CHAPTER II: FRIENDS FOR DINNER [LAND BEFORE TIME 5]
DISCLAIMER: SM OWNS ALL, NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Yes, you read that chapter title correct. I still sing that song to this day, it's catchy and once it's in my head it never leaves. Also there is a reference to a scene from Teen Wolf that kind of just happened as I was writing. As always, read and review, many thanks.
LEAH POV
"You're tired," James murmured stroking my cheek.
I flinched, moving my cheek away from him. "I'm fine."
"You've been driving for eight hours." He reached for my hair, "We should stop somewhere so you can rest."
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Being locked up in a room alone with him was not something that I wanted in the near future, but he was right, I was tired. My eyes were heavy and the adrenaline that was once pumping through my blood was long gone, leaving me an aching bag of bones. But I couldn't stand the idea of letting my guard down to sleep. My mind was quickly running towards places it needed to stay far away from.
He sighed heavily next to me. "Leah, when I said I wouldn't hurt you I meant it."
I sucked my teeth, "Well excuse me for not putting my trust in my stalker turned kidnapper."
He withdrew himself from my personal space. "I want you to trust me," I could hear a snarl rising in his chest, "but I will not be patient forever."
I peeked over at him from the corner of my eye and watched as he turned himself away from me, looking out the window. I could feel his anger falling off of him in waves, feeding the tension in the car. His fist was clenched so tight and I knew that if he were human I would have smelt the blood coming from his palm as his nails dug into his skin. I had never been around an angry vampire, and I was terrified of what could happen. I needed to do something that I had never done in my life, play nice.
"You're right."
He perked up.
"I'm tired and it would be great if we could stop so I could get some sleep."
The nearest motel was twenty miles out, but James wasn't having it. He made me pull over and he pushed my car over the speed limit to the nearest city and checked us into a hotel. We both knew that his sole motivation to go into a city because it would be easier for him to hide me.
"I need you to go in there and get a room for us." He said as he pulled into a parking space.
"You aren't coming?"
"I can't very well go in there looking like this."
And he couldn't in, at least not in his dirty jeans and shirtless torso covered by a tattered leather jacket.
"I don't have an ID or any money—
"Take my card," he said placing the plastic in my hand. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. "It's late and whoever is working is ready to go home, besides no one can resist cash."
He was right; the woman went above and beyond once I slid a healthy amount of twenties her way.
My bones felt like puddy as I made my way across the lobby slowly. As soon as I was in the elevator my body sagged as exhaustion sunk its way into my bones and my eyes slid close. The doors began to close, but the abrupt ding of them opening had my eyes alert. The tension that had just left my body slowly crept its way back into my bones as I looked to see my travel companion standing next to me.
"Didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily did you?" he moved closer to me, rubbing his nose against my cheek.
I flinched, moving as far from him that the limited space of the elevator would let me. He huffed, turning so that he could stare at me full on, crossing his arms in frustration.
"How long will you run from me?"
I scoffed, "I'm sorry, but did you expect me to just fall into your arms?"
He raised an eyebrow and spread his arms wide waiting.
"You're unbelievable."
He was back in my space before I could blink, "No, I'm all you've got."
I bit the inside of my cheek. Thinking of the possibility that he could be right made me want to cave in on myself. Him continuously touching me had me wanting to cave in on myself. He hummed contently as his hand drifted to my lower back. I all but ran out of the elevator when the doors parted, barely glancing at the number plaque on the wall before I turned right looking for room 904.
I stumbled into the room, walking too fast to get away from James and trying my best to make it to the bed before I collapsed.
"Easy there," he said reaching for me.
"Stop it," I yelled. "Stop touching me."
He took a step back. "I just want to help you."
"You want to help me?" A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "You want to help me, then let me go home."
"Leah," he sighed. "You know I-
"Let me go home, plea-
"To what? To whom?" He cocked his head slowly and squinted his eyes. "To Sam?"
He took a step towards me.
The moment it was in my hands I was dialing his number.
He walked to the bed and lay down with his hands behind his head. "It's a pre-pay, he won't be able to track us, and don't give him any ideas."
Ring, ring
Ring, ring
"Hello?"
My entire body froze.
"Hello?" Bella's voice called again.
I snapped the phone shut feeling the blood in my veins run cold.
"I told you Leah," he said, his tone dripping with smugness. "I'm all you've got."
I'm all you've got
I'm all you've got
I'm all you've got
I jerked awake, sitting straight up and scanning the unfamiliar room. It took me awhile to remember where I was, how I got here, and whom I was with. Nausea immediately filled my body. Stretching my arm out for balance, I rubbed my forehead with my free hand, clenching my eyes shut.
You are not going to vomit, get it together.
My heart was racing, stomach clenching. I could feel the breath coming out of my mouth in quick, uneven pants. I slowly opened my eyes knowing that if I could see the sun, feel its warmth, I could get my bearing back but I couldn't see a thing. My vision was blurry, strengthening my growing panic and I quickly closed them.
No, no, no
"Breathe"
Wet hands touched my shoulders causing me to flinch away. I knew whom that touch belonged to and I wanted nothing to do with it.
"Leah, you need to breathe," James said again. "Listen to me."
One of his hands slid up my shoulder and rested on my neck, rubbing it gently. His touch was so gentle that it had my eyes opening, vision clearing to focus on him.
It was as if I had tunnel vision, his face was all I could see, but that could've been due to his proximity. I flinched, wondering how he got so close to me, and the hand that was resting on my forehead went to his chest to push him away. It was too late because he was on me, kissing me.
I was frozen.
The fuck is he doing.
My body quickly turned into a series of panic moves as I began to squirm to get away from him. He just held me tighter, kissing me for a few more seconds.
I starred blankly at him as he pulled away.
"I told you to breathe," he said looking up at me. "You wouldn't, a way to stop a panic attack is for the person to stop breathing."
"So you kissed me?" I said feeling anger seep into my bones. "I'm sure there are other ways for you to make me stop breathing."
"Yeah, but you would have thought I was trying to kill you."
He had a point. If he would've placed a hand over my nose and mouth I would've went skyrocketing straight to a heart attack.
"You're right."
His eyebrows shot up, "What was that?"
"I said that you were right," I paused, "Thank you."
A smile spread across his face and for the first time he didn't look like a complete psycho, but that could be because he had showered while I slept.
"I would dare say that we are becoming friends."
"Let's not go crazy."
He laughed, "We are laying the foundation of a great friendship. And you know what they say about friendships…"
I looked at him blankly, "We are not friends. And if we were it would not be inspiring any kind of great romance."
"Says the girl who just kissed me."
"You kissed me."
He shrugged his shoulders, "Semantics."
I had to remind James that I was human, which meant that I had to eat at some point as we drove away from the hotel. He dropped me off at a Wendy's, shoving a handful of twenties in my hand.
"Stay here, don't try to leave."
"Where are you going?" I asked before I closed the door.
"I wouldn't be a good kidnapper if I didn't get rid of this car."
I inhaled sharply through my nose, "This is my car!"
"And it is traceable."
"But-
"Close the door," His tone was firm leaving no room but for me to do as he said. "Stay here, I'll be back."
I backed away from the car and watched as he drove away with the last piece of home I had with me.
An hour later James arrived back at the Wendy's in a sleek white Audi.
"I know what you're thinking," he smiled at me as I closed the passenger door. "Why didn't I get black?"
"It would match your soul," I commented dryly.
"This is true," he nudged me as he pulled out. "They had black, but one look at this one and all I saw was white and pure, just like you."
"Where's my car."
"Paid someone drive it to San Francisco."
I rolled my eyes, focusing my attention out the window deciding not to give him the time of day. I tried to watch my surroundings as he sped through town after town, state after state, pulling me further away from the life that I once knew. Part of me wanted to give up and accept that this was my new life, but there was an inkling of me that was holding on to the sound of Edward's voice.
Fuck Edward, I thought thinking of when I called him.
Fuck him for making me think that we were friends.
Fuck him for making me l-
Fuck Edward.
"Maine." I said still staring out the window. "I want to live in upstate Maine."
The more I thought about it the more it made sense.
"It's far away and there's enough forest for you to do whatever it is the hell you do in your spare time." I looked at him. "And I want to live in a house, near the forest so I can at least run."
"Maine?" he asked.
I nodded firmly and he smiled at me.
"And you say we aren't becoming friends."
