Ariella stared at her phone screen, starting to feel naseous, and not only from the motion sickness. She cracked open a window and went back to her phone. She decided not to block the person in case something happens. Is this the type of thing she should tell the four guys about? She screenshotted the tweet and the bio in case it got deleted and locked her phone. She felt uneasy. The news of the possession of the ring must get around quickly.
Cooper glanced over at Ariella, who was looking out the window and could tell instantly that she was nervous. He knew everything was sudden and he'd been watching her for a while but something wasn't right. He was always cocky and charming around her but now that she knows he's in the Black Hood and she's being protected by him, it's time to get serious. Beth in the back seat kept talking and talking while Cooper pretended to listen. But in reality all his attention was on Ariella.
"Cooper!" Ariella screamed and Cooper slammed on the brakes. He almost hit the back of Luke's truck at a red light. Luke would've beat the shit out of him if he had. Beth had stopped talking at this point. Ariella was breathing heavily, then calmed down.
"Calm down." he said and it came out a little harsher than he meant.
She glared at him. Why did he have to snap at her like that? There was a sudden change in the air in the car and it was silent. She didn't bother saying anything, she was too worn out and had a headache. As if on queue, Beth handed her a water bottle and an Advil. Ariella softly smiled at Beth and gladly took the pill. She closed her eyes and her tiredness began to take over.
I was at a table in a kitchen.
"Ariella, baby, get the box on the counter."
I reached for the big black box, and it was lighter than expected. I put it on the table and two large hands opened it.
"It'll soon be yours to protect. When the time comes, that is. And there will be a new generation of nice, good looking fellas to help you out, I promise."
I blush. Too young to know what's in the box, or what she's talking about. But I smile and nod, trying to peek at the contents of the box.
"Uh uh uh. Not yet darling. Soon."
And she closed the box in my face.
"Ariella." she said.
"Ariella."
"Ariellaaaaaa."
She opened her eyes and saw Beth, smiling in front of her.
"We're here sleepyhead. And by the way, those guys are definitely hot." she said with a wink and walked towards the small diner. Ariella got out of the car and walked towards the diner as well. Cooper held the door open for her dramatically to make a point and she walked in without a second glance.
The twitter issue hadn't left her mind, and now the dream was a mystery too. It was just a dream of course, probably a fathom of her imagination, but she couldn't help but feel as though it were real.
She started following after the others when Cooper stopped her. She watched the others as they got a booth.
"What?" she asked, cranky from just waking up and being tired.
"Why are you upset?" Cooper asked gently and Ariella was taken aback.
"Why do you care?" she asked and instantly knew why he cared.
"Sorry." she mumbled and took her phone out of her pocket. She showed him the screenshots of the twitter @ mention and bio and Cooper squinted at the screen.
"Michael's good at this internet hacking stuff. I'll get him to figure it out." he said and handed the phone back.
Ariella nodded and turned but was grabbed by Cooper again.
"Can I just?" he asked and motioned towards her left hand. She nodded and stuck her hand out. He straightened out his black shirt and took her hand, touching her fingers gently, sending shivers down her spine. His cologne filled her nose once again. He touched the ring and Ariella felt electricity bolt through her left arm. She instinctively pulled it back and looked down before turning towards the booth and walking.
She sat down between Beth and Luke and Cooper sat across from her between Brandon and Michael. They ordered food and introduced themselves.
"Um I'm Ariella, my hair is dyed obviously, I did that over the summer. I have two sisters and a dog and I like the color black... I'm not that interesting, um I've been contained in my small little world my entire life but I'm taking baby steps, if you will. And uhh Beth is my best friend, I like reading, I hate exercising, and I'm really hungry right now." She finished and slightly smiled.
All the boys from the Black Hood also introduced themselves, with back stories that seemed totally ordinary but totally rehearsed and repeated. Beth introduced herself, making flirtatious eye contact with Brandon. She got along well with everyone and soon the food came.
They ate and talked about summer and how it was over and done with.
"Ariella and I went to my lake house for two weeks and she went crazy there. She fucking jumped into the lake out of anger."
Ariella blushed profusely and glared at Beth for sharing such an embarassing story. She pulled the sleeves of her 'new' sweatshirt over her hands and fidgeted her hair. All the guys just watched her, waiting.
"Okay fine I jumped into the lake because this freak wouldn't leave me alone and I needed alone time. AND she practically pushed me in." Ariella argued and Beth nodded.
"True." she said and they all laughed. The bill came and everyone started to pull their wallets out. Ariella noticed she had a few dollars tucked into her phone case so she started to take it out when Cooper stopped her.
"I'll pay for you." he said and threw more money into the pile on the table.
"Thanks loser." she said and put her phone back into her pocket.
"Don't call me loser sweetheart." he said and she matched his gaze.
"Then don't call me sweetheart." she said and he grinned.
"Well why not, sweetheart?" he asked and she squinted at him.
"Because I'm not your 'sweetheart.'" she said and his grin grew wider.
"Do you wanna be?" he asked and Beth gripped Ariella's thigh to keep herself from squealing.
"In your dreams, Howen." she said and pushed Beth out of the booth and stood up.
"Let's go." she said and walked towards the door.
"Is that all you got?" she heard Luke say to Cooper and laughter.
"But you know what's in the contract, right?" Michael said and someone sighed.
"Fuck the contract. She's the one for me." she heard Luke say and the sound of someone being hit.
"Quit it Luke." it was Cooper, who let out a low growl.
"I don't want to hear you moan because of what another guy does to you ever again."
YOU ARE READING
My Ammunition
ChickLit"You don't like me." "Yeah. And you don't like me." "Then why are we doing this?" Ariella and Cooper were practically opposites and were most definitely not meant to be. But as soon as one party ends in a drunken Ariella and a "heroic" Cooper, the t...
