This was originally part of the last chapter but then I started writing it and it got way too long. So you get two chapters today! Yay! Anyway sorry if it gets a little confusing. And this was supposed to go up like noon on the dot but of course whenever I promise a new chapter my internet decides to hate me. ENJOY!
In case she wasn't already creeped out by the woods surrounding the house, now she was borderline petrified. Caleb still wasn't there to save her and there was no way she could count on Sean to come running to her rescue if A decided to attack. She heard a noise and snapped her head up from the phone in her hands to inspect her surroundings. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the noises behind her. Next thing she knew her vision faded black and someone was carrying her deeper into the woods and further from the house.
She woke up dazed and confused, sprawled out on the cold ground. She sat up and looked around but found no hint of where to go to find help. She didn't know what time it was or how to find her way out of this situation. When she finally realized this wasn't some realistic dream, she picked up her phone and read the text on the screen.
"Time for a game of hide-and-seek. I'll be it. 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10. Ready or not here I come. –A"
Hanna jumped up and scanned the area around her. She didn't know what to do but run. She didn't know where she was going but she was hoping she was getting farther away from A. She could've been walking right into A's trap for all she knew but she wouldn't stay put. But unfortunately she was still a bit drunk from the party and heels that high aren't meant for running in. So the cliché chase scene happened, and she found herself sprawled out on the ground again with someone calling her name.
"Ok Hanna, let's get you home," Caleb said as he found her a bit too far from the house for his approval of her safety. Now that he's here, she feels safer but she was still on hyper-alert mode, listening for any sign of A.
"Wait," she responded weakly hushing him as she spins around listening for the sound again.
"What?" he asked looking at her as if she's lost her mind. But then he heard it too and his face grew stone stiff.
"You heard it too," she questioned but she knew the answer by the worry etched on his face.
"Let's just go back to the car ok?" he said as he helped her up off the ground.
"I can walk just fine," she protested although she didn't mind the comforting feeling of Caleb's arm around her waist.
"Not very well," Caleb said trying to hurry them along as he caught sight of a dark figure lurking in the woods.
"I don't need your help," Hanna said struggling against Caleb who by now was practically carrying her.
"Hanna, I don't want to scare you," Caleb warned as she struggled even more, "but there's someone watching us so just let me help you so we can get to the car quicker."
"I know that," Hanna sighed as she gave in and looked over Caleb's shoulder where she swore something or someone had just moved. But she dismissed that thought and let Caleb's embrace comfort her and send all her worries away.
Hanna blinked a couple times adjusting her eyes to the change of waking up. She knew she was in a car but she didn't feel like inspecting too much. She couldn't even remember how she ended up here, except some fuzzy details of a fight with Sean, an attack from A, and Caleb…being her Caleb. Her makeup was smeared and her curls had deflated a long time ago. The sun was just starting to come up. Her mom was gonna be so far beyond pissed it wasn't even funny. She could already hear her mother's loud angry rant mixing with the pounding in her head. Worst hangover ever.
"Oh good. You're awake. I was afraid I would have to carry you inside," the driver said when he noticed she was stirring.
"What even happened?" Hanna asked, although she wasn't sure she really wanted a recap of her anything less than fabulous actions.
"You really don't remember?" the boy she now recognized as Caleb asked.
"Vaguely," she mumbled looking around and trying to find her bearings.
"I'm throwing out those shoes," Caleb joked and Hanna found her favorite shoes tossed absentmindedly on the dashboard.
"Well they're no good without the heel," Hanna said as she noticed the reason for her killer ankle was the snapped heel of her left shoe. She was going to question how her favorite sexy heels had broken but she knew that her highest heels and alcohol was a bad mix. That and she got a text that jump started her memory.
"I told you that you would lose your crown if you didn't listen to me. It's your fault that I had to send him the picture. –A"
"So what's the damage?" Hanna asked; he must know something about the gossip flying around the entire town by now.
"Hmm…well you don't look too good," he said gingerly not knowing what he could say without receiving a tough smack from her, and she was wearing rings…that would hurt.
"Awesome," Hanna groaned turning to face the window and staring out into the early morning darkness.
"Just be thankful I found your note before your mom did. I mean seriously a note? A text would've been fine. Besides you were being stupid. You practically screamed 'I'm going to get drunk and fuck some random guy' is that something you wanted your mom to find?" Caleb said although he didn't have her full attention anymore.
"I thought you would appreciate a little hand written note. I even signed it with a heart," Hanna scoffed.
"Yeah I'm definitely the guy to leave love notes around for," Caleb mocked.
"Who said it was a love note," Hanna teased.
"So do you really need a recap of last night and early this morning?" Caleb said changing the topic after he realized his slip.
"Just one part…and answer honestly," Hanna said knowing it was now or never.
"Ask away," Caleb said with his eyes focused carefully on the road. If he had taken a second to glance at her out of the corner of his eye, he would've known where she was going and could've prepared himself for her question but he didn't.
"Where are we?" Hanna said eyeing his face for any expression of what he was thinking. Luckily for him keeping his eyes on the road was a good excuse for not looking at her, otherwise she would've been able to read his eyes and know exactly how he wanted to answer that question.
"Uhm…I'd say about fifteen minutes from your house," Caleb said as he pulled off the interstate.
"Not what I meant," Hanna said rolling her eyes at him.
"Why do we need a label? You've never needed a label before," Caleb explained stealing a glance at the girl in the passenger seat.
"Because there needs to be a line somewhere. I didn't know how to react when I saw you with that girl at the mall and…" Hanna rambled letting more slip than she meant to.
"So this is about Grace. You saw me at the mall with her and…you were jealous," Caleb trailed off breaking into a huge smile.
"Please…you wish. I was not jealous," Hanna said blushing which was enough of an answer for Caleb.
"Oh you were jealous. You wouldn't have brought it up if you weren't," Caleb countered, though he should have known better than to fight Hanna on the jealously topic…he too had been extremely jealous when he read her note. It earned him a light smack.
"So what are we?" Hanna asked changing the topic back to what she wanted to discuss all while avoiding his gaze; of course he was doing the same so it didn't really matter.
"Whatever you wanna be Princess," he said hoping that would satisfy her for now.
"What if I don't know," she said nervously. Sure she wanted to have this conversation but she could've planned a better place so if it got awkward they wouldn't be stuck together…but maybe that was a benefit of being in the car for the talk, neither one could run away.
"That's ok. We can work it out later, I'll be here," Caleb said reaching out for her hand to give her a reassuring squeeze, and leaving it there when she didn't shove it away. Oh if only she could see his eyes right now. He was trying hard not to show it on his face but his eyes were betraying his happiness. She hadn't said no (and still hadn't said anything about being called Princess).
