Contrary || l.p.

21. Bars

Jessie's P.O.V

The car started and I shifted uncomfortably, knowing that a member of Liam's little gang was sitting next to me. What made it worse was that I did not know what this guy was capable of; from the two times I have seen him, I haven't seen him do anything but light a cigarette and scoff.

I snuck a look at him and he simultaneously did the same thing. We both gasped and looked away as the car began moving.

Soon enough, it started raining and I really hated myself for not bringing that sweater.

With my free fingers behind my back, I began aimlessly tapping at the cold chains in nervousness and fear. My heart beat wouldn't stop rapidly pouding against my chest, and I was slightly worried that the next guy was going to hear it and tell me to shut up.

An idea suddenly popped into my head as I looked at dark hair guy in my peripheral vision. Maybe I could find out more about this silly group of theirs by talking to him.

"What's your deal?" I asked him, turning my head towards him.

He looked at me with wide eyes. "W-what?"

"You guys," I asked lowly. "You know, you, the guy with the blonde hair, Michael, Ashton... Liam."

He raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Are you guys some sort of gang or something?" I asked curiously.

He looked away and shifted uncomfortably. "I-I wouldn't say so. We're all just old friends who do really... really stupid shit together."

Oh. I guess that's the answer I needed. I turned my eyes back to the front, watching the road, getting more nervous after every passing gravel on the road. It came to the point where I began nervously tapping on my chains again.

Suddenly, dark hair guy cleared his throat. "I'm... I'm really sorry. You know, for us dragging you into this," he apologized with a sigh. "I know you didn't mean to do any harm."

Surprised, I turned to look at him once again. "Wait, what?"

"You," he shrugged. "You didn't do anything. You we're just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I know Michael can be a douche sometimes."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes?"

He smiled a little at my comment, and we shared a small laugh.

"You're right," he mumbled. "When you live with him, he seems far less douchey... probably because I'm used to it."

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "You're pretty decent for someone who hangs out with him."

He nodded. "Yeah, I get that a lot," he muttered. "I kinda have to, though."

"No you don't," I told him. "You can leave if you want to. You shouldn't have him hold you back."

"No, you don't quite understand. Michael...he's-" he stopped and huffed. "I don't want to end up like Liam, you know?"

The mention of Liam's name shattered my heart a little, and I tried to gather myself before he noticed.

He sighed a little, and mumbled, "I saw you behind the car."

My stomach dropped when the words left his mouth. Which car? The one where I was eavesdropping behind when I first saw these people?

"W-what?" I stammered.

"That day when we came to try to get Liam back. You were looking at Michael when I saw you," he admitted. "You know Liam, don't you?"