TROUBLE

Chapter 9

Hey guys, sorry about not updating like I said I would. Got really caught up. So this chapter will be extra special just to make up for yesterday. Hope you like it!!

Layla's POV

Eric steps closer to me, his legs now touching mine. My head is level with his chest so I have to stretch my neck up just to be able to look at him. He stares down at me with such intensity that I can't bring myself to breath.

"We don't have to talk about anything." I finally manage to say. This brings on a new mood to him. He seems confused, almost? His thumb lightly grazes over the rough scab along my cheek and I turn my head away on instinct.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." He whispers down to me. My heart flutters at his words. But I need to remember who this is. Eric spits out pretty words all the time but that means nothing. He is the number one player at the game of deception.

I manage to step away from him and move into my own space where breathing isn't difficult. I can feel his eyes on my back. "Just like you didn't mean to shove your tongue down that girls throat?!" I twirl my body back around to face him. "Just like you didn't mean to lead me on?! You didn't mean it?! That's bullshit!" I'm now back in his personal space pointing the accusatory finger at him.

His face turns to a snarl but I'm no longer scared. Funny how anger can change everything. "You shouldn't have come up on me like that! This never would have happened!" He's yelling just as loud as me now. Mr. Jones is bound to hear us.

"I'm came looking for you after the game just like you told me! But only to find you sucking on some other girls face!" My teeth grind together as I glare up at him. He mirrors my expression. It seems as though we're in one of those Texas show downs except face to face.

"We're not together. I can do whatever and whoever I want." Damn. That stung more than it should. I take a large step back from him. This argument isn't going to make anything better and I have to accept that.

Searching for the paper, frantically, I grab it. "Let's just get this over with." I read down the list quickly, of things we're supposed to do. It all seems fairly easy and nothing that would require us to be together. Good.

I hand him the paper before turning around in the direction of the stage. "I'll take the theater. You can have whatever else is left." It's odd not to hear him retaliate to an order like that. I would only expect that he would have some smart ass comment to come back with but only silence as I walk down towards the stage.

The door echos throughout the room as he slams it shut. I jump at the impact. At least, he left.

Minutes pass by so slowly. I look at the clock on the wall every few seconds hoping that my eyes are deceiving me. It's only 9:30. This day is going to be never ending. Eric hasn't come back in which concerns me because most of the work is in here. What if he isn't doing work at all?

As I search the school, I notice that the lights have been dimmed, which makes the hallways look like a scene from a scary movie. A chill runs up my spine. I check every door as I pass it but they're all locked. Faint music comes from all the way at the end of the hall and my heart rate starts to pick up.

Like any good horror movie character, instead of walking away from the sound, I quickly jog towards it. It's the gym. Something hits the floor multiple times, like a ball dribbling. Out of shear curiosity, I peek through the door. The music becomes louder and so does the bouncing ball.

Eric does a lay up and shoots the ball through the hoop, momentarily hanging off of the rim. I glare in utter frustration. I've been working and he's been playing basketball?! Of course. What else should I expect from someone who thinks they can get away with anything.

"What are you doing?" I yell at him. He turns around with the ball pressed between his two large palms and smirks at me.

"Come one, Gracie. It can be like old times when we were in PE together." Did he forget that we were arguing not but 2 hours ago? Does he have memory loss of some kind?!

I step all the way in and start walking in his direction. He meets me half way, still smirking. "We're supposed to be cleaning. Not goofing off." I sound like such a mother.

He purses his lips for a moment before going back to dribbling the ball. He begins to walk a circle around me. "Nah, I think we got time to play a game."

He stops when he's directly behind me and tosses the ball off somewhere. His lips brush against my ear. "Come on, Gracie." Is it weird that his voice sounds like silk?

I roll my eyes trying to stay calm. "My name is Layla. Nobody calls me Gracie anymore." His hands find my hips and he spins me around so I'm now facing him. "You'll always be baby Gracie to me." I want so badly to punch him in the face. Before I can even register what's happening, he's thrown me over his shoulder making me yelp.

"Where are you taking me?!" I scream at the top of my lungs. He gently pats my ass while he walks. That bastard!! "You'll see." I can hear the smirk come up and it enrages me.

We go through another door and this time the room is completely dark. I'm not quite sure because it's been forever since I've been in here but this has to be where the wrestlers practice. I switch is flipped and the next thing I know my back slams down on a large blue felt mat.

Eric looms over me with the biggest smile on his face but not the good kind of smile. "You remember when we had wrestling matches in your living room, right?"

I deadpan. He must be joking. We were like 5 when that happened and we were the same size back then! My fists clench and I prop myself up on my elbows. "I swear, if you try to touch me..." The smile immediately disappears from his face and he steps over to me so that his legs are on either side of me.

"You'll what?"

I don't even have to think about it. I kick him hard in the crotch which makes him fall instantly. I try my best to get away before he can stand back up but a tattooed forearm wraps around my waist and slams me back into the mat.

Damn it.

Thoughts so far? Again sorry for not updating like I said. Comment and Vote my loves!!