I ran across the yard, as he pushed open the passenger door. The rain just managed to destroy my hair as I shut the door.
"A bit late, aren't we?" He asked cordially.
"II had my periods." I lied.
"Oh. Poor thing. Do you need anything?" He asked sweetly.
"Drop the act," I said, my voice trembling, staring at his face.
He looked at me, dark eyes boring into mine, smiled and then looked away. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for my outburst.
"I called you. After that day." I looked down as recalled that night, my ears burning hot again. "I called you so many times. You were gone. Tom couldn't find you. No one could find you."
He shrugged as he pulled out of the driveway.
"I was busy."
"For a month? You couldn't pick up to say hi?"
"So you were waiting for me." Again, a statement, not a question.
"I hate this," I continued. "This sick control over me. I don't like it."
"Control? Me?" He laughed. "You literally presented yourself to me on a golden platter.."
"No!"
"Yes.. You see, I do this thing called 'watching people'. It's a pretty easy thing to do and most people have the ability, now it's not your fault you grew up to be a social retard- hah-"
He gave me a sideways glance for some reason, then continued.β¨"I see the way you look... Your eyes searching for a hand you can hold.. I saw the way you looked at Tom.."
"What? No.."β¨My blood ran cold. Was I that obvious, all the time?
"I told him, you know? That you were in love with him? He's a great guy. He loves you, but not in that way. He won't be able to give you what you want."
"Oh! Alright.." I was going half out of my mind. "Alright then! Since you've already read me like a book, tell me what I want."
"I can't tell you that," he answered.
"Means you don't know." I shot back.
"Beep-wrong answer," he said suddenly. He pinched me.
"Ow! What!" I kicked the dashboard angrily.
"What you should be saying, instead of bawling your eyes out.." He leaned towards me as he took a turn.
"You should say, 'I know what I want, and I know what you want.' Then you should arch that pretty back of yours and cross your legs, while looking at my lips. And then you should stay quiet."
"I don't know how to cross my legs," I said quietly.
"Then learn, little miss fat legs."
He joined the highway, and I sank into the seat as he accelerated.
"Do you know how to drive?" he asked, almost conversationally.
"No."
"Do you know how to do anything at all? Anything? Wait, don't answer that."
I wanted to say something, but nothing came up. I didn't know how to win against him at all. I felt pathetic.
"Where are we going?" I asked dully.
"To my cousin's. Got some work to do."
"And you need me because?"
"You see, they think I'm gay. You're my stand-in girlfriend. Just for show."
"...are you gay?" I asked, confused.
"What do you think?"
"II think you don't give a shit either way."
He laughed. I felt my stomach drop. He was just.. making fun of me... This whole thing was a joke to him.
"You don't need me..." I said slowly.
"Yeah, you're right. You shouldn't be here at all."
"Stop the car then," I said coldly.
"Okay," he said happily, and pulled over.
The second he stopped I made a dash for the lock, only to find the doors already locked.
"You know, you just asked me to leave. I can't really dissipate through the door," I said blankly. I suddenly felt nothing. Empty. I didn't give a shit... But I held on to a hope...
Tell me to stay, my mind screamed.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, grinning, his eyes shining from smiling so widely. He unlocked the door.
I couldn't believe it, but I didn't let myself react either. I just bolted out of the door. I ran, with the only intention to get away as fast as I could from this misery.
I looked up to watch the passenger door slam shut as the car moved. He didn't stop the car. He drove on, faster, away from me.
Again, tears welled up in my eyes. What was wrong with me? Why was I subjecting myself to this kind of torture?
I slowed down, and sat on the ground, covering my head with my arms.
Everyone leaves me... I don't want to be alone...
I heard the rumble of a car coming nearer, but didn't look up. Oh God, how would I explain myself if it's a stranger, I would sound like an idiot.
Suddenly I felt myself getting dragged up by my arm. I yelped as the fingernails sank into my skin.
"Stubborn little brat, aren't you?" hissed Liam against my ear. I immediately started fighting his hold. Twisting me around, he pressed me to the ground, trapping me between the ground and his body. He held me down, his front digging into the small of my back, harder as I struggled more. After a minute, I relaxed. There was nothing I could do.
He felt me loosen.
"Get into the car," he whispered, and let me go. I gasped, and ran to the car. I got into the back and curled up on the seat. I hid my face, and watched him get into the car. We drove, neither of us talking for about an hour or so.
"We're here," he said, not turning around.
"I'm gonna take a while, so unless you want to freeze your ass to the backseat I suggest you come along with me."
"-okay," I whispered, and got up slovenly.
We were parked outside the gates of what looked like a mansion. In better times, the yard would have looked beautiful. Now, the grass grew tall in places, and some not at all. White, ivy-ridden columns supported a covered driveway, under which a man and a girl stood, looking at us. I quickly caught up to Liam.
"Hello uncle," said Liam happily. "How's everything?"
His uncle replied nothing, and just turned away to walk into the house. The girl and Liam followed, and I did the same, albeit confusedly.
"How are you, Beth? My old uncle annoying you yet?" asked Liam to the little girl.
"No.. I'm okay." she said.
"You don't want to leave? Benjy left," replied Liam.
"Benjy's gonna come back," she said, and I noted a hint of annoyance in her voice.
We entered a circular room that seemed to lead to more corridors. Liam turned around to Beth.
"Beth, this is my girlfriend. Keep her company while I talk with uncle, alright?"
"Kay," she said, as she sank down onto a sofa. I did the same, watching as Liam left the room.
We got talking. I learned Beth was an adopted child of Liam's uncle, and Benjamin- Benjy- was his only son. He had been gone for three years now, and everyone was worried, wondering what had happened to him.
"Beth," I said, after a while. " Can I have a glass of water? My throat is dry.."
"Kay," and she quickly scampered into one of the many corridors.After a while, she came back with a tall glass of water. Liam entered as she was entering, and saw me reach out for the glass.
"Angel! Thank you!" he exclaimed, as he picked the glass from her hand.
"It's for Kim," she said, slightly angry.
"Get us a big bottle for the road, won't you?"he continued, ignoring her. "I forgot to bring water. Silly me. We'll share this glass...hah, I need a real drink after that talk, but water will have to do," said Liam.
She gave him an odd look, and left us.
"Adorable, isn't she? The best thing to happen to our family since a long time," said Liam. He sipped the water. I looked at him, trying to figure out if that was sarcasm.
"Give me some," I said, reaching out for the glass.
"Na-ah. Not after the way you behaved today," he said. He looked at me admonishingly, and finished the glass.
"Liam," I said, dumbfounded. "You can't do that." I was seriously, very, very thirsty.
"I'm not leaving you like that either," he said, dropping down onto the couch next to me.
For the first time since I met him, he looked at me, almost affectionately. He leaned forward, to kiss me. I quickly leaned in, hungry for his attention...
His hands grabbed my head, and he spat in my mouth.
I choked from the force, from the taste, and felt the spit fall from a corner of my lips. He broke our kiss but kept a hold on my shoulders.
"That's right. Drink as much as you want," he rubbed his thumbs into my shoulders. "Because that's the only water you'll get till we reach our destination," he whispered into my neck.
"But.. why..." I asked.
"Little rabbit, don't ask too many questions. Or you'd be drinking something else," he replied darkly. His fingers dipped down, and rubbed firmly into my nipples.β¨I moaned despite myself. It was painful and blissful at the same time.
"Do you want some more?" he asked, staring into my eyes.