Duched(12)

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

 

 

How the hell could this morning get any worse?

 

 

 

There's a light tapping at my window.

 

 

 

And that's why you should never ask that question.

 

 

 

I look his direction with a displeased expression.

 

 

 

"Problem?"

 

 

 

"Pretty sure my battery is dead." Suspicious I question slowly, "Did you kill my battery so I would have to get a ride from you?"

 

 

 

The sarcastic expression on his face says it all.

 

 

 

Hey! It could happen. He did show up with coffee out of nowhere. What? Of course I turned my lights off last night. Oh...oh the light I turned on to look for my cell phone. I'm pretty sure I turned it off...

 

 

 

"Do you need a ride?"

 

 

 

I let my shoulders drop. "Yes..."

 

 

 

"I'd love to give you one," Kellan says sweetly before letting his smile turn villainous, "in exchange for a date tonight."

 

 

 

A combination of shock and frustration flood my face. "Extortion? You think the way to a girl's heart is extortion?"

 

 

 

"I don't know the way to a girl's heart." He leans his free arm against the roof of my car. "I always end up taking a detour down south."

 

 

 

Disgusted and irked, I open the car door, pleased when it knocks into his body in what appears to be a painful way.

 

 

 

Prince of Prickery. Is that a real country now?

 

 

 

After collecting my things, I exit my car, and state, "I'll walk."

 

 

 

"You'll miss your test."

 

 

 

Fuck. He's right. And I know he's right. And he knows he's right, which makes this entire situation even worse. Remind me what I did again to piss off the universe this morning?

 

 

 

"How'd you know I have a test?"

 

 

 

"Saw your textbook open and your notes while I was waiting for you to change."

 

 

 

"Nosy."

 

 

 

Kellan winks. "Come on, Brie. One date. That's all I'm asking for."

 

 

 

"Why?" I adjust my shoulder bag. "You've probably got a literal line of women who want to sleep with you. Why are you bothering me? Is this that whole challenges are more fun thing? Is there some sort of wager involved? Just tell me who it is I need to lie to and we can end this now."

 

 

 

He lightly laughs and the sound is unexpectedly intoxicating.

 

 

 

Not cool...  

 

 

 

"No bets. You're just fun to be around-"

 

 

 

"You mean argue with."

 

 

 

"Isn't that what I said?" I twitch a glare, which is when he adds with another grin, "See. I like you."

 

 

 

"You don't know me."

 

 

 

"Then let me."

 

 

 

Don't swoon over him! He's not a real prince!

 

 

 

Knowing the time is ticking for me to get to class, I shrug. "Fine. One date. And I get to pick where and when."

 

 

 

He surrenders his free hand. "Name it."

 

 

 

"Get me to class first."

 

 

 

"Swiss," he yells at the man who has been waiting. "Go ahead and start the vehicle, please. We'll be headed to Ashwin University."

 

 

 

The man nods at the instructions while we make our way his direction.

 

 

 

"Swiss? Like the cheese?"

 

 

 

Kellan shakes his head. "Like the army knife."

 

 

 

"That's a little more threatening than the dairy product."

 

 

 

"Let's hope so," he chuckles. "Can't imagine my father would be happy paying his retainer if he couldn't do more than go well with roast beef."

 

 

 

"His retainer? Do you use him often?"

 

 

 

"Every time I step foot in the states."

 

 

 

"And you're from Doctenn? Which is where again?"

 

 

 

"It's an island country in the Atlantic. Bit to the right of the UK. We're more of a mash up of them and Americans. Everything from cultural to language. It's a running joke we're the best of both worlds."

 

 

 

"I thought jokes were supposed to be funny."