Chapter Seventeen- I know you

Hello everyone! I want to dedicate this chapter to my new friend/follower/reader/supporter/and a very genuine person L_wolfe ❤️❤️ Definitely check out her books:)

Happy reading, my lovely wattpaders.

Chapter Seventeen: I know you

"Fine, Mister Nobody! Whatever! You know what?" I frowned, crossing my arms around my chest, and shooting death glares at him.

He looked up to drill into my soul, as he harshly spoke, "What?"

I chucked my handbag on my shoulder. I'm putting my ass on the line for him and he... he doesn't even care about it. He can't even see that I'm just trying to help him. And instead of being thankful to me, he's...

"I'll see myself out. And sorry that I've 'forced myself on you'." I said, furiously, I bet my nostrils were flaring with anger.

He looked away and I guess he just took a sigh of relief.

'Whatever.'

I sashayed towards the door with big steps and held the knob of the door in my hand—to click it open.

"But..." I uttered and turned around to see him curiously waiting for me to speak. I moved back to the chair and causally dropped my bag beside it.

"Change of heart? Oh... or maybe you're just too stubborn to leave by yourself. No worries, I guess the security wouldn't mind doing that."

My jaw slightly fell open but, I instantly closed it before he could even notice the hurt on my face. Instantaneously, I plastered a brave smile on my face.

His furrowed deepened in bafflement, as he arched up his brow at me on my lack of reply.

"I know you... better than you think I do... and I also know what trick you're playing here with me. It's called pushing people away. And you're trying to do it by getting me ferocious but, you don't know one thing, which is that I made these little dirty tricks... I've tried it thousand times whenever I used to get upset because I didn't want to make anyone else sad because of me... so, you see... it'll be better if you drop the act and be who you are instead of just pushing me away. Because, I'm not going anywhere, Evan Royce. You better get used to this—me." I gasped on learning how long I've spoken and probably, more than I should have.

Nevertheless, I felt great and light-hearted.

I'm so mad at him! I was playing cool until I knew he was okay and when now he is... I'm not going to pretend as if he didn't do anything wrong... because just don' get me started on how much I want to punch him right now for not punching Marcus! But, I also understood the situation and it wasn't the right time to talk about whats and whys!

"Reynold, you've no idea—"

"Neither do you..."

"But—"

I cut him off, "Just shush!" I glared at him pointing my finger towards his lip but, before I could touch them, he visible leaned back—looking away.

Déjà vu. I reminisced the night of Brook when I did something like this—only he didn't lean back then.

It's okay... I can handle him.

"Let's just get you home." I said, dryly. I didn't know if I should be mad or not. Was that appropriate for me to worry for a Nobody?

His eyes finally met fine with a touch of softness. He uttered, "Why are you doing this, Reynold? Why did you helped me? Or Why are you even here? You should've left with your friends three hours ago..." He wasn't pretending anymore. He genuinely meant whatever he said.

It didn't seem bunch of a questions as it felt like a more of accusing statements to me.

"I thought it would be, 'Thanks for saving my ass from marcus and as well as from the police, Michelle'. But, never mind, it was fun saving you, Nobody, and don' forget you owe me one." I said, sarcastically, helping him sit up properly.

He rolled his eyes and kept his mouth shut.

Better.

I was already feeling exhausted and to argue with him was the last thing on my mind.

Why michelle? Why are you helping him? Why are you even associating with him if he's not thankful for it?

I tried and tried but, couldn't come up with anything to say to myself.

I just kept on staring at him, he ran a hand through his hair before looking away.

"Are you done?"

I knew what he meant. I was ogling at him, without a blink. Oops.

"Are you?" I said, smirking and pressed the red button to call for the nurse.

Instinctively, a male nurse came with a wheelchair and helped me plopping him down on it.

I strolled it towards outside. The nurse helped me make him sit in the passenger's seat of his yellow truck.

"Ow," he grumbled, as I quickly squeezed his hand. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry..."

Instead of answering me, he looked down at my hand squeezing his.

"Uh-ah... I-I'm sorry." I pulled my hand away and shut his door.

'What the hell is going on michelle??!' I cursed myself for doing what I did. But, Why did I do that?

Sighing heavily, I made my way towards the driver's seat and hurriedly slipped inside.

I was getting a gut feeling as if this night would be the longest of all.

***

I kicked open his apartment door, I just knew it would not be locked. It was dark, the only light was the one outside his apartment which helped me step inside. With a quick look around the room, I switched on the lights—stumbling to balance him. The sedative started to work in his system.

His apartment looked as if someone just burglarised it. Everything was out of place, scattered on the floor, and there was hardly any piece of furniture other than one long couch, where I presumed he might've been sleeping. Yuck...

No offence.

He clutched the headrest of the couch, in the meanwhile I quickly cleaned the messy—piled up with unwashed clothes— couch to lie him down.

Once he was comfortably deposited and secured in the warm but, thin red blanket of his, I poured him the glass of water—thinking he might be thirsty.

He helped himself, sitting back up and gulped few sips down his parched throat.

I found myself peering at him, he had a small gash on the right side of his head, his nose and lips were swelled, his left cheek had a blue bruise, and what not!

My gaze fell on his knuckles and the old wound, which he got last week by punching his wall, was still there as if he didn't bother to bandage it at all.

"Where's your medical box?" I queried, taking the glass back from his hand. Our fingers brushed together and I intentionally ignored the shiver in my spine.

He looked up at me with his brownie sleepy eyes.

"Why are you doing this, Michelle? What do you want?" He whispered, his voice huskier than ever.

It was the first time he called me Michelle. My name from his voice just made my stomach drop down to my knees. And sounding like a crazy hopeless romantic cliché girl, I've to confess that for the first time in my life I liked the sound of Michelle more than Elle.

"Sometimes people do things not because they want something out of it... I want to help and I'm not asking." I said something absurd, I guess. Probably in need of dodging away THE question.

I knew he was already half asleep, as soon as he closed his eyes. I pulled up the blanket close to his neck. It was freaking cold in his shabby apartment.

'I am sorry. But, that's same question I've been asking myself too.' I spoke more to him as if he'll hear my thought.

I kneeled down beside him, just to have a better and clear look of him. I swept away the hair which rested on his forehead. They felt soft, very smooth as I yearned to do it once again but eventually, restrained myself as I stood up and stomped out of his apartment.

Why the hell did I just do that?

***

It was darker than usual or so I thought. I kept on yawning and wiping away the exhausted tears, which formed with every yawn all the way to my place.

I didn't understand how was I still managing to smile after all the harsh words he said to me.

Maybe because, he didn't mean a word.

But, even somewhere in the middle of all the lies there's always some hidden truth. What if he really didn't want me to help him or be with him?

No...

I pushed the worthless-mind-distracting thought away taking a last turn towards my block. Leaving my car at the Brook made me walk all the way from his place to mine. Which not to mention took me exactly thirty-five minutes.

I loudly huffed once I spotted the huge white house with a green lawn and a beautiful porch. I checked my watch; I knew I was really late, and it was around midnight. I was absolutely past my curfew timing and just like a cherry on top, I totally zoomed out to call Marissa about my whereabouts—though, Justin had already done that.

Ringing the bell, I waited for her to open the door. But, it seemed as if it was taking longer than usual for her to welcome me home. Maybe she dozed of while waiting? Or maybe...

I rang again and impatiently waited for the door to get opened. I heard the footsteps getting closer and relief washed over my face—as I didn't have to sleep outside and freeze to death!

Finally, awaits my hot bubble bath and some coffee perhaps with cupcakes... Yum, my stomach just growled. Cue grinning.

I was exhausted as fuck and parched like an elephant. My legs were visibly shaking with all the running around.

The door finally opened,

"Marissa I—"

My remaining words rolled back down my throat as soon as I realized it wasn't Marissa who unlocked the door. The intense glare of dark emerald orbs glowering down at me, made my stomach flinch.

MY DAD.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! I am sooooooo dead!

I just knew this would happen after all I left my god damn car at Brook!

"Where were you? Have you even noticed the time, Michelle Reynold?" He questioned, making some space for me to head inside.

I shivered as I walked past him and he closed the door behind me.

I swallowed the lump formed at the back of my throat, trying to come up with something.

It was very shadowy in the living room. I saw few opened files and books resting on the centre table along with two empty mugs of coffee.

Dad was definitely waiting for me. Geez! I'm so screwed!!!

Goodbye, my sweat world. I am leaving for heaven.

"Where were you?" Before I could open my mouth, he quickly added, "Have a seat first. We need to talk about couple of things..." That was my Cue to immediately sit down and listen and probably agree with whatever he would say to me.

I nodded and sat across from him. He looked calm.

Bad... very bad.

"I-I was at kim's." I finally found the courage to lie. I knew he knew where I was but, I just didn't want to be the first one to say it.

"Are you sure that you were with Kimmy Richards? And not at the Brook watching an illegal fight, which might close all the doors of your prospective future if anyone get to know about it? Don' you realise how much your mother and I have sacrificed for you? That... you're already starting to ruin it all for the worthless fun? Do you've any idea how mortified I was when I got the call from the police station and they told me that they would like to have you interrogated to be sure if there weren't any drugs involved... Did anyone of your friends forced you to go there? If so, you can tell me. I'll handle it."

Drugs? What the!!!!

What've I done?

I couldn't believe that I was perspiring in the month of November.

I froze. I knew this would happen because I left my car parked there. Wow... Someone said, helping can cost you fortune. I totally agreed.

My hands twiddled in my lap, "No dad. It was just me. I'm sorry it won't happen again. And there weren't any drugs. It was just a fight." I honestly, apologized to him but, he didn't seem to trust my words.

That's not my problem now...

My dad's not exactly a very candid figure. He's very strict with some of his instructions—one of which I'd already broken. He's kinda smile-less-work-more person.

He's always packed in his professional suit and ready to go for work, daddy. He never made me breakfast like Kim's dad did on weekends or he never took me out on dinners like Justin's dad did or helped me in my studies like sophie's dad did.

Actually, I just realized that I never had a real father. He's just the person who helped in giving me birth!

My tears strolled down to my cheeks. I was tired of holding them back. I felt more like family with a person like Evan—who probably hates me— but, still.

"Here..." He handed me a tissue. I really felt as if I was a stranger to him. Couldn't he just stand up, let his ego aside and hug me like a father would do in this kinda situation?

"No, thanks. I'm fine. I'm really exhausted. I would like to go to my room." I declared, looking on the floor.

"Not yet. I told you there's something I need to talk to you about." He spoke in demanding and dominating tone.

I couldn't find in myself to quarrel with him.

I told ya it would be the longest night of all.

I glanced up, nodding at him. Dad had blonde hair with some gray outshining in them. His green eyes always looked calm but, he usually wasn't. That's just a deceiving look he always carried. I was used to it by now.

"An apology isn't everything. I need an explanation, Michelle. Why would you even go there? I never thought you were interested in stuff like that?! Now, don't tell me that you've gotten a tattoo too." He said, frowning at me and scaring me even more.

What? Dad... really?

This is what you know of me or think of me?

Tsk! Well, I'm not disappointed but, glad that at least you think of your unwanted daughter.

I laughed inwardly at myself.

I looked away from his green eyes—which I inherited the same, and explained a very little bit totally excluding Nobody out of it.

I didn't want him to get in any trouble than he already was.

"And what about your phone? Who did that? I know you're very good with hands so, don't take it on yourself—and I've already talked to your mom."

Great! Mom...

Now, there wasn't any room for lies, as she probably had told him the whole truth.

"It's not exactly his fault... I-I... just bumped into him and my phone fell down, and the screen broke off." I tried to say all of it as soothingly as I could.

"What's his name? The person blindly walking through the hallway? Why didn't you come to me when it happened?"

"No... it wasn't his fault. I was the one who—"

"His name please?" He questioned, deadpanned, putting pressure on me with his words.

Oh god! What should I do? Dad will make sure he'll pay for it and Evan will definitely get in trouble...

"Michelle, I asked you something!" His jaw hardened. His voice was so intense that I immediately blurted out,

"Evan Royce."

He nodded, refilling his coffee mug. "I'll take care of him. You don't have to fear him anymore. You're Michelle Reynold. People should fear you..." He gave one of his usual and favourite proud family talk.

Yes. I was rude, bitch, almost heartless because I was turned into one until...

Dad's voice snapped me back to the current situation, "And about what happened tonight, it should not happen ever again! As far as for your punishment... From Monday onwards Marissa will drop and pick you up from school. No more parties or fun. It's your senior and most important year. I don't want you wasting your precious time enjoying any illegal fights anymore with the people who might not even say 'hi' once you graduate... Do you understand?"

No. Justin, Kim, Sophie, and Martin will always be my friends. I know that in my heart. Nothing would part us. I was certain of that.

But, I kept my mouth shut and nodded to his conditions.

Like I had a choice.

My pulse immensely increased. That was no way to handle things! He can't cage me like that! Why dad? I didn't do anything awful...

I ran upstairs and slammed the door shut as fast as I can because I couldn't breathe anymore.

✖️✖️✖️

I would like to say one thing, don't judge. Everything happens for a reason. You might get surprised with Nobody anytime soon:) Who knows😉

Please don't forget to VOTE/COMMENT/FOLLOW/ SHARE✔️

Thank You, it means a lot to me.