Chapter 3

"Maddy, are you okay?" At that moment, I heard several voices.

My hands were bloody and I had a scratch on my knee, but I had nothing.I'm a little embarrassed, but I'll survive.

"Do you need help, lying girl ?"

"Jake!"Alanna warns him.

When I looked up, I startled, who was he, and why wasn't he wearing a shirt, was I dreaming? Our eyes were glued to each other, it was as if I couldn't look away.

"Is that how you talk to your big brother, Alanna?" He finally left my gaze and I felt stupid.

Four men were in front of my house, shirtless. It was very cold.

I think I also hit my head while going down.I wiped my hands on my jeans and got up. Everything in the box was scattered on the road. While moaning, I picked up the box and I started collecting my things.

"Jake, please go away."She begged him.

But he didn't, he stayed in the same place and stared at me. He was staring at me and I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

The embarrassment disappeared when I realized what he was holding in his hand.

He held my mother's blanket in his hands. It was old and rough, but it was special to me. I didn't let anyone touch it with the fear that it would fall and now this arrogant son of a bitch was holding her like an old dirty rag.

"Jake" , whistles Alanna.

He was too busy looking at the cover.If he did something to it , I would tear his eyes out.

"Maddy, what's going on here?"Asks my grandmother when she comes out. Her eyes instantly landed on the blanket. "Young man, I think you have something very personal for my Maddy.Give it to me." Her voice was severe and authoritative.

He held it out to my grandmother and I took it before she could touch it. I carried it to my face and inhaled deeply. I didn't care if they were watching.

"Let's go inside, my dear, the rest of the things can wait until tomorrow. Alanna, you are welcome."

" I don't need to be told twice."

She was right, her annoyance was already stupid.

"Girls, sit down, I'm going to heat the hot chocolate."

" I'm going to get my phone in the car." I replied.

I opened the glove box, took my cell phone and closed the car. What I didn't expect was that her brother was waiting at the end of the road. How could I not hear him or see him approaching? I tightened the blanket around my shoulders and stopped a few meters from him.

" Alanna is still inside, I'm going to take her out". As I was about to enter , he grabbed my wrist. It wasn't hard, it wasn't hurtful, but that didn't mean it was good.

"Little girl" , he growled.

I struggled to free my wrist. Who was this guy?

"Please let me go! Please! I whispered, but he had other ideas. He pressed me against him and buried his head in my neck. He breathed deeply.

What's going on?

"Fuck", he whistles. "You smell like the ocean".

I was afraid. My body was tensed.

"You don't have to be scared of me, little girl." His voice was like velvet.

I didn't realize that I had closed my eyes, but when I opened them, he was no longer there.

I was officially scared.

I went back inside, I took the cup that my grandmother gave me and I sat on the sofa. I kept thinking about what had just happened. The way he grabbed my wrist, the way he drew me to him, the way he sniffed me, for God's sake. He sniffed me, for God's sake. Who does that?

But strangely, even if I was afraid, I wanted him to touch me again.

"Maddy, my dear, are you there?" Exclaims my grandmother laughing, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Alanna was just telling me that she attends the school where you registered."

I had forgotten about school.

"Great, school!" Rolling my eyes, I put down the cup. I had only six months left and it would be over. But I'll be trying to integrate for six months and not look like the new one in town.

"Thanks for inviting me. I have to go home. Maddy, here's my number if you need something."I took it and smiled. I knew I was a little skeptical about her before, but she was the only person I knew here and I needed someone.

"No need to get up, I live right there,"She replied.

When I heard the door close, I looked at my grandma.

"She seems to be a nice girl, darling, maybe your first friend here. But her brother, on the other hand, seems to be a bit of an asshole."

I burst out laughing. It was always funny to hear my grandmother cuss . She has always been very reserved, cussing was not her thing.

"But a handsome asshole."She smiles.

I agree with her on this point. He was handsome .

"I think he already loves you," she said, winking and taking my cup. "He couldn't take his eyes off you."

"Grandma !" I moaned. My grandmother was my grandmother, but she was not old. She had my mother at the age of 16, so she was quite young. People always took her for my mother.

"Just saying, " she said with a smile.

"Try to sleep, I know it's not the best thing to do, but tomorrow you'll have a bed."

"I love you grandma."

"I love you too, my dear."

I wasn't tired yet. My mind didn't want to go out. Since we arrived here, everything has been strange since we  stopped at the gas station. I took out my phone and added Alanna's number to my contacts. I opened a new message and started typing.

"It's Maddy, I'm sorry if I look like a bitch. I didn't want to be. New city and all that. Thank you for being so welcoming :) "

After pressing "send", I didn't wait long to receive an answer.

"Just a little slutty lol I'm kidding! I'm sorry for my brother. I told you he was a little stupid, but he has a good heart. Anyway, do you want to go for a coffee tomorrow?"

"I'm the one paying," she replied immediately.

I didn't know if I should talk about what her brother had done or if I should keep it to myself.

"Coffee is good :) You can tell me what's going on in this place  and what you're doing to have fun.Lol"

I decided to keep it to myself.

"I'll pick you up at 11 o'clock. Good night Maddy."

I put the phone in silent mode and I closed my eyes, hoping to fall asleep.

It was unbalanced.The sofa was not at all comfortable, my back hurt and I needed a hot shower and a strong coffee.

"The hot water is ready." My grandmother got up at dawn to try to get things done in the house. The first thing she did was ask me for a bed. I couldn't sleep on this sofa one more night.

"The coffee is in the pan."

"Thank you Grandma. I'm going out with Alanna at 11 o'clock to have a coffee, do you need me to bring you something?"