When Trouble Meets Trouble

[ C h a p t e r - S e v e n ]

Chapter 7

I slowly peeked out from behind the tree. I was hiding in my front yard, avoiding Jeremiah’s rage. It was 9:26 PM and I’m waiting for him to bring out the trash. When he does that, I’ll dart inside and all will be well. Well, that’s if I make it to my room.

Jeremiah exited the house, whistling cheerfully. He glanced around for my car; which I sneakily parked a block away, which is out of sight from here. When he reached the trashcan, I dived out from behind the bush and raced inside. I heard my brother’s footsteps behind me but I continued running.

When I reached the third flight of stairs, I was already tired. Sneak attacks take a lot out of you. The only thing I want to be attacking is my bed. “Come back here, Savannah!”

I whimpered as I slipped out of his grip and raced into my room, slamming my back against the door. I heard the blood pounding in my ears and my heavy breathing was the only other thing making noise in the room. I quickly locked the door before sliding my back down the wooden barrier.

I know one person scarier than Jeffrey Shaw when he’s angry.

Jeremiah Harp.

***
I sat down at the lunch table, a fresh layer of snow coating the floor lightly. I ignored it and continued opening my juice. I heard the familiar squeaking of the bench beneath someone, and that someone is Jonah.

“Hey," his cheerful voice annoyed me even more. I barely got out of the house today because of him.

My brother is still harassing me about how he thinks I have a crush on this idiot. I had to stay in my room all of Sunday, which I don’t mind much but having to have my mother squeeze a plate through the door wasn’t so pleasant. Times like these, I’m glad I have a connected bathroom.

 “What?” my usual snappy retort had been long gone, now I was just being vicious.

I glanced up at him. His nose is red and his hair is blowing with the heavy winds. Snowflakes dropped onto his hair before slowly melting away. His cheeks are grazed with a light pink due to the cold. His light pink lips were pursed and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. He’s so hot. I clenched my teeth.

Idiot, idiot, idiot. And I don't know if I'm talking about him or me. 

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked as he unwrapped his burrito. I rolled my lips into my mouth and tore my gaze from him.

“Yes,” I hissed, glaring at the table.

“What did I do this time?” he asked. I felt his eyes fix on me but I ignored them as I moved my burger around on my plate. I lost my appetite, which I spent all day building up. My stomach had formed some other filler the moment I looked at Jonah and I wasn’t too happy about it.

“Well, firstly, you’re still hanging around me and it’s the third week of school for you. Secondly, you talk to my brother. And thirdly, he thinks I like you,” I tightened my grip on the ketchup packet in my hand. It threatened to pop so I loosened my grip on it, but still kept it nestled in my hand.

Jonah was silent. “Isn’t it obvious that you don’t like me?” he asked.

“Yes, but he thinks I like you," I let out an annoyed sigh.

“Liking as in a crush?” Jonah sounded amused. The idiot sounded amused. Of all things, amusement was not the right thing in this situation. My head snapped up; another wrong thing to do in this situation.

Jonah’s lips were pulled back into an open mouthed smile, revealing his white teeth. How many times does he brush them? He had a bottle of Sprite in his right hand. His left hand was under his chin. His playful eyes locked with my narrowed, angry ones; he quirked an eyebrow before running his tongue across his lips.