Into the Dark (Completed)

Chapter 16

I felt Tate's hand on my back and resisted the urge to lean back into it.

I don't need Tate. I don't need his comfort. He'll just shove it in my face later. There is no way that I can trust Tate with my friendship. He will definitely leave me.

"Maybe you should take a nap. We're going to have wait it out here for a couple hours. We'll meet the guys at the park just after day break." His voice seemed less threatening and more soothing. I have never really seen this side of him before.

I took a deep breath and leaned against him. He was a better pillow that the concrete floor at least.

We sat in silence for what felt like hours, but was probably only ten minutes. Somehow my head ended up on his lap as his fingers ran through my hair.

The only thing that I have to say about that is that it is quite relaxing.

"Can I ask you a question?" Tate said softly.
"Go for it."

He was silent for a full minute. It seemed like he was deciding whether or not to continue with this conversation. Eventually, he muttered, "Why did you call Josh when you saw Sal outside your window?"

"I probably should have called the cops, huh?" The thought hadn't even crossed my mind at the time.

"That's not what I meant." Tate sighed and he pulled his hands away from my hair. I resisted the urge to protest. This is Tate we're talking about. He's a jerk.

So why did I crave his touch?

I mentally shook the thoughts from my head. "Spit it out, Marks."

"Out of all of us, why him?"

Why kind of question was that? "I don't know." I answered honestly. "But according to the rumor mill, I'm sleeping with him." I joked.
Tate didn't laugh. In fact, he didn't say anything for a good five minutes. Finally, he spoke. "Are you?" His voice was expressionless.

I am not a sugary-sweet naïve girl. I can see the signs, but Tate has no right to be jealous. He's been nothing but rude to me since I met him. This last hour or so, he's had a complete personality turnaround, but that doesn't change anything. The whole 'being mean to the person you are attracted to' is so elementary and I don't have time for games.

I sat up and moved away from him. "What I do or don't do in my spare time is not your business."

Tate clenched his jaw. "What if I want it to be my business?"

"Stop."

"Luna," He said my name in a breathy whisper. "You don't think about the kiss at all?"

It took me half a second to even figure out what he was talking about; the meaningless kiss I planted on him after he called me a prude. In all honestly, I hadn't put much thought into it. Don't get me wrong, Tate is hot and the kiss was definitely the best I've had, but as great as it was, it didn't mean anything. We weren't dating or anywhere near it. We didn't have any kind of deep connection. It was just an amazing kiss fueled by pride and arrogance.

When I didn't say anything, Tate's eyes narrowed. "You can't tell me it didn't affect you at all. You may act like a cold-hearted bitch most of the time, but I know it is just a cover. Remember that day in homeroom when you said that I can't read your mind? I was right about most of what I said. I know you, Luna. You like to pretend that no one and nothing matters to you, but I know you care. You can't say that you wouldn't care if I just dropped dead."

"I would care if anyone dropped dead! It doesn't mean that they really mean anything to me. You've been a complete jerk to me since the day you got the name Wall-e! You can't just turn around one day and act like none of that matters because of one measly kiss that was over a month ago." I snapped at him. "I don't know if it is the whole danger aspect that is getting you off, but stop. In case you don't remember, we're hiding from a freaking gang. So, sit down and shut up until we can get the hell out of here."

Tate just stared at me, silently.

I decided to ignore him. I leaned back against a brick wall and let my eyes drift closed, wishing I was back in my comfortable bed.

__________________________________

Hey guys! Long time, no see. (That's how that phrase goes, right?)

What do you guys think of Tate's sudden, I don't even know what to call it,  change?
Do you think it was too sudden? Was there any signs? Do you think he is sincere? C'mon guys! Tell me your reactions. 

I am going to start to update quicker. I am ready to get this book finished. I think that it will go to Chapter 25 and then I'll do a three part Epilogue. No sequel, spin off, or next generation follow up books. I'll talk more about that once the first part of the Epilogue is released. 

As always, comment and vote. 
I do go through comments and stuff. 

I don't remember if I told you guys this, but I did start to go back and edit this. One of the big changes I'm making is changing "Conner" to "Connor". So if the spelling of that is all over the place, that is why. There's quite a few chapters I haven't gotten around to editing. 

What do you guys think of this????

~Anubis27