Chapter 17

******

|Anabella's POV|

"Hey, what are you doing? I'm not going in there again"

I shove a protesting Ethan into the wardrobe in a quick movement. I move to join him in, but James enters in right at the moment so I shut the wardrobe and lean against it instead trying desperately to stop myself from shaking in fear hoping he didn't hear anything.

"Come on Anabella, he said you're strong, face him, face him like a man"

But I'm not a man, I'm a girl.

"Whatever, you get my point"

I don't realize I'm mumbling outwardly until..

"What are you saying?, Speak up girl!! Where's my Food you you little bitch!"

I square my shoulders a bit.

"Come on girl, you can do it, face him like a-"

Ah geez, shut up

I stand up straighter taking deep breaths pumping my courage.

"I have not cooked it" I say in a voice I find firm, considering the odds in this case.

..."sir" I add in the end when I notice his nerve wrecking glare on me.

"You" he starts clearly appalled "you talked back at me"

I feel a sense of pride at his surprise, but it didn't last long

"You bitch! You've grown wings huh" he says simultaneously grabbing me he shoves me forcefully against the wall, hitting my head on the wall eliciting a groan from me.

The world around me starts to spin, I feel myself slipping out of consciousness slowly...one more strike, I'm out.

James raises his folded fists to deliver the final knock out, when suddenly.... I swear I didn't hear him move, Ethan grabs his folded fists and squeezes it eliciting a snarl from James as his fists quake,enfolded I'm Ethan's palm.

"What! What the hell is going on here! Who the hell are you supposed to be... Release my hand right this instant, you little whore... Arrggggh" He groans louder as Ethan squeezes his fists tighter at his latter statement.

The menacing glare Ethan throws at him, shakes even I to the last fibre of my bones.

"Let go of my hand boy, you have no right to do this in my house, let go right now" he sputters, his eyes darting from side to side trying desperately not to let his fear show, but failing miserably.

And I in turn bask in the pleasure of watching the man who has terrorized me for a long time quaking in his boots.

"I'll deal with you, you little wench.. just... J-just you wait" he says glaring at me with unhidden resentment.

I stand up, swaying a little as the world around me runs in circles, it takes sometime for me to adjust, both males in the room curiously watching my every move as I walk up to James who is still trying to get back his right arm from Ethan's Grasp.

"Do your worst, I'm not scared of you anymore" I say to his face, Ethan smirks... Making me almost... almost blush

Truth be told, I wouldn't be so smug if Ethan weren't here... But Meh.

"Ah... You're acting all smug I see, just wait until this little guy leaves, it'll be- arrggggh" he screams again as Ethan applies more pressure on his fists

"Never again" he simply says then lets go of his fist.

"Let's go" he says walking out, with me tailing behind him- Nah, we jumped through the window into his room as James stares at us with his mouth agape.

Oh! So that's how he got in

                                    *****

I sit in Ethan's sitting room on his L-shaped couch as he showers.

Let me tell you, it is not comfortable at all, he's singing in there!... And let's just say he doesn't have them voice of an angel.

Friday night and I'm riding solo! Yeah!

On the bright side, It has been keeping me awake for the past few minutes, but it keeps getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open considering I haven't gotten any good sleep for two days straight and... This couch is sooo soft.

I don't know when I fall asleep, but I'm jolted from my position by a knock on Ethan's door, wait.... Lemme rephrase that

Multiple loud bangs on his door

"Ethan! Wake up right now it's seven o'clock!" A voice I recognize as Mrs Brown voice, screams from the other side of the door.

Seven o'clock! How long does he shower?

I wonder as I look around his room noticing his absence

"Ethan! Do you want me to wake you up with a bowl of water again? Wake up now, you know it takes you a million years to shower!"

"I'm coming in" she says

My eyes widen on hearing those three words as my eyes run taking in my surroundings in search of a hiding place

The closet.... again.

Just as the handle of the door twists, I dive into the closet and close it.

It's like double the size of mine, filled with leather jackets, skinny jeans and most of all, Ethan's scent.

I hear Ethan's bathroom door open with a slam just as his bedroom door opens.

"Mum! I can explain" he says quickly obviously nervous.

I shut my eyes and cross my fingers hoping for the best, for the first time luck is on my side.

"What in the world!" She exclaims

"She's not here" Ethan says lowly obviously confused

Thankfully, Ethan mother pays no heed to what he said, seeming more focused on the pressing matters at hand.

"You're awake!? And you're done showering!" She exclaims

"Mum" Ethan starts obviously embarrassed

But us quickly interrupted as his mother gushes

"Oh my God! My baby has finally grown up" she says in that awkward baby voice.

****

Say... fifteen minutes later after Ethan has successfully shooed his mom away, with the excuse of having to dress he opens his closet, probably to pick out clothes.

It's a very awkward moment, with me having never seen a male specie with nothing but a towel around his waist, and one drying his hair and he...

"You heard all that didn't you"

****

Fifteen minutes later, James had left my room.... Back to drinking I guess

I jump through the window back to my room, easier said than done

In record time of ten minutes I'm done bathing and dressing, skipping the Makeup, all the have seen it all.

I rush downstairs  after carrying my bag to Ethan waiting In his car who for some reason is surprised at my presence.

"How are you done already? It's only been ten minutes "

"How do you take so long" I fire back, I do not like questions that question my feminity, trust me when I say it happens all the time.

He doesn't seem taken aback by my apparent rudeness instead he answers with a smug look on his face.

"This awesomeness" he says gesturing to his face and perfectly styled hair "doesn't just happen, perfection takes time"

****

"I heard our history teachers five year old daughter was kidnapped yesterday alongside three other kids"

Is the first thing I hear as I step into the schools hallway.

I freeze mid step.

"There hasn't been a kidnap case in this town for as long as I can remember"