A/N: This is probably my favorite chapter so far...hope you like it :) Review review review!
It was almost 2 am, and for various work related reasons I'm waiting for the bus. One being the fact that I had to clean the bathroom which was covered in vomit. And the other because someone else quit and I had to help clean the kitchen, as well as the entire restaurant.
Although most girls would be scared and nervous in this neighborhood at this time, alone I was somewhat at ease. Huddled up to myself with my face buried in a book. I wasn't that dense though, one of my hands was buried in my pocket, clutching my can of pepper spray.
I was really into a specific chapter, regrettably letting my full attention become absorbed completely into it. I hadn't noticed a black mustang pull up in front of me. And I guess I didn't notice Billy calling out to me from the open window because next thing I know he's in front of me roughly shaking my shoulder.
I immediately screamed and pulled out the pepper spray. Looking up and seeing it was him I sighed heavily and shut my eyes and taking deep breaths to calm my heart. His angry eyes flickered down to the can and I stuffed it back in my pocket.
"Billy" I sigh holding my heart
"What the fuck is wrong wit'you- don't let your fucking guard down like that around here" he was actually mad and I knew that for a fact. His blazing eyes were fixed on mine and I couldn't look away. I felt like a child being scolded and felt the fear a child would at the prospect of being punished.
I blinked and nodded, "Okay" I mutter softly furrowing my brows and shrugging away from him.
His glare softened and he shook his head.
"I didn't mean t'yell, just...be careful. What the hell are you doin' out here this late anyway?"
"Work" I reply stiffly, highly uncomfortable in this situation. "I h-had a double shift"
He simply nods before he looked down the street where the bus should be coming from. He looked back down at me and I cowered under his gaze still.
"C'mon I'll take ya home, the bus ain't comin' no time soon"
I hesitated for a moment and he simply raised a brow.
I glanced at his car and nodded as I stood up and followed him to it.
Inside his car, after I gave him directions was nerve wracking and distracting. I pretended to read my book and flipped through the pages although I was comprehending nothing and reading the same sentences multiple times.
"Thought you quit ya job?" he asks amused.
I looked over at him with a raised brow. He glanced at me smirking and I find myself perplexed. Just a few short minutes ago he looked as if he wanted to knock my block off.
"You knew I was lying" I reply dully.
He snorted and looked at the road, ignoring every stop and yield sign he'd come across.
"So I guess that's 'cause ya pissed at me?"
I shrugged and licked over my lips. "I suppose I am"
Closing my book I looked straight ahead. Keeping my voice and temper leveled.
"How is that, I ain't known you a week yet and y'mad at me already?"
I roll my eyes.
"Tends to happen to someone who marks girls he wants to have sex with"
I looked over at him to see him smirking.
"So that's what you're so pissed about?"
"Yes, that's disgusting Billy"
"Ya'know any other chick in this neighborhood would be throwin' themselves at me right about now. But not you" he says matter of factly looking at me intently.
"Please. And I'm supposed to be naive and believe tha-"
He shakes his head no.
"Why d'you act like you know me?" He asks still looking at the street.
"I know guys like you" I retort arrogantly, folding my arms over my chest.
"But you don't" he replies as if to say there's no one like him. Which I guess is true.
"So we're both wrong hunh? You're assuming I'm this innocent-" I say as I see we're getting closer to my apartment.
"I live there"
"I'm not assumin' a damn thing. I do know that most girls don't throw down a shot a'50 proof vodka like it's juice without some baggage"
Damn he remembered that. We came to a stop and I pulled the seatbelt off quickly. I chose to ignore his observation, my drinking was not of importance at this moment. But then again...
"So what, I'm not like most people, but that doesn't give you the right to treat me like property"
I couldn't dare look him in the eye. Not while I'm talking to him like this. I'd probably piss myself with those piercing blue eyes. I wouldn't dare…
I stared down at the cover of my book, tracing the gold printed letters, Bag of Bones.
He didn't say anything for a long time and didn't until I glanced up at him.
"I ain't apologizin' for that, I am for pissin' you off though" he replies as if that were an actual apology. He's obviously had plenty of practice at saying he was sorry without actually saying he was.
Snorting I shake my head and can't help but smile.
"That was thee worst apology ever"
He grins and my eyes wander across his entire face quickly.
I looked down at my hands and clear my throat.
"Thanks for the ride" I started to gather my things when he asks before I could get out.
"You hungry?"
I stopped and gazed back at him with a raised brow, he does the same.
"It's like two thirty" I say glancing down at the kiddie wrist watch I took from one of the kids meals. And I hadn't eaten all day in fact. I chose not to consume the little bit of shit they allow us to take at work, and didn't have money to spend for anything else.
"I know a place" he says instantly.
My hand was on the door and if I was smart I'd have declined.
I looked up at the building and the darkened apartment wasn't the least bit appealing. My mother would be home so I didn't have to check on my brother. His offer was gleaming brighter and brighter in my mind.
I sat back in the leather seat with a sigh.
"I took karate for 3 years Darley, and I have pepper spray"
He chuckled as he took his car out of park.
"Ohh I'm fuckin' terrified"
Sarcasm never sounded so sexy.
Turns out the place was a small 24 hour diner right on the border of north and south side. I visibly relaxed when I saw we weren't the only ones in the restaurant. I don't know what I'd do had it been just the two of us.
And speaking if just the two of us, is this a date? I wanted to ask so bad. I normally would, not that I go on many dates but if I did I wouldn't be this deathly afraid to ask.
"You always think that hard?" I released my furrowed brows and looked up at Billy from the table we shared. I instantly blushed and looked back down.
"No, I mean...maybe. I dunno" I shrug as he chuckles. Someone please shoot me.
I looked away for something to hold my attention. Ah! A menu!
I picked up the long leather booklet and flip through the laminated pages.
Things were so much simpler talking to him at the bar, and in his car. As simple and stupid as it sounds we were both facing forward. In this small two seated booth where our knees were to inevitably touch I couldn't look away.
"Whatchu thinkin' bout?" his voice lowered and I look over the top of the menu to see him leaning a bit closer. I stare at him not speaking a word.
"Me?" he asks.
I blush so hard it felt like my cheeks were over a flame. To hide this embarrassment I duck my face behind the menu and can't help but burst out laughing. He snorts out a laugh and pulled the menu down to see my face.
"Don't hide-" whatever else he was going to say was cut off by a woman beside us. Billy flashes me a sexy smile, biting his bottom lip after he licked them both and looked up at the woman.
"Ain't seen you in a while Billy" the middle aged woman with hips as wide as the table says smacking on some gum. She glanced at me quickly and did sort of a double take and raising her brows.
"Yea been busy-lemme get a cheeseburger an' a coke"
'No ice' they both say at the same time, and he nods to me.
"The same with fries, and a sprite with ice"
She nods as she jots down our orders quickly and walks away.
When she was gone, having taken the only defense I had with her-my menu I notice Billy staring at me yet again with this oddly impressed look.
"Uhh Billy how old are you?" I ask.
He bites his bottom lip and replies "27"
I simply nod and hum.
He looked his age to me, but definitely looked like he had a rough life. I was in my own world again when I noticed he was staring at me. That curious stare again like he did at the bar.
"It's really off putting when you do that" I mutter playing with a stray packet of sugar.
"Why's that?" he asks, his voice running shivers down my spine.
"B-because I know there's something you're thinkin' about me"
"What am I thinking?" he asks
"That's the off putting part. Whether or not you're noticing what color my eyes are or if it's me that smells like fries and vomit"
He laughs again and I can tell he doesn't do it often. He seems to catch himself every time and cut it short.
It's one of those rare moments where I can look at him for more than 5 seconds at the same time he's looking at me.
"You smell like..." he leans close to me over the table and I inhale a sharp breath completely frozen. He sniffed me and quickly and exhaled slowly. His breath blowing deliciously against my neck. I couldn't help my eyes closing and my lip getting stuck between my teeth.
As he sat back in his seat he said.
"Vanilla today"
I'd sprayed a ton of it on me after work on my way to the bus station.
The waitress comes back and I break my gaze away from him. Thanking her as she placed my drink in front of me.
"Food'll be out in a minute" she says switching away.
I took the straw she handed me and ripped it open, sticking it in my glass. I kept my eyes down on the fizzling drink trying yet again to slow my heart as I took pull after pull of the soda. My arms folded against the table like a child.
"And your eyes are green"
I stopped drinking and my eyes snapped up to his.