His hands still interlocked with mine, and I bow my head not looking into his eyes.
"I'm so confused Sorin. Tell me what happened and what's going to happen step by step." He nods up and down, we should have been in class fifteen minutes ago.
We won't be attending any classes today, I believe. He inhales deeply.
"I ran after Mason as soon as Charli said you left. Because Charli was tracking him on her phone, it wasn't difficult for me to follow him."
He sighs and looks down at my lap, where our hands are linked; the look in his eye made me think he might take his hand away from mine for a second. But he doesn't, and I've never been particularly skilled at analyzing people's expressions.
"I thought it was odd that he was in a warehouse, but I drove there anyway since I wasn't thinking straight, and apparently he was expecting me, so I was beaten up by all his men, but I managed to get away because I'm fucking awesome."
I move closer to him, and pinch his forearm, completely forgetting his hurt. He flinches by my touch, and I force myself to give him an apologise through my eyes which he seems to readily easily and gives me a tight smile before responding with "It's alright."
Which is always the same response I give when everything not alright, I gently use my free hand to massage his skin I had pinched and I return back to my place on the bed as something clicked in my head.
"What do you mean his men?" I ask with caution.
"He's a loyal member of the American Mafia, therefore he's surrounded by security and men." He explains his knee begins bouncing up and down as he slips his hand from mine and holds his head in his palms.
"All right," I say, trying to seem as cool as possible, despite the fact that my heart is beating erratically. "What does this mean for us?"
"Us?" He questions, his eyebrow raises and I raise mine in response.
"You got hurt Sorin! If you stayed there any longer you would have been killed. Although that would be good, I wouldn't be known as a lost puppy who follows your around anymore." I joke, but he sends me a scowl in return.
"Hey Sorin I was having a joke," Thought maybe I shouldn't be joking at times like this "Well, the part about people teasing me wasn't a joke but it's fine." I whisper the last part to myself but I'm sure he heard because he immediately sits up from the bed.
"Who is saying that to you? I need a list of their names." His tone changes to a little more hostile, but I can tell it's not meant at me. My lower lip is caught between my teeth.
"Right now, we need to talk about more vital issues." I pull on his hand, and he drags his palm down his face before returning to his seat beside me.
"Charli, my older sister, has told him everything about me. As a result, he'd be aware that I attend this boarding school." I lean against the wall and cock my head to the side while he falls silent for a moment.
"And your point is?"
"We both need to leave for a week, we'll stay with my family or you can stay with yours whichever is more convenient for you. I know my stuff about Mafia's and the American Mafia's only rule is how they don't work on the same case for no longer than a week."
"Wouldn't he assume you're with your family if he shows here and realises we're both gone?" I inquire, a puzzled expression on my face.
"He has no idea where my family lives, because Charli has never allowed him to see them since they would never approve of him." I nod in agreement, drumming my fingers on my thigh, my anxiety over the situation we're both in now starting to hit me.
"Give me your family's home address, and I'll drive you down." He rises from out my bed, walks across to his, and bends down to reach for several cardboard boxes he must have saved from moving his stuff here.
"Pack enough clothes for a week." He says sharply, sending a shiver down my spine. I appreciate that he gave me the option of choosing between his and my family.
We've never discussed our pasts, which I appreciate so the only things we know about one other's lives before we met are that I dealt drugs and he was on the verge of joining the Italian Mafia.
And in this situation, I don't feel like meeting my parents for the first time in years. We exchange texts at least once every two months, but I don't expect to see them again anytime soon.
"Do you mind if I stay with you?" I question approaching my wardrobe and pulling my clothing from their hooks. I see his silence as an indication that he does not want me to stay with him.
"I'll just buy a lousy hotel room for the week," I give him a soft smile bending down to throw my clothes inside the cardboard box.
"I want you to come, Nita. but I have a very big family and they can be overwhelming, I don't want you to be on edge throughout the entire week." I smile thinking about how he's taking my autism into account.
"Sorin, I despise my family. If it becomes too much for me, I'll stay at a nearby motel." As he turns back to face me, his face is filled with worry, but he smiles back at me tenderly.
He walks over to me, and helps me pack my clothes into the cardboard box. Butterflies take over my stomach every time he accidentally brushes his skin against mine, I also sometimes not accidentally brush my arm against his because I love the feelings and sensation it leaves.
"My family are amazing and I love them to death." He speaks as I glance over at my book shelf wondering what books to bring. "I know for sure you'll get along with them, but my family love the crime life."
I smile up at him as I toss every book from my shelf into the cardboard box. "You're carrying the box to your car." My arms are crossed over my chest, and I'm leaning all my weight on to my left leg.
"Did you not hear me I said my family love cri-"
"I heard you clearly, Mr. Hutton, but if I can handle you, I'm confident I can handle the Hutton family."
-semi edited-
