I Hate You...I Think (17 page)

             
"Where are you right now?" he demanded.

             
"Safe," I laughed. If I told him he might come up here himself.

             
"Ever," he persisted.

             
"Oliver, stop," I frowned.

             
"We will be back there soon. I'm not mad at you, I didn't get kidnapped. I....some stuff happened that I needed to take care of."

             
"You have a lot of explaining to do."

             
I glared at the floor. I didn't have to explain anything to him.

             
"I'm going now, Oliver. Bye," I snapped my phone shut and shoved it in my pocket. He doesn't own me. I can do what I want when I want, and I don't have to tell him anything. Jerk.

             
I came out of the bathroom and headed back to the table. Kimmy and Alex's back was to me but Alex looked nervous.

             
"I was wondering if you'd maybe...you know sometimes, when your free that is, want to hang out with me?" he asked not looking at her. I stopped a little ways from the table to listen to Kimmy's response.

             
"That has got to be the worst way to ask someone out I've ever heard," she laughed.

             
"So, is that a yes?" Alex looked at Kimmy questioningly.

             
"Absolutely," she grinned. I resisted the urge to awe at them. Pretending like I didn't hear anything I made my way to the table.

             
"Hey there," Alex grinned. His whole face was glowing. "I was about to send a team to look for you, thought you might have fallen in."

             
Smiling I shook my head. "Was talking to Oliver."

             
Alex cringed.

             
"You not in trouble. I explained how we basically forced you to come, but me on the other hand. I'm in a lot of trouble," I rolled my eyes and took my drink.

             
"So anything interesting happen while I was gone?" I asked raising my eyes brow at Alex.

             
"What? I...you heard?" Alex started blushing. I can't believe what I was seeing.

             
"She is talking about the waiter," Kimmy smiled.

             
"Oh," Alex sighed.

             
"Why did something else happen?" I pressed. It was amusing to watch Alex so nervous. Alex looked lost for words but Kimmy came to his rescue.

             
"Maybe."

              The subway ride back was agonizingly long. Did I want to tell Oliver what happened? I mean it's not like I have some horrible secret. I want Oliver to know, and I want to know more about Oliver it's just...I don't want to get my heart broke.

             
Kimmy pulled into the driveway and we slowly got out. I half expected Oliver to be standing at the door. Alex went first; he pushed the door open and went inside. Oliver stood in the hall waiting for us. He glared at Alex.

             
"Don't give him that look. He didn't do anything," I told Oliver frowning.

             
"Can I talk to you alone," he said his voice hard and emotionless.

             
"Whatever you have to say you can say in front of them," I smiled innocently. The air was tense as all the guys watched.

             
"It wasn't a question."

             
I glared at him. "I'm not a part of your gang, Oliver. You can't boss me around. Trust me I'm more stubborn that you could ever imagine."

             
"Fine," he hissed. "Where have you been?"

             
"In the city." I told him simply.

             
"Why?"

             
"Personal reasons. I'll tell you when you have stopped being and asshole."

             
He gritted his teeth. "This isn't a game, Ever. This is serious. You are with me, so you tell me where you are at all times."

             
"I don't have to tell you anything, Oliver," I snarled right back. "You don't own me. I'll go where I want when I want and you can kiss my fucking ass."

             
"Damn," Logan muttered. Oliver turned his glare on him.

             
"Would you stop it," I ordered stepping between him and Logan.

             
"You pissed at me remember not them. They had nothing to do with it. Can't you just drop it? Can't you just wait until I'm ready to tell you?"

              "No."

             
"Then you’re a damn idiot and you'll never know. If you don't have enough respect for me to wait for me to tell you then you don't need to know me at all," I yelled, turning on my heels I stormed out of the apartment. Kimmy running after me.

             
"Ever!" Oliver called after me. Kimmy jumped in the driver seat of her car. I paused by the passenger door, rounding on Oliver. He was standing in the middle of the yard. The guys poking there head out the front door.

             
"My mother died, you stupid jackass. Is that what you wanna hear? Congratulations, know you know!"

             
I slammed the car door behind me, and Kimmy pulled out of the driveway quickly.

             
"Why does he have to be so bossy, so controlling? Why couldn't he have just left it alone?"

             
"I don't know hunny," Kimmy said softly. She reached over and squeezed my hand. However, it didn't make me feel any better.

              It had been a week since the funeral. Class with Oliver was...at best...awkward. He had not spoken to me at all. It made me very...I guess you could say disappointed. After I told him you would think he would feel guilty and want to come and make up. Clearly it's not in his nature. I honestly shouldn't be disappointed though. He was my teacher after all but after everything, going to class every day and having him call me Miss Fox, made my heartache. It was foolish to think that we could have anything more.

             
Kimmy and I seemed to be growing apart as well; she was always busy with classes and dates with Alex. It was for the most part...very lonely. So I usually went for walks in the park near my apartment. This being one of those nights. It was nice just being out in the fresh air. It helped me think. Not that I should be thinking certain thoughts in the first place.

             
The park was quiet and peaceful. No one came here. Why, I don't know. The sky looked ominous through the thick tree limbs above me. I felt something cold and wet hit my cheek and knew it was time to go home. I moved down the dirt path quicker. Hopefully I get home before it starts pouring. But, just as those thoughts entered my mind the sky seemed to unleash a typhoon upon my head. The cold droplets stung as they hit my bare shoulder. Tank top, shorts and flip-flops, don't seem like the best choice of cloths now.

             
Picking up the paces I hurried through the rain. My body getting completely soaked. It was hard to see two feet in front of me. Suddenly, my foot caught a tree root and swept my legs out from under me and of course with my luck, down a steep embankment. I tumbled down the hill throwing my hands out in front of me to break my fall. I finally hit the bottom landing smack dab in a mud puddle. Groaning, I pushed myself up and started trying to climb the steep hill. However, it was too muddy to get back up. My arm was also gushing blood, I have no idea how I got cut in the first place.

             
Quickly I pulled out my phone. Who should I call though? Kimmy couldn't pull me out of the ditch. Maybe Jet would be better...but then that meant Oliver. Sigh, in defeat I called Jet.

             
"Hello," He answered.

             
"Jet?" I asked shivering.

             
"Ever? What's wrong?" He asked worried.

             
"I need a bit of help," I told him sheepishly.

             
"Where are you? Are you hurt?" He demanded.

             
"Relax, I trip and fell in a ditch and can't get back out," I laughed at how stupid that sounded.

             
Jet chuckled as well. "Leave it to you to fall in a ditch. Did you know it's raining?"

             
"Oh, really? Is that what that wet stuff is?" I replied sarcastically.

             
He laughed again and I told him which park, I just had no idea which embankment I had tripped down. After Jet said bye I snapped my phone shut shoving it in my pocket. I tried again to climb up the hill. I heard a twig snap behind me. I spun around staring out into the rain. There was a laugh and someone stepped closer. I couldn't make out what they looked like but I could tell it was a guy. He's taller than I am. He took a few more steps closer and I could finally see his face. He had black shaggy hair that was matted to his forehead by the rain.

             
"Well, what do we have here," he commented with a smirk. "They just seem to fall right into our hands don't they, Derek?"

             
Derek stepped into view now he was buzzed with an eye brow piercing. He smirked at me as well.

             
"Yes, they do, Luke," Derek took a step forward. I stepped back and toppled over into the mud puddle.

             
"A bit dirty but she'll do," Luke sneered. My stomach clenched. I shoved myself off the ground.

             
"I'd love to stay and chat but I got things to do so..." I made to step around Derek. He stepped in my way. Stopping in my tracks I made to go left but Luke blocked that path.

             
"Why not come with us. It would make this so much easier, "Luke held out his hand. I wrapped my arms around my stomach tightly not about to take his hand.

             
"But, then again it's much more fun for us it if you scream," Derek sneered reaching into his pocket and pulling out a knife. I cringed at the sight of it and turned to run.

             
"Get her," Derek yelled.

             
Luke lunged at me. Screaming, I launched a fist into his face. He let out a grunt and I took off running.

             
"Dammit, after her!" Luke yelled. I ran through the trees. My flip-flops slipping in the mud. There heavy foot falls behind me.

             
"Get back here!" Luke screamed at me. I didn't stop. I ran aimlessly through the forest not being able to see through the pouring rain. Looking over my shoulder I only saw Luke behind me. Where had the other one gone? Suddenly my shoe got stuck in the mud sending me flying. I collapsed in a heap. Scrambling up quickly I kicked off my other shoe and dove into a thick bush. Hoping that it wasn't poison ivy. That would totally just make my day, NOT. Pressing my body against the ground. His footsteps got closer. He stopped right in front of where I was hiding.

             
Holding my breath I watched him pick up my shoe. My stomach clinched. He stood there a few more moments before dropping it and running off. I listened hard to see which way he went but couldn't tell from the rain fall. Waiting a few more moments I pulled myself out from under the bush.

             
There was laughter nearby. "Gotchya!"

             
I whirled around and came face-to-face with Luke. He grabbed my arms twisting them and tried to knock me down. I cried out in pain and brought my leg up kicking him in the crotch and took off again. My bare feet ached as I ran across the hard ground. Twigs stabbing into the bottom of my heels. I could hear footsteps coming from my left and from behind. I veered right and ducked under a fallen limb. I came up on a large wall. Meaning all I could do was climb. There was no other escape

             
Hauling myself up, my stomach scrapped the edge of the jagged fence. I dropped down on the other side, right in the middle of a junkyard. It was like a maze. There were cars piled high above my head. I move backwards watching the fence. I ran my hands over the cars to keep from tripping. Something pressed into my back and a cold metal object pressed into my jaw.

             
"Gotchya," Derek hissed into my ear. I choked, biting my tongue. A coppery taste filled my mouth. Derek began dragging my backwards.

             
"Luke!" He called out turning me and dragging me toward a building. It looked like a little storage shed.

             
"Did you find her?" Luke yelled. He was close by.