02

« Oh no you don’t ! I need your opinion on what Brian would like on our date tonight. » Jess said perkily as she grabbed Landon’s arm and pulled him towards the store.

« How the hell am I supposed to know what he likes ? I don’t spend all my days staring at him and observing him unlike you. » Landon argued, but it was pointless.

I chuckled at my two best friends and walked over to the smoothie bar. After ordering a strawberry shake, my regular, I paid the girl working there.

The girl had a look of exhaustion on her face as she handed me my change and smoothie, turning around, ignoring my ‘thanks’. I lifted the cup to my mouth, loudly slurping on my straw and watching her turn around with an annoyed expression.

« Thank you. » I repeated louder and shot her a wide smile, before turning around and taking my time as I slowly walked to the shop, blissfully sipping my smoothie.

I looked up from my delicious smoothie, and all of a sudden my eyes landed on the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. I kid you not.

I made sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. They tend to do that a lot.

He was really attractive, so attractive that I noticed every other girl in the vicinity was practically drooling over him.

And no, this wasn’t me over exaggerating, he really was gorgeous.

He had silky dark hair that was gelled up in a messy, sexy way, and was tempting me to just run up to it and tackle it with my fingers. I could see he had a muscular body, from his tight black t shirt. His denim jeans hung the perfect type of low, fitting him nicely.

As if noticing me checking him out, his bright green eyes flickered to my own.

Woah… His eyes were utterly gorgeous.

I forced myself not to freak out, and mentally kicked myself at my sappy behavior. But nonetheless, I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, from getting caught staring.

Then, he did something that could’ve killed me. He gave me a heart stopping boyish smirk that deserves to be on the cover of Vogue magazine.

I fought the urge to look away and bravely held his gaze. Gosh I sound so pathetic.

He’s nothing special. He’s just another one of those good looking, bodybuilding, Greek god men. Calm your hormones.

As if the situation couldn’t get any more intense, he started walking towards me.

I was too much in a trance to question his actions. This guy obviously was performing some sort of sorcery.

I nervously gulped, finding it impossible to look away now.

My grip tightened on my strawberry smoothie, afraid I might drop it. I held in a breath as he stopped right in front of me.

I watched as his gorgeous eyes roamed over my body slowly. I felt quite agitated and assaulted as the stranger/spell-caster/Greek god checked me out.

But I couldn’t bring myself to slap him. Or even simply tell him off. My brain had turned to mush and my heart was racing, enjoying his undivided attention. Had my brain been functioning normally today, I would have kneed his crown jewels and given him a lecture on respecting women, but I was too mesmerized by him. What kind of dark magic was this !?

When his eyes finally came back up to my own, he gave me a satisfied smirk, mischief dancing in his eyes, and did the unimaginable. The unexpected.

No it wasn’t something magical and amazing like I was expecting. This wasn’t a Disney movie. What he did next was terrifying.

Without warning, the stranger suddenly grabbed my arm before I could react and yanked me into his muscled chest.

I opened my mouth in protest, even though I didn’t see what was so bad about being pressed up against his six pack, I still didn’t know him.

« WHAT THE FU—« He cut me off as he jabbed something cold against my temple.

I froze. I could tell what it was from all the other people around us with horrified expressions on their faces. From their loud shrieking.

Even the smoothie girl looked wide awake and alarmed.

My body was shaking uncontrollably, my heart racing in fear. He bent his head and spoke into my ear.

« How’s it going beautiful ? So here’s what the plan is. I’m going to guide us out of here and you’re going to listen and follow. You seem pretty nice and I don’t want to hurt you. But just know that I won’t hesitate if you try anything. » His words were authoritative and calming, laced with a threatening undertone.

Although his little villain ploy sounded too cliché and funny, I nervously gulped.

« Alright ? » He put more pressure on the gun, causing me to squirm.

I inhaled a shaky breath and nodded slowly. I could feel my heart beating twice its speed, and this time it was from fear.

« Good. Now stop shaking, I won’t hurt you. » He said calmly.

Kind of hard to believe when you have a gun against me…

« Everybody, get down. » The guy said calmly. « Now ! » He yelled, and everyone seemed to break out of their trance and obeyed his orders.

I watched as people scattered all around the floor, lying down and covering their heads in fear. Although it was still quite early, there were about ten to twelve people around. I noticed an older man slyly pulling his phone out and dialing the cops.

I really doubted they’d even get here on time, considering how terrible their response time was around this area.

« Skylar ? » I heard Landon’s scared voice call out from the midst of it all.

I looked up as I saw him walking towards me. My fear slightly went down and I felt less panicked as I saw him in front of me.

« Stay back ! » The guy said, pointing his gun in Landon’s direction.

No. He couldn’t hurt Landon.

« Sky ! » Landon cried as he kept walking, looking scared, yet determined.

« You really want to get shot ? » My captor asked him in a light tone.

« Landon. » I let out in a mere whisper, tears burning my eyes.

His eyes met mine again and I saw fear and shock in them. Yet he was so brave right now. My heart longed to be safe in his arms.

« Let her go. » Landon said sternly, but I could see his fists shaking.

« That’s not really up to you. I’m the one here with the gun. So why don’t you smarten up a little and get down like I said. » The guy said, gesturing with his gun to where everyone was lying on the floor.

I heard a whimper and looked at the ground a few meters away to see Jess lying down on her stomach, along with the others. She looked so helpless and scared, I felt the need to comfort her.

I held her gaze, trying to reassure her with a small, shaky smile. I don’t know how I managed it.

« Sky—« Landon started, causing me to snap my head to him.