Chapter 12

Later that night, though, a loud crash from downstairs startles me awake. My heart rushes as I wonder who that is, and pictures of the guys who abducted me flash through my mind. I quiver as my fingers shiver as they grasp the covers. I jump to my feet, horrified, searching for my cellphone, which has vanished behind the blankets. I'm alerted to its whereabouts by a vibration, and I grasp it when I see a number I don't recognize. I take the phone and shakily answer it by raising it to my ear. "Amanda, I'm outside your apartment." "I'd appreciate it if you could unlock the door." The speaker amplifies Gabriel's voice. "You scared the living daylights out of me!" I inhale deeply and lay my hand over my heartbeat. "I'm sorry, I'm a jerk." Could you please let me in? Before hanging up and getting into my robes before coming downstairs, I murmur about something being down in a moment. As I approach down the corridor, I open the door just a bit wider, sighing with relief as I see him. The frigid air shivers me as I unlock the door to invite him in, making me dread not covering myself more.
I'm dragged into a strong hug before I would turn around. My first instinct is to stiffen in shock, then relax and wrap my arms round his waist. He doesn't say anything until he steps back, slipping a strands of my untamed hair just behind my ear and looking me in the eyes with great concern. "What's the matter?" I take a step away from him, whispering.
As what I got is a furious gaze, I wriggle. I tuck my hair back behind my ear and fix my sight on my bare feet. There is a lengthy pause before he approaches me and softly holds my jaw, firmly enough to get my attention but not so tight that it hurts.
I gaze into his piercing eyes, puzzled as to why he is so upset and how he knows where I live.
As he spoke, his tone is low and threatening, and it shakes me out of my thoughts. "After school, Ryan was ready to transport you to my house." "You walked away." When his comments hit me, I remember Ryan telling me that I needed to get my wrist examined again this evening. I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I- My lips yelped in surprise at the motion as his arm curled around my waist and pulled me close against his chest. "Gabriel..." He clenches his jaw, eyes blazing in fury as he stares down at me. He doesn't say anything more. Instead, he asks me where my room is, and I point up the stairs, not uttering a single word to him as he takes my hand and climbs the steps up to my bedroom, opening the door and closing it with a loud thud.
"How did you know where I live?" I asked the question on my mind ever since he showed up at my doorstep.
"Ryan," he states, making me nod in realization.
His eyes sweep over every detail of my room, taking in everything and committing it to memory. After placing me on the bed, he walks over to the window that looks out onto the back yard. I wring my hands as I wait for him to say something, anything. The silence is killing me and making me nervous.
My eyes soon droop before I shake my head, forcing myself to stay awake. I hear his footsteps, and I look back to see him pacing in front of the window with a scowl Before I could turn back, I was grabbed into a tight hug. My initial reaction is to freeze in disbelief, then settle and put my arms around his waist. He didn't say anything till he takes a step back and tucks a strand of my unruly hair behind my ear, gazing me in the gaze with worry. "What's the matter?". I step back and murmur to him. I fidget as I receive a fierce stare. My hair is tucked behind my ear, and my gaze is drawn to my bare feet. He approaches me after a long delay and gently grips my jaw, hard enough to catch my concentration but not so hard that it hurts.
On his lips. sighing, I wish he would just let me sleep as it's a school night and I'm tired. I jump when he growls loudly, his fist clenched and itching to break something. I don't get why he's so angry; I mean, it's not like we know each other that well. So what if I didn't come back? I can get my wrist checked at the hospital.
Closing my eyes, I sigh and lean back against my pillows, exhaustion creeping in. He has started talking again with his back facing me, arms crossed as he looks out the window. I'm just so sleepy that I don't realize when exactly I have laid down, my body horizontal on the bed with the blankets askew.
I rest my hand on the soft, fluffy blanket, trying to pull it closer to me. On his tongue. I groan, wishing he'd simply let me sleep because it's a night after school and I'm exhausted. When he growled loudly, his hand clinched and ready to smash something, I jump. I'm not sure why he's so enraged; after all, we don't know each other very well. What if I don't return? My wrist can be examined at the hospital. I sigh and fall back onto my pillows, fatigue seeping in as I close my eyes. He's started chatting again, this time with his back to me and his arms crossed, looking out the window. I'm just so tired that I don't recognize when I've fallen asleep, my body horizontally on the bed and the covers strewn around. I yawn and wrap myself up to my waistline before fully closing my eyes. I hear his faint murmuring and feel strangely secure and protected knowing he's around. After a while, I notice a distant sigh, which makes me scowl at the interruption. Warm hands hold my waist and reposition me on the bed, sliding the blankets under my neck and placing my head on the soft pillows. A sweet kiss on my head is followed by a hand caressing my hair as it descends down, knuckles touching my cheek. "You can return home." I'm perfectly well. " I snuggle closer to the warmth, humming gently. He starts to play with the strands of my hair rather than listen to me, which makes me happy. His scent, along with the warmth emanating from his fingertips, relaxes me and puts me to sleep. "I was concerned. The doctor should keep an eye on you." In the middle of the night, his speech is a calming murmur.
"I'm... fine." I nod sleepily, hearing him mutter something about me being stubborn as hell.
"You infuriate me a little, mate, but I can't seem to let you go." It is the last, muffled whisper I hear before I slip into dreamland. "I'm alright," she says. Hearing him grumble something about my being obstinate as hell, I nod sleepily. "You annoy me a little, pal, but I just can't seem to get rid of you." It's the last faint voice I hear before drifting off to sleep.