In the Classroom

Chapter Thirty One: Kidnapped

I didn't hear the alarm ring the next morning. No, I was awoken by the sound of the door opening, and sudden pressure on my waist as I was lifted out of my bed. I groaned as Sam hoisted me up over his shoulder and carried me like a sack of flour through the hospital. I rubbed at my eyes, fighting past the dizziness only to wake and watch the tiled floor pass under me. Doctors and nurses didn't even give me a second glance back. I glared at their backs as I passed by them, imagining their ignorant heads blowing up into smoke.

Sweet, sweet bliss, I thought to myself euphorically, picturing the exact scenario. Yes, I wasn't dumb. I know Sam and Adam had sweet talked the hospital staff to let me leave their care early so that I could be taken to China. I didn't want to go. They had even told me they would respect this wish.

"You guys are dead, as soon as I regain strength in my right arm, I'm going to kick your asses back to America," I snapped at Sam.

"Good luck trying, darling," said Adam cheerfully. He simply shifted my weight onto his shoulder instead of his arm so that I would be more comfortable. I must admit, for my captor, it was bliss to be in his warm, strong, and gentle arms, even if he was kidnapping me for a vacation I didn't even want in the first place.

"So? When does our flight leave?" I asked him, giving up. There was no escaping Sam. Ever since I was a kid, he was stubborn. The only person who was more persistent than Sam was Adam, which didn't help my case very much.

"In about two hours. I thought it might be a hassle to get through security, so I tried to give us as much bumper time as possible. I mean, you didn't know about this, right?" asked Sam.

"I anticipated it. I've known you guys since forever. Do you honestly think I wouldn't notice that unmistakable glint in your eyes that you get when you two are planning something?" I responded back to him. Sam chuckled to himself.

"Well, I was hoping it would escape unnoticed. I really wanted to surprise you about the whole thing," said Sam happily.

"Oh? And why's that? I told you I didn't want to come," I told him angrily.

"Don't act like that, Joshua. Your brother told me everything. He told me to get you to come, no matter what, because you were simply concerned about the money," said Sam. I snorted. It was just like Adam to make up a lie to get what he wanted.

"Well, we've got time to spare, so you can let me down to walk," I told him. He smirked at me over his shoulder.

"Absolutely not. What if you escape from me?" he teased. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh yeah, because I'm going far on this broken leg of mine," I told him. I spied a man in a wheel chair a couple feet away, watching me go by with mild interest.

"Can I at least get a wheel chair? I would prefer sitting to being carried," I told him.

"Adam has one for you. It's in the car. I just thought carrying you would make things go by faster. You know, you're really light," stated Sam. I glared at him.

"At least someone was thinking clearly when you guys decided to abduct me," I told him sardonically. His grin widened at me.

"So? How did Adam convince the doctors to let me go on a trip? Dr. Hariyama told me I wasn't to leave the hospital for a few more days in case of relapse," I said to him.

"Well, don't forget, Adam is a doctor," Sam reminded me. I sighed. Doctors could easily pull strings with their coworker. It didn't hurt that Adam was a charming smooth talker.

"I don't have a change of clothes," I told Sam.

"Adam and I packed a suitcase for you," replied Sam easily.

"I don't have my phone either," I informed him.

"I grabbed it for you," he reassured me. He reached into his back pocket with his left hand and pulled out the phone and handed it to be from behind his back. I accepted it gratefully.

"Do you also happen to have my medication?" I asked him.

"Adam got it for you," he promised me. I sighed, snuggling into his touch.

"Then, I guess I just have to enjoy the ride," I told him. He chuckled.

"I guess I will too," he said gently, giving me a happy squeeze.

* * *

I stepped out of the airport bathroom, tugging at my leather jacket and skinny jeans. I glared at Adam who gave me the thumbs up in approval. I sneered at him.

"When I asked Sam if you guys had packed me a suitcase, I assumed that it was filled with my clothes!!" I snapped at him. He winked at me.

"These are your clothes for now," he told me. I bristled irritably at him.

"I'd like my old jeans and shirts, please!" I snarled at him. He sighed, putting a hand to his temple.

"Please, little brother. You dress like a hobbit! You don't have much sense of style. When I was going through the closet, the best clothes I found were your school uniform! Anna does a perfect job of cleaning them, but you don't do a very good job at matching them. Do you honestly think that I, a prestigious and respected doctor, would allow a family member of mine to dress in worse shape than the poor man downstairs of you?" he asked me with disgust. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"My sense of style is fine, thank you very much. And frankly, Tybalt downstairs is not so bad, once you get past the smell! Stop acting so high and mighty—you were in his positions not too long ago!" I spat at him.

“Whatever, Josh. Humor me this one time and just wear the clothes your loving brother picked out especially for you,” he said smoothly. I glared at him some more.

“If you were really my loving brother, you'd let me choose my own clothes from now on,” I snapped at him. “I'm not three!”

“Come on, Joshua. It can't be that bad. Just bear with it for one week,” pleaded Sam earnestly. I looked at him, and I saw his cheeks with an unmistakable redness. I raised an eyebrow at him. It's not that the clothes were the worst thing Adam could have bought for me. They were just tight and hard to move in. The skinny jeans clung to every aspect of my body, and the leather was so new that whenever I moved they made an annoying squeak when the fabric rubbed against itself.

“What do I get in return? I don't just do anything out of favor, brother,” I told him. Adam winked at me.

“I'll find some way to make it up to you,” he told me. I almost blushed, but I forced myself to act calm.

“Enough of your jokes. Where's the gate?” I asked them.

“Oh, it's over here,” he promised me, leading me over. I strode forward, putting my hands in my pockets. I felt my fingers brush over a cold piece of metal, and I froze, stopping in my tracks. I felt the smooth, unmistakable hilt of my favorite gun. I spared Adam a second glance.

Well...that was nice of him, I thought begrudgingly. Sam raised an eyebrow at me when he noticed I had stopped, but I shook my head at him, assured him I was fine, and started again. I watched Sam fall into step next to me.

“Do you like the clothes?” he asked me slowly. I nodded at him.

“Yeah, of course I do—I'm just not too thrilled with having a sudden closet make-over without my knowledge. I just...didn't think I would have to look the part of a doctor's brother. I thought I could just show up in a simple shirt and jeans,” I told him. Sam gave me a nervous glance.

“But you do...like the clothes, don't you?” he asked me. I finally got the hint.

“Of course I like the clothes. And I'm very happy that you picked them out for me,” I told him quickly. He smiled at me sheepishly.

“Was it too obvious?” he asked me.

“Extremely. There was no way you would be so concerned about my opinions if you hadn't done the redecorating yourself,” I told him, smirking. He chuckled at me.

“Well, nothing gets past you,” he told me. I nodded at him. Tugging the suitcase along behind him, Sam walked up ahead to chat with Adam. I smiled at Sam's backside.

Yes, I did like the clothes better.