Coward

Chapter Eight

I thank Conner for the ride then I get out and in all my muddy glory and walk towards the door. Conner knocks, the force shaking the door. My fingers curl in my hair, something I do when I'm nervous. The door opens and I come face to face with ginger hair and freckles. He looks at me, a surprised expression on his face. "Um, hello Peter."

He shakes his head as if regaining his thoughts. "Yeah hi, what happened to your face and what's with the mud?"

"I don't know, went dirt biking and are you going to let us in?" I say shrugging.

"Us?" For the first time he looks behind me where Conner is standing. His eyebrows pull together and he opens his mouth to ask a question but I roll my eyes and push past him.

Dan's house is a classic suburban home situated in the more populated area of Pine Ridge. I walk through the entrance and into the lounge. I recognize a certain head of blond hair. "Hey Liam," I say walking into the kitchen in search of a drink.

Liam's head wips around and I can feel him staring at me. "Hey Belle, what are you doing here?"

I turn around with a glass of water in my hand. I see him wince as he takes in my appearance. "Oh, Conner gave me a ride."

"I didn't know you knew Conner?"

I smile, "I just met him in the last hour."

He nods, smirking. "Well I'm not going to ask any questions."

I laugh, "good cause I'm sick of those. Most of them I don't even know the answer to." I set the glass down on the counter and dissapear towards the bathroom in search of a towel. I don't want to ruin Mrs Mayfeild's sofa.

I round the corner into the bathroom and I walk into a hard chest. I jump back in fright and take a sharp intake of breath and place a hand dramatically over my heart. "You scared the shit outta me," I say looking up at a shirtless Dan, his black hair slightly damp and ruffled. I look up and meet his dark blue eyes. His nose is crockered, both eyes swollen and painted blended versions of purple and yellow. "You look munted," I squint my eyes at him. Then my eyes trace down his body to see the bruises lining his sides.

He doesn't look me in the eyes as he answers, "thanks."

I'm not concerned about his injuries but there's something deeper going on here. "Something's wrong, you don't have to tell me but I'm here anyway." I smile weakly at him.

This time he looks into my eyes, the hurt in them taking my breath away. "You really don't remember do you?"

"Remember what?"

"Oh," he says. "You must've been more drunk then I remember," he says smiling. "That must've been why."

"Why what?" I ask narrowing my eyes.

"It's not important right now," he looks me up and down, frowning. "Why are you all muddy?"

"It's not important right now," I say smirking.

He just shrugs, "okay fine. Come on I'll get you some clothes." He leads the way to his room and I collapse onto his bed. "You're gonna get mud everywhere," he says.

I smirk, "your room's messy anyway." It really was, there were clothes strewn over the floor and the bed wasn't made, the curtains still drawn.

He laughs, "Yeah, I suppose it is. Here you can use these," he says throwing an oversized t-shirt at me. "Sorry I don't have any pants that would even come close to fitting you."

I laugh, "you just want to see me with no pants on."

He smirks, "maybe."

I lightly hit him on the shoulder as I walked out of his room and call over my shoulder, "I'm having a shower."