Cowboys and Angels

Chapter 20

(Friday)

Once again, I was at my locker, struggling to open it. Damn lock!

"Well howdy there." I turned my head slightly to the snarky voice, then backed away immediately. Brittany smirked, "What? Scared I have another coffee with me?"

I cleared my throat. But before I could say anything, she spoke up. "Well, I have news for you." Don't listen to her, Emerson, my mind warned me. I saw a small girl walk up beside her.

"Hey Britt-" It was Alaina. "Oh... Emerson. Hi. Um..."

Alaina couldn't go on any further, because Brittany cut her off, "Shut up, Alaina. Okay listen, Emerson. I know you've been fooling around with many guys lately. You need stay away from Austin. He is CLEARLY taken. Got it, sweetheart? Oh! And one more thing. If you ever say another word to Trevor or Austin, I will come after you. And I will hurt you." I took a deep breath. As she walked past me, she growled in my face. I glared at Alaina, but she just grinned evilly at me. What was going on? I was beyond confused at this point.

For the rest of the day, Alaina was literally following me everywhere. She was just "acting" the day before? What the hell? I honestly thought she was the sweetest person. She just fooled me. A girl that pretty can't be that nice.

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When I got off the bus at home, I noticed Austin in my driveway. No, go away.

The first thing he said was, "We need to talk." The nerves in my body started going crazy. I knew this was wrong, but Brittany and Alaina were nowhere around. So I thought I was safe, but I guessed wrong. Alaina was in front seat of his car. Shit.

Before he could say anything more, I blurted, "I can't- We can't- I have to go." And I ran inside but I was jerked backwards.

"Wait, wait! Please, just for like two minutes. Two seconds!" I glanced into the truck. Alaina was staring, but she held an angry glare towards me. She waved her phone around, making sure I saw it. I panicked.

I wasn't scared of Alaina. I was scared of Brittany. She burned my skin with hot coffee. I always hated her. But she went too far. I swiped my hand from Austin's.

"Trust me. It's for the good of both of us. Austin, please." And with that, I ran inside. I didn't know what Alaina or Brittany were capable of. They were probably just as bad as the boys...since they did talk to them.

I bolted through the door to get away from him and her. But I had no clue, Austin ran after me. So when I slammed the door behind me, I heard a loud bang on the door, realizing Austin stopped the door with his hand just in time.

"Tell me what's wrong!" He roared. I was slightly frightened.

I turned around to face him. "I can't be near you. Alaina... I just. GO!"

"No, no. It's okay," he reassured me.

"IT'S NOT!" I screamed. He was taken back at my yell.

He came up to me really close. I could feel his breath on my face. He grabbed my hand and pulled it up to his lips and kissed the back of it. Tears formed in my eyes; I shouldn't be doing this.

"Emerson, this took a lot of thought." Oh my god. "I just want to be with you already."

"Don't say that," I whispered. I had every right to think I was actually going to die because of this. Brittany made it seem that way. And every time she'd come up to me, I had more reasons to be afraid of her and hate her. And now it's Alaina. How deceiving she was.