Hostages

fifteen

- Louis -

The time on the hour glass kept going and it was almost empty. I couldn't help but stare at it. Watching each fallen grain turn into a second that I'm still stuck here, into a minute Andrea isn't coming. I couldn't believe she would let this happen. I thought she was better than that.

I'm not sure if I believe what Patch is saying about Andrea saying she's in love with me. If it was true, wouldn't she be here by now? She's smart at figuring stuff out all the time. She did it so much in class and it's what got my attention at first. Why isn't she here?

"Looks like your girlfriend's not gonna come," Patch reminded me in a singsong voice. Boy, he was crap ass at singing.

"Hour glass is still going, I don't think she'd give up that easy." I shot back, hope full in my tone. I just hope that what I'm saying is true. But at this point, I'm still staring at the hourglass. I'm slowly losing my hope in her.

It's not just Andrea I'm upset with though. It's the boys. Sure, they probably don't know who took me or where I am, but with all their brains brought together, they could have found me or at least a clue by now. They would've called the police or something. Instead, I remain in this smelly barn. My butt on this uncomfortable chair. My arm slowly draining blood and energy from my body. I'm going to die in here one way or another. This is so upsetting.

A moment of silence fell upon us. Patch pulled out a box and shook out a cigarette. He placed it between his lips and inhaled. As he blew out the smoke, he spoke, "How much do you like Andrea?"

"Why do you care?" I glared at him, annoyed and confused at the sudden interest in my love life with Andrea. I can't believe I'm still wasting my last bit of energy on this baboon.

"I don't." He said, pulling the shiny black gun front his pocket, and inhaling the cigarette again. "It's just the only thing in common we have and I hate awkward silences."

I sighed and thought back to all those years I spent on Andrea, watching, following, and just wishing she was mine. "Well I don't like Andrea. I love her. I mean like what's not to love about her?" I continued, a slow smile appearing on my cheeks at the thoughts of her. "I could go on for hours talking about her."

"Well, you only have like fifteen minutes so just make it short and sweet." He shrugged, spinning the gun around on his fingertips. I glanced at the hourglass watching the grain fall again and again.

I rolled my eyes and then focused back on Andrea. "For starters, she's absolutely breathtaking. She's got the sweetest eyes and the cutest little nose. Her smile just brings life to my day. She has this effect on me that no one, and I mean no one, could ever give me."

"Gag," Patch interrupted but I just ignored his ignorant comment. He was so unnecessary to even breathe and he has the nerve to first, poke around in my personal life, then comment something stupid? Who the hell does he think he is?

"But I don't just love her for her looks," I went on, continuing my fantasy. "She has an amazing personality. She's so smart and kind. She's got the biggest heart out of anyone I know. She's like a drug to me and I'm addicted. I can't get enough of her. And even though I had never had a real conversation with her before up until today, she's-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait... what?" Patch spoke up, making me stop and listen. He dropped the cigarette, crushing it with his boot. "You're in love with her and you've never had a real conversation with her until today?"

"Yeah? And?" I said and he laughed, hysterically. It made me want to kick him in the balls. He had such a smoker's laugh. "You don't have to be dating someone or have a relationship or connection with them to fall in love with them. You just spend so much time thinking and putting every thought, every second, everyday you have into them that you just feel happy whenever you're around them. Love isn't about sex or dating. It's about care and just giving them everything to make sure they're happy. As long as Andrea was smiling and happy, I was happy."

"How can you do that when you don't even know them though?"

"I never did talk to Andrea, no, but I still thought about her all the time. She was in almost all of my classes so I spent my every thoughts moments on her then. You should've seen the stack of notes I wrote about her in all my classes. Whenever I wasn't with her, she was on my mind." I said. Patch didn't say anything. "I love her." I added.

"Well the love of your life has ten minutes before someone dies." He said, tapping the gun on the hour glass.

"Oh, she'll be here." I said, smirking deviously at our soon defeat. This is the adrenaline I've been waiting for. My gut telling me different. "I can feel it."