Skylar paused, taken aback by his rude question. Glaring at the side of his head, she fired back just as she heard the click of the seat belt connecting. "Do you have a habit of asking people what their habits are? Apparently, according to you, I have many habits. And my answer is yes."
Locking her in, he looked right at her, face to face, lips to lips. She gasped. Though he was way too close for comfort, she enjoyed the proximity, yet at the same time she was frightened by his angry eyes seeming as though they were penetrating through hers. "Well, you shouldn't. It's dangerous. I should put you in the naughty corner."
What did he mean by the naughty corner? "I'm not a child."
"Then stop acting like one."
Startled by his tone and not wanting him to think she was the reckless type, she decided to tell him the truth, "No. My answer is no. I don't have a habit of conversing with shirts, and I don't have a habit of dancing with strangers, especially drunk ones. In fact, if you must know, this was my first time even drinking that awful piss water."
"Piss water? First time, huh?" His face relaxed and his lips puckered. She could tell he was trying to hold in his laughter. "You must have enjoyed it somewhat. You sure showed it on the dance floor."
"Do you have a habit of watching people dance?"
"Only the ones that demand attention."
What was that supposed to mean? Embarrassed he had been watching her dance, she didn't respond. Though she hated to admit it, he was right. As childish as it may have seemed, she'd been trying to get his attention.
"Lost your tongue? If you want to make me jealous, don't dance."
Skylar felt her face burning, knowing he was aware of what she had tried to do, and from his rude comments. "I wasn't."
"Uh huh. You can keep saying that to yourself. I'm not buying it."
"And I don't belong in a naughty corner," she added.
"We'll see about that."
With an exasperated sigh, Skylar's eyes fell in the same line as Mason's gaze, to where her dress had gathered up, showing more of her thighs than it should. His eyes moved up to hers again, revealing a slight flush on his cheeks. He turned away from her and stood up. His obvious stare made Skylar hot. It had almost the same effect as if he had run his hand up her thigh. She felt her face flush too, knowing that he had taken notice of her, and she couldn't help but smile inwardly because he found her attractive enough to look at.
Skylar watched him enter his side of the car, but just before he got in, she saw him sweep the perimeter with his eyes as if he were making sure no one was around. Maybe he didn't want to be seen with her. Mason started the car, pressed the gas pedal, and took off. His hands held tightly to the steering wheel, and he drove without uttering a word for several blocks. Finally, he spoke, "Would you like to hear some music?"
"No, thanks. Well, actually, you can turn it on if you'd like," Skylar replied, trying to sound polite. She didn't know why her heart was pounding with nervousness. He was just taking her home. It wasn't a date. He didn't say anything. Instead, he looked over, gave her a quick sideways smile, and turned back to look straight ahead.
Skylar hadn't given him the address or told him which way to go, but oddly enough, he was going in the right direction. She didn't bother to ask how, though it was creeping her out. Instead, she kept her eyes glued to the familiar streets and street signs to make sure he wasn't taking her anywhere else. Finally, unable to hold in her curiosity, she had to know. "Do you know where you're going?"
"Yes, I picked up my brother at your cousin's house."
"You did?"
"The night when you almost drowned, my brother and Kayla took you home in Kayla's car. He left his car at the beach and asked me to pick him up at Kayla's house."
"Oh." Now it all made sense. She began to relax, breathing easily again. "I never got to thank you for saving me."
He gave a short laugh and a quick grin, still looking ahead. "Which time? I mean, tonight?"
Which time? Was there more than one time? "Yes, tonight. Do you remember throwing a guy across the room?"
"Yes. He deserved it." Mason sounded angry.
"Were you at the beach?" She didn't know why she had asked this question. It'd just slipped out.
"Nope," he said flatly, gluing his eyes straight ahead. "Why would you ask that?"
"Because I could've sworn I saw-"
"You were delusional. That happens when people are in a state of unconsciousness. But thanks for thinking of me before you almost drowned."
What? I didn't want to think of you. You would be the last person on earth I would think of before I died. And how did you know I was unconscious? When Kayla found me, I wasn't. Skylar blazed with anger. Being that his tone was flat, she didn't know if he was being serious or if he was joking. Regardless, he was arrogant and rude. Not knowing what to say, she didn't respond. Instead, she looked out the window.
The hot puffs of irritated breath Skylar blew out her mouth fogged a small section of the window. After she wiped it clear, she focused on the dim streetlights, thinking this was going to be one heck of a long ride. It was only a twenty-minute drive, but to Skylar, it felt like an eternity.
When he pulled onto their street, it was dark. It was close to midnight and the streets in their neighborhood had hardly any street lamps. Relieved she was home, she couldn't get out of the car fast enough.
Skylar unlocked the seat belt and pushed the door handle just as he pulled into the driveway, but before she had the chance to step out, Mason opened the door wider and yanked her out in a hurry with a look of fury. Skylar gasped sharply. A scream for help reached her throat, only to get cut off by Mason's hand. She was locked in his hold with his hand over her mouth. Twisting and fighting, she tried to escape, but to no avail.
"Shhhh!" Mason whispered. "They'll hear you."
Is he crazy? And how did he get to me so fast? Skylar's eyes were wide and confused.
When he noticed her expression, Mason gestured his head to her house. "Something is in there."
Sure enough, the front door was wide open. Skylar shook her head and muttered some noise. Unable to comprehend what she was saying, Mason released his hand and lowered both of them down beside the car.
"That's my cousin's house," Skylar whispered, panicking. Why had he said "something" instead of someone? As sounds of crashing objects and loud inhuman groans filled her ears, she trembled. She had never witnessed a break-in before. "We're being robbed? Call the police."
"The police can't help."
"What do you mean ‘the police can't help?' We can't just stand here." Skylar narrowed her eyes at him, thinking he was out of his mind. "Listen." She stood up.
Mason yanked her down. "Shhh, they will hear you."
"I don't care if they hear me. Then maybe they'll leave."
"Trust me, they won't."
"Trust you?" Skylar scoffed.
"They aren't what you think." Mason sat on the cement with his back against the car. "How did I miss them?" he mumbled, raking his hair back and then standing up.
"How did you miss them? Are they your friends? What's going on?" Skylar's voice was loud. She didn't care that he'd asked her to keep her voice down. Maybe if her voice were loud enough, they would be scared off and just leave.
Mason rolled his eyes. "Great. Now you've got their attention. Run!"
Two men suddenly stood outside the doorway, obviously searching for where the voices had come from. They turned and spotted Skylar dead on. What they did next seemed impossible, but it was real. They suddenly morphed into beast-like forms.
She stood frozen, unable to believe her eyes. Incapable of moving of her own will, there was a powerful yank on her arm, forcing her out of her trance. Mason had seized her wrist as he began to run. Wobbling and unable to run as fast with her two-inch heels on, she swiftly pulled them off as she ran and hooked the back straps over her fingers. They were her favorite pair, and even with monsters behind her, she couldn't let them go. Besides, how would she explain losing her shoes?
Looking over her shoulder to see who-or what-she was dashing madly away from, she saw two hideous creatures on their tail. Skylar was glad Mason had made her start running. Their body structures were grotesque. They appeared to be half beast and half human. Their arms and legs were bulky, like steroids gone wrong. With distorted heads, their bulging yellow eyes were as bright as headlights on a car and their humongous mouths were even too big for their faces. They roared with a vengeance through their shark-like teeth, charging ahead, both with a look that showed no thoughts of mercy.