It All Started With An Apple

Chapter 4

I could have puked at how cliché this situation was.  In fact, this entire experience was becoming like a stupid chick flick.  I almost laughed at the thought.  Me in a chick flick?  No chance.  I hated chick flicks almost as much as I hated clothes shopping.  “I’m walking home,” I said simply, trying to quicken my pace.  It didn’t work.  He caught up with me anyway.

“You walked to the mall?”  He seemed shocked.

“No,” I said slowly, wishing that I was anywhere but here right now, “I came with Kyla, but she’s not leaving and time soon and I need to be home in ten minutes.”

I stopped walking as Dannon suddenly reached out, grabbing me lightly by the arm.  “You’re not going to get home in ten minutes if you’re walking.”  His eyebrows furrowed.  He tugged my arm slightly.  “Come on, I’ll drive you.”

I eyed him suspiciously.  “Why?”

“Because I’ll feel bad if I let you walk home knowing you’ll get in trouble for being late.”  He smiled.  “Humor me?”

I paused, thinking it over.  It was true.  I would get in trouble if I got home late.  My dad was cooking tonight—something that rarely ever happened due to the fact that my mom always insisted on doing the cooking.  But, then again, I didn’t really like the thought of getting in the car with Dannon.  I mean I knew he wasn’t a creep that was going to rape me or something, but still.  I wasn’t comfortable with him.

After weighing the options, I gave him a pointed look and nodded.  “Just this once.”

He grinned and slid his hand down to my wrist, pulling me through the rows of cars.  I decided not to yell at him for touching me, because I really wasn’t in the mood to fight with him.  All I wanted to do was get home and eat food that was actually edible for once.

His car wasn’t that far away—about two aisles over.  He was silent as we walked, which really surprised me.  Ever since I’d thrown the apple it took all I had just to get him to shut his mouth.  I eyed him curiously.  He really was an odd guy.

Once we reached his Saturn, Dannon pulled his car keys out of his pants pocket and pressed the Unlock button on his automatic locker.  “Hop in,” he murmured, moving toward the driver’s door.

I scurried over to the passenger’s side and pulled the door open.  I slid inside, trying to get comfortable as I buckled up.  His car smelled nice.  I couldn’t put my finger on what it exactly smelled like, but it smelled good.  

Dannon held up his bag of books, looking at me questioningly.  “Can you hold these?”

I nodded, taking the bag silently.  He smiled, giving me permission to look at them if I wanted.  How he knew I wanted to see what he bought, I didn’t know.  It was probably in my expression.

I pulled out the two books he’d bought, looking them over while Dannon pulled out of the parking spot.  I smiled, running my fingers over the covers.  I had both of the books—had read them both multiple times.  “Gone and Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment,” I murmured vaguely, my smile growing.  “You have a freakishly good taste in books.”

Dannon laughed and I looked up.  His eyes were alight with amusement.  “You’ve read them?”

I nodded, setting the books back in the bag.  “Yeah.  They’re both really good.”

“Good to know.”  Dannon glanced at me from the corner of his eye.  “I need directions to your house.”

I rubbed my arm, biting my lip.  “I suck at directions.”