Cupid's Soldier

Chapter 22

"Austen, you know you're not allowed to do that shit in my house." His dad says, intimidating blue eyes pointing in my direction and thick black eyebrows raised. "And didn't you say that you and Austen were just friends, little lady?"

My cheeks flame in response to my embarrassment. He probably thinks that I'm some kind of stalker or that I'm one of Austen's flings. I'm not sure which one is the most embarrassing.

"U-um, yeah we're just friends I think... you'll have to ask him. I don't want to be here when he tells you. I've had enough drama for today." I stutter over my words like an idiot. Austen's dad probably thinks the worst of me, I made a terrible first impression. But I don't care, today was ridiculous. When I wasn't running away from my dad, I was spouting my life story to the guy I think I'm in love with. And when I wasn't spouting my life story, I was being told that Austen's in love with me. It's been an eventful and terrifying day. For a split second, I let myself believe that I love him. But I don't know what I feel towards Austen, I know I care about him. I know that I feel safe with him and I know that I want him. I know that I've never felt this way about someone in my entire life. I'm confused.

"Where did Corbin go?" Austen asks, looking around the living room for his friend.

"He just went to get something to eat from the kitchen." Austen's brother scoffs. "Do they not feed you guys at school or something? Does he not have food at home? He's been in and out of the kitchen since you left, about an hour ago."

Austen gaze shoots daggers at his brother. Corbin is someone that Austen will defend no matter what. I wish I had a friendship like that.

"Kale, shut up. His life at home isn't any of your business, and school lunch costs money."

Austen stomps into the kitchen, leaving me alone with these three strange men, who are staring at me.

"Are you his girlfriend, stalker, or fling?" Kale, I think that's his name, questions me. The blunt expression on his face makes me blush.

"I'm none of those things. At the moment, we're just friends." But the silent hope that we could grow into more than that, isn't buried or gone.

Kale raises a fluffy thick eyebrow at me in disbelief, and scoffs.

"Then why are you even here? And why were you two making out in the hallway and looking at each other like food?"

"I don't have an answer for that, sorry."

His dad smirks and stands up, he's tall, he's definitely passed six feet. He starts moving towards me with a small smile on his face. He looks at me and his eyes dance in realization.

"Kale, look at her, he's more like me than we thought." He crosses his arms and looks down at me with a pleased smile. Nodding his head at me, like I'm some type of inanimate portrait. I glare at him, but he doesn't seem to notice. "You're really smart, right? You get all A's on your report card every semester. You're nervous, probably scared out of your little mind, but you know you shouldn't be because you've been through worse. Much worse. I bet you're sassy and sarcastic too, he's got his old man's-"

"I. Am. A. Human. Being!" I say, raising my voice a little, all of his correct assumptions grating at my nerves. "I'm not a lab right! You can't just assume things about me and then talk about me like I'm not standing here, right in front of you." I scoff, muttering to myself. "I can see where he gets his manners from too."

My face is flushed in anger, as I snap at him, but he isn't fazed by me at all. He seems to be even more amused than he was before. A small smirk is hanging off his face, and I gulp.

I just yelled at Austen's father, my eyes grow large as I realize what I've done.

"I'm so sorry." My voice starts shaking as I realize how rude I was. "I really shouldn't have yelled at you."

"Did you hear that, Kale? This girl's a keeper! She'll fit right in with the family. I'll bet you three thousand dollars that he's gonna end up marrying her!" He laughs, and smiles at me.

"It's okay, sweetheart. I didn't mind at all, if anyone was in the wrong it was me."

"I bet you he'll screw up, at least twice, before they get married." Kale adds, laughing along with his dad.

"I'm still here," I say motioning towards me. All three of them look towards me and smile.

"My name isn't blondie, by the way, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me that. Call me Jenson."

I smile awkwardly, waving at him.

"My name's Seline. Austen does have a lot to talk to you guys about though, just don't give him a hard time please. I know I'm not family and you barely know me, but this is important. He's told me that he's not that great at talking to family, and tonight he needs to say some things. Let him talk."

When Austen comes back with Corbin, I smile. Walking over to him, I kiss his cheek.

"Bye." I whisper in his ear, and he shivers. I smile and let my lips linger against his cheek for a couple of seconds, his heat enveloping me in warmth and comfort. He smiles at me, and I smile back, waving my hand at the rest of his family, I walk away from him.

Running out of the door, I close the door softly as I walk into the chili night air. Once I reach a park, I sit down on a bench and take my phone out of my pocket. Dialing a taxi service number, I hear footsteps behind me. When I turn around to see who's behind me, I gasp. The hair on the back of my neck rises as I see someone tall heading towards me.

I run, fast, away from the park bench. I stumble when I try to put my phone in my pocket, and I sprint harder. A hand circles around my waist, trying to lift me off the ground. I scream, my voice so loud and sharp, the rough grip on my waist tightens.

I kick and kick as I continue to struggle and try to wiggle away. My screams are loud enough to wake up the neighbors, but no one comes. The person tries to cover my mouth, but I bite their hand until a rush of bitter copper liquid burns my throat. Blood.

I scream louder and louder, until the person who is holding onto me punches me hard. I sob as the crack of his fist bruises my back.

"Help! Somebody! Help me!" I shout louder. The man holds my arms back, my back is in so much pain, I feel like I can't move. My legs don't kick anymore.

"Shut the fuck up!" A voice I recognize as my uncle's, shouts. He covers my mouth to muffle my screams, and I kick and flail. He doesn't let me go.

He grabs me and lifts me over his shoulders, I pound my fists on his back, and he grunts. I know that I'm in a lot of trouble when he throws me in the backseat of his car. Tears fall down my face, as he bends down and covers my eyes and mouth with some sort of cloth.

"Now, you're going to be quiet and listen to me. Whether you would like to believe it or not, this is for your own damn good."