Chapter 18- Their Hideout
1371 Words
THALIA
I leave Wade and run off to search for Nika.
She sees me and I wave at her.
"Sorry," I say. "Were you waiting long?"
"Not at all. Oh, and here." She hands me a similar cupcake to what she ate earlier.
"You didn't have!" I say.
She smiles at me. "Well, I felt really bad eating your cupcake... and I said I would buy you one, so just accept it."
She makes some puppy eyes on me.
I smile and take it from her.
"Thanks," I owe her one. I should buy her something too for next time.
Nika clings to me as we walk on our way to the Physics classroom.
Thankfully, our professor is out sick I don't feel to be in the mood to listen to lectures right now.
So we just spend time writing down what's being written on the board by our class secretary.
Then when it was time for classes to end, Nika sends me a message.
Girl, sorry. But I have something to do can you go back to the dorms without me?
I open it and type in my reply. Alright. But what's up? Did something happen? I press send.
Nothing important! But I'll be back in the dorms later when I'm done! She replies back.
Alright, I'll see you later! I reply.
Nika heads off without looking back as soon as the bell rings.
I fix my things and also head out to the lockers.
Then I see the three guys leaning on their own lockers. The three jerks I didn't want to see at all.
The three close their lockers after I place some of my stuff inside and I close my own locker.
Then Cheshire walks up to me and grabs my wrist.
"Let's go," He says.
But I don't budge.
"And if I don't want to?"
He sighs and gestures to Wade. Who grabs my other wrist as well.
"Why make it so difficult?" Cheshire says again.
"Just come with us." Wade says.
I shudder. Then I look at Zach. He also moves near me.
"Thali, just come."
Wow. Did he really just say that? How dare he.
"I said no," I hiss. "Let go of me."
Chester tilts his head. "Then what if I say it's an order, as the principal's son." He dares.
F***. So he's back to more threats. I really really hate him right now. But my heart beats uncontrollably.
"F-Fine. I'll go." I glare at him.
"Good. Follow me." He says and starts to drag me while Wade holds on to my other wrist and Zach pushes me from behind.
I almost stumble but Wade is there helping me so I mutter a small thanks while he beams.
Meanwhile, Chester keeps walking ahead.
I glare at his broad back. He will never see it anyway.
We walk into a lush forest. I just follow after them with Zach and Wade at each side of me.
Wow. Talk about keeping me captive and escorting me like a prisoner.
Then Chester stops walking making me bump into him while Wade lets go of my wrist and moves ahead. There's a house in front of us.
"What is this place...?" I ask.
Wade walks to his bike while Chester turns to me.
"Our hideout."
I scoff. I wonder how many women they brought here. With how famous they are, I'm sure there have been a lot.
Chester takes out his keys and hands it over to me.
"You do the honors. Open it." He says.
Zach gives me another push. He does that a lot since before we got here. Is he more excited than me?
I sigh and use the keys then slowly turn the door knob open.
I gape in shock at the sight. The room is filled with pink colors and plushies. They couldn't have prepared all of these for me, would it? Who knows? Maybe there have been other women here before me.
"Why is it so... pink? Plus these plushies..."
Zach chuckles. "Guess someone overdid it with the decorating."
Chester doesn't say a word and just watches me walk inside.
Wade then finally shows up. "Because girls like all these stuff." He says.
I guess he has a point... But I don't really like this color. I scrunch my eyes.
I look around some more. While Chester goes to the kitchen.
"Anything you want to drink?" He calls out.
"Grape juice for me." Says Wade.
"Chocolate milk." Zach says this time.
"Just plain water for me, thanks." I say.
Zach turns to me. "Just water, really? Thali?"
I don't say a word and keep looking around. It is the only thing that came to my mind.
At least, with water, I'll know if something has been added on it.
I took a step forward to the couch and I grab a stuffed bear plushie.
"Would you like to give it a name?" Zach steps close to me saying the word so sweetly.
"Whose is this?" I ask.
"It can be yours, if you name them." He says with a wink.
So is it his...? I turn my head to look at the stuffed bear again contemplating on a name to give it.
"I'll go with..." I look at the stuffed bear examining it closely then turning it on its back and then flipping it upside down and turning it back right side up. "Choco."
Zach's eyes sparkle. "Just like my favorite drink. Nice choice, Thali."
"Mmm. Thanks." I hand the stuffed bear to him and continued to walk around.
Just then... I find a room upstairs with a tape over it warning anyone to 'keep out.'
Curious, I try to take the tape off when I feel a hold on my hand.
I turn my head and see Zach.
He shakes his head at me. "Thali, you shouldn't."
"Why? What's in there?" I ask.
"Chester will get mad at me if I say it. Let's go back down, yeah?"
I pause. What could it be in there? What could Cheshire have been hiding just to place a tape all over it telling people to stay out?
I can't resist the curiosity. Maybe I'll go check it out some other time. If they give me a spare key here, that is.
I nod at Zach. "Very well. Let's go back down."
He nods and holds my hand while his other hand holds the plushie.
I chuckle inwardly. It doesn't suit him. A bulky guy carrying a stuffed bear plushie.
He pauses and turns to me as he raises an eyebrow.
"Thali? What are you thinking about?"
I look at him. "N-Nothing!" I worry if he might get mad if I say it.
He turns to me. "Are you still curious about that room? Please, tell me you're not."
"N-No!" I blurt out suddenly. I'm curious still but I can't say that.
"Please, Thali. Forget about it for now." He says pleading.
Weird. This is the first time I see him pleading. It must be serious if he pleads now. He does really care about Chester so much.
Zach sighs. "Would it make you forget about it if I tell you a secret of mine?"
Secret? So he does have secrets too. But what would stop my curiosity? I tilt my head.
"I love hairstyling." He says while reaching for the strands of my hair.
Is he trying to sweet talk me now to make me forget? But I won't fall for it.
"Uh, I already know that," I roll my eyes.
"More preferably yours. Heck, I would even give you VIP when you go to my salon." He continues.
I pause. So what he did back then about my hair... is because he wants to be a hairstylist in the future? I purse my lips as I think and then my lips curve upwards as I smile.
"If that's the case, I'll keep you up to it." I should not think about that room for now.
He beams at me. "Great! Look forward to it. Now, shall we go, downstairs?" He says.
"Yeah, let's!" I say as I take his hand once more and then we head back down.
- Writer
