"Zack is missing? Have you alerted the police yet?" I ask, my eyebrows crumpled together in confusion. Calvin takes a deep breath, reaching up to run a hand through his dark hair. The muscles in his arm tense and even in the dimly lit room, I can see how toned he is.
"No police. Are you willing to help me or not?"
"Why shouldn't we go to the police? I'm just a regular girl, I can't help you find a kidnapped guy." I explain, lying straight through my teeth. The truth is, if Zack was kidnapped, I could probably find him within a day or two. Kidnaps are a sloppy crime, there's always some sort of evidence lying around that solves it.
"No police Hunter!" Calvin yells, growing increasingly agitated. He drops himself down onto a chair, placing his head in his hands. The kidnapping of his friend (if it's true) obviously has something to do with the nature of Calvin Black's business.
I rack my brains quickly and slow walk up to Calvin in an attempt to soothe him. I place my hand on his shoulder and he freezes under me, inhaling a sharp breath.
"I never should have told you. This is a mistake." He muttered.
"So why did you tell me?" I ask, my voice calm.
I need to remember to act like a regular sixteen year old who doesn't ever hear of kidnappings and crimes. Part of me thinks Calvin doesn't really need that though, he needs actual help. I know I can't do that because I'll give away my position and that's not an option.
"I told you because I have no-one else to tell. Zack is my only friend and I can't find him myself." Calvin says, his voice sounding defeated. He lifts his head back up, the green in his eyes dulled down and lifeless.
"How do you know he's missing?" I question, taking a seat opposite him.
"He hasn't answered my calls. He hasn't slept in his bed all night. His mum hasn't seen him and the list goes on." Calvin replies, his jaw tense and locked with frustration. My eyes linger on the sharp contours of his features a little too long but I quickly snap myself out of it, clearing my throat.
"He's a teenage boy. That doesn't mean he's been kidnapped, he's probably in another girl's bed and too busy to answer the phone." I say, wanting Calvin to link the missing piece between Zack and his father.
"No, you don't understand." Calvin says frustratedly. I bite down on my lower lip, I can see he's almost about to crack. With a quiet voice, I look at him intensely --
"So, make me understand."
Calvin tilts his head to look at me and when he does, the dark strands of his hair flop over into his green eyes. Eyes that are searching directly through mine. I can see pain behind his eyes, guilt and pain that makes me wonder whether he's blaming himself for Zack's disappearance.
"I can't tell you."
"I can't help if you don't tell me. I'll call the police for you." I say, reaching for my phone inside my pocket. Within a second, Calvin is on his feet, lunging towards me. He plucks the phone out of my hands, inches away from my body.
"No police Hunter!" He snaps, his words laced with an angry growl. His grip on my phone is so tight, I watch as his knuckles turn white. I raise one eyebrow up at him --
"Fine. Release my phone before you break it with your iron grip, idiot." I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
"This was a mistake." He mutters, sounding incredibly annoyed.
"You've already said that." I hit back bluntly, snatching my phone from his hands. I remember what my mission is and blow out a deep breath. I can't lose my shit with Calvin despite how irritating he is.
"I'll help you."
He looks up with surprise in his eyes.
"You will?"
"Yep, you're going to need all the brain cells you can get." I smile, shooting him a playful look. I expect him to scowl at me but the corners of his lips twitch upwards into the tiniest of smiles.
"Come on, we've got work to do."
*****
"I can't believe I'm bunking school again. My parents are going to kill me." I mutter, jumping into the passenger seat of Calvin Black's car. I breathe in the scent, loving how incredibly clean it always smells. Beside me, Calvin turns the key in the engine, starting the car up.
"Seatbelt." He says quietly, motioning for me to put it on. I nod my head slowly, pulling it across me and clipping it in.
"You don't strike me as a guy who's worried about safety." I comment, keeping my eyes trained out the window as we drive. Beside me, Calvin shuffles in his seat, driving one handed.
"You think because you've kissed me, you know what I'm like?" He asks, sounding completely rude. I roll my eyes, turning to shoot him a glare. That's when I notice the bruise forming underneath his right eye, dark and creating a shadow. I didn't notice it before due to the dimly lit room but with the sun shining through the car window, it was now visible.
I tilt my head and study the bruise, wondering how he managed to get it.
"You have a bruise under your eye." I say, ignoring his previous comment. If he was anyone else, I'd have punched the attitude straight out of him. Calvin squirms underneath my gaze, avoiding eye contact with me completely.
"Yeah, I do."
"How did you get it?"
"It's none of your business."
"I'm making conversation." I say dryly.
"I'm fine driving in silence." Calvin shoots back at me, narrowing his eyes. I let out a loud huff, slumping my shoulders against his seats.
"You're really making it hard to like you."
"I don't want you to like me," Calvin says, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. His words are completely blunt and a little rude which makes me feel offended.
"I kissed you and you kissed me back." I say quietly, feeling incredibly confused. Did he really not care whether I like him or not?
"That doesn't mean I want you to like me Hunter. It was just a kiss, it doesn't matter." Calvin says, taking me by surprise. I feel a pang of hurt and slowly drop my arms.
"It mattered to me." I say quietly, growing silent. I turn my head so that I'm staring out of the side window, I don't want him to see the regret sprawled across my features.
"Please tell me you're not in love with me." He groaned, sounding like a complete and utter asshole. I grit my teeth in anger and turn towards him, shoving him hard. The force causes him to slam on his brakes and we both fly forward, springing back due to our seat belts.
"You-Are-The-Biggest-Asshole-I've-Ever-Met!" I yell at him, the anger inside of me bubbling away. He simply stares at me, his mouth hung open slightly in shock. I glare at him fiercely, my chest rising and falling heavily.
"Why do you care so much? It was just a kiss!" Calvin yells back at me, the rumble of his voice bouncing around the car.
"It was my first kiss and you're acting like it doesn't matter at all! I really, really hate you." I seethe with anger, unfastening my seatbelt. Calvin's face becomes emotionless as I pull open the door, ready to jump out.
"Wait, Hunter -- "
I don't hear what he has to say and slam his car door shut with so much force, it echoes down the street. I whirl around and stomp off in the opposite direction, completely unaware of where I'm going.