Hunting the Fairy Tale

Chapter 10 - Riding in a Car with Boys

Willow

Arriving at the car after school, I'm startled to find Tanner and Asher waiting there as well. I greet them a little awkwardly, not sure that I want to be alone with them. I have no idea how to act around them when I'm all by myself. Tanner especially makes me feel all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. He is casually leaning up against the car, studying me with a lazy grin on his face. When I blush and look away from him, Asher gives me a soothing smile. He seems to understand my distress and sympathizes with it. Maybe he's not all that closed off after all.

"Come on," he gently says to Tanner, causing him to turn his disconcerting attention away from me with an amused laugh. My word, the boy is all golden light and dazzling beauty! I cannot stand looking at him for too long, it causes rather uncomfortable heart palpitations.

I'm profoundly relieved to see Hunter hurrying over to us. He unlocks the car as soon as the remote signal is within range. Asher opens the trunk so that everybody can load their baggage into it and moves to take my bag, but I shake my head, giving him a slight smile. "Thanks, but I'll keep it on my lap."

"What are you doing?" Hunter wants to know, seeing me clutching my bag to my chest.

"I'll keep my bag with me and sit in the back. That way I can get out of the car faster," I explain. "It will save time."

Hunter tilts his head, arching his brows.

"Why don't I just slow down when we reach the approximate area of our neighbourhood and get someone to throw you out the window in the general direction of the house? Imagine how much time we'd save then."

Why is he being like this?

I frown at him, my chest constricting with uncertainty and he shakes his head, smiling a little dolefully. "You can put your bag on the back seat if it makes you feel better, but at least sit in the front," he suggests a lot more gently.

"Asher won't be comfortable in the back and then you'll end up being a taxi driver when I get out. It will take longer to drop me off if he has to change his seat to sit in the f-front..." I explain. Seeing Hunter's frown deepen as I progress, I eventually just let my speech taper off.

"I'll be fine-"

"Hey, Miss Priss! Why is it okay for me to sit in the back? Are you trying to say that I'm small?" Tanner pipes up, interrupting Asher. His outburst actually improves the mood a little for some reason.

"I'm trying to say that Asher is taller than you and I am not Miss Priss!" I snap at him and to my surprise, he gives a satisfied chuckle. He really enjoys yanking people's chains. The way he's gazing at me makes me feel extremely vulnerable. It's disconcerting that someone with such an angelic face and smooth, gentle voice can be so horribly un-angelic and everything but gentle.

"Only about one centimetre," he points out as if that matters.

"Four point seven centimetres," Asher corrects him.

"Oh, wow, thank you, Mr Precise!" Tanner growls, making Asher chuckle.

"I thought that was Jakes," Hunter corrects him, and after thinking about it a little, Tanner agrees that, yes, Mr Precise would indeed be Jake Davenport.

"You can sit in the front with me and Ash then," Hunter tells me with a scowl. All three of his passengers are now giving him odd looks. That makes no sense at all. There's barely enough room in front for Hunter and Asher. Besides, there are only two seats in the front.

♫

Asher