Coward

Chapter Nine

When we pull into Dan's driveway it's now dark outside, the clock reading something around nine at night. I carry in the bags of food while Dan (not trusting me to carry in the drinks) brings in the drinks and sundaes. To say that I'm happy with the amount of caramel sauce on my ice cream is an understatement. There's so much it seems that the ice cream has taken to being the main feature.

The television blares in the background, the boys banter and I do my best to keep my mind off the conversation me and Dan had in the car. Why does he want to sleep with me for anyway? He could have almost any other girl he wanted. It wasn't like I was playing hard to get, in fact to the male population I'm probably considered easy.

I frown at my thoughts, I really do have a problem but this is only because of another issue that has possessed my life.

"Belle?" A hand waves in front of my eyes and I blink as I'm brought back to earth.

"Yeah?"

Liam sighs, "here, Mason wants to speak to you." He holds out his cellphone to me, I put my food on the wooden coffee table and stand up.

As I walk into the hallway I hold the phone up to my ear, "hello?"

There was a relieved sigh from the other side of the line. "Why did you walk out on us today?" The voice says angrily into the phone.

"I didn't walk out, I said goodbye to your mum and all." I defend.

"Well now she's furious with us all for letting you leave, I thought you just went back to my room but when I checked you'd gone. How'd you get to Dan's anyway?"

"Conner gave me a ride."

"Dan's cousin?" He asks his voice cold.

"Yeah, don't you like him?"

"No it's not that, he's a good guy. He's just a player, watch out for him." Mason warns.

I laugh, "aren't we all players."

I can hear the frown in his voice as he responds, "look I'm sorry about what Jack said before..." He trails off.

"No it's fine I just left because I didn't want to deal with those thoughts at the moment."

"You're running away from your problems," it's not a question.

"So what if I am, anyway," I change the subject. "Can you put Max on the phone please?"

"Why?"

"I have a bone to pick with him," I say frowning.

"Oh, is it about-" I cut him off.

"I'm not discussing this with you it's between me and Max," I say defiantly.

Mason sighs in defeat and I hear his distant voice call out Max's name.

"Hello?" Max asks.

"Hey."

"Are you okay, I swear I'm going to kill Jack for saying those things about you," Max promises.

I laugh, "no that's fine."

He laughs then his voice turns serious, "so I heard you're at Dan's."

"So what if I am?" I ask, remebering why I wanted to talk to him in the first place.

"What's that meant to mean?"

"You put dips on me."

There's silence as he doesn't respond, I sigh irritably and hang up. I walk back into the lounge and sit angerly down onto the couch and lightly throw Liam's phone back to him. I cross my arms and look at my delicious sundae with longing. I can never bring myself to eat anything when I'm angry, sad or dissapointed, just the thought makes me want to throw up.