Loose Ends - Book One

Ana - Stunning

"Let's go in."

            Levi and I sit in my parked car, looking across the street at the yellow caution tape. The "do not cross" bold letters have never been clearer to me. We have to see what's on the other side, no?

            "I'm sorry, am I misreading the tape?" Levi's sarcasm flows out like a river.

            Two years ago, I wouldn't even have thought to do this. I'd call you absurd if you told me that mischief becomes one of my main traits. "There's probably a wheel that doesn't turn and a tube slide that shocks the shit out of you. You don't wanna know?" I match his energy and I see him fighting a smile.

            "That slide either smells like weed or sex – hence the caution tape."

            "Let's go and sit in it, then I shall apply this Neosporin to your boo-boos." I take out the small tube that I'd purchased from the gas station. After I put that pervert to sleep, Levi and I threw him back in his car so no one would stumble over him. We ended up just driving around until we found this abandoned park.

            We sit at the top of a big, red slide, across from each other, while I attentively squeeze first aid onto a cotton swab.

            "So, do you look for trouble, or does trouble find you?" I hover the cotton swab over his lip.

            "Yes."

            I shake my head and slowly start dabbing. "What happened?"

            He stays silent for a few seconds before he says, "If I tell you, then you have to answer my question, too."

            "Okay."

            He exhales through his nose, trying to stay still. "These guys tried to jump me at a junkyard."

            I throw the swab to the side. "What were you doing in a junkyard?"

            "Getting your headlight."

            My heart sinks. "You got jumped trying to get my headlight?!"

            "Don't worry." He raises then lowers his hand at me to relax. "I handled it."

            "You got hurt and it was because of me, again?" I smack my own forehead so hard the sound almost echoes. 

            "Hey." My wrist is suddenly being pulled from my face with gentle, but assertive force. His hands are somehow warm in the midst of autumn's changing winds. He looks at me with those beautiful, forest green eyes. "I handled it."

            There's a hint of darkness and even madness in his eyes. I believe him. I don't know what the hell he did, but I don't doubt him. I hold his gaze, seeing if he would break our eye contact like he did back at the gas station. That moment was all I could really think about, lately. "I have a question."

            "Yes?"

            "Yesterday, at the gas station..."

            "Yes?" He repeats, still giving me his full attention. We're sitting only a couple of inches apart from each other. Looking in his eyes makes me almost painfully aware of how physically close we are.

            I have to look down at the ground between our feet so I can stop sweating and ask this damn question. "I need to know why you were staring at me."

             Once I get it out, I look back up at him, and his eyes are still locked on me. I can't pinpoint how his piercing stare makes me feel, except nervous. But it's not uncomfortable, he just somehow has me watching everything I say and do.