BitterSweet - 1

Chapter 19

I've been stuck in in this room for five days now. The good thing is, is that my leg is stronger and I can walk on it now. The bad things are; is that Amilla comes in and moans at me 24/7, I've missed the last episode of vampire diaries and when Clay comes in to the room. He barley looks at me. It's like that kiss we had was a dream. I've even started to wonder if I imagined it. I close my eyes and remember the soft tingle of his lips on mine. Oh crap, it's not fair! How could he even do this to me? I open my eyes and stare down at the boring magazine which is about rich people who eat boring fishy things and live in castles, (Amilla gave it to me,) when the door opens and Clay walks in. I ignore him and pretend to be interested in the mag,

"Scarlett." He says my name softly, his voice is husky, the smell of his soft aftershave fills the air and surrounds me, it's hypnotising. I know if I look up, his green eyes would be staring at me, waiting for an answer but I don't. No. Why the hell should I listen to him? He treats me like I'm not even here for five bloody days and now, now he comes in with his incredible hotness and drowning eyes expecting me to be all good and sweet and...

"OK?" He says. I ignore whatever question he has just asked me. In fact I think about plugging in the earphones of my new MP3 player, (which he brought me,) and turning Jessie J's songs up full blast, but I don't. He already thinks I'm a kid, better try and act like a grown women,

"Did you listen?" He asks. I sigh loudly and slowly drift my gaze to his face,

"Yes Mr Blackers? I'm sorry. I was reading, what is so important Sir?" I almost smile at how polite and posh I sound, but I don't, this is my new plan. He wants to ignore me? Fine. He's just a stupid, hot, all too sexy body guard. Big deal. Clay blinks his lush green eyes a few times in surprise. I hide a smile, good I've shocked him,

"Why are you talking to me like that?" He says frowning,

"Like what? After all you are only my bodyguard. Would you perhaps like me to say Sir instead?" I lift my head higher and point my nose in the air, just like my mum use to do when she was pretending to be posh, and I think she would be proud of how snobby I sounded,

"Scarlett..."

"It's Miss Burns to you now." I interrupt him. He glares at me and I know I've made him angry but I don't care,

"How can you say that? After everything I've done." He starts to say but again I interrupt him,

"What you have done is save my life. I believe that was your job?" I lift an eyebrow and stare at him. His face is cold but it's still hot, I feel like crumbling and jumping off the bed and kissing him, but I can't. I have more pride and he can't treat me like this,

"Yes. It's my job." He says softly barely keeping the anger out of his voice,

"So please. Tell me what you wanted so I can continue to read this incredible fascinating magazine." I say. Clay turns away and looks out the window. Outside a road roars down cars and people walk down with shopping bags. We're in a town hotel, around us are shops and clubs and cafes. Apparently we're safe here for two more days and then we leave,

"I'm going out tonight." Clay still looks away, "We have some extra guards on duty and I just wanted to make sure you're OK with it."

"Whatever. Where you going?" I ask curious,

"Out with Amilla." He mutters,

"Like searching for the gang sorta stuff?" I ask frowning,

"No like eating food in a restaurant and having a drink sorta stuff." He says. Ouch, his words hurt me. It's like I can't breath, how could he do this to me? I thought, I thought. Oh hell Scarlett what did you think? That he liked you? You're just a kid. I try not to let the tears in my eyes fall but they do and he sees. His eyes flash and I see the pain in them but it's gone in a moment replaced by stone,

"I'm your bodyguard Scarlett. I save your life, protect you, help you. I can't, can't, I just can't...." He stutters and stares at me. I look away and wipe my eyes,

"So you keep telling me." I grip the stupid magazine and stare at it, not really seeing the photos on the pages,

"Please understand." He mutters, "I want us to be friends, but your safety has to come first."

"I understand." I whisper and then I lift my eyes up to meet his deep green ones, "You can't just pick me up and drop me whenever you're bored." I say the words before they get caught in my throat,

"I never. I never meant for that kiss to happen." He wipes a hand through his gelled hair, "It was a mistake."

"A mistake I won't let happen again." He may be hot and god like, but I've got pride, I won't be a toy at his disposal. Clay closes his eyes for a few seconds looking hurt,

"Will you be OK?" He says,

" Just go out and have fun Clay. Don't worry about me. She's probably waiting for you." I manage to say without sounding weak,

"Scarlett..." He starts,

"Just go Clay. Please go." I mutter and he leaves in a waft of pine aftershave.

******

******

When I've pulled myself together and the pain inside turns to a numb feeling. I start thinking, and I make a plan. My leg is better and I am fed up with being stuck in this bed staring at these yellow walls . I want some fun. I wanna do something reckless, and I don't give a crap if Clay cares or not. I pull the covers off in a flash and pick up the new rucksack of clothes which he brought me. Boring plain tops and skinny jeans. Perfect for runaway stuff, rubbish for what I'm going to do. I find a wad of cash in the side pockets so it doesn't matter anyway. The sun outside is setting slowly and a warm golden glare shines through smiling on my skin. All I have to do is get out of this stupid hotel without anybody recognising me. I smile and pull on the boring clothes and trainers. The door is unlocked so I walk out into the white corridor. I nod with satisfaction, hurrying down the steps. The lobby is filled with people,chatting and smiling.I notice the gorilla bodyguards dressed in black standing by the walls. Slowly and carefully I slip into the crowd and plant a fake smile on my face. I really should be an actor. Two minutes later I'm outside in the setting sun and I'm walking down the crowded street. I can almost hear Clay telling me to get back and not be stupid, but Clay can go do himself. He's going out. Well what the hell, so am I.

*****

*****

I brought a blue midnight dress in a sale and the lady in the shop gave me the perfect heels and handbag to match. They're not designer which makes my heart pang but still it's clothes and I think I look pretty bad ass in them. I went into a shop called Boots and brought make-up. It was nice to shop. Hell, it was nice to get away from everyone and pretend I was a normal teenager on a normal shopping spree. The hairdressers styled my hair as well and did my nails. I had to bribe them fifty quid because they were closing but they done a fantastic job. I try not to think about Clay or the stupid ice queen but I can't help it. Have they realised I'm gone yet? Are they already out? Stop it Scarlett! Who gives a toss what he is doing. It's all about you! It was all about me. As the sun gave way too the moon, the town's shops closed and the clubs opened. I smiled. I didn't feel happy, but I was doing it. The plan was in motion. I was rebelling, being the rich b***h Clay thought I was. I take a breath and join the line of Clubbers. Yes I'm seventeen, but the bouncer on the door, only winks at me and waves me into the flashing lights and pumping music of the night club. This was it, take a breath Scarlett, head up high. I step into the lights and let the music pump into me. It's a remix version of Jessie j's Nobody's perfect and I find my lips following the words in ease. I swagger to the bar and ask for a vodka and red-bull. If I'm being a rebel I might as well do it all out. A cute guy smiles and tells the barman that he'll pay. I smile at him, his black hair is flicked up with gel, it reminds me of Clay's a bit, but his eyes are ice blue instead of melting green grass,

"I'm Greg!" He shouts over the music,

"Scarlett!!" I flash him a smile and a wink. He laughs and points to the dance floor. I nod and let him take my hand and everything is OK. I feel the sadness being washed away with each drink I take. Even when Greg kisses me and leaves I don't care because another guy soon replaces him and I dance with them. We hit other clubs, big ones, small ones. I even get a taxi with a group of girls and guys and we all go to a huge club which stays open all night. A guy who is older than Clay is with me now, his hair is blond and he has brown eyes, I like what he's wearing because it's diesel and any guy that wears diesel is cool by me. A black and white soft stripped shirt and a pair of denim jeans. I've forgotten his name but I don't care. I just call him Hun instead,

"Here!" He shouts as we stand outside getting a breath of air. He hands me a fag. I've never really been interested in smoking but, I take the fag and breath it back choking like mad. He laughs and pats me on the back. I smile and take another drag and it's not so bad. We head back inside and I disappear off to the toilets. A group of girls all stand in the mirror applying make-up,

"And omg he is soo hot! I swear I am gonna f**k him tonnnnnnnniiiiiiighhhhht!!!" One of the girls shouts and laughs. They all laugh and so do I,

"Hey sweetie." Someone says to me. I turn and see a girl I faintly recognise from the taxi ride,

"Hey!" I smile and add lip gloss in a wobbly line,

"You want one?" She shows me a small tablet which is pink and has a smiley face on it's surface,

"Um. No thanks." I say,

"Oh go on. It only makes you happy, really happy." She says and hands it to me. I stare at it. Even when she's gone I'm still looking at it. Happy? Drugs are bad, drugs are wrong. Happy though? A voice which sounds like Clay's seems to talk to me. Don't do it Scarlett, get the hell back to the hotel. I take a breath and pop the tablet in my mouth.

What the hell.

******

******

Another taxi drive later, a new club, a new guy, a new drink. My head spins and I laugh for no reason. Rhianna starts singing S&M and I swing around the dance pole. The club lights thump around me and I smile and stagger the wrong way. The guy catches me and brings me close to him. He is good looking probably the best guy here tonight. He hasn't tried to take me to his house yet and he smells nice. I like the way his arms circle my back,

"Are you OK?" He asks shouting. I nod and sway again, he laughs and plants a kiss on my cheek. I turn and kiss him on the lips, it's not the first kiss of the night for me, but it's the first that makes me feel full of tingles and heat. I move closer and let his hands travel around me. Let them land on my hips, but suddenly it feels wrong. Everything is wrong, if only I had one more pill, one more drink then everything would be OK. I pull away and run out of the club. The air hits me and I slump against the wall, suddenly I just want to go back to the hotel. The guy follows and reaches me in seconds,

"Wanna walk?" He says and I nod and take his hand. We walk down the road,

"I need to get a taxi." I mutter. The guys nods and pulls out his iphone,

"You mind if we share?" He asks. I shrug. He tells the taxi driver his name is Flint. I smile because it's a nice name and seconds later we're in the back of a taxi driving back to the hotel. My head spins and I lean on Flint, his hand wraps around me. It's nice, to be touched by someone and not worry about it being a mistake,

"Here we are." The driver says. Flint helps me out and smiles at me,

"Thank you." I mutter,

"What for?" He frowns,

"For not being a jerk." I chuckle. I hear a laugh in the night air and I know who it is. I twist and see Clay and Amilla stepping out a taxi behind us. I freeze and stare at Clay, he's smiling but not holding her hand, they're dressed up in posh clothes. It's clear they must have gone to a club or something because of the time and then Clay sees me, in my dress, with Flint and his mouth hangs open. I see a ripple of angry fly through him. I smile and turn back to Flint,

"I'll ring you OK?" I smile and slip his phone number in my bag, he smiles and I kiss him on the lips in front of Clay,

"Get inside now Scarlett!" Clay growls behind me. Flint pulls back and looks confused,

"OK. Come on." I pull Flint towards the hotel doors and Clay blocks my path,

"Inside alone." He pulls Flint off me, "You, f**k off." He snarls and pushes him away. I watch slightly amused. Amilla has already gone inside,

"See you soon!" I wink at Flint and he smiles and gets inside the taxi. I watch it zoom away leaving me alone with Clay who looks mad. Bad ass mad.

Ah hell....