You are my precious obsession

Chapter 10

____________________

I put my book down, that was a good one. Sometimes a good book is all I need to cheer up. Glancing up at the clock, I got up with incredible back pain and dusted my clothes to straighten the wrinkles out.

I looked out of the window. The sun almost dipped down, radiating dim red and orange hues on my face. Henry walked in the room, seeming too stressed about something.

"Oh, you done with that peice of junk?" He pointed at the book with his usual tone lacking.

"It's a book." I stated. But unlike himself, he stayed silent.

He shifted his gaze from mine and sighed. "Come on, let me drop you home with that book." He offered. My heart dropped at the thought of going back, my eyes shifted to and fro of that heavy backpack that was sitting beside me.

"Icecream first." I made an excuse to stay away from Aaron for a little longer. I still need a bit more time to confront him.

He would usually say something sharp and sarcastic to deny whatever I ask, but this time, he actually didn't attack me instantly like he always does. Is his stress that bad that he's actually going down without a argument?

But weirdly, that stress looked more like shyness to me. I shook the thought off, maybe I'm going insane. Why would he be shy infront of me?

"Okay. But only one." He mumbled, which made me question if his brain was working alright or not. But, whether it was working or not wasn't my concern as long as I get my icecream.

We walked together to the car parking in silence, and for the first time in forever, it felt...uncomfortable. It was like walking with a stranger and not knowing what to say.

I don't know what happened, but, it felt like something between us changed. But, I can't quite put a finger on it. It's something, alright.

I kept walking, glancing at him once in awhile. He seemed to be lost in thought, and was clearly avoiding me. My heart sank, did I do something wrong?

He stopped, clicking his car key's button as a Rolls Royce's headlight blinked. My jaw dropped, goddamn, I always forget how filthy rich this guy is.

"Hey, will I be able to buy this car even if I sell all my belongings?" I tried to start up a conversation after a long silence. The typical Henry I know would now say 'No' with no remorse. SAY IT.

"Ehh, it's a car, alright." He shrugged. "Your car wasn't that bad."

My jaw dropped again, but, this time it wasn't about his car. He actually said something nice to me without being sarcastic? I-Is this the real Henry or did some alien steal his identity and kill him? Shit. RIP buddy.

"Get in." He started the weirdly very silent engine. Excitement peeked out of me when I clicked open the car handle. I flipped my legs in, and oh damn, this seat was even more comfortable than my bed. No wonder this is a luxury car.

"Close your mouth, it's just a car, not the seven wonders of the world." He remarked sarcastically. Okay, this is definitely Henry and not an alien that stole his identity. Good to know that my bestfriend's still alive.

"What would you know about the middle class, rich guy." I rolled my eyes. "You were born with a golden spoon."

"True. I guess I will shut up then." He chuckled, driving with one of his hand clutching the steering wheel tight enough to make his knuckles go white. Something told me he was nervous. But, why?

Silence fell again, but it didn't last long as he killed the engine infront of an icecream parlour. Not any other icecream shop though, it was a family business and their icecream is one of a kind which doesn't get me ill. Even after all these years, he still remembers?

We got out of the car and stood outside of the now crowded icecream shop. Guess they have gained popularity. Good for them. "I think it'll be better if one of us will buy for both of us." I suggested.

"I suppose yes. What flavour do you want? Again the boring chocolate?" He was starting a fight against me. How dare he call chocolate boring? Does he think his strawberry is better than my chocolate? How naive.

"What about you? The strawberry again?"

"Oh please, it's the best." He almost sounded like himself again, but, it seemed more forced than coming out as natural. There's something going on with him but I can't tell what it is. I'm not a detective!

"Okay, I'm going to buy it. You better pay me back tomorrow." He waved, going into the very crowded crowd to get the icecreams with an expression that said 'Wish me luck, I'm going to war'. I giggled and slipped out my phone from my pocket. It's going to take awhile anyway.

Then I heard it.

It was faint, but surely a cry for help.

Anxiously I followed the voice, I knew it was smarter to tell Henry first about this, but, I can't risk anyone's life over time which I can't waste.

The voice was now the loudest, I peeked my head slightly into a dark alleyway. And I was unfortunately right. There were a group of men troubling a woman...with a knife.

I took a deep breath, I had to act fast even if my gut feeling was telling me not to get involved. With my heart beating fast, I rushed inside and waved my hand at the woman, all their attention shifted to me.

"I was looking all over for you, where did you go? Didn't I ask you to wait by the icecream shop?" I put my good acting skills to work.

"Who the hell are you, woman?" One of the guys asked me. I stiffened.

"I-I'm her friend. I suppose you guys are too, right?" I scratched my neck, trying to seem as calm as possible. All of them stared me down suspiciously.

I signalled her to run, and she did. She saw a gap to escape, and she sprinted towards me, at the opening of the alleyway, clutching her purse.

But before I could be relieved, her shoulders brushed past me, making me lose my balence as I faced the ground. I thought she would stop to lift me up and take me with her, but, she just ran and saved herself. Bitch, what the fuck.

"YOU!" The wannabe leader screamed at me, and before I could run off too, the other guys caught me by my arms and held me tight. "I was so close in getting her purse, SO CLOSE! And you...YOU-"

"Oh, my bad," I smiled nervously. "If money's what you want, I've got nothing." I stated with a shrug. "So, how about you let me go?"

"Let you go just like that after that?" The guy shrieked, clearly mad. "Y'know what. Fine. If you give me a thousand grand, then, I'll let you go."

"Is something wrong with your hearing?" I blurted out and quickly shut up, fake coughing. "I-I meant, I already said I've got nothing on me, sir."

He glared at me and a guy beside me handed him a knife. Shit. Am I dead? "It's either you give me your money, or your life." He grinned from ear to ear.

I struggled to free myself, but they just tightened their grip on me. "W-Why my life?" I smiled sheepishly more to myself, Henry where the hell are you?

"If I let you go now, then how would I know you wouldn't open that little mouth of yours to the police?" His knife was way too close to my neck, the coldness of the steel was too much to ignore. "So, what's it gonna be, woman? Your money, or your life?"

____________________