Trapezoid (The Base)

Chapter 9

Ducking under the last beam, Levi lunged himself forward and grabbed Teacher's shoulders, half dragging her with him out of the bullet spray. He rammed his shoulder against the nearby door, breaking it down. Hardly past the doorframe, he swung her around and pinned her against the wall. What had she been doing? Trying to get herself killed? His heart rate had not slowed from the time he'd seen her form huddled just a few inches from a bullet hole. "What the heck were you doing!?" he demanded gruffly through gritted teeth.

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What was the cause of his sudden anger? His fingers bit through Chris' skin. Through the dim light caused by the light that escaped the shuttered windows, she could see his deep blue eyes on fire. A strong fear of him coursed through her entire body. He shook her.

"I was waiting for you" was the only thing she managed to say.

He angrily dug his fingers into his hair. He spun around slowly as if in wonder, a string of curses flying out. As long as his back was to her, Chris felt okay. He spun around. Her heart leapt into her throat. He drew so near, his nose was inches from hers. "Tell me," he hissed, arm right above her against the wall, "what makes you think I need you to wait for me?"

Chris couldn't bring herself to say anything.

"I've walked into this house twice—and walked out without a scratch." He saw he'd gotten her attention. "You know why? 'Cause the guy's I was with had enough sense to move on rather than cower under a bullet shower."

What makes you think you're such a big shot?" Chris immediately regretted her words. He was so near, she could feel him breathing!

He snapped, "Because I've finally met someone stupid!"

How dare he! She was on fire now. "I teach physics class."

He stepped back and asked incredulously, "You think I care?" He threw his arms into the air. "Well, giver of knowledge, show us a way out of here!"

Chris looked him over from top to bottom. He was incredibly buff—tall, muscular—but she could fight, too. He was intimidating—but she wasn't going to let him scare her anymore. She was going to have to prove herself just like at Garrison High—and prove he was just a bag of hot air. "Sure thing." She cast him a defiant glare before stepping over the felled wooden door.

He grabbed hold of her arm, tugging her back. Chris wished she could wipe that smirk of his face. "Leave it to the pros, baby." He let her go, stepping past her.

She caught hold of his strong arm. "You are not doing that to me."

Levi could see the fire in her green eyes. She had some nerve—something he wasn't in the mood for. He needed to find a way out of here. The house was more complex than the last time. He didn't want to risk failing because of this chic. But his problem? She was severely headstrong—and he didn't want her to get hurt. There must be a way around that. "Okay, listen. If I don't rap on this window after say about fifteen minutes, you get to figure your own way out."

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Chris knew he was trying to get rid of her. He was going to find his way out and go on his way, leaving her here. But who cared? She was supposed to have done this on her own from the beginning. And alone she would—after fifteen minutes. If she had survived lasers and shots fired at her head, what couldn't she survive?