CHAPTER 12

Aunt Marie was happy to see me but I knew she did not wait for me. She wanted to see her daughter. I stayed longer than I intended to. I made her promise that she would spend Christmas day with me.

Robbie did not do or say much with his face inside his phone. He could at least pretend that he wanted to be here.

When he opened the door to the passenger seat after saying good bye to aunt Marie, I wanted to bite him again.

But she was standing at the door step to see us off. I reluctantly got inside.

Robbie tried real hard to start a conversation. I refused. I was afraid I would say something that was hidden inside in my heart. When he took the wrong turn and drove a mile, I did not comment. If it was a trick to get me talking he was sadly mistaken.

He stopped the car.

Something settled in my stomach. I did not even look at him.

I heard the door opening and closing.

I watched him pace in front of the car, him yanking on his hair.

He turned abruptly to me, opened my side of the door and pulled me out.

“Talk to me, Ace.” He seethed. He was so angry. He looked so frustrated.

I firmly tightened my lips.

He shook me. “Say something.”

I stared. What did he want me to say! It did not matter. I was not talking.

“At least, say my name.” He pleaded. I was not going to.

“You were purposefully ignoring me. How many texts, how many calls?! You did not even bother. Why, Ace?”

Because he was making me feel things I did not want to feel. He was questioning my sanity.

I bit my lips so I would not start replying.

“FUCKING SAY SOMETHING.”

I was not scared.

I turned my face and watched the never ending road. Where did it lead? We were close to my home that I knew. A couple of miles perhaps. This was a route nobody took. Might lead to that trekking hill.

Hmm. Robbie liked trekking. He was an outdoorsy person.

It was funny, how I was trying to ignore him standing beside me but always thinking about him in my mind. A part of my conscious always circled around him. Glad I had another part that was logical.

“At least look at me when I am talking to you.” He spat.

I looked at him. “Take me home. My mother is waiting.”

“You do not even say my name. You have no idea how that makes me feel.” He ground his teeth together.

Ding.

A text message. Might be Liz to ask about the party. I took it from my pocket and was about to open the app but Robbie yanked it away from me.

“Rob...”

He threw my phone on the ground.

My jaws dropped in surprise.

Robbie fisted his palms. He looked so terrifying. Why was I not afraid, then?

He stomped right on my phone and I heard a crack.

“What is wrong wi...”

“You are not going to talk to someone else. You are not going to text someone else. You fucking ignore mine. Why? I do not care anymore. You do not get to reply to others then, Ace.”

I pushed on his chest.

“Just take me home. We are already late.”

“No.”

“What?”

“No. I am not going to take to home. Not yet.”

He fisted my hair.

“We are in the middle of a road.”

“I do not fucking give a fuck.”