As my gaze settled, I took things
in, and realized that there wasn't any threat standing in front of me.
Just…Rob.
Who looked kind of confused to the
fact that I seemed to be out for any type of destruction I could get my
hands on…
I'm a very angry girl.
"What're you just sayin' now?"
Nonchalantly, I tugged down the hem of my tank top, which had decided to
ride halfway up my stomach when I was on the kickboxing binge. Auburn
waves stuck to my shoulders in damp beginnings of curls, and I knew…
Well, I looked like hell.
But I was worried about this because…?
It wasn't part of my nature to be all girly. I mean, the last time
I was girly was when I was thirteen or so, and some boy tried to look up
the skirt I'd worn to school…
I'd decked him a good one and ended
up in detention for a week, but it'd been worth it, I think.
Get your mind on the present, Calloway. You need to actually act like you have half a brain and aren't just Playmate material.
"Sorry, just been kind of a shitty
day."
Sighing, I crouched on the floor,
glancing up at him every couple seconds while I stretched, wondering if
he was just going to stand there, or say something, or just…well, leave
like any normal human being would.
I mean, me angry is usually one
of those things you avoid at all costs.
"You…wanna talk? Or just kill
people?"
"Hrm? You mean you'd actually
listen."
"Well, yeah."
"Um…okay…" Look at me, being
stunned. Yeah – he's offering to hear me out on how horrible things
are – maybe it's the drugs I think he's on. But still, it was a nice
surprise.
"Just…family issues. You know?
My mom's dead, my dad's an asshole, and I can't seem to fit in many places."
I feel like I'm talking to a therapist again, like I did when I was younger,
and I couldn't help but roll my eyes a little at the oddness of the whole
situation.
"It's like, I'm this weird-ass gypsy
chick who can't settle roots down anywhere, and has to rely on herself
because she has no friends, and…I feel like such a cry-baby, and I should
shut up…"
"You don't have to…" This really
kinda freaked me out, when he sat down on the floor beside me, watching
me, and just…
Being halfway like…supportive.
Friend-like. Something I didn't have.
"I've only seen you around a couple times, yeah, but…I sure as hell wouldn't want you mad at me, cos I doubt I'd be in one piece. You've…there's somethin' there that I haven't seen a lot of girls have, and I can't put my finger on it…"
"Natural boobs?" I couldn't help but snicker a little, trying to make a lame attempt at humor. Laying back, I peer up at Rob, arching a brow, and just kind of waiting for him to go on.
"No, not that, but…I don't know, that could be something too. It's just, you're…I don't know you that well, but I think I'd like to, actually. Maybe that's just me watching my back and hoping that you won't kick my ass, because I think you could, or maybe it's me actually wanting to be a friend."
"Yeah…I could take that either way."
"I know you will, but I'm not afraid of that." Now wasn't that a big fat LIE on his part, boys and girls? Cute, but a lie.
"Tell you what, Van Dam." I
sat up again, biting my lip, wondering why I was even thinking about jumping
into something like this, but…
It's just like me to be spontaneous,
isn't it? A real firecracker.
"Try kissin' me. If I punch
your lights out, you know I which way I took it. If I don't…well,
you know that way too."
Yes, I'm horrible.
"Ah…well…then…" He looked kind
of bewildered at my request, but I'd imagined he would be, just because
I was being so direct about it. Most girls weren't like that…
I wasn't most girls (big surprise
there, huh?).
"I guess I should brace myself for
a punchin'…"
I had other ideas.
And it was nice, actually.
I mean, he wasn't like, all trying to maul me and get his hands in places
that would most likely result in his fingers being broken at each and every
knuckle, just because I wasn't that type of girl…
Nice.
I could get used to this, really.
I mean, for a guy you thought was on drugs, he's actually kind of a sweetheart
(that's what I'm getting, anyway), and a really good kisser, and…
That's when I heard a growl that
made my blood run cold. My dad. Last time I checked, he wasn't
too keen on Rob.
Translation: He wanted to
rip his damn head off.
"Virginia Lorelai Calloway, what in the hell do you think you're doing?"