Chapter 29: Chapter twenty nine

Arielle

My mother once told me that we should be careful what we wished for. I've never taken those words seriously until now.

When I wished to take a dip in the pool, this is so not what I meant.

I swam to the surface of the pool, shivering as the cold water seeped into my bones. I had no idea the water was that cold. I raised my head from the water and beheld who pushed me.

“What the actual fuck?! Are you crazy?!” I yelled, my body shaking with both rage and the cold.

Drayton crossed his arms, totally unfazed by my outburst. His eyes were fixed on Jack who immediately crouched in front of me, an arm outstretched.

“Oh my God, Arielle, are you okay? Grab onto me.” He said, concern etched on his face.

“I can get out myself.” I snapped angrily at him.

I climbed out of the pool, looking like a drenched cat. I wanted nothing more than to shove Drayton into the pool but the idiot was packed with muscles.

I definitely can't push him. The thought only added to my rising anger.

I stomped towards him barefooted, my heels forgotten at the bottom of the pool. I'll make him pay for it. Those shoes cost three hundred bucks. And I don't joke with my shoe collections.

“What the actual fuck was that for?! You just shoved me into the water like a sack of potatoes. What were you thinking?! I could have died!”

Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. The pool wasn't that deep. About four feet or so. But he clearly intended to hurt me when he pushed me in.

“Well, you don't seem dead to me.” He drawled, his eyes glistening with rage.

He had the nerve to be mad after he intended to hurt me?

I curled my fingers into a fist and debated punching him in the face. A small crowd had gathered around us now, though the party was still going on inside. This would definitely be a hot topic in few minutes.

I didn't want to cause anymore scenes so I walked away. Keeping to the shadows, I managed to walk out of the party undetected.

My eyes stung with unshed tears but I blinked them away. I refused to cry over that piece of shit even if they were angry tears. I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken.

Coming to this party was a mistake. I shouldn't have cared about my stupid image. Everything I used to be was gone and I was such a fool for chasng after it. A big fucking fool.

I didn't stop walking until I got to the parking lot. That was when I realized I had no way of getting home. I'd lost my purse when he pushed me. It probably laid next to my ruined heels in the pool.

I had no money, no shoes, and nothing to shield me from the biting cold. I had left my coat in his car. My only way out of this place was through him, but I would rather freeze to death than get within five meters from him.

That's if I don't kill him for what he did tonight.

I ground my teeth together to stop from chattering as I went through my options. The parking lot was almost empty due to the party going on inside. Which meant a lot of people hadn't gotten wind of the incident. Yet.

I thought of calling Dan for a ride. At that point I didn't care if I had to tell him everything I'd been hiding. But I didn't have my phone with me. It was in my purse.

The thought of going back in there to search for him made me shiver. That he hadn't come immediately I was pushed in meant he wasn't close to the pool at all.

I decided to wait near his car till he eventually comes out. The other problem now is finding where Dan's car was parked. Still shivering and cursing at Drayton, I began searching for it.

I forced my feet to move against the cold concrete floor. I finally found his car at the far end of the parking lot, hidden by the thick cover of darkness. Typical Dan.

I began my stroll towards it when I felt a presence behind me.

“I'll take you home. Follow me.”

The fiery rage that had cooled into an ember roared to life at the sound of his voice.

I whirled around and slapped him hard in the face before I could think more of it. My palm stung as it made contact but I barely registered the pain.

“I guess I deserve that.” He said and rubbed his cheek. I was very sure he wasn't hurt.

“What the fuck do you want from me? Was humiliating me in front of the whole class not enough? Why are you following me?”

His jaws tightened and he looked away from me.

“Trust me, I had no intention of hurting you.”

“Oh yeah? Shoving me in a pool was just a harmless game then. Our usual back and forth. You clearly didn't intend to hurt me.” I let out a dry laugh.

He simply stared at me without saying a word.

“I don't know what your problem with me is. One minute, you're all warm and fuzzy, giving me hugs and doing nice things for me. The next minute, you're back to being a coldhearted bastard. Whatever sick game you're playing, I'm out. I'm not going to be used as a pawn for your entertainment.”

I was breathing hard by the time I stopped talking. I felt a bit lighter after my outburst.

Drayton still didn't say anything. I debated walking away from there. I'll have to find someone else to give me a ride since Dan doesn't seem to be coming out soon.

“I'll give you a ride. Let's go.” He sighed as if everything I just said meant nothing.

I burst into laughter before I could stop myself.

“You're joking, right?”

“Do I look like it?” He sneered, looking more pissed off than earlier.

“You really don't expect me to get into that car with you after you tried to kill me. I'd rather sit out here and freeze my butt to death.” I snorted.

“You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”

“I'm not going anywhere with you.” I yelled angrily.

He advanced towards me and muttered something like “you asked for it’’ before sweeping me off my feet.

I gasped at his sudden movement.

“Put me down right this minute, Drayton, or I swear to God, I'll–”

“You'll do what?”

I could see his face clearly in the moonlight as I clung to his chest. His body radiated so much warmth that I wanted to lean closer and enjoy it.

The last time we hugged, I'd been too shaken up to really pay attention to how comforting his hold was. I was so cold so I leaned in as subtly as I could without him noticing.

“That's what I thought.” He whirled around and headed for where his car was parked.

“Put me down!” I screamed and tried to wiggle out of his embrace. His grip only tightened the more I wiggle. But I didn't give up.

We finally got to the car and he not-so-gently set me in the passenger’s seat. He locked the door and got behind the wheel.

“If you ever carry me like that again, I'll make sure you lose your arms.” I threatened.

He chuckled and inserted the key in the ignition.

“Just another Thursday for me.”

I glared at him hard but he didn't even throw me a glance. Fucking Asshole. I couldn't angrily stomp out of the car because everywhere was locked, but I didn't want to get out. I had no way of going back to the house.

Feeling helpless for the first time in so many months, i turned my face to the window and stared.

And I felt a trickle on my cheek next.