Picture Perfect

Chapter Seven

"Lets go!" Beckett practically yelled at me.

I started walking towards the back of the big room, to a giant mat on the floor.

How did I not see this before?
Maybe because you've been kidnapped, and the life of your brother ultimately hangs in your hands? My mind barked at me.

"Stand in the left corner of the mat." Beckett said. His voice was authoritative and commanding. A little intimidating even.

But he's still a mannerless a-hole.

I walked across the giant mat and stood in the corner. He stood in the corner across of me.

He took his jacket off and threw it on the ground. He was wearing a plain black T-shirt under it. It hugged his biceps and chest perfectly.

He noticed me checking him out and smirked. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Ok... let's see..." he tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Walk to the middle of the mat. I'm gonna teach you self defense." I walk to the middle of the mat and just stand there.

He stared at me for a moment and then started walking towards me. He grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. His arm snaked around my throat and I freaked.

His grip tighten the more I struggled. My back was pressed against his front. And an idea came to my mind.

Because this is training would it be cheating...?
Screw it!

I stomped his foot with mine and then kicked him in the groin.

He yelled and released me. I moved away from him as quickly as I could. "What the fuck was that?!" He groaned.

"What were you doing?" I glared at him. He was bending over breathing deeply. After a few moments of silence past he stood up straight.

"I told you I was teaching you self defense. I was fixing to teach you how to get out of a choke hold! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?! You just came up to me and grabbed my neck!" I snapped. "I'm under enough stress okay! I was just kidnaped, my brother was taken too and god knows what is happing to him right now! And just before I was kidnaped I found out my dad was leaving my family to go to the Middle East! And now I find out he's a part of some kind of... some kind of... I don't even know what this is! So don't ask what's wrong with me!" I screamed. Tears streaked my cheeks as I yelled.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. It felt good to get it all out. My life is going to shit right now and I really don't care if I'm crying in front of a hot guy.

Beckett stared at me, his mouth opened and closed. I looked closely and saw that his eyes had softened.

"I-I..." He stammered. I couldn't help the sob that left my mouth.

My legs gave up on me and I fell to the floor. I'm not like this. I'm stronger than this. I don't cry, I don't let my legs fail me... I don't know what's wrong with me.

I pulled my legs up to my chest and put my head on my knees.

Who am I kidding? I'm not strong. I'm weak. Danny was right... I can't take care of myself. Im just a naive girl who can't even control her legs.

My lips tasted salty and my chest hurt. I felt a hand on my back and I jumped.

I looked up and found Beckett kneeling down beside me resting his hand on my back. He looked awkward, but like he knew how I felt.