Buried

Chapter 6

Ethan POV

Jessica pressed her hands into my chest again, pushing me away. I held her tighter, but she started to pound her fists into my chest. It didn't hurt, but I backed away anyway.

"Get. Off. Me." Her voice started firm, then broke at the word 'me'. I held my hands up all innocent like, and then I noticed something.

Jessica had backed up so far that she was pressed against the car door, and she crying. She raised her hand to swipe her cheeks, but I caught her wrist and did it for her. "What's the matter?"

She laughed--although she didn't look amused at all-- and shook her head, like it was obvious. "Just take me home." When I only stared at her, she half whispered,"Please?"

So I scooted back into my own seat and put the car in drive. As I pulled back out into the main street, I rested my hand on Jessica's knee. She flinched, but I didn't move it.

As we drove, I started to feel guilty. It wasn't my place to try to force her into something like that. I rubbed her knee, trying to comfort her, realized that she might find that slightly inappropriate, and interlaced my fingers with hers instead. She whispered directions to her house quietly, like she was to afraid to even speak aloud, and this time I followed them.

When we pulled into her driveway, I tugged on her hand to make her stay in my truck. She looked at me, her caramel eyes showing slight fear, but mostly exhaustion, like she was just tired of dealing with me.

"I'm sorry if I scared you earlier." I whispered, stroking the back of her hand with my thumb. She only shrugged, staring at our joined hands, never at my face. "I was hoping I could maybe make it up to you. Like on a date."

At that, she jerked her head up. I smiled a little. "Don't worry, I promise I'll behave." There was a long pause, and I mean a long one, the radio playing at near mute and the crickets chirping and Jessica's sniffles the only sounds.

Finally she shrugged again, and said, "I guess."

I kissed her cheek lightly and she climbed out the truck, holding her arms as if cold as she walked to her door.