Countdown Romance

Chapter 18: The Purpose Of An Easy-Bake Oven

I tensed as Brooks engulfed me into a hug. After relaxing, I hugged back. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. Brooks rested his head on top of mine and kissed my hair. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I tried to speak, but no words came. I nodded my head in response. 

"Is he a friend of yours?" Brooks spat at the word friends.

I pulled back from the hug and caught his gaze. His eyes held worry and compassion, but also hate and anger. 

I shook my head. "Not anymore." A heavy breath shook through my body. It wasn't until Brooks swiped his thumb under my eye that I realized I was crying.

"Please don't cry." Brooks held my face in his hands. "I'm sorry."

I smiled. "It's not your fault he kissed me. I'm sorry."

Brooks stared me dead in the eye. "It's not your fault he kissed you."

I pulled out of his hands and sat down on my bed. "Is it?" I slid my hands down the cover on my bed. "He said I led him on."

"Did he ask you if you wanted to be kissed?" Brooks sat beside me on the bed. He kept his distance which I was grateful for. Everything felt like too much.

"No, he didn't ask me."

"And you never told him you liked him that way." He said it more like a statement than a question.

"No." Where was he getting at with this?

Brooks nodded his head. "Then, he had the wrong understanding. He was wrong by kissing you, and even more so by continuing when you tried to push him away."

"Okay, okay. Yeah." 

I looked over at Brooks who smiled softly at me. I moved closer to his side and laid my head on his shoulder. Brooks kissed my forehead before leaning his head against mine.

"Heads up, I have a meeting tomorrow with one of the sound technicians for work, so you probably won't see me."

"Okay."

I lifted my head off of Brooks' shoulder, and he stood up. I matched his actions, and give a quick peck on his cheek. "Do you need to leave?" I ask.

"Yes. Be careful, beautiful." Brooks leaves a soft kiss on my lips.

"Of course, handsome."

-.-.-

A knock came at the door. I stood up reluctantly and paused the episode of Gilmore Girls I was watching. I trudged to the door shifting my blue sweater to look more presentable. 

I still had stayed home sick today. My mother didn't question my fake illness, but I think she knew something else was up. I'm just thankful she let it be. 

The knock on the door came again, and I groaned. "I am getting to the door. Be patient!"

I swung open the door and was met with two large guys. One I noticed to be a quarterback on my school's football team. I think his name is Darren. The other dude beside him was similarly built, meaning they both had muscles and were taller than six feet. Darren and the dude, who I am going to call Vanilla because of his platinum blonde hair, both wore black tees and dark denim jeans. 

"Hello, are you Allie?" Vanilla asked. His voice was deep but also smooth. 

"Yes." I tilted my head and leaned against the door.

"Mr. Han has requested you be taken into our custody. You can either come with us willingly, or we will have to resort to force."

My eyes widened and I felt tense. Great, I'm getting kidnapped.