Once Upon a Time in London

Chapter 10

My lack of a response is answer enough. My lip quivers.

Rahul pushes back from me, he looks like he's holding back from saying something, he runs his hands through his thick hair.

"I am not surprised, he suits you, the whole perfect boy thing he has going on" Rahul drawls as he slowly pulls out another cigarette.

I don't know what to say, I just simply walk up to him and pull out the cigarette from his lips. He looks at me weirdly, it's an emotion I haven't seen in his eyes before. Before I can decipher it, he's mad at me again.

"What's your problem?" his voice is stern, it carries a sense of authoritative status with it.

"You."

Rahul laughs at me, "Humour me", he chucks the cigarette box in the bin, "How am I a problem?"

He closes the distance between us again, the tension between us is suffocatingly thick. I swallow the nervous lump growing in my throat. Rahul Khanna doesn't intimidate me.

"You heard me" I say, trying to sound my bravest when I can't feel my knees, "You're arrogant, your mood swings are terrible. We get along one moment and you pretend as if I don't exist the next. You're such a complicated person, I can barely understand you. You make fun of me, you yell at me and yet here you are caressing my bruised cheek, waiting for me when you could've left ages ago" I yell, my chest heaving up and down.

Rahul's face is unreadable, "Who said I stayed behind for you?"

"Oh yeah because it's so hip to pretend to smoke in front of the girls changing rooms for no reason" I yell, he always manages to get a reaction out of me.

He cocks his head to the side, "I can light the cigarette up if you want."

"What, no. Is that what you got from that?" I ask annoyed.

"Was there something else I was supposed to take from your lovely little speech?" he teases, a smirk plastered on his lips.

"You-"

"Now now, I'm tired and want to be home, how are you planning on going home?" he asks, disregarding the fact that I was just about to ask him something.

"I'm catching the bus, not that it's any of your business" I say, I just want to leave now, I feel embarrassed for some reason, my traitor cheeks are burning a bright red.

"Hmm no you're not" he reaches out for my hand and grips it tightly in his as he leads me out of the gym.

"What, no, let go, if I miss the bus, the next one is scheduled very late" I whimper as he drags me away from the bus stop, continuously trying to pry my hand free of his strong grip.

"Good thing you won't be needing to catch the bus then" he shoots me a look as he drags me along.

It is threatening enough to stop me flailing around and silently follow him.

He walks me to his car, opening the passenger door for me.

I hesitate, and linger outside the car.

I hear a grunt of annoyance beside me, I look over to see Rahul rubbing his temple again.

"Get in before I pick you up and buckle you in" he sneers.

"Yeah, as if" I retort back, but as I look at him warily, he doesn't look like he's joking.

He quirks up an eyebrow, moving closer to me.

"Okay, okay" I mumble as I shuffle into the passenger seat.