Don't Hold Your Breath

Chapter 2

"What do you mean?" I asked, ashamed that my voice quivered slightly.

"Thanks to the carelessness of an idiot, I can't just yet." He muttered darkly. "You heard those people shouting my name and now you've seen my face."

"Because of those men shooting at us?"

"Yes. It's also for your own safety."

"But they don't know me, why wo-"

"Your car." He said shortly. "We left it there. And they saw your face."

"But why would they care? I don't even know you." I whispered.

I thought I saw his eyes soften slightly as he looked over at me, but then it vanished and his face darkened.

"Doesn't matter." He said in a harsh voice.

"Who are they?" I asked.

He glanced at me before sighing, rubbing his face with his hand.

"It doesn't matter." He said again, though this time his voice sounded weary rather than harsh.

After that, our conversation was decidedly over. I didn't attempt to talk with him again, and he seemed too distracted to even pay any attention to me. As the adrenaline rush began to wear off, I soon grew bored of just sitting in the car and I began to look around for some sort of distraction.

My eyes widened when I looked down at my jeans and for the first time realized that there as a phone shaped lump in the pocket. My head shot up to look at the man apparently named Zeke, but luckily for me he was busy eyeing our surroundings to notice my far from subtle move. Very carefully, I casually reached my hand into my pocket and withdrew the phone.

"Hand it over."

The sudden calm and authoritative voice made me jump and I looked wildly over towards the dangerous man sitting next to me, now holding his hand in my direction without even glancing my way.

"W-What?" I stuttered.

"I'm not an idiot. Hand the phone over." He said, still as calm as ever as he curled his fingers in a gesture that betrayed his impatience.

I bit my lip slightly and glanced at the gun he still had a grip on. With shaking fingers, I reached out and placed the phone in his hand.

"I was wondering when you'd notice that was still in your pocket." He mused as he pocketed the device.

I inhaled sharply, my eyebrows flying up as I looked at him.

That hint of a smirk appeared again, the one that I was now thinking was his way of smiling all the time.

"It took you long enough." He added on.

My mouth dropped open at his words and in a childish fashion I looked away from him, crossing my arms and looking out the window. He let out a soft snort that told me my antics did nothing but amuse him, but I ignored it anyways.

"How old are you?" he asked, his tone curious rather than questioning my attitude.

I glanced back over at him before looking away again.

"Nineteen" I muttered unwillingly.

"Really? Wow, I would have thought you were still in high school. You're so tiny."

I felt my lower lip jutting out slightly in a pout. "Old people can be small too. My grandmother's shorter than I am."

"Yeah but she probably doesn't have a baby face."