Susceptible

Chapter seven

I woke up in the morning to someone tapping on my forehead. I opened my eyes to find Alex face right above mine. My head snapped back.

"Alex what are you doing?" I mumbled out still sleepy.

"I was making sure you were alive. It's almost ten you never sleep this late." It was true I was an early riser and it was late for me to still be in bed.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes before sitting up. I looked at him. He smiling per usual and I wondered what he was always so happy about.

"I slept this late because I went to bed late." I defended myself.

"Why did you go to bed late then?" Alex pressed.

"Because you never freaking came home. I kept waiting for you to get back and make me my dinner. It's like you don't even know how to treat your hostages anymore."

He laughed softly the bell like noise filling my room.

"Sorry to leave you alone for one night, it got a little crazier than expected in town last night." He said but his tone made seem like whatever happened was no big deal.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it. Someone was just a little less than pleased to see me last night, especially after I had to deliver some bad news."

I raised my eyebrows in a question and Alex sighed.

"Your boy is fine. It was me you should of been worried about." He said playfully but still accusatory.

"I was." I replied defensively before thinking about what I was saying.

"You were?" Alex asked shock written on his face.

"Yes. I told you I was worried about who was going to fix my dinner already. " I said covering my screw up. I patted down my hair which was tangled from being asleep and stretched my arms over my head. "Any other reason you decided to wake me?"

Alex quickly regained his composure and stood up from where he was sitting on the corner of my bed.

"Yes actually. Today's my mom's birthday."

"Awe well happy birthday to your mom. I guess you're going to be out for the day?"

"Yeah I am. I'm going to visit her."

"Sounds like fun. Bring me a slice of cake back."

"I want you to come with me." Alex blurted out and I was taken aback.

"Oh okay umm." I didn't know how to reply.

"Look." Alex said, "She's just really worried about me living out in the city all on my own. It would be nice for her to see or at least think I had company or a friend."

"Okay..." I replied still hesitant, "And what makes you think I'm not just going to blurt out the whole situation to her? Beg her to call 911?"

Alex sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead.

"Adriana you'd really be doing me a favor. I'm all she has. My dad died almost ten years ago and my sister moved out five years ago and she hasn't heard a word from her since. The last thing she needs to hear is that her son is a villain who goes around kidnapping teenage girls."

"So maybe you shouldn't go around kidnapping teenage girls." I said still not seeing how he expected me not to want to try to escape.

"I have a life too Alex." I said starting to get mad, " It's my best friend, Courtney, it's her birthday soon too you know. Heck it might have even happened. I barely know what day of the week it is! I have a mom too that I love and would like to see. You can't just possibly expect me not to want to go back!"