That's just what I needed. There, the adorable asshole, seeing me in my absolute LOWEST moment.
I sucked up my tears, and went back to smart-mouthing him.
"Why are YOU here?"
"I could ask you the same question."
He offered me his jacket but I refused.( No way I was gonna loose my dignity in front of that asshole.)
" Come on. It's the middle of October and you're freezing."
(I hate it when he's right) " I'm fine."
He started to look annoyed. "You're laying out in the cold all by yourself."
"I said I'm-"
" Look, enough is enough. You're gonna take the jacket and you're gonna let me take you home. So enough with the tough-girl routine and put on the damn jacket."
I was stunned.(And a little startled.)
As much as I hated it, i took the jacket and I put it on. It was a little big on me and it sagged on my arms. It smelled of coffee and sweat(I kinda liked it).
"You're such an asshole."
"You can call me an asshole AFTER you tell me where you live so I can take you home."
After everything that just happened, I couldn't go home. Not now. I needed some time to process this.
" I uh, I can't go home."
"Look, I already told you-"
"Carter. Listen to me. I can't go home."
He seemed to hear the panic in my voice because he nodded his head and sighed.
"Alright. I know a place you can stay. But you have to promise to tell me whats going on."
I nodded my head slightly and murmured "Thank you." ( I hated every second of this. Me looking desperate and vulnerable in front of Channing Tatum the asshole. How humiliating.)
"Alright. Come on. Let's go."
I tried getting up but my stomach was still swirling around ever since my giant pukefest. I was able to get to my feet but I felt drowsy and began to fall over. I closed my eyes and was ready to fall on my face.
Weird. I didn't feel anything.
I opened my eyes. Carter had caught me in his big muscley arms. (I didn't hate it. But I didn't want him to know I liked it.)
I looked into his eyes. (His big, beautiful brown eyes.) Sweat was beaming down his tan skin. I stared at him. And he stared at me.
I came back to and got out of his arms.
"The place?"
" Huh? Oh, yeah. It's a couple of blocks from here. You sure you're okay?You seem on edge."
I was gonna say yes, but my stomach was so queasy it felt like I didn't have a stomach.
" Honestly, no. Feeling a bit queasy."
He seemed concerned. " You sure you don't want me to take you home?"
" Carter, I'm fine. But I just cannot go home. At least not right now."
He nodded in understandment and took a moment to think.
"Well I can't do anything about the quesiness, but I can do this."
He grabbed me by my thighs.
" What do you think you're-whooaa!"
He lifted me up and he was carrying me halfway down the block.
"Put me down!"
" Do you wanna lay on the concrete ground all night or do you wanna get inside?"
(*I can't stand that asshole)
" Just shut up keep walking asshole."
He smirked. "Feisty and Cute."
He carried me for 3 blocks before we made it to the place. (* I'll be honest. I kind of secretly enjoyed him carrying me 3 blocks. I was kind of sad the ride was over.)
"Here we are."
I turned my head to see where we were. The Chicago Library? Why in hell would Carter bring me here?
He carried me through the door to find Ms.Marshue reading 31 Steps to Growing Bigger Breasts.
I was so confused. "Ms.Marshue?"
She looked up and gasped. "Halo?"
"Hey."
Carter put me down and Ms.Marshue ran to me and checked me out.
" What are you doing here. And so late?"
Then Carter barged in on the conversation. " I found her laying on the ground in the cold by herself."
" Thank God you found her Carter. Halo, what were you doing out there?"
I couldn't tell her. At least, not now. I can't even process what happened.
"I....uh"
Carter must've read my mind. He barged in again. "That's not important right now. Auntie Marshue, why dont you go make Halo some soup."
Wait? Did he say auntie?
"Of course. Take care of her while I'm gone Carter."
What the hell was going on?
She left for the kitchen and Carter had just gotten some wash cloths and towels.
"Now let's get you warmed up."
He ran some warm water on the wash cloths, walked over to me, and started dabbing the wash cloths on my face.
He was a really sweet guy( You know, for an asshole.) As I looked at him, i could see the warmth and tenderness in his eyes. His dimples were so cute, I wanted to touch them.
SNAP OUT OF IT! He's just using his looks to lure sluts and whores to do his sexual bidding. Well I was not gonna be one of those sluts.
I knocked his hand out of my face.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?"
"What do you mean?"
(Really asshole?) "I MEAN, you just so happen to find a girl lying in an abandoned street. What were you even doing there? And since when do you call Ms.Marhue "Auntie"?"
He took a sigh,( Apparently not realizing he didn't tell me shit) and sat down next to me.
"Okay. I was walking down that abandoned street to go meet someone. A friend who can get me stuff."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Like...pills."
(I knew this asshole wasn't the total package!)
"Why do you need them?"
He looked around to make sure Ms.Marshue wasn't around." Promise you won't tell anyone."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Depends on what it is."
He sighed. " Okay, I have this condition. Ebola. I constantly have intense pain at night when I sleep. My family's falling on hard times so it's too expensive to buy meds from a doctor. So I met up with a drug dealer to get some painkillers."
My jaw dropped. Never would I have thought someone like him would have such a hard time.
"And the "auntie" thing?"
" My mom and dad go out on job searches in France. When they couldn't afford to take care of me, they sent me to America to live with my Aunt Marshue. She's my dad's sister. So I live here until my parents can find some work."
I couldn't help myself for feeling so bad for him. Poor guy. He's been through so much.
"Yeah, so...thats it. Anyway, let's see if Auntie Marshe is finished with the sou-"
I hugged him and grasped his shirt and dug my nails in deep. I leaned into his ear. " I'm so sorry."
He wrapped his arms around me.
" Don't think this makes you any less of an asshole."
He chuckled and clung me tighter.