Between Us

chapter five

05

I sigh in relief as the bell rings, ending the school day. It's a Monday, the Monday after Whitney's wedding, and Mondays are never good.

I get out of the school as fast as I can, trying to avoid what I know what's for me everyday: Jason Parker.

Jason Parker is simply a crazy asshole who doesn't know what the word 'no' means. I shared my Crayons with him in first grade and he hasn't left me alone since.

Now, you may think I'm exaggerating.

You think wrong.

I keep my head ducked down as I hurry out of the school. I see Jason standing at my locker, looking out over the crowd for me. I walk faster.

I finally break through the crowd and get outside, immediately starting to shiver because of the cold wind. I'm wearing a warm sweater, jeans, and boots, but my jeans have rips in them, defeating the purpose of keeping me warm. They're cute though.

I walk down the sidewalk, further and further from the school at a fast pace. Once I can't see the school, I slow down and take my time.

I pull out my phone and ear buds and start a song. I keep myself entertained by watching my breath in the air. As I hum to a song, I notice a beat-up black Jeep with the usually open part covered slow down next to me.

Shit, I hope that's not Jason. Or a serial killer. But mostly Jason.

I pick up my pace and turn the music off, so I can hear if I'm about to face my imminent death. I mean, I'd like to know it's coming. I think.

"Taryn!"

I turn around at the sound of my name out of instinct. The window is rolled down, and I see Liam sitting in the driver's seat with one hand on the steering wheel and the the other on the passenger seat. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"I thought you were going to abduct me!" I blurt out.

Liam laughs, showing his straight white teeth. "Damn, that was my plan for tomorrow. Guess I'll have to start early, huh?"

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Fucking hilarious. What do you want?"

"Well, Miss Attitude, I was going to give you a ride home," Liam says. "Want one?"

I eye him warily. "How do I know you're not going to actually abduct me?"

"Because our moms would both kill me."

Okay, that's true. "Fine. But only for that reason."

Liam rolls his eyes. "Get in the damn car," he says, unlocking the doors. I open the door and swing myself in, putting my backpack on the floorboard between my feet. I buckle my seat belt as Liam speeds up and drives down the road.

I relish the feeling of the warm air in the car, my nearly frozen fingers warming up and gaining some color. "It's not that cold outside," he says, turning his head momentarily to look at me with his bright blue eyes.

"Um, I can see my breath. It's cold," I tell him. I notice he's wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans, a jacket nowhere in sight. "I'm pretty sure you're just cold blooded."