Distracted By You: Book 1 in The Exeter Running Girls Series

by Eliza Bradley

  “What’s wrong?” I asked innocently from the desk chair.

  “We are going out tonight.” She threw one of the ankle boots at Ellie, who caught it just before it collided with her face.

  “What? Why?” I didn’t really feel like it.

  “You are going to call Savannah.” She threw the other shoe at Cara, who was much more prepared and caught it with glee.

  “I am?”

  “Yes. You are going to ask her where Tye is tonight. If he’s going out, then we’ll conveniently be at the same place.” She reached into the wardrobe and pulled out my little black and white dress.

  “Aw, the old accidentally bump into trick,” Ellie approved with a smile.

  “What? No! And I’m not wearing that.” I tried to take the dress and put it back in the wardrobe, but she resisted.

  “Yes and yes,” she threw the dress over my shoulder where both Ellie and Cara caught it.

  “He clearly doesn’t want to see me.” I folded my arms.

  “Have you tried calling?”

  “No. I texted him and he hasn’t replied. You can’t do this over the phone.”

  “Exactly, so let’s go do it in person instead.” She looked at me with triumph, as though she had won. I merely growled in frustration. “Call her now.”

  “No.”

  “Call or I’m never driving you anywhere again.”

  “Damn you,” I complained as I picked up the phone. “Maybe we should stop calling Cara evil and give you the title instead.”

  “Evil pixie and evil tall, lanky, cousin,” Cara giggled. “I like it.”

  “I don’t.” Leonora returned to the wardrobe as I dialled Savannah’s number. She answered on the second ring.

  “One second!” She whispered manically. It was followed by running sounds and doors shutting. “There we are, now no one can hear me. Ivy?”

  “Savannah? How are you?” I sat down and buried my free hand in my hair with stress.

  “I’m fine, girl. I want to hear about you.”

  “What was all that running?”

  “Well, I’m at Sam’s and Tye’s. I didn’t want to give away who I’m talking to, so I’ve barrelled down the stairs. I think Sam saw the caller id, but I’ll threaten to withdraw sex if he tells Tye.”

  “Ha, I like it.”

  “So, how are you?”

  “I’m…” I looked round to my friends who were all looking at me with expectant faces. “Not great but getting better. I’m guessing Tye told you what a massive mess I made.”

  “Well, yes and no.” It sounded like she was pacing about. “To me, it didn’t sound like you did anything wrong, but Tye can’t see that. Yet I’m the same. Bull in a china shop is much more my style than mince around like Tye.”

  “Bull?” I laughed, thinking she was too tiny to be a bull.

  “No, you’re right. Huge tower-block sized bulldozer is more like it.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t think you would have said what I did.”

  “Ivy,” her voice turned serious. “You do realise what you did for Tye’s sister? That girl was going to have her stomach pumped. She may have even choked if you hadn’t been there. Who knows, we’ll never know. In my opinion, he should forgive you for anything after that.”

  “Too bad he doesn’t share your point of view.”

  “So, what’s the plan?”

  “How did you know there was a plan?” I laughed, sitting back in the chair.

  “You’re friends with Leonora and Ellie, right? I haven’t met the girls, but from what I gather, those two know how to land a man. There was bound to be a plan!”

  “You sound like you admire their skills?”

  “Oh I do.”

  “Hey Leonora, Ellie?” I pulled away from the phone for a second but held it up so Savannah could hear. “She says she likes your skills.”

  “Can she teach me how to keep a man?” Ellie called back loudly.

  “Any time!” Savannah shouted. “So, the plan?”

  “By any chance, are you guys going out tonight?” I put the phone back to my ear.

  “Oh yes, pool at Chequers.”

  “I should have known.”

  “Fancy crashing the party?”

  “Yes and no.”

  “Do it! And bask in admiration of my acting skills when I look surprised to see you there.”

  Chapter 19

  I won the argument against the black and white dress. Instead, I opted for the same off-the-shoulder green jumper and skinny jeans I had worn the first time Tye took me to Chequers. I got a small thrill from the memory of his words when he’d pointed out my clothes that night.

  Leonora, Ellie, and Cara insisted on coming. Cara claimed they weren’t just coming to be an audience for a fiasco, but she didn’t sound convincing. Ellie pointed out that if disaster struck and Tye wasn’t prepared to talk to me then we’d drown our sorrows together over toffee apple ciders.

  Sounded like a good alternative to me.

  We arrived at the pub early – Cara went down the stairs to check they hadn’t arrived first, but there was no sign. As she arrived back at the bar, I had already finished my first cider.

  “Ivy, you might want a clear head for this conversation,” Ellie steered the empty glass away from me.

  “What’s the point in that? Now I’m here I’m only more convinced he’ll refuse to speak to me.” I beckoned the bartender for another. Much to her annoyance, he quickly served me another glass.

  “Oh shit,” Leonora’s voice came from behind us.

  “What is it?” Cara strained on her tiptoes in her red heels to see but was too small to peer over anyone’s shoulders.

  “I see Kyle.”

  “What?” I snapped my head round in panic, allowing Cara to quickly swipe the cider glass from my hand.

  “Finally, your thieving skills are being put to good use.” Ellie approved with a nod.

  “What’s he doing here?” I whispered, I don’t know why when it was such a crowded and loud room.

  “He doesn’t know you’re here.” Leonora turned and took my hand comfortingly. “He’s with some friends by the look of it. Benji’s there.”

  At the name, Cara didn’t even look up. We all turned our eyes to her at which point she gazed up innocently.

  “What? I’m getting past it. As I said.”

  “What do we do?” I gestured to the corner of the room where Kyle had disappeared to with his friends. I could only pray he hadn’t seen me.

  “Nothing.” Ellie said firmly. “You’re with us. You’re as safe as can be. He’s not so mental he would do anything in a busy pub.”

  “Exactly.” Leonora confirmed.

  “Another cider!” I called to the bartender, much to all of their annoyance.

  Almost two hours passed and there was no sign of Tye. At the end of the second hour, Savannah and Sam walked in. Sam didn’t look our way, but Savannah did. She did a little wave when his back was turned and hurried him quickly down the stairs, not giving him a chance to see we were there.

  “I wonder if she’s got another bet on,” I giggled as I tilted slightly in the stool. Leonora wasn’t best pleased that I was tipsy, but I couldn’t help it.

  “A bet?” Ellie asked, conveniently taking my glass as she sidled into the stool next to me round a tall table.

  “Savannah and Sam had a bet on whether Tye and I would be a thing before Easter. Savannah won,” I smiled at the memory. I wanted that night back. “I wonder if they’re betting on this conversation.”

  “She’s shrewd, I like it.” Cara narrowed her eyes with thought. “She also had the inside track that you’d be here.”

  “This is ridiculous,” I looked down, expecting to see my cider glass and disappointed that it was gone. “He’s not coming.”

  “Give it a bit longer.” Leonora moved to the stool on my other side. “If those two have just arrived, he could come any minute.”

  That thought set my nerves back. I hadn’t rea
lised when the black hole that had been in my stomach had started to close, but it suddenly felt not as deep as it was. It meant that I could feel those little people that embodied my nerves extremely on edge, all bouncing up and down in their seat. I was suddenly certain that this was a very bad idea.

  “I’m going to the bathroom.” I broke the silence with this statement. “Too much alcohol.” I stood up and tried to be as steady on my feet as possible. In fact, I was running away to hide in the bathroom for a bit, collect my nerves, but they didn’t need to know that.

  “Okay, do you want us to come with?” Cara asked as she walked back carrying ciders for the three of them.

  “No, it’s fine. I won’t be long. Enjoy the drinks,” I turned my head away and wandered to the bathroom.

  It was down a different flight of stairs to the pool table, through a long corridor that split into two doors at the end. One for men, one for women. I hurried into the women’s and did my business before resting my hands on one of the bathroom sinks, looking into the mirror at my odd reflection.

  I even looked tipsy. My weird white hair was a mess, there were still shadows under my eyes from a lack of sleep and my lipstick was smeared. I corrected it just as the door to the bathroom opened. I didn’t look around to see who it was, just continued to stare at my reflection before looking down with a sigh.

  The next sound I heard was the lock on the main door to the bathroom turning.

  That’s odd.

  I looked back up to the reflection in the mirror and trained my eyes towards the door rather than my face.

  It was Kyle.

  He leaned against the door with his arms folded, a lazy smile across his face.

  “Hello, darling.”

  The voice sent a bolt of fear as strong as lightning through my body. I reached for my handbag on the side of the sink, desperate for my phone, but he was suddenly next to me, his hand holding the bag closed with my fingers still trapped inside.

  “Ow!” I tried to pull my hand away but couldn’t. I looked up at him – he was stood too close, leering down at me. “You’re hurting me, Kyle.” I attempted reason. It was a good starting point. “You do realise you’ve gone from creepy to an absolute weirdo.”

  He flicked the hair out of his eyes and slowly dragged the handbag away. My hand slipped out onto the edge of the sink.

  He didn’t say anything. He stepped back with the movement, just waiting, and watching for what I would do next.

  After a beat of silence, I bolted for the door, but he was in the way faster than I could move. I scurried back and he followed, pressuring me all the way until my back was pressed against the white tiled wall. He wasn’t touching me. He just had his hands against the tiles either side of my face. His cheek was twitching slightly, his eyes scurrying up and down my clothes.

  “Kyle – get away from me.”

  “So like Rosie.” His words made me flinch. He dropped one of his hands to my face and I tried to recoil away, but I was trapped by the tiles and his arms. He touched my cheek. His hand was cold.

  “I am not Rosie.” My voice was seething, practically hissing through my lips.

  “But you’re like her.” He said again.

  That lightning bolt of fire flashed again inside me.

  He reached for me. He moved the hand that was on my cheek to my neck and held it pinned against the wall as his other hand went for the button on my jeans.

  “No!” I screamed, fully ready to employ what Blake had taught me, yet furious he’d never said what to do if someone grabs your throat.

  I used the heel of my boot and stamped as hard as I could on Kyle’s toe. It shocked him enough to reel back slightly, allowing me to get my elbow between us and pull a hard jab against his nose – he stumbled away.

  His hands released me as he clutched his face in pain.

  I tried to run around him to get to the door, but he grabbed my elbow and forced me back towards him – my eyes returned to his face, there was blood seeping out of his nose, but he didn’t care. His eyes flashed with unwavering intent.

  I employed another move of Blake’s. As Kyle dragged me towards him, I brought my hand down flat on his wrist, the sharp chop wasn’t very effective though, he merely used it to turn me against him until my back was facing him.

  “No!” I screamed. “Let go of me!”

  Yet he wouldn’t. His arms were crossed in front of me. I kicked wildly into the air, but nothing happened.

  There was banging on the other side of the door.

  “Ivy? Ivy!” It was Leonora. Probably come to see where I was as it was taking too long.

  “Leonora! Help!” I squealed before Kyle’s hand came over my mouth. I screamed against it, but no sound came out beyond a strangled cry.

  She shouted my name – I think she attempted to kick the door as well, huge clattering thuds, but then it stopped suddenly. Footsteps ran away.

  “No! Leo –” Before I could finish screaming her name, I was flat against the floor. My hands were pressed against the titles, trying to push myself up as Kyle pinned me down. He had his knees either side, keeping me pressed against the floor. With one hand, he had both my wrists held together, the other he had slithered underneath me and popped open my jeans button. “No!” I tried to wriggle free.

  That lightning bolt of fear was crashing again and again.

  “How could you?” I lifted my head up to scream at him. “What would Rosie think of you now?”

  He hesitated, his right hand on the waist of my jeans, his left hand on my wrists suddenly looser. The hesitation was all I needed.

  I dragged one of my hands free and elbowed him again in the face. It didn’t push him off me, but it stunned him enough. Levering myself with my knees, I rolled him off until he thudded onto the bathroom tiles.

  I didn’t go for the door. Kyle was in the way to get to it. I went for the handbag. It was something else Blake had said. I dragged it onto the floor, searching desperately, my hands shaking. I couldn’t find them. Where were they!?

  As my hands wrapped around the keys, Kyle made another dive, landing on my ankle. I cried out in shocking pain – it felt like my ankle had snapped against the tiles.

  “Ivy!” Leonora was back, screaming on the other side of the door. There were other voices too. “Ivy can you open the door?” Hearing no reply and just my scream, someone went back to kicking the door.

  Kyle went to hold my arms down as he laid me on my back, my ankle screamed with pain, but my right arm holding the keys was free. Pushing the key between my fingers, I lashed out a hard punch at his face, connecting with his cheek.

  He let out a garbled cry that could have come from an animal. The force of my swing threw him off me. I scrambled away, completely numb and on my knees to the far side of the bathroom. He was on his back, clutching his face as blood seeped onto the tiles.

  I was trembling, my whole body shaking. I held onto the keys in my hand, ready on my knees for his next attack even though he showed no sign of it coming.

  The thudding against the door continued, until suddenly the lock splintered. The wood around the handle fractured and the door swung open, revealing Kyle in a bloody mess on the floor and me on my knees with a key in my hand, breathing as fast as was imaginable.

  I looked up from Kyle to see a bundle of people in the doorway.

  Chapter 20

  Tye had broken down the door.

  Leonora had already pushed past him and leapt over the fallen form of Kyle, bundling me in her arms.

  “Ivy, Ivy, what happened? Did he do anything?”

  I wasn’t really registering what she was saying. I was shaking, still clutching to the key.

  “Ivy? Are you hurt?” Savannah was at my side, shaking my shoulder and trying to get me to look at her, but my gaze was fixed on Kyle as he writhed.

  “Ivy. Let go of the keys,” Ellie prised them from my fingers. I was vaguely aware there was blood on them. It had seeped down my hand. It felt like my fingers were
made of metal as she forced them open.

  I was suddenly aware of Tye’s shadow over Kyle. He made a move towards him, but Cara was stood in the way. Sam grabbed Tye’s arm and held him back too.

  “Get out of the way,” Tye spat in anger, determined to do god knows what to the still reeling Kyle, clutching his face.

  “Tye. She got him.” Cara pointed between me and Kyle on the floor.

  “She’s right, Tye.” Sam had hold of Tye’s arm and his shoulder. “Your girl got him.” Tye wouldn’t lift his eyes to me. They were purely focused on Kyle. He was even angrier than the day he had shouted at me to get out. His face was scarlet red, his own body practically trembling with rage.

  “Ivy? Are you injured?” Savannah asked again, grabbing my chin this time and urging me to look at her. There was fear in her face too. I suddenly registered it and nodded.

  “My ankle,” my voice was hitched as I tried not to move. I wanted to stay on my knees. Sitting down would suddenly feel more vulnerable, like he could attack again. Savannah reached for my bent-up ankle, but one light touch made me recoil. “Ah!”

  “Right, you need to sit, Ivy.” She tried to guide me back with my shoulder. “Ellie, can you get ice?”

  “You know what to do?” She asked, her lip wobbling slightly. All my friends were scared too, it dawned on me.

  “Training as a nurse,” Savannah smiled, ushering her away to get the ice. Together, Savannah and Leonora urged me to sit back.

  I winced in pain all the way, not wanting to be in the same room as that thing. That’s what I would think of Kyle as, from now on. He wasn’t the boy Rosie had known all those years ago. He was something else entirely.

  Cara took charge. Despite her size, no one dared to argue against her.

  “I’m calling the police and a paramedic. Tye, Sam, go tell the bartender what has happened. They’ll need to clear a path for the police when they arrive.” At her words, she stood over Kyle threateningly with her phone in her hand.

  Tye didn’t want to go. He stayed there, staring down at Kyle until Sam grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

  Savannah removed my boot and applied ice to my ankle, lifting to elevate it on her knees. The pain was cutting through now that the adrenaline of fighting was fading. I leaned back into Leonora who was holding me close. All of our eyes were on Kyle, watching for the slightest resistance, but he didn’t fight it, he just kept clutching at his bleeding cheek, occasionally blurting out a curse or swear word in my direction.