Hypnotic || H.S

eleven

"Richmond hill." I say softly as I force myself to look away from his gaze.

I see in the corner of my eye him smiling. I place my duffle bag on my lap unzipping it to find my charger.

I pull my cord out as he starts the engine. "Mind if I charge my phone?" I ask him holding up the cord.

He backs up, placing one hand behind my headrest as he looks back. His lips in the shape of an "o" as he concentrates backing up. He shifts the gear in drive once he feels comfortable. "Sure." He says turning the steering wheel with one hand. His free hand grabs the cord from my hand and he connects it for me.

"Thanks." I mumble settling back in my seat putting my bag down by my feet.

"So why ballet?" He asks switching lanes. His driving is calm, smooth almost like floating.

"Why... am I interested?" I look at him trying to not smile but with a face like his, it's hard to not smile.

"Yeah.. most young women go for reading, or writing." He quickly steals a glance at me.

"That's one way of living life. Watching from the sidelines." I lock eyes with him.

"You like to live life?" He sounds amused. His eyes glow with fascination.

"Define live." I look away.

"Going out? With friends?"

I went out a lot with my family more, I hardly went out with my friends. "Once in awhile when I am not practicing. But I don't party hard if that's what you're trying to ask. Ballet requires you to be healthy as a horse."

He chuckles, and it's the rare kind. It wasn't an awkward chuckle the type you make to break the tension. It was the kind that genuinely found something cute in a funny way. He covers his mouth with a free hand as he leans one arm on the window. "You're funny." He holds the wheel like he is a pro. I am not sure if it's to impress me or he is trying to get us killed but I don't panic.

No guy has called me funny in a long time. I smile to myself watching all the city lights and the people walk around. My phone turns on and I have a miss call from Joseph and Daniel. I lean forward to grab it.

At least Daniel was nice enough to leave a voicemail. I press play bringing my phone close to my ear.

"Your brother called. He said you needed a ride. Call your mom." Then he hung up.

I roll my eyes deleting it. I decide to call Matthew. Harry took the back streets to avoid all the red lights. Matthew answered after the second ring. "Hello."

"Hey, is Joseph with you." I ask. The background is quiet, I assume he isn't at the party.

"Yeah. I picked him up from Benny's. He is really wasted. He had people sign his arm since he didn't have a cast." Matthew says chuckling.

I laugh, making Harry look at me. I bite my bottom lip trying to control my laughter. "Umm- listen make sure he doesn't leave your house-"

Matthew cuts me off mid sentence. "Where is he going to go Lexers?"

"Just don't let him drive home. Please." I whisper tried of trying to prove my point, that drinking and driving is stupid. I regret that night so much, I wish I never got in that car.

"I won't." Matthew says after a moment of silence. After the accident happened, Matthew stayed away for a couple of weeks, he knew I was angry at him and that my mom was upset by everything. Everyone told me I was lucky the car hit my side, the doctors said if the car was going any faster, I'd be paralyzed or dead but I never felt lucky.