Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 55. Listening

I had been staring out the window for a while now. The road stretched as far as the eye could see. Surprisingly, we're still surrounded by the forest, even though we're miles away from the town now. The scenery outside is just . . . menacingly relaxing. It seems scary, but I can't tear my eyes away from it. You could see far inside the forest until the trees eventually block your view and it's actually pretty dark.

I remember the time I woke up in the middle of the forest. If I think about it, I was considered lucky because I wasn't in the dense part of the forest. I still don't know who left me there－probably the 'proxies'－but I honestly think that they planned to leave me somewhere that is still close to the town.

My head came in contact with the glass, hurting me. I yelped and rubbed the sore spot before turning my eyes on Droney, who definitely will have something to say about it.

"Did you hit your head?" He asked. I called it.

"No." I snapped back.

He laughed, glancing at me through the rear-view mirror, "Do it again. I didn't see it happen."

I rolled my eyes and glanced at Byron . . . and he's asleep. Oh, my God. He had his elbow propped up on the window and he was leaning his head on his hand. I can't let this opportunity slip.

I stood up halfway so I can get my phone, my head hitting the roof of the car in the process. I had trouble getting my phone which is in my pocket, but managed. I switched to the camera and made sure the phone was on silent before I snapped a quick picture of him without Droney seeing me.

I started giggling quietly to myself, but since the only sound we can hear is the sound of the car's engine, Droney heard.

"What?" He asked, suspicious.

"Nothing . . . Heh." I hid my phone under my jacket.

"What are you doing?" Droney glanced behind us, not even bothering to slow the car down, "Oh, he's sleeping." He just realized. Well . . . it doesn't really make a difference whether Byron is awake or not.

"Yeah." I muttered, trying to end the conversation.

"Y'know, this is what he did last year too." Droney muttered with slight incredulity, "He just slept."

"You must have been so lonely." I dryly said, glancing at Byron's photo.

"He－what are you grinning at?"

I looked up and saw that he was staring at me through the rearview mirror, occasionally glancing at the road, "Nothing." I said.

"Let me see." He urged, the car slowly losing momentum.

"Why don't you mind your own business?" I snapped back, "And why are you slowing down?" I added.

Suddenly, he stepped on the brakes, causing me to lose my grip on my phone. It ended up flopping towards the front seats while I hastily gripped the headrest to prevent myself from ending up on the same place as my phone.

"What the hell?!" I screamed with wide eyes. That scared the fuck out of me, "That's dangerous!" Who the fuck gave this guy a license?

"Hey, chill. I already slowed down before I did it anyway." He nonchalantly shrugged, grabbing my phone. Before I could protest, he had already overturned it, seeing Byron's sleeping face.

I looked over at Byron and saw that he was still asleep amidst the minor commotion, though now, he is furrowing his brows in the middle of his nap.

"Uhh . . ." Droney caught my attention once more. "You . . . really are a weirdo." He nodded to himself, handing me my phone back, "But, it doesn't matter, I guess. I won't judge any further."