Remember Me

Chapter 31

I snatch my arm out of his grip and plant my feet where I stand facing him now with nothing but anger displayed in my eyes and face. I’m getting really sick of guys thinking they just pull me around. “What are you doing out here, Colton?” I snap at him furiously but he’s not even affected.  

He grabs my arm into a tighter grip that I start squirming and struggling in. He pulls me into his side and wraps his arm around my waist, holding me tightly to him. “Checking on you since you disappeared. And it’s a good thing I did. That guy is bad news and you need to stay away from him. Do you have any idea what’s already gone around this school about him and why he’s here?” 

I actually hadn’t heard anything since I don’t talk to anyone and hadn’t even been here until English. I continue struggling against him and finally get an elbow into his gut, making him loosen his grip enough for me to finally get free again. I shove him and he stumbles back a couple of steps. He’s strong but thankfully nowhere near as strong as Connor had shown himself to be.  

“What the hell has gotten into you?” I ask him angrily.  

“What’s gotten into you to where you throw out any bit of self-preservation you have left to be out here with a guy like that? He’s dangerous, Nat. Just give me a break and trust me one more time.” 

“That’s a lot to ask coming from you of all people. And for your information, I don’t have a choice this week,” I practically hiss at him.  

His face goes from horror to disbelief, slightly paling and barely masking his disgust. “You chose him to be your husband?” he asks, shaking his head and showing more disgust which only makes me angrier.  

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” I snap, turning to go back to my car.  

He grabs me by the wrist, forcing me to turn back to him. Desperation and begging are all over his face and eyes now. “Please do not go off anywhere with him, Natalie. You have no idea who he is or what he’s done. I can’t even believe you would choose him. I was expecting it to be Riley and even that is better than him.” 

“And you’re an expert on him now? I didn’t choose him. He was the only person left.” 

An engine revs up next to us as I’m snatching my wrist out of his grip. Our eyes look over to find Connor idling next to us on his motorcycle not even wearing a helmet. His eyes move from Colton, still mocking him, to me and no longer mocking but intense as they roam over me slowly, taking in every possible detail as if he’s looking for something.  

“You still planning on getting out of here?” he asks me, patting the spot behind him.  

I look from him to Colton and then again. A big part of me is still wanting to escape this place and with Colton here and acting the way he is, it seems like my only chance would be to go with him because I definitely wasn’t going to make it back to my car easily. But a small part of me keeps seeing and hearing Colton’s begging and pleading and how worried he seemed to be. And I can’t help but feel bad and want to ease that worry even with how infuriated I am with him currently.  

But I’m also sick of making my decisions based on him and how he would feel about it. I don’t owe him that anymore and I want to be rid of that nagging feeling and habit. I owe that much to myself. I’ve shut everyone out and been on my own for six months so I know I can kick the habit if I made or let myself. I bite my lip in hesitation and he revs his engine again.  

“Not a lot of time here, princess,” Connor tells me.  

I see Colton step closer to Connor, his fists looking ready to ball up and swing. I quickly grab his arm and stop him in his tracks. What was he thinking? He was just trying to make me scared of Connor and now he’s thinking about swinging on him?  

“Go, Ashford,” I tell him, having to raise my voice over his engine. 

He smirks and winks at me and I have to tighten my hold on Colton until he speeds away. I watch his motorcycle until I can’t see it anymore and then I listen to it until I can’t hear it anymore. Colton turns to face me, letting out a relieved breath and resting his head on mine while also closing his eyes.  

“Thank you,” he says, his voice coated in relief.  

I pull away from him with a new determination and goal. Getting to my car and leaving. I turn in the direction and begin to walk toward it. He quickly falls into step beside me and looks at me with confusion and questions. 

“Wait, what are you doing? You can’t be still trying to leave,” he says to me, sounding desperate and pleading all over again.  

“I’m the one that was originally trying to leave, Colton. So, yeah, I am and you’re not going to stop me.” 

“You don’t just ditch school. You can’t. That's not like you. Please stop and think about what you’re doing.” 

“I do and I can. I’m not the same person you knew,” I tell him with determination, stopping in my tracks and looking him in the eyes to send the point even more home to him. “And you don’t know everything about me anymore. This is what you wanted and asked for. And you just asked me not to go with him and got that too. But you will not be making this decision for me.” 

“He just left. He could be waiting for you. It’s not safe and I don’t like the way he looks at you,” he persists, going for the Connor angle again.  

I finish walking to my car, open my door, and get in. He stands outside my door still hoping and begging me with his eyes to listen to him and stay.  

“He’s harmless, Colton,” I say after rolling my window down. He opens his mouth to start his argument up again but I cut him off before he can. “He’s not waiting for me anywhere. The only way he looks at me is getting his enjoyment from getting on my nerves. There’s nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself and I won’t be anywhere near him,” I finish then roll my window back up and drive off before he can continue trying to argue and beg me.