The Love of My Bully

She restocked the clothes and tried to ignore everything outside of the shop.

She failed. A quick glance let her know Drake was still there. He wasn’t eating this time. He sat on a bench directly out of the shop, drinking a soda. He winked at her, holding up his drink as if in offering.

She turned her back and was sure she heard him laugh. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? Summer vacation was the one time of the year she didn’t have to think about him. Moving away from the doorway, she served customers, and by the time six o’clock rolled around, she was more than ready to go home.

It meant having to pass Drake, who still sat in the same spot. Without looking back over her shoulder, she started to walk, hoping to avoid talking to him at all.

Once again, she failed.

“What’s the rush?” he asked.

“I want to go home.”

“I know you didn’t get here by car and you walked, so why don’t I drive us?” He grabbed her arm.

“Will you stop?” she asked as she tried to push him away. But he wouldn’t release her. “Now you look like a crazed maniac.”

“Please, the cameras probably saw how fucking needy you were and would anyone would give me a break.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Name-calling. I thought you were above that, Pru.”

“I would be if you’d just leave me alone.” There was no point in fighting. She stopped trying to resist and allowed him to lead her to his car.

He opened the passenger door and she climbed in, folding her arms as he slammed the door closed.

She was in his car.

The car of her enemy.

This wasn’t even funny anymore.

“Why aren’t you away or off partying?” she asked as he got behind the wheel.

“I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

She grabbed her cell phone.

“Who are you calling?” he asked.

“I’m texting Sean. He’ll meet me at my house.”

Drake grabbed her cell phone and threw it out of the car.

“Hey! What the hell?” She tried to get out to pick up her phone. Drake did no more than open his door, turn, and stomp on her phone. The sound of splintering glass angered her.

“There, all done. You don’t need that damn phone or your nerd.”

She clenched her hand into a fist and punch his arm. It wasn’t very hard, but she just couldn’t take anymore. The moment she did it, she didn’t feel any satisfaction. Violence never, at any point in her life, thrilled her. If anything, it made her feel sick to her stomach to know she’d been pushed that far.

Drake caught her wrist in his hand. Hers was still clenched.

“Now, now, is that any way to treat the guy who’s going to be driving you?”

“Why are you like this?”

“I’m a lucky guy and I get what I want.”

He smiled at her, and she tried to pull her hand away. “You can’t drive if you keep a hold of my hand.”

“I’ve got no problem driving one-handed, princess.”

“Leave me alone,” she said.

“No can do. I happen to really like holding your hand.”

She growled as he lifted her hand and licked across her knuckles. “Gross, get off.”

“Not going to happen, little virgin.”

He did it again and Prudence realized what she was doing wrong. She was responding to him rather than just ignoring him. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, counted to ten, and then just let everything go. This was how she’d coped with the past year at high school. Just ignoring him, and as she opened her eyes and smiled at him, she waited.

This was boring.

“You think I don’t see right through you?” he asked, letting go of her head.

She stayed silent. Another thing Drake hated was complete and utter silence. She didn’t mind the quiet. After hours of being left home alone, she got used to it. Quiet was her safe place.

He chuckled. “I got your number, Pru. I don’t mind. I happen to like the quiet as well.”

He started driving again and she stared out of the window, not really seeing where they were going. She also wasn’t paying attention to their surroundings, trying harder than usual to ignore the guy beside her. She didn’t want him to know she was greatly affected by him, but there was no denying it.

Drake had gotten under her skin.

She was determined not to ask him a single question, not to even care where they were going. It didn’t matter. People had seen them leaving together. He had even boasted of security watching them, so if she were to disappear, unless he blackmailed a whole lot of people, he couldn’t kill her.

Or could he?

Drake’s family held a lot of power in town and she had no doubt they could probably get away with anything. Even covering up a murder.

She stared out of her window, not recognizing anything. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask where they were going but she was too stubborn.