The Only Exception

Eighteen

~Lainey~

I stepped out of the building, standing in the door way and staring at the rain hammering down on the street. I'd left in such a haze this morning I didn't bother to check the weather report and now I was going to get completely soaked. Thank god I put jeans on today I guess? I sigh, check that my bag is zipped up so nothing is going to be damaged and set off on the 20 minute walk home. 

I could catch a cab but honestly, I'm not even that bothered by the rain and I don't particularly want to go home yet but if I'm home and I let him see me eating something then he might just let me sit in my room alone. I've managed to dodge everyone all day. Hand my finished paper in, bunker down in one of the music studios out of the way and it had been so quiet I'd been able to shut my brain off completely. It hadn't helped really. When I left I still had problems coming out of my ears. I still had to go home to Spencer and there was still this huge chaotic mess I didn't have a clue what to do anything with but those few hours had given me some kind of break from everything. 

"Lainey?" I turned my head to the blacked out Merc driving at my walking pace, slightly pulled over. The window pulled down and a familiar face looking like he was about to burst into laughter at me. "You're aware it's pissing it down right?" 

"It is? Damn. Must have missed it." I forced a smile on my face. 

"Jump in." 

"I'm good. I'll be home in a few." 

"I can't let you walk home in this Lainey. Just get in. Save those pretty little legs the effort." Lightening cracked across the sky and the storm got a hell of a lot heavier. I don't really have a choice do I? Walking home in this is crazy and I'd still have 15 minutes worth of a walk too. Spence would be less pissed off about me getting a lift home with someone on the security team than if I walked home in this or if I got a cab. I sighed, stepping forward and opening the front seat, sliding in quickly. "Where's the bodyguard you've got following you around at the moment?" 

"At home. Protecting all of dad's prized possessions from this gang breaking in." I rolled my eyes, shifting slightly in the heated seat.

"But not you?" He pulls out slightly, turning the music down and I quickly text Chels that Andrew found me walking home in the rain and yes, his car is as fucking him as we'd talked about but no, he wasn't wearing his tie so unfortunately he wouldn't be tying me up with it tonight. She read it instantly, responding with a laughing face before telling me to reel him in finally. 

"No. Apparently not." I lifted my head up to look at him. 

"Who you texting?" 

"Oh. Just my friend. The girl with the black hair." 

"Ah." He nods, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "You've not asked for my number." 

"I have not." 

"Let me put it in your phone." He stops at a red light, holding his hand out. "Incase you ever get caught in a storm again or, I dunno, need protecting from the gang."  He smirks. If Chelsea knew I was passing up on this right now she might actually kill me and you know what? He's right. Where is Spencer right now? It's pissing it down and he hasn't even text to ask if I need him to come get me from school. He can't actually care that much. Maybe he's come to his senses and last night was just a fling he's regretting now too.  

I hand my phone to Andrew and watch as he winds his window down and tosses it out. The cheeky smirk on his face turning evil and my heart pounds in my chest. 

"Sit back." He demands. "Keep your mouth shut and don't even try getting out of this. The easier you make it, the less likely you'll end up getting hurt. Understand?" I sit back in the seat, eyes fixed dead on the road as he puts his foot on the gas, ignoring every red light as he speeds to get to wherever it is. 

I hope now more than ever that Spencer is tracking my phone and sees something isn't right. I hope he calls Chelsea and she says I got a lift home with Andrew and then stopped replying and that he can put one and one together quick enough. 

I've had Andrew sitting in the lobby of my dad's building for a year. I've trusted him with everything. My dad trusted him to head the security team. I've stood in elevators and thought about the things I would let this man do to me and now he's here acting like the villain in a film and I am doing my best to keep myself together. They say in these situations the worst thing you can do is piss the kidnapper off but I need answers. 

"What's your plan here Andrew?" I force my voice out unstrained. No emotions. Keep it cold. Keep yourself together. 

"I said mouth-" 

"I know exactly what you said. Give me the answers and I will. I'm not stupid. I know how this goes. You need me to do as I'm told and I will. I just wanna know what the plan is."  His nose twitches. "I can go quietly and make the job easier or I can make this difficult for you. Your choice." 

He let his left hand off the wheel, grabbing a gun out of the pocket of the door. He swapped hands, pushing it into my forehead. 

"Trust me Lainey. You're going to make it easy for me. I have no fucking problem hurting daddy's little girl to get what we want out of this. If you know what's good for you, when we get out of this car you're going to walk into the building and you're going to do as your told. Got it?" 

"How much are you going to get for this?" He pushes the gun a little harder. "Oh come on Andrew, I know my dad a hell of a lot better than you do. I also know how far he'd go to get me home. I'll be able to make sure you get the most possible out of this." 

"Are you seriously trying to help your kidnapper whilst he has a gun to your head?" 

"Let's just say he missed one too many birthdays."