Reputation

e l e v e n

                    willow 

I looked around the nice, expensive office. Shelves of books were lined up and a moving wooden ladder fit in nicely with the rustic vibe of the room. Two brown leather couches sat opposite of each other, with a fireplace next to it. Rows of cabinets were lined up perfectly, and touches of gold were hinted everywhere. 

And it was all just one room underneath the raggedy room upstairs. 

I sat down on one of the couches as Henry went around the desk and grabbed a bottle of brown liquor. 

"Scotch?" he asked popping an ice cube into a clear cup. 

"No," I said still angry. 

"You should try some, it costs 5,000 dollars," Henry smirked as he sunk into the other sofa. 

"Hurry and explain so I can go home," I spat at him.  

"It seems like the universe keeps on putting us together," humor glinted in his eyes.  

I snapped, "Don't know why you're so happy to see me, I was the one who rejected your awful kiss." It was a hard lie because I would kiss his soft, warm, pink lips again. Actually, over and over again but I would never admit it. 

Anger flashed across his eyes, "I could kill you so I would watch what you say."

I closed my mouth. I looked at him with his nice suit on, a bottle of expensive liquor, the nice room, the angry look in his face. I knew he could kill me, hell he probably has a gun on him now. If that fat dude from before casually had one, then Henry 100 percent would too. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. 

I think he could sense the fear in me, because he relaxed and placed the cup on the ground.  

"I-I apologize, I shouldn't had said that. I would, could do that to you," he said looking at the floor. 

"Mmhmm, explain Henry. Please. I really don't feel safe," I admitted looking around the dark, musty room that was hiding secrets. 

He seemed hurt by my comment because he lowered his head even further, "I'm just gonna come clean, but you have to promise to say anything. It could really hurt me and my-my family," he sighed. 

"Henry, I won't say anything," I promised. 

He looked at me with his soft, brown eyes, "Willow, I'm part of a gang."

I fucking knew it. Holy shit! Henry is part of a gang. Nothing really made sense, but I'm sure that it would all fall into place. I should be terrified, but for some reason I wanted to know more. 

"Ok," I said shrugging my shoulders. 

Henry looked at me like I just ate alive bugs. 

"What?" I asked slightly embarrassed that he was looking at me so hard. A pink tint probably spread across my cheeks. 

"You're not freaking out," he pointed out. 

"Oh no no no, I'm freaking out on the deep insides, but I'm curious," I said. 

"Well, when I was younger-like 13. I wanted money, like a lot of money. My mom and dad were rich and I had everything but for some reason, I wanted my own. I wanted to feel like I had the power, not my scrawny old father who is a good for nothing asshole. When I turned fourteen me and my friends in Italy wanted to do something that would justify our manhood. It was silly, but we decided to meet these random people on the internet. They said they were part of a gang and we wanted in," he became dark and serious, "My friends chickened out when they saw the big dude, but I wasn't scared. I joined and I saw some dark shit. Then the leader ordered me to come back here and run my own gang."

I mean it still didn't make sense, but I nodded my head anyways. Then I thought, maybe the gang has something to do with him wanting to be popular. So me being me, I asked. 

"Is that why you want to be popular?" I questioned. 

"I think I told you enough," he said coldly. 

I nodded my head, I let him get away with it because he told me that he was in gang.  

"I'm leaving," I said getting up the couch. 

"Let me drive you home," he said looking down at his watch, "It's kinda late and you live far from here."

I raised a brow, "I literally ran here, I can't be that far."

He started typing something in his phone and showed me the bright screen, "You're two hours away from your house by walking."

Oh, I didn't even realize that I ran that far. I kinda just pumped my way through it. Plus it was rainy and now that I wasn't warm-it's probably really cold. My legs were aching and it would be nice to take a car. 

"I guess if you don't mind," I said shyly. I hated asking people for stuff, it made me feel weak. Henry smirked and nodded his head, from his desk he took a pair of keys. 

"Follow me," he wrapped his hand around mine.

It felt  like little tingles were shooting my hand. I wanted to swipe it away, but it felt kinda good. Ugh, don't tell me I'm falling for Henry. I can't be one of the dumb girls that fell for him and got their heart broken  the next day. I followed him, felling protected, through the nice looking hallway. We walked up the stairs and into a room with an iron door.  

It had cars and cars and cars. Porches, Lambos,  Mercedes, Teslas, Audis, BMWs, all  the cars you could imagine were lined up everywhere in the huge garage. 

"Wow," I gaped. 

"Come on," Henry said climbing into a white Lamborghini. 

I nodded my  head quickly, and skipped over to the beautiful car. We zoomed off and I watched the tall, green trees pass by us. 

Soon enough, we were in front my house just like a couple of hours ago. 

"I won't kiss you this time," Henry awkwardly chuckled. 

"Haha, thanks," I said awkwardly as well. I looked down at my Apple Watch and saw that somehow it was already eleven o'clock at night. Fuck I didn't do any of my homework. 

"SHIT!" I squealed. I reached for my seatbelt and unbuckled it. 

Henry started to scramble too, "What? What's wrong?"

I looked at him seriously, "I didn't do any of my homework."

He laughed. A deep deep chuckle  erupted from his lips and a could feel heat rising to my cheeks. I looked down shyly because his laugh also erupted bubbles from my stomach.  I don't know why but it made me feel good that I made him laugh. His laugh slowly because slower and slower. 

"I can help you," he offered. 

I crossed my arms, "Oh really? You can help me?"

He smirked, "Just because I'm a bad boy I still get good grades,"  he wiggled his eyebrows,  "That's why I have a good reputation you know."

I rolled my eyes.  Hard, "I don't think I need help." I rather stay up all night than be stuck his big ego. 

"I was joking," he looked at me with humor in his eyes,  "I can Postmate us some snacks."

I sighed, "Fuck, you had me at snacks."  

I reached over to the door handle. It was a weird flat looking thingy and it was a lot different than my Audi. 

"How do you open this?" I asked. 

"Oh Lordy, this is gonna be a long night."