence I had.
“Can you take me home please?” I ask Brody quietly. I’m not beautiful . . . I’m far from it.
“Sure thing, where to?” Brody asks, his voice dripping with confusion. I see hurt flash through his eyes for a second before being masked over. The sight of it makes me feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, hard.
Why is it bothering me so much?
I mumble my street name and he nods, his face a blank canvas. The entire ride home is spent in complete silence, the atmosphere between us growing increasingly uncomfortable by the second.