Forced to Commit, but Not Forced to Love

Ch 7- Not Needing Videos

"The rules here, are simple. Escape."

The man in the video kept talking, but I didn't need to listen; I've already prepared myself for this. Videos, practice techniques, everything. I take things on my bucket list pretty seriously, so I already did a lot of research on escape games.

"You have everything you need inside the room. Good luck."

The doors out of the waiting room opened, and I started walking enthusiastically inside. Wait, where is he? I looked to my sides and couldn't see James. I was about to shrug it off and continue, when I caught his eye. His face paled and his feet were firmly planted on the ground.

"Come on James, we need to go inside," I said, coming over and pulling him forward.

He didn't budge. "It's too dark inside..." he mumbled quietly.

I looked back up at him surprised. He was scared of the dark. I mentally scoffed. Wow. Who would have thought? I was about to retort about his weakness, but his eyes compelled me otherwise. The blue orbs widened in fear, as if the dark abyss would consume us and oblivion would take over.

He was weak, but his pride would not let him admit it. To get him inside, I needed to use the one trick I knew: hold his hand. My younger sister was once afraid of the dark, and would walk her through it with a flashlight to alleviate her fear.

But with James, that wouldn't work. Never in a hundred years would he readily accept my hand. I had to try a different approach.

"James, can you help me?"

His head snapped in my direction and his eyebrows burrowed in confusion. I knew he questioning whether I was really asking for his help, so I continued, "it's dark inside, and I hate going into situations like this alone," which wasn't a lie; I truly hated being lonely.

He waited, considering what I had just told him, then turned his head back towards the dark room. Without saying a word, he took my hand and whispered in my ear, "Thanks." I smiled, and started walking into the escape room, so confident that we would win.

—

We lost.

Walking back towards the parking lot, I contemplated what just happened: the worst fails in escaping rooms. Ever. He broke the key, I ripped the code, and the dresser just "happened" to fall over.

The wind hit me hard and I unintentionally shivered. California sea wind can be brutal, especially in the winter. James looked over at me and scowled. After being a little bit sweet, he went back to being his cold self. (A/N- get it, cold? like cold from the wind :D)

Well this 'date' was a flop, I thought to myself as I got into his car and buckled up. "Where are we going now?"

James started backing up the car and exited the parking lot, a frown still etched on his face. "Our parents have asked us to go to your house for another 'meeting,'" he even added air quotes to make it more dramatic.

My eyes shut in disappointment, I opened them again with a sigh. "Why is it always my house?" My dad's territory?

He smirked once more, "We could go to my house." Turning his head to face me, he added, "in London."

I rested my head back and met his gaze. "Point taken."

Silence once again fell over the car, as well as an awkward atmosphere. I spoke first, "Can I turn on the radio?"

His mouth opened quickly as if to sarcastically retort, but he shut it quickly and mumbled out a whatever, his eyes not leaving the road.

I reached over and hit the radio knob. The first song that came up was Everything Has Changed, by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. I gave a small laugh and shook my head.

Apparently James heard, since he turned his head and asked what I was laughing at.

"Nothing really," I replied, a smile still on my face. "Just the lyrics." I turned my head to find him holding my gaze, silently telling me to explain. "It's seems so naive, All I know is you held the door, and you'll be mine and I'll be yours. Does that even work? I don't know, I just don't think that could be legit."

He kept silent, his face unresponsive to what I had just said. Turning his head back towards the road. I knew that the rest of the car ride would be enveloped in awkward silence.

So much for a good first date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N- So good to be back :) Just for future reference, I won't post spam on this book, only updates to the story. I've got an AP exam tomorrow, and I decided why not work on the book you started in January? But hey, new update :)

Next update at 385 reads!