No Strings *COMPLETE*

Chapter 12

"It's gone" It's fucking gone!" Alec yells. "Just calm down honey, just breath," Lilli says trying not to start crying. I take a step back to move the fog from my brain. "I'll call the police," I say as Alec starts yelling again. "How in the hell do you expect me to be calm?! Our stuff, your stuff, my truck is gone!" Lilli flinches back and looks at me. "Alec it's okay, she's just trying to make you feel better," I say giving him a glare. "Now," I say once again. "I'm going to call the police." "Good idea Ski, I'll call Nate," Alec says hugging on Lilli. 

Twenty minutes later, Nate and Alec are outside waiting for the police, while Lilli and I are inside the store at the tables. "What do you think is going to happen?" Lilli asks. "Ski?" "Ski!" Lilli then reaches across the table and touches my right hand. I jump and pull away quickly while focusing my attention back on Lilli. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" "Are you okay?" Lilli asks with a concerned look on her face. "Ummm, yeah I'm fine," I say back looking down at my cup again. "Mhm, come on talk to me girl. You haven't said much since Alec mentioned Nathan." I close my eyes hard and take a deep breath to keep from crying at the sound of his name. Lilli squeezes my hand and says, "I'm sorry hun. I know it hurts, but I'm here to talk if you want." I nod my head to keep from looking out at Nate. "Yeah, just not here and not now." Lilli shakes her head in understanding. I then put my headphones into my phone and pull up Netflix. 

"Wanna watch American Horror Story with me?" I ask changing the subject. Lilli then gets a big smile and says, "Ohhhh, which season are you on?" "Murder House, I kinda just started it. I can go back to the beginning if you want..." "Okay!!" Lilli says happily and gets up and sits next to me. I hand her one of the earplugs and rewind the first episode.

About halfway through the show, Lilli nudges me and I look up, and standing there next to Alec is Nate. My stomach sinks my heart starts to hammer away, and I can't think, speak, or breath. "So what did the police say?" "That they'll keep an eye out for it." "Well like that's gonna do any good," Lill says with irritation in her voice. 

"Yeah, so Nate is gonna take us the rest of the way," Alec says.  All I could do was stare at Alec. "What's wrong Ski?" He asks. I frantically search my mind for something to say and the first thing I say was "What about our stuff?" "The police will find it." I roll my eyes and look at Nate. His eyes are on the ground, and he's holding his arm and tapping his foot. Probably because he's mad and getting impatient. "Well let's get going," Alec says. Nate is the first out the door, followed by Alec. Lilli and I gather our drinks and bags, but before we're out the door Lilli asks, "Do you want me to sit in the back with you?" I nod my head, the only way I can respond. "Hey Ski? Do you mind sitting up front actually?" Alec asks clinging onto Lilli and giving me a hopeful look. No... I give a sideways glance to Lilli, who can't seem to do anything but smile apologetically. 

I shrug and let them climb in the back. They do so and I slam the front seat back and plop down. Nathan sits in the driver's seat and starts the Mustang back up. Just one hour in the car with this awkward tense silence weighing in heavily. I can do this, I reach down in the floorboard for my messenger bag to get my headphone- only to realize that they were left on the truck. Great. 

I put my seatbelt on, and watch as Nathan pulls onto the highway. There are rushing noises that echo from the backseat- the sound of Alec and Lilli getting cozy. I grimace and reach for the volume nob on the dash, only for my hand to come into immediate contact with Nathan's. I snatch my hand away and look out the window, my heart pounding. The volume on the stereo turns up and I'm partially relieved. I take the opportunity to glance at Nathan out of the corner or my eye. He's focused on the road, of course, but he's gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles are ghost white. Is he pissed off? Or is he just feeling as awkward as I am?