Chapter 8 Missing Between Us

Everybody was asleep, except me. I was here, brushing my teeth and trying to remain awake at six in the morning. School started at eight. And what was I doing up so early when school is two hours later? I got delivery duties to do for Brian, the asshole.

He was not coming today. And so I had to go there, to his house and drop off the books. What did he think I was? His delivery girl?

I took a slow, warm bath and put on a light blue shirt with black jeans. I was still sleepy, even after taking a bath. I was really not a morning person. On regular days I usually woke up at seven in the morning.

It was already six thirty when I got into my car. I had told my mom that I was going to Claire's place and no further questions were asked.

Brian's house was a bit far away. It took half an hour to reach his house, the first time I met him and he had demanded a ride.

Most of the people in my neighbourhood were still asleep, peacefully. And I was here, at 6:30 am, all ready and set to go, drop off books of an idiot at his house.

I jumped into my car and pulled out of the driveway. After half an hour, I pulled in front of the Smith's driveway.

The house was huge with a big garden in the front adorned with flowering plants. I identified the roses and sunflowers. The other flowers in purple, orange, white and pink were unknown to me. I wondered who had an interest in gardening in his family. Certainly not him. I couldn't imagine his hobby to be gardening. Maybe it was his mother. Or maybe his sister, that is if he had any. But definitely not him.

I walked up to the door. The house was quiet. No sounds of activity inside the house suggested that whoever lived there was asleep. So I thought I should knock. I knocked on the door but there was no response. I did that a few more times but got the same result.

Finally I pressed the doorbell, the sound reverberating throughout the house.

Finally after a few seconds I heard some movements inside the house and the door opened.

Standing before me was Brian. And he was...shirtless. I opened my mouth to say something but my eyes trailed down to his body. Oh. Those perfect six pack abs, the muscles of his arms, the V-line of his abdomen which continued down the jeans he had worn was making me dizzy. Holy crap. Brian was freaking hot.

"Done checking me out?" Brian asked in a husky morning voice and I instantly took my eyes off of his body and glanced at him. He had that irritating smirk on.

"Excuse me. I was not checking you out." I said, my cheeks feeling warm.

"Sure," He drawled out, rolling his eyes as he stepped back to let me in. "What did you come here for?" He asked, still yawning. Then he glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It read seven. "This early?"

"Um...I think you suffer from memory loss. You told me to bring your books to your house as you are not attending school today. Did I come here for nothing?!"

"Oh...that. Yeah. Um...did you bring it?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course. Here, take your books. And remember the deal. That's the last time I'll be doing your homework. Or will you forget that too?" I said, thrusting the books into his arms.

"I don't have a memory problem," He put the books on the table and stuck his hands in his jeans pocket.

"Why are you not coming to school today?" I asked.

"I...have some important work to do."

I nodded. An awkward silence settled between us and I found myself staring at his body again.

"Don't you have a shirt? It's cold today," I said.

"Why? Is my body distracting you?"

Yes.

"It's not. It's not like you're hot or something."

He chuckled, "You don't lie very well."

"Do you live here alone?" I asked for a topic change.

"Yeah," He again rubbed the back of his neck. He looked uncomfortable. In some ways the question was personal to him so I decided to drop it.

"I'll leave now," I said.

"Okay," He said and I turned around.

I was about to get out of the door when I felt a warm hand grab mine. I was shocked to feel the sudden sparks in my body, like electricity shooting up through my arm and travelling through my whole body.

"Wait," Brian's voice reached my ears and I turned around to see him holding my hand. My heart beat quickened at his touch.

"What?" I asked.

"I wanted to say thank you. And sorry for whatever I had done to you," He was still holding my hand.

"You're welcome. And you don't need to apologise. It's fine."

"Thanks. Okay then. Bye."

"Bye," I said.

He was still holding my hand. I think he didn't realise it. He stood there, staring at me and holding my hand. My eyes started to trail down his body again.

"Brian?" I said slowly.

"Hmm?" He was still staring at me.

"My hand," I said as I saw his brows scrunch up together in confusion. I gestured at our hands and he immediately released it.

"Oh! I'm sorry," He said.

I smiled at him, "It's okay. Bye."

I walked towards my car and pulled out of the driveway. I saw him close the door.

I drove to my house. After another half an hour, I reached my home at nearly 7:45 am.

If I didn't hurry I would be late for school. I ran into my house. I still didn't had my breakfast. I grabbed a granola bar and devoured it in three bites and chased it down with glass of milk. I ran back to my car, not bothering to lock the door. My family was still sleeping or was probably getting up. I didn't know. I quickly drove to school and managed to reach there before eight.

"Why do you look so tired, and that too in the morning?" Claire asked me as I met her near the locker.

"I did a lot of traveling. To and from Brian's place. God. Why does he live so far away?" I took a deep breath.

"You went to Brian's place? In the morning? Why?" She asked in a suggestive tone, smirking at me.

"Shut up. He is not coming to school today and so he asked me to drop the books at his place this morning. And so I had to wake up too early to make it to the school on time," I explained.

"Wow. You are not a morning person. You will hardly do such a thing for me. But for Brian? Really? I thought you hated him. You never told me you liked him."

"What? I don't like him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him!" I chanted.

"Are you telling me that or convincing yourself of that?" Claire smirked. Was she picking on Brian's habit?

"Shut up. I am telling you I hate him!"

She rolled her eyes at me.

"We should go to class!" I wanted to change the topic. I didn't want to think about that. Me liking Brian? No way was that possible.

I hurried off to class, not bothering to get a reply from Claire.

All day was just plain boring. I endured a torturous Math class and then fell asleep in Biology. I was still sleepy. In many of the classes I was so sleepy! And all because of Brian! He must probably be dozing off and here I am struggling to remain awake.

At lunch, Jake and Sam sat at our table. Darren, Josh and Tyler were talking about an upcoming football match of our school. My brother was also in the team. But football was beyond my range of interests so I didn't take part in the conversation. Claire and Jake were flirting with each other. Don't they have anything else to do? Sam was the only one left.

"Are you single or taken?" He asked me.

I sighed. He had been asking me silly random questions about my life for the past ten minutes.

"Single."

"You know that I am single too?" He said, winking at me.

"Oh. Darren, Josh, Tyler and your friend Brian are single too." I reminded him.

"Yeah. But what do you think about me?"

I cleared my throat, "I think you are one of those players in high school who use a girl every week, get her into bed and throw her out of your lives the next day. But when it comes to your sister, if you want you'll literally shove any man six feet under who so much as looks at her. And I clearly hate such men."

He smirked. What was with everyone smirking nowadays? "I think that describes me perfectly, except that I don't have a sister to protect. But I'm not so bad, you know. You hurt me. Ouch."

"It was intended to."

"Whatever. Favourite flavour?"

"Vanilla."

"Movie?"

"Twilight and Percy Jackson."

"Ew Twilight... seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Who do you find hot in our school?"

"Me."

"You are hot?"

"Totally."

Before he could say anything, I felt someone tap my shoulder and I turned around.

"Hi Brooke," I heard her familiar voice. I looked up to see Gemma.

"Hi Gemma."

"Brian didn't come today? Or he didn't sit with you." She asked, looking like she was hoping for the latter.

"No. He is absent today," I replied.

"Oh. I'll see you later then," She looked...disappointed? She turned around to leave.

"Whoa. Did you see her ass? That chick is totally hot." Sam said. "I am damn sure she is hitting on Brian. Darn it. I wonder if she's good in bed. With a girl that hot, you can be only sure that she is."

I scrunched up my nose in disgust.

"Oooh! Are you jealous?"

"Me? Of what? Her? Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"I am not jealous."

"Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

I ignored him.

He again started asking me about random things. I paid no attention.

Finally the bell rang and I walked towards Chemistry class. The class I shared with Brian. But he was not here today.

I was disappointed. I loved Chemistry so much. Yet this class was suddenly appearing boring to me. What is happening to me? I loved that subject. Then why was I not concentrating on it?

I glanced around the class. I was in my usual seat. The one before me was empty. Brian's seat. He had pulled me on his lap in that same seat a few days ago. At that time he was so close to me. His face was just inches away from me. And today, seeing him shirtless...

What the hell. Why was I thinking about him? What was wrong with me?

I shook my head and tried to concentrate on what the teacher was saying.

The rest of the day went in a blur.

Claire was babbling about something while I drove to her house after school. But I wasn't able to pay any attention to her. I was distracted. I was feeling really unhappy. I didn't know why but the day was not good at all. I was sleepy, tired, irritated, distracted and sad.

"Brooke? Brooke?!" Claire waved her hand in front of my face. I turned to her.

"Er...what were you saying?"

"You were not even listening to me. Forget it," She said and turned away to sit straight. She brought her arms around her chest, pouting childishly to show that she was angry. I didn't say anything.

There was a comfortable silence in the car. She decided to break it after a minute.

"Okay. I'm observing that you are a bit off today. What's going on?"

"Nothing. I am just sleepy." I waved it off.

"Do you really think I am going to believe that?" She raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. "It's nothing!"

She was quiet for a bit. Probably trying to come up with a possible explanation for my mood. And then she grinned. "Are you missing someone?"

"What?"

"I think you heard me clearly."

"Shut up. I am not missing anyone."

"Is it Brian?"

"Claire, the only thing I am missing now is your silence!" I glared at her.

"Oh my God! You are missing Brian!"

"Shut up! You seriously think I'm missing Brian - the Devil Nerd?!"

She nodded and I shook my head. I can't be missing Brian. Why would I?

I pulled into her driveway. Fortunately she didn't say anything else and just left with a goodbye.

I reached my house and the rest of the evening was spent in movies, studies and my homework.

Too tired from the journey I made in the morning, I went to bed at eleven.

It was not until two in the morning that I was woken up by a loud thud in the balcony of my room. I shot out of bed in a second. What was that?! Who was that? Murderer?! Stalker?! Rapist?! Burglar?!

I quickly grabbed my baseball bat. Instead of an alarm clock, I more than wanted to smash the head of whoever the intruder was.

I stood in my room, beside the balcony door in pitch darkness. I had stupidly left the door open.

I could see a figure walking towards my room. Oh my God. I was going die. He was walking slowly. I would have had a heart attack if the suspense continued for another minute.

I held my breath when the figure was almost in my room. He came inside. Luckily I couldn't be spotted easily because I was hiding in the dark. He looked around. What was I waiting for? Okay, calm down. Now, one, two, three... and HIT!

I lashed my bat at him, my target being his head. Unfortunately, the smartass ducked and I missed my mark. I again tried hitting him in the same place when a warm hand shot at me. The hand in which I had my bat was pinned to the wall behind my back which caused me to drop it. His right hand grabbed my other hand and pinned it in the same place as the first.

I tried to scream, but before I could do so, he clamped his hand on my mouth and his grip on my hands tightened.

Who the hell was he? I was definitely gonna die now. I love you mom, Ryan and Claire. And I'll miss you all, I thought pathetically.