THE_BOY_NEXT_DOOR✓
EPISODE_84

Oh wow.

He is standing too close and I squeeze myself against the door as I climb in, careful not to touch him.

He seems to be amused by the distance I leave between us and he hastily closes the door behind me once I am safely inside..

He starts the car as soon as he is inside then turns to look at me.

"Seatbelt." He commands and I put it on automatically like a commanded robot. You just can't say no to whatever Kain tells you to do. His voice is enough to warn you that he is not compromising.

He pulls out of the parking lot and then he steps on the gas. Like really steps on the gas.

Whoaaa.

"You're going to kill us!" I yell when he takes a particularly sharp corner without bothering to slow down and he passes me a glance.

"I can't." He replies curtly then speeds even more.
What the hell?

"Yes you can and you will if you don't slow down right now!"

I remember Jay mentioning that Kain drives like a lunatic. This is the first time I'm riding with him and I can't agree more. If I don't die today then I don't think I ever will.

"Belle, calm down. We're not going to crash. I've been driving since I was fifteen."
He states, then he looks at me briefly, frowning when he notices my white knuckles as I clutch the sides of my seat tightly.

He shakes his head then slows down until we are driving at a regular speed.

"Better?" He asks.

"Yes."

"What is the fun in driving like this? We should just get out of the car and walk." He says sourly.

"Why do you have to drive so fast? It's like a fifteen minute drive home and it's still early."

"Habit. I always had to rush my Mom to the hospital when she.....was unwell." He bites his lower lip and I assume he said much more than he intended.

"She looked perfect last night." I point out and he narrows his eyes at the road.
Seems like his mother is a touchy subject.

His phone rings and he reaches for his pocket to retrieve it. Is that pathetic ringtone his? He takes out the gadget and my eyes widen when I realize it's my kidnappers phone.

Kain taps a button on the steering wheel and a second later, a voice I know too well fills the car.

"Are you done with her? I hope you had fun because I'm not paying you shit. You were supposed to call me once you were through."

I freeze. It's Tatiana.

Kain's jaw twitches with unconcealed anger and it takes him a moment to answer. I am grateful that we are not over speeding because we'd crash, that's for sure.

"Tatiana, this is Kain."

There is silence from the other end for a long moment before her voice is back.

"Kain? I'm glad you answered. I miss you."

I roll my eyes. Really now? Some people do have guts.

"Are you or are you not going to tell me about the owner of this phone?" He asks and she laughs nervously from the other end.

"He is a friend. Where did you get the phone?"

"You are taking this whole thing too far Tatiana. I don't think you will be able to face the consequences. Stop messing with Bella."

"Are you dating her?"

"That's none of your business. Just keep off."

"But she wants wants you, doesn't she? That's why she is always throwing herself at you." Tatiana says bitterly and my control snaps.

"I don't want him!" I yell.

Kain turns to look at me in surprise.

"And she is with you right now? Where the fuck are you?"

Kain looks daggers at me and I know he is not too happy with me right now.

"Again, none of your business. This is a last warning, stay away from Bella if you don't want me to hurt you. If you keep sending people after her, I'll have to do something you will regret. And that reminds me, you know where to find your little friend. I hope he didn't bleed to death, yet. Next time I'll kill him."

He hangs up and tosses the phone in the console then focuses ahead.

"Why are you doing this for me?" I ask quietly and he spares me a glance.

"I already told you. I feel bad that Tatiana is after your neck because of me. I will feel guilty is she hurt you because of me."

"That's all?" I ask like an idiot and his brow creases.

"What do you mean? You are my friend too, if that helps. Don't flatter yourself too much though. George, Jay, Zac and Jade are my really good friends. You are just an addition because they insisted on you joining our group. I'm yet to figure out why."

"You think it was a bad idea for me to join your little haven?" I ask and he shrugs.

"I know it was a bad idea. You are not that interesting and you can't step in for yourself. You need to be saved all the time."

"So I'm just lucky to have you saving my ass all the time?" I ask sarcastically and he nods.

"Of course. I don't usually run around saving damsels in distress. That would be Jay."

"Should I be flattered?" I try my sarcasm again and he turns to me as he parks his car outside his house.

"Totally. Every girl wants me to do that for them. Count yourself lucky."

"Aren't you just the most humble person I've ever met?"

He laughs humorlessly.
"You suck at being sarcastic. Get out of the car before your Mom sees you."

I look at our driveway and Daniel's car is parked there.

"We were supposed to go to Zac's but you came to your house. Why?"

He screws his nose.
"Because you stink. You were lying on the floor of an old ablution block. You need to shower and change and if your Mom sees you wearing that, you'll be grounded for three years."

His words are nothing but the truth. His jersey is the last thing I'd wish my Mom to see me in.

I follow him into the house. His mom is busy in the kitchen and she peeps into the living room when she hears our voices.

"Kain, honey. How was the game?"

"We kicked ass." He tells her with a wolfish smile. That's the basically the first time I've seen him smiling fully, genuinely.

"You scored, didn't you?" She asks proudly while walking to us and kissing his cheek lightly.
He pulls away and wipes the spot where he kissed her, making a disgusted face. His mom and I burst out laughing.

"Of course I did." He replies and she turns to me, her face masked with a breathtaking smile.

"Bella! Nice to see you again. Is that Kain's jersey?"

I stutter but she laughs at me. "You look beautiful wearing that. He should give it to you."

Kain snorts. "In her dreams."

He places an arm on my lower back to urge me to the stairs.
"She needs a change of clothes. I'll get her something of Gianna's."

His Mom smiles tentatively but it's obvious she is straining inside. I wonder what Gianna's story is because Rebecca doesn't seem to be too comfortable with the whole topic.

"That's okay. They are almost the same size so she should find something nice." She says while looking me over.

Kain pulls me away before I manage to say thank you to his mother.

In his room, he removes his T-shirt and tosses it on the bed. He starts to unhook his trousers and I quickly reach for his hand to stop him. He looks at my hand resting on top of his then at my face.

"What." He asks in that bored tone.

"Why are you undressing?"

"Because I want to shower."

I swallow dryly. I'm so horrified.
"I'm not showering with you."

His lips twitch with a small smirk. "I never said we're going to shower together but if you want to, then fine. We will be saving time anyway."

My mouth is suddenly dry. Imagine me, Kain, water and nakedness in one small bathroom? That would be the biggest disaster ever.

"I don't want to shower with you." I blurt out.

"Me either. I'll show you to Gianna's room."

The room is on the first floor. It's a small cozy place with a four poster bed and colourful draperies. It's all girly and I totally love it. The stuff is still kind of new and I can tell she doesn't stay here often, if she does at all.

"Where does she live?"

"With her mother." He replies curtly.

"Oh? Does she visit often?"

He scowls hard. His sister is obviously another sensitive topic.
"Stop asking questions. Find something to wear in the closet."

He turns to walk away then turns at the door to look at me.

"What." I ask uncertainly.

"It's a party so you should wear a dress."

"Okay."

"And you looked hot in my jersey. Keep it." He adds while looking me over.

Then he is gone.