Chapter 6

"I knew something would happen." Seeley hopped out of the car and slammed the door.

It seemed like everyone has been hit by the vibe of summer. Not only because it was already hot but because this is the longest time when everyone can be together once the school had closed its gates.

The road was full of cars and the town echoed from the sound of the horns.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and followed Seeley.

"Why did we stop?" I asked as he walked around his Honda. "Didn't you tank in the morning?"

"I did." He took his cap off and wiped his sweaty hair.

"Then why aren't we on the road?" I asked. "Ah, the coffee hoves you?"

Seeley gave me a weird look before swapping his baseball cap at me.

"Why are you this…"

"Heartless?" I finished his question with an arched eyebrow and he scoffed.

"Forgetting about those idiots never seemed to be as successful as it is now." he blinked before walking to the entrance of the gas station.

When I realized I wasn't alone, an old man was giving me weird looks about my remark, I hurried over to the station, stepping into the cool shop.

"Can't we just stay here for the summer?" I asked, standing under the air conditioner. There were three people around us, getting their snacks for the trip while the cashier looked like had already bored his brains out.

"What would you say to Leigh?" Seeley asked as he started walking around the shelves.

"That I have a disorder called disgust of hot weather?" I asked and grabbed a bag of chips.

"Seems like something you'd say." Seeley replied and took an energy drink from the fridge.

"Put it back." I pointed at the drink in his hands.

He looked down at it, looking like he hadn't even noticed that it was in his hands.

"Why would I do that?" Seeley asked, confused and surprised.

"Because your heart will jump out?" I asked back. "And I wouldn't want to crash on the first day of my holiday."

"It wouldn't be surprising since we are talking about you," he shrugged. "You've always been cursed."

"Cursed with scouts like you." I gave him a dirty look.

"You are always free to walk to Cannon Beach," he said without any remorse.

"But I'm only looking after you," my voice was bright and convenient.

"I don't remember asking you to look after me," he walked away and my jaw dropped. "I'm pretty sure the cashier would appreciate your concern."

I glanced over my shoulder where the cashier has been glaring out the window while rubbing his temples.

When I turned back to Seeley he was also narrowing his eyes at the cashier who would rather be anywhere but here.

"He doesn't even know where he works, just look at him." I whispered while making a face.

Seeley shrugged me off and walked to the other side of the shop.

"You already have coffee and energy drink flowing in your veins." I jumped in front of him. "Shouldn't you have a healthy lifestyle as an athlete anyway?"

Seeley tilted his head at me with suspicion in his eyes.

"Basketball is just a hobby," he said dryly. "I've had too much time on my hands so I joined the team. But that doesn't mean I have to live like a rabbit."

"Not intoxicating your body is not a rabbit life." I argued softly.

"You are the one who's talking with chips in your hands." Seeley dropped his eyes to the bag of chips clenched to my chest.

"But… that's potato." I tried to defend my chips most poorly.

"Potato that is full of calories and has acrylamide." He frowned and I froze at the unknown word.

"Do I want to know what that is?" I asked, unsure of my chips now.

"Probably not." He said.

I knew that my favorite snacks were full of toxic things but hearing Seeley's determined displease made me think for a second.

I pulled my hands back and a frown made it to my face. Maybe I'd stop torturing my body this time.

"Then it's going back." I said with furrowed eyebrows and put it back in its original place.

Seeley was more surprised than I was but I didn't want to give him another reason to push my buttons. My mother's appearance this morning was more than enough and I was pretty sure that I could listen to him until the end of my life.

"That was quick." Seeley said and I walked away.

"Yes, I don't want acrylic in my body."

"You mean acrylamide." He glared at me.

"I just told you that." I gave him a confused look and he let out a dry laugh.

"Honestly, I had expected you to just go and grab…"

"I'll have chocolate instead." I interrupted him and took the sweets off the shelf.

Seeley let out an exhale and dropped his head, completely defeated and worn out by my presence.

"You're hopeless." He said and I hugged my chocolate to my chest.

"But it has sugar in it." I pouted. "I need my daily dose of sugar to function normally."

Seeley scoffed and put his energy drink back in its original place.

"But you're never normal." He called me out.

"Still." I glared at him. "I need my chocolate."

He rolled his eyes and grabbed a bottle of water with a bag of dried peaches.

"You're absolutely hopeless." He said and followed me to the cashier.

The boy behind the counter could kill us with his glare once we forced him to do his job.

"Anything else?" He asked in a flat tone.

"A smile." I tried and the guy gave me a deadly glare.

"Don't even try to seduce me." He said, his voice outraged. "If you can't pay your shit then just fuck off."

"Watch your fucking mouth before I push that money down on your throat." Seeley spoke up in a cold but dangerously calm tone.

The guy impatiently clicked his tongue while Seeley took his wallet out of his pocket and threw the money on the counter.

We grabbed our stuff and turned to the door when the cashier leaned over the counter.

"What about my tip, jack ass?" He asked as the doors opened, the hot air practically hitting us in the chest.

"Why would I give a cent to someone who sits on his ass and just badmouths everyone all day?" Seeley asked calmly.

"But I need the money, man." The guy forced the words out of himself.

"Then feel free to wander on the streets and ask for money," I shrugged and stepped out of the building.

Seeley put his wallet away and opened the door for me.

"Should have punched him." I said as I hopped into the car.

"Violence won't get you anywhere." Seeley looked back at the station. "He wasn't even worth it to move my hand."

I knew he was right but I couldn't calm the fire of anger and irritation that's been fighting inside of me with my brain. And who doesn't love watching a good fight when the asshole finally gets their ass beaten?

Seeley bent down and put the snacks on my lap. I tried to ignore the turn in my stomach when I realized how close his face was to me.

Seeley lifted his gaze and seemed to stop for a millisecond as our eyes enchanted. A lump grew in my throat as his hot breath hit my face.

Something was hiding in his eyes and for some reason, I wanted to know what it was. There was no way he'd ever open up like that, so I was left guessing. And I wasn't certainly good at that.

Seeley held my gaze fiercely before turning his head away and leaning out of the car, softly closing my door.

"Looks like we'll be on the road for a while." Seeley turned toward the main road that still has been full of hundreds and thousands of cars.

"I should have brought my pillow." I said with a pout and Seeley put his hands on my opened window, leaning himself on the car.

He looked great just leaning his hands on the car while his eyes scanned the area, it gave me enough time to admire his beauty.

"Don't you dare sleep on me," he turned back to me. "If I have to torture myself then you ought to do the same."

I narrowed my eyes and put the snacks on the dash.

"Why? You're the driver, the only person who needs to stay sharp is you." I corrected him.

"Then what are you and why are you here?" He made a face.

I dropped my eyes to his chest, to the tattoo I'd never seen while examining his muscles.

"I am a pain in your ass who is only here because you were too kind to reject Leigh's plea to bring me with you."

Seeley nodded and raised his eyebrows at the same time.

"Living on my money wasn't part of the job," he said and I shrugged.

"Why on earth would I make your situation any better?" I asked. "You were the one to agree to pick me up."

"I should have thought that through." He said to himself.

I almost laughed at his problematic expression when someone stepped into my sight and I frowned immediately.

"Wasn't too happy with your girl?" The guy asked. "You just had to kidnap another one? Damn, Seeley, you're wild."

Seeley turned to the guy who looked a few years older than us. He was tall and tan. His black hair could use a trim but he didn't look bothered by it at all. He was wearing short jeans and a blue T-shirt that probably was smaller than his actual size.

Probably to make his muscles more visible.

"Well, you know what they say… Never settle down for one." Seeley pushed himself away from the car, humor hiding in his tone.

I watched in silence as they shook hands while I had no idea whether to speak up or just let them be.

"Howdy," the stranger bent down to be at the same height as I was. His brown eyes held nothing but curiosity and kindness.

"Hi, I'm Heddy." I said and put my hand out.

He looked surprised and turned back to Seeley.

"What a gentle lady, your girlfriend should learn some manners from her."

"Very funny." Seeley glared at him.

But his friend didn't seem affected by his coldness, when he turned back to me, there was a huge smile on his face.

"He always mocked me just because I got a girlfriend faster than him. Now it's my time to return the favor." he winked at me and took my hand gently. "I'm Tadeo."

"Stop it, you're scaring her." Seeley crossed his arms.

Tadeo rolled his eyes and ignored Seeley right away. Instead, he kept eye contact with me and lifted my hand to his lips to give it a small kiss.

"I'm pretty sure the beautiful lady can speak for herself." Tadeo gave him a side glance and released my hand.

"Exactly, Seeley." I nodded and leaned my forearm on the window. "The beautiful lady is not a child who needs protection."

"I like her already." Tadeo nodded.

Seeley twisted his head at him and narrowed his green eyes.

"You like everyone who is against me." Seeley added and Tadeo shrugged.

"And lately I haven't met anyone like that, so I've got to take my chance to gossip about you," he leaned back to me once again. "So, if you'd be so kind to just turn away and I don't know… would walk from here, I'd be glad."

Seeley tried to hide his smile as Tadeo turned his head to me with a determined and also excited look on his face.

"So, tell me, chula." He lowered his tone. "Has he been out of his house lately? You know I've been worried for him because he always closes himself into his room and doesn't want to come over for a boy's night."

"Really?" I asked, surprised and Tadeo nodded.

"Yes," he said with a dramatic sad look. "And you know, chula… I'm worried for the guy. God knows whatever he is doing while he is alone with himself."

When Tadeo gave Seeley a knowing look, I burst out laughing.

"That's the better option, I guess. He could be killing people to keep himself busy." I played along and Tadeo wiggled his index finger at me.

"That's correct," he agreed. "However I don't like the fact that his girlfriend is telling him what he is allowed and not allowed to do, like a dog."

"The thought has never crossed your mind that maybe I just don't want to deal with your shit?" Seeley stepped closer. "That I'd rather kill time with others?"

Tadeo narrowed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his lips, deep in his thoughts.

"I'd consider that option," Tadeo started it. "But since you don't have friends beside me, then I have a hard time believing that."

"That's really nice of you, thanks."

"Right?" Tadeo asked. "So, I'd rather stick to the crazy girlfriend theory. And according to what I'd witnessed so far, I have a feeling that I'm more than right."

Seeley stiffed and his shoulders tensed. My smile slowly disappeared as I took his darkened face in.

Was Tadeo right then? Clara has been controlling him over the last six months?

I would have never thought that he'd be the kind of person who'd put up with that. I meant, his father was controlling him already.

"I guess she really freaked out that another girl would sit in your car." Tadeo continued and Seeley dropped his gaze while biting into his tongue.

I'd never seen him so nervous but also troubled at the same time. I couldn't put his behavior anywhere.

He has always been so light and sarcastic that it felt really strange to see him like that.

"Unless…" Tadeo lifted his hand as he was thinking. "She doesn't even know about this."

"You're talking like it's cheating to give my friend a ride." Seeley said.

"Of course, it isn't, chico." Tadeo stepped over to him, his expression different now than before. "But we know how Clara is… And she'd completely flip over this."

I'd never liked Clara, mostly because she always convinced her cheerleaders to harass Casen whenever he had to sit down on the bench during play. She's never missed a chance to remind Casen that he'd still have to improve his basketball skills.

From what I've heard, she also liked to play as a sheep while deep down she has been the worst kind of wolf.

Once she kept complaining about my performance while I was doing a presentation and when I pushed her things off the table, she complained so much to the teacher that I got detention for it.

It was a boring and dreadful afternoon but it was worth it. Her face was priceless when I cleaned her table.

Ever since that accident, she's been playing the sweet card with me while making rumors about me.

"She doesn't need to know everything." Seeley kicked the cement beneath his legs. "Especially since she loves to jump to conclusions."

"Then speak up for yourself." I advised and both guys turned back to me. It looked like they had just realized that I'd been there and heard everything.

"Heddy, don't talk about shit you don't understand." Seeley put his hand up. His voice was warning and impatient.

Ouch, he didn't call me Heds this time. He must have been losing his patience with all the things Tadeo has just said.

"I'm just trying to help," I said softly and his gaze jumped to me.

"The best way to help me is to keep your mouth shut." He blurted out and all the color drained from my face.

When Tadeo saw my shocked and hurt face, his face hardened.

"Chill out, bro." He put his hand on his shoulder but Seeley shook it off right away.

"How should I chill out if you two keep dancing on my last nerves?" Seeley stepped away and headed to the driver's door. "See you later."

I watched silently as he walked around the car, jumped next to me, and slammed the door so hard that the sharp smack made me flinch.

Tadeo gave me a sad smile and blew me a kiss as Seeley drove away and joined the line of cars on the road.

I had an uneasy stillness inside my chest as I watched him grip the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. I watched him carefully but he didn't even notice me or wanted to acknowledge my presence.

I have never heard him talking like that which was why I was afraid to use my voice.

Seeley Drewitt clearly has changed since he had engaged in a relationship with Clara but damn… I had no idea that she had changed him for the worst.

And it was painful to see a boy so miserable and stressed who has been nothing but jokes and smiles over the years.