All I never wanted

Part 6

I was taken by surprise when he came back in just a few minutes. I expected him to be gone for at least a few hours but there he was, hands in his pocket and an indefinable expression on his face.

I felt uncomfortable. Less than a minute ago I was thinking about him and now that he was here, I wasn't able to come to a conclusion. It felt like he intruded into my mind. Like he could read my face as an open book - and that was scary. Especially when I had no idea what he was thinking about.

I studied his appearance. I didn't care if it was rude or inappropriate; if he knew what was going on in my head, I could at least try to figure him out. I doubted I'd succeed, though. He had so many opposite features.

He was lean but I could see through his shirt that he was muscular. His dreadlocks looked pretty horrible and untidy but he was wearing a clean shirt. It was so strange. He couldn't exactly be a drug addict but I had absolutely no idea how to picture his life.

I still felt like there was something weird about his eyes and that was probably the thing that bothered me the most. They seemed so unnatural.

Then it hit me. "Are you wearing contacts?"

He blinked twice, cleary surprised. "What?"

"Nothing," I murmured, regretting my words.

It was incredible how quickly his expression changed to amused. It was like he enjoyed torturing me. If that's the only way he tortures you - let him. I should be thankful. O dear, I didn't just think that, did I?

I lowered my head down so that I didn't have to look at him. The fact that he didn't get angry gave me a little more courage, but I decided not to put my luck on a test. Or better, the rest of it. It had already failed me big time.

"As a matter of fact, I am -"

I looked up.

"-wearing contacts. To disguise my eye color." He shrugged his shoulders. "There's no point in denying it."

He sat down so that he was looking directly at me, his piercing eyes boring into mine. I could never look so menacing even if I tried and he wasn't trying. That was just his regular look. I gulped nervously.

There was a long pause. "What's your name?"

I hesitated. "Why do you want to know it?"

"I just do." He sounded like a stubborn, yet dangerous little boy. I hesitated again. He raised his eyebrows, expecting me to answer.

"What's yours?"

Only a very brave or really stupid person would talk like that to the person who had complete power over him.

He just snorted. "Is this some kind of game? Like if you're not telling yours, I'm not telling mine?"

I stared at him in disbelief because in that moment he didn't sound like a criminal at all. He wasn't pleasant but he seemed so different from the cruel guy who robbed the Rossetti's that I was wondering how the hell that was possible. Is he bipolar or something?

The situation was so absurd that I had to force myself not to burst into laughter.

"Fine, I'll just look at your I.D."

He waved at me with my wallet in his hand. "I've found it in here."

I got serious immediately.

"Hey ... How ..."

"When did you take it out of my bag?" I breathed. I really didn't like the idea of him rummaging through my personal stuff. I understood why he disabled my mobile phone - I didn't approve of it, of course - but he couldn't have a good reason for invading my privacy. He was only doing it because he could.

"Give it back!"

Saying that was pointless. I wasn't even expecting him to comply with my demand.

I wanted him to stop but he was acting like the biggest and strongest kid in class and I was a powerless victim of his self-will.

"Nope," he said, grinning.

He checked my I.D. "Nice to officially meet you, Leah."

"Go to hell!"

"Not today."

We stared at each other. I was furious, while he had sparkles in his eyes and looked like he was having fun.

What the hell is going on? First of all, I had just talked back to my kidnapper. And second, it didn't enrage him. I wasn't sure which one was more astonishing.

Something must be really wrong with him. Or me.