Saving Mattie (nh)

Chapter 9: Fight or Flight

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

I shook my head. "It's just that I already have all my toiletries and stuff there, so there'a no use buying more. And anyway, I could get some clothes, my wallet, and all that stuff too."

James shook his head. "But why?"

I grinned a little. "You can't buy be everything I need James. Plus, I like my old stuff. New is too weird."

And I needed to make sure my Mum was alright, but he didn't need to know that.

James shook his head, not even cracking a grin at my joke, which I personally found hilarious. "Mattie, I can buy it. Really, it's no problem at all."

I shook my head. "No James. I've agreed with you the whole day as to what I should buy, wether I should even go shopping, and even let you pay for this stuff! Don't you think I should have a say for once?" I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

***

"I can't believe I actually let you do this." James grumbled, sunk low in his seat. "I could've bought everything and saved us the trip."

I smiled, even though my heart was pounding and my stomach was in knots.

"Trust me, this is the best thing to do as of right now. I need some of my old stuff." I sighed, running a hand through my ponytail.

I knew this had to be done. I couldn't just drop my mother out of my life and replace her with some stranger I met on the bus.

"Yeah, right." he scoffed.

I rolled my eyes and ignored his comment. "Alright, so here's the plan."

James shifted his eyes over to me, waiting for me to lay out the game plan.

"I'll go in, and get my stuff while you sit here an wait. Alright, good plan, see you in a few minutes."

I popped open the door and already had one leg out when James pulled me back by my wrist.

"Woah woah woah. Woah." He said, holding me in place. "What kind if game plan is that?"

"A good one. See you soon." I tried to escape again, but his strong grip held me down.

"No way. I can't just sit here and wait. Why can't I go in?"

"Yeah, you can. Just plant your butt on that seat and hold it down."

"Why would I do that?"

"Someone's got to hold it down. It might grow legs and walk away."

"Mattie." James pouted, sticking out his lower lip. I smiled slightly at that. He looked quite adorable.

"James." I pouted right back, sticking out my lower lip as well.

James stopped pouting. His eyes fell upon my lip, which was a tad sore as the nearly healed scab stretched over the thin skin. He carefully raised a finger, and laid it on the scab. By now all joking air had left, making it death quiet.

His eyes studied the slowly-healing wound. I watched him, his green eyes flashing over the split skin.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he put pressure on it. I moved it slowly back into place so the pressure wouldn't hurt it.

As soon as it was back in place, no longer pouted, James finger flashed back to his side. "Sorry." he mumbled, cheeks flashing pink.

I smiled a little at the sight. "It's fine." I said, though I'm pretty sure my cheeks were pink also.

"I- I just don't want anything to happen to you. What if someone broke in?" James said, releasing my wrist. He opted instead for playing with his fingers in his lap. "I'm actually quite nervous. I don't want anything to happen to you. Somewhere during these past few days, I think you became more to me than the abused girl from the bus. Now, I think you're one of my best friends."