by Sam Crescent
He smirked.
“Stop it!”
He saw she was quickly losing her temper. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, Prudence, but you don’t need to like someone in order to kiss them.”
“I don’t care what others want or need. This is about me. what I want. What I need, and it’s certainly not you.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“You’re an asshole, Drake.”
“And you’re nothing but trash, Pru.” He continued to stare at her as she glared right back.
“You remember that the next time you stop me. I’m trash. I’m nothing. I’m scum. Once you get all of that through your thick skull, drive right on by because I want nothing to do with you.”
Drake watched her go, knowing there was no way he’d ever forget she was trash, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t start seeing her as something else. The taste of her lips still lingered on his, and he wasn’t going to stop. She’d given him a hint of … something. He didn’t know what it was, but he knew he wanted more of it, so much more.
Chapter Seven
Why was he everywhere?
During summer vacation, Prudence was used to working, studying, spending time with Sean, and relaxing. That was how she always spent her summers. This time was usually Drake-free. She often heard he went away on the family yacht or was skiing in some cold, distant place.
Not this time. No matter where she went, Drake was there.
Part of her wondered if he was stalking her. That couldn’t be possible. Two people who hated each other didn’t suddenly find a reason to be everywhere that other person was. Even when she hung out with Sean at the park, or went walking in the woods, Drake was there, either alone or with friends. The same at her new workplace. She’d gotten a brand-new job at the mall in a clothing store. It wasn’t the most ideal place to work, but she didn’t mind serving customers and stocking shelves. Every now and then a customer would ask her opinion on an item and she hated that. Fashion wasn’t her forte but she did her best. That was all she did throughout her life, her best.
So by the second week of being completely aware of Drake, she’d had enough. Finishing off her burger, she threw the leftovers of her shake in the trash as she was full and stormed over to his table at the food court.
“What the hell is your problem?” she asked.
“My problem?” He leaned back in his chair, looking like he owned the place. Knowing her luck, he probably did. His parents owned most of the town and it was why he got away with everything, which only served to piss her off.
“Why are you always around?”
“I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, I live here.”
“You live in the mall?”
He chuckled. “You know I don’t. You’ve seen my house, you know where I live.”
“Why are you here?” she asked. There was no way he was going to get smart with her. She would’ve noticed him a lot sooner than now if he was always hanging around with her. That wasn’t the case! She wasn’t imagining this. Drake appeared every-freaking-where, and she was done with it.
He looked around. “Last time I checked, this is a free country. I can sit and eat lunch wherever I want.”
“And you just happen to pick one of the spots near where I work.”
“Well, well, well, Pru. I’d say you were becoming a little … paranoid.”
“Cut the crap, Drake. You and I both know that we rarely see each other during the summer.”
“So you noticed that?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not doing this with you.” She was about to walk away but he grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving.
“Don’t go.”
“Let go of my arm or I’ll scream.”
“Scream and you’ll notify the cops. They kind of know who I am and it won’t end well for you.”
“For me, even though I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“All the security cameras around will see you approaching me. I’m just an innocent stranger.”
She scoffed. “Innocent? There’s nothing innocent about you.”
“Yet, as I sit here minding my own business, you’re the one who has come to interrupt my peace and tranquility.”
She stared at him. He looked so smug as if he had won this round, and he had. “You knew I’d come here.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist confrontation.”
“You haven’t gotten your kicks out of me this year. What? You hate how I’ve let everything go? Is that it?”
He smiled. “If I don’t bother you, why are you here?”
Glaring at him, she wanted to walk away, but instead, she found herself sitting down, opposite him.
“Well, well, well, do you want to dabble in the dark, Pru? Is that what this is about?”
She didn’t say anything, watching him instead. She tried to read what his intentions were and yet, she came up with nothing. There was no way to understand what he was doing and she was just wasting time. “I’ve got to go.”
“Then go.”
She stood up but his words made her sit back down again.
He laughed. “Always so undecided.”
“I don’t get you.”
“What’s there to get?” He sat up. “Am I so confusing to you?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“You’re infuriating.”
She stood up.
“You know, I’m going to be spending a lot more time around town.”
She looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate. Again, he refused.
She lowered herself down into her seat. She had time.
“You certainly know when to be a good girl, don’t you?” he asked.
“Get to the point.”
“I think you’re becoming obsessed with me.”
She burst out laughing. “That’s what you think this is? You think this is obsession?”
“You don’t think it is?”
“No, I know it’s not obsession.”
“You’ve thought about our kisses?”
Prudence looked at his lips and hated herself for being so weak. “No.”
“I had no idea you could be a little liar.”
“I don’t think about your kisses or about anything when it comes to you. Leave me alone, Drake. I don’t like you stalking me.” She got up out of her seat and without looking back, made her way back to work. She tried to ignore everything he’d said and what he believed. She didn’t have a crush on him, not even a tiny one.
The kiss they shared—it meant nothing because it wasn’t a real kiss. Not to her, at least. He’d put her in a position where she’d had no choice but to kiss him. It didn’t matter to her if it was her first or last kiss she ever shared. It wasn’t exactly memorable.
She restocked the clothes and tried to ignore everything outside of the shop.
She failed. A quick glance let her know Drake was still there. He wasn’t eating this time. He sat on a bench directly out of the shop, drinking a soda. He winked at her, holding up his drink as if in offering.
She turned her back and was sure she heard him laugh. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? Summer vacation was the one time of the year she didn’t have to think about him. Moving away from the doorway, she served customers, and by the time six o’clock rolled around, she was more than ready to go home.
It meant having to pass Drake, who still sat in the same spot. Without looking back over her shoulder, she started to walk, hoping to avoid talking to him at all.
Once again, she failed.
“What’s the rush?” he asked.
“I want to go home.”
“I know you didn’t get here by car and you walked, so why don’t I drive us?” He grabbed her arm.
“Will you stop?” she asked as she tried to push him away. But he wouldn’t release her. “Now you look like a crazed maniac.”
“Please, the cameras probably saw how fucking needy you were and would anyone would giv
e me a break.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Name-calling. I thought you were above that, Pru.”
“I would be if you’d just leave me alone.” There was no point in fighting. She stopped trying to resist and allowed him to lead her to his car.
He opened the passenger door and she climbed in, folding her arms as he slammed the door closed.
She was in his car.
The car of her enemy.
This wasn’t even funny anymore.
“Why aren’t you away or off partying?” she asked as he got behind the wheel.
“I’ve got better things to do with my time.”
She grabbed her cell phone.
“Who are you calling?” he asked.
“I’m texting Sean. He’ll meet me at my house.”
Drake grabbed her cell phone and threw it out of the car.
“Hey! What the hell?” She tried to get out to pick up her phone. Drake did no more than open his door, turn, and stomp on her phone. The sound of splintering glass angered her.
“There, all done. You don’t need that damn phone or your nerd.”
She clenched her hand into a fist and punch his arm. It wasn’t very hard, but she just couldn’t take anymore. The moment she did it, she didn’t feel any satisfaction. Violence never, at any point in her life, thrilled her. If anything, it made her feel sick to her stomach to know she’d been pushed that far.
Drake caught her wrist in his hand. Hers was still clenched.
“Now, now, is that any way to treat the guy who’s going to be driving you?”
“Why are you like this?”
“I’m a lucky guy and I get what I want.”
He smiled at her, and she tried to pull her hand away. “You can’t drive if you keep a hold of my hand.”
“I’ve got no problem driving one-handed, princess.”
“Leave me alone,” she said.
“No can do. I happen to really like holding your hand.”
She growled as he lifted her hand and licked across her knuckles. “Gross, get off.”
“Not going to happen, little virgin.”
He did it again and Prudence realized what she was doing wrong. She was responding to him rather than just ignoring him. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, counted to ten, and then just let everything go. This was how she’d coped with the past year at high school. Just ignoring him, and as she opened her eyes and smiled at him, she waited.
This was boring.
“You think I don’t see right through you?” he asked, letting go of her head.
She stayed silent. Another thing Drake hated was complete and utter silence. She didn’t mind the quiet. After hours of being left home alone, she got used to it. Quiet was her safe place.
He chuckled. “I got your number, Pru. I don’t mind. I happen to like the quiet as well.”
He started driving again and she stared out of the window, not really seeing where they were going. She also wasn’t paying attention to their surroundings, trying harder than usual to ignore the guy beside her. She didn’t want him to know she was greatly affected by him, but there was no denying it.
Drake had gotten under her skin.
She was determined not to ask him a single question, not to even care where they were going. It didn’t matter. People had seen them leaving together. He had even boasted of security watching them, so if she were to disappear, unless he blackmailed a whole lot of people, he couldn’t kill her.
Or could he?
Drake’s family held a lot of power in town and she had no doubt they could probably get away with anything. Even covering up a murder.
She stared out of her window, not recognizing anything. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask where they were going but she was too stubborn.
“You’re going to have to pay for a new phone,” she said.
She wanted to call Sean more than anything to let him know she was safe or at least, alone in a car with Drake and it was all her fault. She shouldn’t have approached him at lunch or given him the time of day.
“I’ll buy you a new phone. No worries about that, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You don’t like me calling you sweet names?”
“I’m trash to you, remember?”
“Yeah, well, I like to live dangerously.”
“Stop talking to me.” She folded her arms across her breasts, hating this feeling. She didn’t even understand it and that alone scared her. For as long as she could remember, Drake was her enemy.
Kissing him had been a mistake. Approaching him today had been an even bigger one.
She closed her eyes and counted to ten very slowly, hoping when she opened her eyes, she’d recognize something.
After ten, she couldn’t make anything out.
You’re going to get killed if you don’t ask.
I don’t want to ask him. He’s an asshole.
An asshole who could totally kill me.
Rubbing at her temple, Prudence knew she couldn’t not ask him. This was just way too dangerous. “Drake, where are we going?”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask that.” He laughed. “Do you have any idea what could happen to you if you were to take a ride from a stranger? That shit is dangerous.”
“I know you.”
“Yeah, and? You think you’re safe with me?”
She glanced over at him and decided to take a chance. “Yes. I do. You won’t hurt me.”
Again, he barked out a laugh. “Wow. Shit, you can even surprise me.”
“You think just because we’ve had our fights and you’ve bullied me, you think I don’t see past all the bullshit you’re spouting?” she asked. “You could have hurt me a lot worse ages ago. You never have. You’ve always held back. I’ve seen you fight before. It was what made me realize that you’re never going to hurt me. Your threats are completely useless but that’s okay. I don’t mind. You can pretend to be a bad guy all you want.” She shrugged her shoulder. “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
She leaned back against the chair, staring out of the window.
For the longest time, Drake didn’t do anything. He didn’t say anything, just kept on driving at a rather slow pace.
She chanced a glance over at him, and she couldn’t read his expression. “Drake?”
He slammed his foot down on the gas. They went from driving normally to suddenly speeding along.
“Drake, what the hell are you doing?”
“Giving you a fun time. It’s what you want, right? Some fun, some excitement. I bet that asshole doesn’t give you any. I sure hope you know what you’re doing!”
Chapter Eight
She drives me fucking crazy
Drake wanted nothing more than to hurt Prudence. He hadn’t done anything to hurt her so far and yet, here she was throwing out all kinds of accusations. She was no different than him, and all she did was hide behind her little friend.
“Leave Sean out of this.”
“He’s a fucking pussy. I bet he doesn’t even make you laugh.”
“What do you have against him, huh? You guys have hated each other since the beginning. Even before I came into the picture. Why?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “You think I give a shit about him? He’s not worth the time to even breathe over.”
“If he’s such a waste of your time, why do you even care?” she asked.
“I don’t care.”
“You’re the one constantly bringing him up and I’m sick of it. He has nothing to do with you. You don’t bully him anymore.”
He was growing tired of her demands. She was nothing but trash and it was time she learned her place. He quickly pulled the car up against the side of the road. He saw the uncertainty in her eyes and was pleased he could get under her skin.
“Now, Trash, what was it you wanted?” he asked. “You want me to leave your little friend alone.” She was taking long,
deep breaths, and he liked that he made her nervous. This was what they did. The constant push-and-pull, and he relished it. Not that he’d ever tell her that. The best parts of his day were the interactions he had with her.
“Sean doesn’t do anything to you.”
“He breathes.”
“Is that it? Is that all he’s ever done wrong with you? Live? Get real, Drake. People you don’t like exist. You can’t just vanish them away because you can’t stand them. You’re going to be surrounded by people you don’t like. It’s the way of the world. I’ve got to put up with you.”
“There you go again, constantly telling me how you can’t stand me when it couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Wow, you’re really not listening to me. I don’t want to be in this car with you. I don’t even want to see you, ever. I’m so sick of this. Summer is supposed to be my time where I can do whatever the hell I want and I don’t have to listen or see your face. I don’t want to see your face and I don’t have to keep on doing this with you.”
He watched her unbuckle her strap. “What are you doing?”
“Getting far away from you.” She opened the door and slammed it closed.
He rolled his eyes, watching her pull her bag up her shoulder.
She shouldn’t look cute walking away from him. For a few seconds, he watched her walking. Tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, he didn’t have a clue what he was doing or why.
His friends would gladly hang out with him, and they’d be a lot more fun. There were so many chicks who’d be willing to bounce on his dick. Her friend Ree being one of them, and yet, he was here. Why the fuck was he here in the first place?
He and Prudence didn’t mesh. This was a waste of time.
He didn’t even know why he was even trying. The moment he thought of that kiss, though, he couldn’t walk away.
Opening his car door, he climbed out, determined not to let this go. He’d kissed hundreds of chicks. None of them had left him like this.
Even for him, this was fucking crazy.
Chasing after her, he caught her around the waist.
“Let me go. Let me the fuck go. I don’t want you to touch me.”