SEVENS

CAR DOORS

A|N: it's short but it's a continuation of last chapter and I finally finished it and so here! Also like it means the world when you leave comments and votes and if you could leave some I would really appreciate it. Let me know what you love best about it and hate most about it and let me know if I should dye my hair Cruella de Vill style!!! Lots of love ❤️

I was woken by the slamming of a car door. I jumped and hit my shoulder on the floorboards hiding me. I could feel the van shift and rock as someone climbed in the driver's seat. I was trying to shake off the sleep that had taken my quite fully through the night, surprisingly ignorant of the situation.

I couldn't remember much of what had happened through the night, or what I assumed was overnight as I still couldn't see anything but the dark of the compartment but I knew that once everyone had been taken to the station, the car had been towed and I had been left with it wherever they had dropped it off.

Now thought it sounded as if someone was driving it. Hopefully it was someone I knew.

"Hey Tom— Alexei are you okay in there?" Jack said, his voice coming muffled through the floorboards.

I flinched. Apparently I would have preferred someone I didn't know to Jack.

"Alexei?" I couldn't see his face so I couldn't be sure but the way his voice went a little quiet made me feel like he was nervous.

"I'm fine. When can I get out of here?"

"I was going to let you out back at the school but if you want I can find somewhere to pull over."

"I want out."

"Okay hold on."

I waited for several minutes before I finally felt the car slow, stop and turn off. I heard Jack get out of the car and slide open the side door. I heard more sounds, most likely the seat being unlocked and moved, before the floorboards opened up above me.

Even with my arm over my face the light made my eyes ache. I moved my arm after a breath or two and then blinked up at Jack. Though he was wearing a small smile he looked wary and worried. His brows were scrunched together and he was rubbing the back of his neck.

"How was it under there?"

"It was hell. What do you think its supposed to be? I lift myself out of the crawl space. Itching to get away from what had been my prison for the past however long. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon." I glare at Jack but he seems embarrassed enough without me adding to it. "Sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for." I slide out of the car and marvel at the fact that I can now stretch my legs. I watch Jack lock the bench seat back into place but don't say anything else.

"Not even for the other night?" He asks.

"I don't know what you're referring to." I say, hoping to hell that he'll take the hint.

He just sighs though and shuts the side door before rounding the car and hopping into the driver's seat. I climb into the passenger side and slam the door closed. I feel the urge to scream as the locks automatically turn on with the starting of the car. Again I'm stuck and this time I'm with Jack.

I shouldn't be worried. It's not like Jack hates me. He was practically my second brother after Reece but he's always been too soft and kind and caring. My being alone would be a concern to him not the only obvious freedom that it is to me.

If I can just make it back to the school without him asking any questions I should be able to keep myself from breaking down.

"Where are the others?" I ask, brushing my cheek with my fingertips. What would I say to Raf when I saw him? Would he pretend none of the previous night happened? Should I? It wasn't like he was gay right? I shouldn't be focusing on that part of my life anyway, I should be more focused on what I would tell the team about my breakdown. Was it normal to panic to the extent of locking yourself in the flooring of a van?

"Thankfully, or maybe not, they're all pretty good at talking their way out of things and so the school doesn't know yet what happened. They called me and Mr. Bisette before anyone else and we were able to keep the school or anyone else's parents from being called. Neither of us were amused though when Raf told us you were locked in my car which had been impounded."

"How sweet of you to be concerned." I rolled my eyes.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Jack asked. He looked at me looking for my reaction but had to look back to the road as he made a left turn.

"I can take care of myself." I didn't know why he thought it was his job to watch over me but I was done with his concern.

"It's not about whether you can take care of yourself. I care about Tomas and—"

I popped the lock on the door up and yanked on the handle.
"Holy crap!" Jack swerved across to another lane and the door slammed shut, almost drowning out the horns of other drivers. I tried to open the door again but Jack had already relocked it. I tried to unlock it again but he countered it every time I did by hitting the button on his door.

"Let me out!"

"We're on the highway!" He yelled, struggling to balance both driving and keeping my door locked.

"Pull the fuck over then!"

"No. I get that you don' want t talk about this but goddammit Tomas you can't keep running!"

"It's Alexei." I could feel my voice drop in my throat causing the words to sound like a threat of castration. Or at least I hoped that's what came across and not the deep fear pulling at my gut.

"Why? What happened? Where did Tomas go?"

"Stop saying that name or I'll jump out of the window if I have to." I could feel the itching start on my palm and stomach. As if the scars knew my old name and wanted to respond to it.

He looked at me and he looked sad. His eyes were soft and his eyebrows were drawn together. I hated it. Once I had loved every kind word he gave me. Every time he had made me laugh. But now it only meant danger.

"Please. Just leave it alone."

"But your mom! And Mark and Mary! What about them? You can't just be running around by yourself! You're what fifteen?"

"I'm Eighteen." I grumbled.

"Bull crap! You're like four years younger than me. Stop lying."

"Alexei Hamilton is eighteen years old and is a senior at St. Joseph's private school. He also plays on their Rugby Sevens team. You can ask anyone." I bit out. Every second still stuck in the car was bringing me closer and closer to doing something fear fueled and stupid.

Jack went mercifully silent. Soon enough we were on the exit ramp of the highway and pulling onto the street I knew as leading to the school. When we parked back in the staff parking lot I jumped out of the car. I couldn't get away from Jack's look of concern soon enough.