Fatal Attractions : The Masquerade

Chapter Four

I woke up to the sound of Ally running back and forth in the hallway. Each of her pounding steps vibrated just outside my bedroom.

"Are you kidding me?" I grumbled, wiping the sleep from my eyes. "What time is it?"

I turned to look at my clock and raised my eyebrows. It was half past eleven in the morning.

"Oh."

Yawning against the back of my hand, I tossed my legs over the edge of the bed and stretched, my back cracking in the process.

Alex and I had spent most of the night talking on the phone. Don't ask me how, but we went from hating each others guts, to star-crossed lovers. I could still hear his voice ringing in my ears, telling me good night and to sleep well.

Just as I rose to my feet, as if on cue, my cell phone began buzzing. I cleared my throat and yanked it off the bedside table.

"Hello?" I cleared my throat again to relieve the hoarseness.

"Good morning. I'm on my way," Alex's voice sang, and I pursed my lips, sighing.

"I just woke up. I'll get ready now," I mumbled, dragging myself over to my closet. I could hear his car radio in the background, along with him humming along to the music, the ticking of the turn signals every few seconds.

"You shouldn't be on the phone while driving," I said, slipping out of my pajama bottoms. He gave a low chuckle that sent shivers down my spine. I set the phone down on my desk and put it on speaker phone.

"You shouldn't be worrying about someone that can't get injured in a car accident," he said. I rolled my eyes, pulling on a pair of jeans.

"Something flies through the windshield and decapitates you, then what?" I asked. He went silent for a moment.

"Then I guess you'll be back on the market." I glared at my phone and crossed my arms over my bare chest.

"Don't give me that look," he said, and I grabbed a clean shirt off one of the hangers and pulled it over my head.

"I wasn't, I was looking at the phone," I said.

"Uh-huh. Pulling up to your house in five... four... three... two..."

Beep beeeeep.

I swiftly ran a brush through my hair and slipped on my jacket, zipping it just below my breasts. I then stepped over to the desk and grabbed the phone.

"Be out in a second," I rushed, hitting the end button. My fingers couldn't move fast enough as I tied the laces of my shoes and hopped off the edge of the bed, making my way out into the hallway.

"Mom!" I called. "I'm heading out!"

"To your lover's house?" Josh asked, intersecting me in the hallway. I stopped and placed my hand against his chest.

"Move it or lose it."

"Is that a threat?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Joshua, it is a promise," I whispered. We both stared at each other, brows pulled together, as if in a duel. He suddenly charged at me, shoving his shoulder into my stomach and lifting me off my feet. I let out a high pitched yell as he carried me down the hallway.

"Help! I need backup!" I yelled. Ally was suddenly there, laughing and running behind Josh.

"Did someone call for backup!" someone yelled, and we all stopped. I looked up to see Alex tucked behind the corner leading out into the living room, his finger pressed against his ear as if he were a secret service member.