Chapter 14

Crossing the Line

Monday morning came too soon.

“I’m not ready, I’m not ready, I’m not ready,” I chanted as I trotted down the stairs, backpack slung over my shoulder, and ran to the front door.

“Yuri-chan, don’t forget your lunch!”

I turned to my smiling mother and accepted the lunch bag that she handed out to me. 

“Have a good day,” she said in a singsong voice.

Yeah, she was still really happy.

But then, she had several good reasons to be happy.  She thought my boss was wonderful, she got my hours reduced, and she introduced me to the boy she fantasized about having as a son-in-law.

Yes, the stars were certainly aligning in her favour.  One after the other, falling into place like the pieces of a puzzle, perfectly fitting together and forming the beautiful picture she had in mind.

Wish I could say the same for myself.

I was greeted by sunshine as I hurried out the front door, just barely managing to catch the bus before it could pull away from the stop.

My morning began as it usually did.  I hit the books in the library before classes started, and when it was time to go to first period, I walked out of the library and smack into Dash’s chest.

Just shoot me now.

“You really need to watch where you’re going.”

His tone seemed different than usual.  I didn’t know what to make of it.  It sounded less arrogant, but still cocky as ever.  Perhaps more humoured would be a better description?

Nevertheless, I didn’t bother to raise my eyes, but kept them trained on his collarbone.

“Sorry.”  Smart-ass.

At least this time I didn’t drop my books.  With this to my advantage, I just skirted around him and continued walking.

“Hey,” Dash called after me.

I picked up my pace, but since his legs were so much longer than mine, he was able to catch up pretty quick.

“You know, I was really enjoying my life without you butting into the picture.”

Annoyance was really giving my confidence a boost.

That, and I didn’t want to be late for class.

“Aw come on now, you don’t mean that.  Admit it, you like how I enhance the picture when I’m with you.”

I began to sputter before I snapped my mouth shut.

“See?  Admit it—you love it.”

“I think I’m going to vomit.”

He just laughed.  “You’re hilarious!  I think I’ll keep you around.”

I stopped and gawked at him.  You cannot be serious?

He turned and grinned at me from a few feet ahead.  “Aw, come on.  You can stare at me later.  You don’t want to be late for class, do you?”

“Th-Th-That—”

Just stop it, you idiot!

I took my advice and snapped my mouth shut before more stuttering fell out.

This just wasn’t my morning.

I took a deep breath and forced my feet to carry me forward.  Once I caught up to him, he fell into step with me.

“So, when do you work again?” he asked casually, like my embarrassing stutter wasn’t an issue.

I tried to swallow the marbles that collected in my mouth.  “Tuesday.”

“With Elizabeth?”

I eyed him for a moment.  “Un.”

“Cool, I’ll give you a lift after school again.”

Dammit, why is he so casual? 

I coughed, causing him to turn and study me, humour still playing in his eyes.

“What’s the matter?  Swallow a fly?”

God, I can’t even—

 “What is it this time, Dash?” I demanded, stopping and shooting him a hard look.

A sly grin tugged on the corners of his lips as he paused and looked back at me.  “Whatever do you mean, Yuriko?”

“When you’re nice to me, it’s because you want something in return.”

He stepped toward me and pressed me against the wall.  He reached for my chin and tilted it up so that my eyes rose to meet his.

Holy cow!  Not again!

Cue the broiler and sweat machine.  I could feel my face heating up, and my body breaking out in an unpleasant heat wave of uncomfortable proportions.  Curse him and his spellbinding eyes!

“Would you rather I tried to force myself on you again like I did before?” he rasped.

His voice sent shivers up my spine.  “No.”

Yes!

Wait, where did that come from?  Go away!

“Then be a good little maid and don’t question my motives,” he declared.  He released my chin and pulled away.  Before I could gather my wits, he turned and began to walk away.  “See you in class.”

I stared after him, my chest heaving.  What the heck was that all about?

Dammit… he got me all flustered again!  I tried to clear my head and bring my temperature down with some deep breaths.  How was it that he knew exactly what to do to set me off?

Oh right, because he’s a manipulative prick, that’s why, genius.

Once I collected my sanity again, I hurried off to class.

In class, Dash looked completely unaffected, while my mind was still reeling.  I could still smell his cologne in my mind, and it hovered over me, drowning me.

I couldn’t let him get to me.  Keep your head, Yuriko!

The day carried on without further incidents and I was able to forget about what happened by lunchtime.

When classes ended the next day, he waited for me at the end of the hallway that my locker was located in as I gathered my stuff.  I met his eyes when I looked over my shoulder and slammed my locker door shut.  He nodded, indicating that I follow him to his car in the parking lot.

I swallowed, remembering our last encounter, how close he was and how he held my chin in his fingertips.

I shooed the memory aside and walked after him.

It was a risk I was willing to take.

It was a nice day, albeit a bit on the chilly side, but nothing a sweater couldn’t fix.  He waited for me to catch up by the doors to the parking lot.  “You ready?” he asked when I reached his side.

I nodded and we stepped out into the cool September air.

I followed a few steps behind him as we walked.  Laughter and voices from other students filled the air and a gust of wind blew against me, his scent wafting over me from the breeze, mixed with pine needles and car exhaust.  He glanced over his shoulder once, as if to make sure I was still following behind him.

“Come on, I’m parked at the far end this time,” he called, pausing only a moment for me to reach his side. 

He grabbed my backpack and pulled it from my shoulders.  “Give me that,” he said before he slung it over his left shoulder with his own backpack over his right shoulder. 

My bag looked three times as big as his.  “Geez, you really need to stop carting around so much stuff!  It’s not like you have enough time to do much of anything with it anyway.”

I clasped my hands together in front of me and followed a step behind him, my gaze lowered.

The gravel crunched beneath my feet, and I wondered what would happen at work today.  Elizabeth already turned him down once before, what could he possible do this time to try and convince her to go out with him?  It seemed like too much work to try and change a person’s mind on something, but I couldn’t help but admire his determination.  Maybe it was love?

I had my doubts on that thought, though.

We got into the car in silence and pulled out of the crowded parking lot.

I didn’t try to hide myself this time, but I was still on the lookout for anyone who might report me riding with a boy to my parents.  It’s not like it was a big deal, to ride in a car with a boy… but he wasn’t Japanese, and that was a big deal.

“So what’s the plan today?” I asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.  I shifted in my seat as I glanced over at him in the driver’s seat.

“Just talking,” he said, his eyes glued on the road ahead.  “I want her to get to know me better.”

I nodded.  Should have done that before jumping in and asking her out though!  He must be really confident that his looks could get him whatever he wanted.  Maybe they always did in the past?

“So what do you know about Elizabeth?”

Images of our first, rather rude, encounter flashed in my mind.  This time, it wasn’t a forced manipulation, just a general, calm, inquiry.  But even I wasn’t sure what to tell him. 

I shrugged.  “To be honest, I’m not sure what to tell you.  I only know her as a co-worker.  I haven’t spent enough time with her to really get to know what she likes.  You’ve probably spent more one-on-one time with her than I have.”

 “Hm,” he murmured to himself.  “Well that’s no good.  I don’t want to date a maid, I want to date a girl.”

I laughed.  He quickly glanced at me in surprise.  I just shook my head and looked out the window.  He had to find out on his own—I wasn’t about to tell him anything.

“So you want her because she’s blonde?” I asked curiously.

“And gorgeous,” he declared with that devilish grin.  “But she also has an amazing personality—I know she’s not faking it, like you do,” he added quickly.

I shot him a hard look. He was smirking.  “I wouldn’t have to fake it if you weren’t such a jerk to me.”

“Hey!  I’m giving you a ride to work, I gave you one the other day and I offered you one before that, but you refused.  I wouldn’t consider those to be the actions of a jerk.  If anything, you ought to be grateful—you owe me!” he shot back.

I bit my lip.  He had a point.  “But that doesn’t excuse your behaviour that first time…” I replied softly. 

My cheeks grew hot with the recollection of his lips on mine.  My heart began to beat quickly.  He was so terrifying, the way he pushed me and blackmailed me, and now he was confusing me with all these mixed signals.  I wanted to hate him—I did hate him—but something inside me wanted to believe that were was some good within him.  Why was that?

“Yeah, sorry about that.  I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You can’t just apologize like that and expect everything to be okay!” I shot back.  “You crossed a line!  And for that, I can never believe any word you say to me, nor any action you do to try and prove otherwise!  So you offer me a ride to work?  Wow, how thoughtful?  You’re only doing it so that it will make you look like a better person to Elizabeth!  It’s not because you’re a nice guy—no, it’s because you’re a fake manipulative jerk with no conscious and no morals.  You disgust me!”

Fuming, I watched him, waiting for him to respond.  After a few seconds, his eyes never leaving the road, he asked, “Are you finished now?  I stopped listening.”

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. 

Flabbergasted—that was the word.  I was flabbergasted and unable to say or do anything as I stared at him in disbelief, rage silently building within my veins and boiling over like lava from a volcano.

He was the devil incarnate!  Pure rotten and evil to the core!  Heartless, cruel, and destroyer of all things pure and simple!

We stopped at a traffic light and I unlocked my door and quickly got out, throwing my backpack over my shoulder, and slammed the door shut behind me.

“Hey, what the heck?” he called after me.

I shot him the middle finger and disappeared down the alleyway.

I was through.  I wasn’t going to let him mess with my head any more.  He was on his own if he wanted to pursue Elizabeth further.  I wasn’t going to do him any more favours.  No more rides.  No more chitchats.  I’d had enough. 

Actions spoke louder than words—maybe now he’d get a clue.

I am not his maid, nor his friend, and I never will be.

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Author's Note:  Dash, you ass! XD

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