CHAPTER 8

“So? Where are you taking me?” I ask as we walk out of the gym. 

Lucas is long gone by the time we step out and yet I didn’t take time in the washroom, despite, the crap Jake told me about looking beautiful in smudged make up I still insisted on going to the washroom and he insisted on waiting for me.

“I have no idea but you will love it,” he tells with a nervous grin tugging on his lips.

“You have no idea? Come on tell me.” I prod him, I want to know where he is taking me so that I can text my sister.

I still can’t believe that he is the same dude I was choking to death yesterday and here we are, having a normal chat like nothing happened, what have Lucas done to my old self, I feel different. 

I don’t even remember the last time I smiled genuinely to a person who wasn’t Elsa and here I am laughing and smiling with Jake, the guy I declared enmity with yesterday. He is a nice guy and that makes me feel guilty for what I did, I shouldn’t have done that to him it was so ruthless of me.

“Really, I wanted to take you for ice cream until I heard it is cliché.” He tells me rubbing his forehead thoughtfully. 

"We can go ice skating, we can car race, we have lots of choices.” He suggests nervously but I am not in the mood for whatever he is suggesting. I just want to hang out with him you know, like a normal girl. I realize I haven't done lits of teenage staff.  Have spent most of my times shutting everyone out.

“You can still take me there, it will be my first time.” I tell him and his eyes widens in shock.

“What? Have you been living in a mole hole?” He asks and I laugh slightly, it is weird that I have never been to an ice cream parlor before.

“Have spent most of my times indoors plus I got no friends around so…”

“You got no friends?” He asks rhetorically and I nod. Is that even strange?

“It should be obvious, I am always in a foul mood I can’t make friends.” Honestly who would stand me? I even pick up fights with people who try to befriend me.

“Lucas has friends plus there is no way you will be in a foul mood twenty four seven for five good years.” 

So he is always gloomy? 

“Trust me there is a way,"

“We moved in here five years ago and I have spent most of my time indoors,” I tell him hesitantly.

“Which campus did you transfer from?” I feel like he is invading my privacy now.

“Enough questions for one day, Jake,” he eyes me suspiciously and he shrugs. 

“I am just curious,” 

He leads me to the parking lot and I am not surprised that he rides in a Rolls Royce. State University is for rich kids. 

I sit shotgun and watch him walk over to the driver's sit. I take my headphone out immediately he starts the car and he raises his eyebrows at me, I am so used to putting my headphones on every time I get inside the car, it is a habit. 

I sigh and sling them on my neck.

“Am I that boring, Belle?” I can’t trace humor in his sentence.

“I thought you were but not anymore. Why are you even asking?”

“You wanted to shut me out, didn’t you?” 

“The headphones,” Yes that’s exactly what I was doing.

“Habits,” he shakes his head slightly without saying a word as we hit the freeway.

“I promise that I won’t pester you.” I laugh lightly and he turns to look at me.

“What?”

“You are so sweet, I am sorry for what I did yesterday you didn’t deserve it,” I apologize for strangling him yesterday.

“Yeah you should apologize, I was only being chummy.” He flashes me a smile and my lips twitch.

“Only because you are so sweet today, you really pissed me off yesterday,” 

“I didn’t expect that reaction from you, I must admit you got me totally off guard,” he says glancing at me briefly before shifting his eye on the road.

“I was so angry and I didn’t even think twice, never do that to a stranger again it wasn’t cool plus many people are battling with things and they lash out at the first person who gets in their way,”

“I learnt my lessons yesterday, you are really strong by the way I mean psychically." 

That was adrenaline.

“Only when I am super angry,” I tell him lowering the window slightly. 

Ten minutes later he pulls outside Baskin-Robins and hops out of the car, I fumble for my phone inside my bag for a second as he walks over to open my door but I beat him to it. He rolls eyes at me as he shuts the door before holding my hand and walking me inside the parlor. 

The place is almost full.

“So what’s your favorite flavor?” He asks me and I am quick to say chocolate, I walk over to an empty booth at the left corner as he walks to the counter to make the orders. 

My phone buzzes immediately I sit down and I fish it out. There is a popping text from Elsa. Shit I forgot to tell her that I left with Jake, I know she is worried sick about me right now.

Elsa.

Where are you? Are you okay?

Me.

I am okay

Elsa.

Where are you? Is it true that you had a fight with Archie?

Me.

Who is Archie?

Elsa.

The guy you allegedly fought with today. 

The mother fucker’s name is Archie? What a waste of such a sweet name.

Archie? The name doesn’t suit his personality at all. He is a complete asshole. 

I had all my emotions under control until he pushed me further to the wall and I lost it. He was quiet strong for me and I don’t know what I could have done if Lucas didn’t intervene, I owe him one. 

Elsa.

Are you there Bella?

Ooh I forgot to text her back.

Me.

Yes I got into a fight with him but I am okay now

Elsa. 

God! You don’t know what you got yourself into, Archie is an ex-convict and I know he won’t let this slide. Where are you? 

Me.

Jake took me to the ice cream parlor.

Elsa.

You are friends with Jake now? The same guy you were strangling yesterday? 

Me.

The very same, your friend.

Elsa.

A date?

Me.

Not really.

Elsa.

Okay take care and call me immediately you get back to school, I don’t want you to bump into Archie again. 

Me.

Okay

Archie is an ex convict? Can he get back to me for kicking him? Anxiety starts to creep in just as Jake walks to me with two dishes of ice cream. He hands me one before sitting down next to me.

“The spoons?” I almost snap at him.

He face palms himself as he stands up to get them.

**♦**♦**♦**♦**

We are driving back to school thirty minutes later and I can’t help but worry about Archie and the possibility of him getting back to me. 

I have stressed over it for the last thirty minutes and I didn’t talk much when we were at the parlour, Jake seemed to understand my moods. 

“Are you okay, Belle?” He glances at me for a fleeting moment before taking his eyes back on the road.

“Do you know Archie?” I ask him out of nowhere.

“Archie? Yes why...wait has he tried texting you or threatening you?” He asks alarmingly.

“No, Elsa told me that he is an ex convict. Is it true?” I ask him.

“Yes it is true but don’t worry about him.” Is he listening to himself right now? I should not worry about an ex convict who is very capable of hurting me for kicking him?

“I shouldn’t worry about him? He can hurt me.”

“He won’t do that,” He is not serious right now.

“Are you listening to yourself?” I snap at him.

“Belle, are you okay? Archie is a dangerous guy but he is my frie…”

“Jeez what am I even doing in this car with you? What if he sent you to hijack me? Did he send you to hijack me?….Oooh my God, I should have thought about it. You are friends with him. Please stop the car I want to get out…..I should have known better than to trust men…you are all sadists and definitely the same!” I shout at him and my hands are now clenched tightly on my laps. Anxiety is taking the better part of me and I can’t control my emotions. 

“Will you please shut up!” He orders me trying to be calm but I know this is all a trap. I can feel it.

“I said stop the car I want to get out of here, I will call the cops!” 

“Bella, please stop, I can never hurt you!” He turns to face me totally forgetting that he is supposed to concentrate on the road and the car loses control, we end up hitting a pole and the last thing I see is Jake hitting his head on the steering wheel.