Scandal & Scholarship

Chapter 17 (Ambrosia's POV)

All the other volunteers have already left on the first chopper, including Lily. She tried to stay with me, insisting she could help, but permission was denied. Now, it's just me and Alex Hawthorne. I sigh, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my chest. Of all people, it had to be him.

Alex walks ahead of me with a confident stride, leading me toward the second chopper. He climbs up easily, turning back with an unexpected gesture—he offers me his hand. I pause, my brow furrowing. Why is he suddenly acting so... chivalrous? I ignore the outstretched hand, climbing up on my own.

Once inside, the cramped space only adds to my anxiety. The rest of the chopper is filled with supplies, leaving just two empty seats beside each other. Great. With no other option, I settle into one of them, and Alex drops into the seat next to me, a smug smirk playing on his lips as if he enjoys the discomfort simmering in the air.

We buckle our seatbelts, the metal click echoing in the confined cabin. As the chopper lifts off, I instinctively shut my eyes tight, trying to suppress the growing anxiety that gnaws at me. The thought of being held in the air, trapped in this metal box with him, makes my heart pound.

"You alright?" Alex's voice cuts through the noise of the rotors, his tone dripping with amusement. It almost sounds mocking.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But that doesn't seem like what you want, right?" I reply without opening my eyes. My voice is sharp, trying to mask the unease crawling up my spine.

He chuckles softly but says nothing more. The flight doesn't take long, though it feels like an eternity. As we approach the site, I finally open my eyes, relieved to be closer to solid ground.

"I'll help get the supplies down first. Wait here," Alex says as the chopper hovers just above the ground, and then he helps get the supplies out with ease. I watch as he secures a rope, tying it around the bulky crates and lowering them down with practiced efficiency. His muscles flex and strain under his shirt, catching my attention despite myself.

As if sensing my gaze, Alex glances up at me, smirking, before continuing his work. My cheeks warm, and I quickly look away, berating myself for even noticing.

Once the supplies are down, he straightens and calls up to me, "Come on. I'll tie you up to go down next."

"I can't," I blurt, my voice shaky. The very idea of being lowered down by a rope terrifies me. My hands are already clammy just thinking about it.

"You don't know how to tie it. You go first," he insists, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"I said, I can't!" The words are louder this time, the panic creeping into my throat.

He exhales in frustration and, before I can react, he grabs the rope and starts securing it around my waist, his fingers moving with practiced precision. My pulse quickens, both from the fear of the descent and from his proximity. He's too close, the heat of his body brushing against mine, making my skin tingle in ways I don't want to acknowledge.

"I can't do this," I whisper, the panic edging closer to the surface.

"What do you mean, you can't?" he snaps, clearly irritated now. "Don't be ridiculous, Ambrosia."

It's the first time he's ever said my name, but I barely register it. The rising fear is all I can focus on. "I told you, I can't!"

Without warning, Alex does something that takes my breath away. He quickly ties the rope not just around me but loops it around his own waist as well, linking us together with the hooks.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I begin to protest, but before I can finish, he cuts me off.

"Shut up," he mutters.

Suddenly, his arms are around me, pulling me against him. And then, without giving me a moment to brace myself, he jumps.

I scream as we plunge down through the air, my hands instinctively flying to grip onto him with all my strength. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel every muscle in his body tense as he holds us steady, his arms like iron around me. The wind rushes past us, and I can't do anything but cling to him, my fear overriding everything else.

When we finally hit the ground with a jolt, I'm still gripping him tightly, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts. Slowly, I realize we're safe. The world has stopped spinning.

Alex lets out a low chuckle, his breath warm against my ear. "See? I told you, you could do it."

I pull away from him, my hands still trembling as I untangle myself. My legs feel shaky, but I manage to stand. His smirk is back in place, as if he's proud of himself. "You're such an ass," I mutter, but the words feel hollow after what just happened.

Because for all the irritation, for all the tension between us, I know one thing for sure: he didn't let go.

And that terrifies me even more.