Shut Up and Kiss Me

Chapter 8: Mate Schmate

  I was dying of boredom. Ben was better at hiding it, but I could tell he was just as bored, if not even more so. I stared at him from my position on my back with my head hanging over the edge of my bed. From my perspective, Ben was like a chandelier hanging from his bed.

  "What are you doing?" I asked.

  Ben looked at me, stopping what he was doing. His expression displayed annoyance, probably because this was the fifth time I'd interrupted his concentration.

  "I'm actually trying to pass the time productively, unlike you."

  "Ouch." I gasped, grasping my chest above my heart. "That hurts, Ben, it really does."

  He stuck his tongue out at me, then went back to ignoring my presence in the room. I sighed heavily and diverted my stare to the ceiling. This is not how I wanted to spend the rest of my days. If only the hunters had left Ben and I alone or if Ben's nightmares hadn't started again. Then I wouldn't have to be kooked up in the house for "as long as it takes to remove the threat," as Jasper said.

  "You know, you could read. We have plenty of books." Ben suggested, gesturing to the giant bookshelf at the other end of our room.

  I groaned. "I've read all the interesting ones. Besides, even reading gets boring when you do it for long enough."

  "So go on the internet then."

  I scoweled at Ben, though he didn't bother looking up to see it.

  "I think I've checked Facebook at least five-thousand times in the last hour. The internet is boring."

  "What about music?"

  "Ugh!" I groaned again. "Kill me now!"

  "I'll take that as a no." Ben said.

  "I'm tired of being inside. I'm tired of people telling me what to do."

  Ben was staring at me now. He was probably silently wondering if I was about to crack.

  "Let's go shopping." I grinned, excitement bubbling up inside me at the thought of fresh air.

  "We're not allowed to go anywhere by ourselves. We cause too much trouble, remember?" Ben pointed out.

  "So we'll take Luis," When Ben gave me a look, I added, "or Briad--someone. Please, Ben. I just really need to get out and try to be normal again."

...............................

  I grabbed my purse off the table and opened the front door, exiting with Ben at my tail. An arm snaked out and blocked our path. Reggie glared at us suspiciously.

  "Where are you going?"

  "We want to go shopping."

  "You're not supposed to leave the house."

  Inside, I fumed, but outside I kept my cool. No way was I going back in that house. "I'm not made of porcelain, Reggie. And just the same, I'm not a hermit either."

  Reggie sighed. "Jasper doesn't want us going into town."

  I opened my mouth to protest, but Reggie continued. "However."

  Instantly I shut up.

  "I can take you a couple towns over. We aren't likely to run into trouble out there and we won't be breaking any of Jasper's rules."

  I smiled. "Thanks Reggie."

.................................

  While we were on the road, I texted Jasper where we were going. I was sure Reggie had already done so, but it made me feel better knowing there were no more secrets between us. His reply was swift.