5 Chapter Five

I was running now. Hard and fast, heels in hand. I had taken them off because they were been a hindrance to my swiftness. The chilly night wind was whipping my hair around my face and biting my skin leaving behind a stinging sensation.

My breaths were ragged and uneven, my heart was pounding against my chest but I refused to stop. I did not want to let my brain focus on anything. I know I said I was happy earlier but the feeling of betrayal was really something else. I wanted to get Mirabel's hurtful words out of my head but they kept ringing out loud so I just gave my legs freedom to go wherever they wished.

Who knows? They might just take me to Fantasy Island where anything and everything is possible. Opening my eyes wider, I studied my surroundings while still running. Dang! I was in the park and not anywhere close to Fantasy Island. Like I actually believed.

"Alex!" Sam who was running after me shouted for the fifteenth  time. When did I start  counting? "I swear to all exercise haters on Earth if you don't halt right now I'll break your legs".

Despite myself I stopped and turned to laugh at him. "Exercise haters huh? You are so lazy".

He caught up with me and collapsed on the grassy land panting heavily. I shook my head at him. Looking at him you would think he was the athletic type but Sam was far from that. He hated anything that had to do with sports so I often found myself wondering how his body looked so freaking good. His perfect long and toned limbs, his muscular shoulders, those abdominal muscles and look at that face! His jaw__

"Alex!" Sam's weak but sharp voice jolted me out of my reverie. I let out a breath and positioned my eyes elsewhere. Anything but that body sprawled on the grass. "Why did you have that look on?"

"What look?" I swallowed.

"The look that says... I want to have him raw". I did not have to look at him to know his eyes were laughing at me.

I tried to laugh heartily at what he said but it didn't quite come out right. Instead it sounded like a screeching car. You can imagine. "What a very stupid thing to say".

"I like that you're lusting after me but right now I'm weak, I would have happily obliged".

" Lust! Ha!" I shouted in consternation. The hell! I wasn't lusting after him, I was only admiring God's wonderful work in him. Aren't those two different things? "I'd rather lust after a cute monkey".

He looked ready to argue but changed his mind. "I don't believe you but we would leave it at that. If you love me, which I'm sure you do, please get me water before I die of thirst".

" I'm not saying I hate you but if I have the last bottle of water on earth right now I'll use it to wash my dirty feet".

" Jesus". Sam sat up startled. " Please tell me you don't mean that".

" Of course not". I rolled my eyes and walked off to get water.

"Thank God". I heard Sam say. I couldn't help the smile that came up my face.

                            ***

We were now sitting on the park swings. I was lost in thoughts but I noticed Sam's continuous glances. Or maybe I wasn't lost just yet. I knew he wanted to ask the "Are you okay" question. I decided to help him bring it out faster so I met his next glance. "What?"

"Nothing".

"Huh?" That was definitely not what I expected.

"Are you okay?" He asked hesitantly.

Better. I knew him so well. "Truth be told, I'm not. I'm still shaken". I turned to see him slowly nod his head in understanding. "You knew all along right?"

Sam started. "Wh-What do you mean?".

"You knew what Mirabel had done".

"Oh that". He visibly relaxed. I wondered why. What else did he think I was talking about? " Yeah I knew".

"I'm not going to ask you why you kept it away from me, I'm just going to assume you had a good reason. I don't want to know what the rumours are about too".

"Okay". He nodded again. "Thank you".

" You know now that I think of it I still don't know why she did it".

I watched him run his hand through his head getting uncomfortable again. I didn't like the nervousness it gave me. It made me feel like he was going to run away soon.

"Forget about her Alex. She's a big time sadist. Didn't she say it was because it gave her pleasure? Don't dwell on that. Things will get better from now".

I don't know what made me say the next couple of words. I guess I was just insecure and afraid to be all alone. "I want to be so sure but how do I know that you won't turn against me too?"

" What?" He was clearly taken aback, he sounded hurt too. And angry. He abruptly jumped down from the swing, took few steps away before turning to face me with hot eyes. The look on his face that night I would never forget. That look cut through my heart and I immediately regretted what I had said. "Is that what you really think of me?"

"No" Before he could say anything else I got down and looked up at him, my tears already gathering. "I'm sorry. I swear I don't know how that came out. I didn't mean it. Really".

"You don't know how that came out?" He snapped. "At least you know where it came from".

"Sam I'm sorry. I was afraid you'll leave too". I sniffed. "Don't leave me".

His jaw hardened and unhardened. I wanted him to say he has forgiven me, I wanted him to give me his reassuring hug but why did he look so hot with anger glinting in those grey eyes of his. He blew out a breath. "I can't turn against you and I won't leave you. What you don't know is that Mirabel also betrayed me"

I blinked in surprise. " She did? How?"

" How" He said under his breath and started moving closer to me, his eyes never straying from mine. He stopped when he was really close to me, close enough for me to feel his warm breath on my skin. The air around us became still as I felt my heart rate increase. "She betrayed me when she betrayed you".

I felt giddy from his words and proximity. I tried to ignore my heart and focus on breathing. Just when I was almost succeeding he reached out and lightly wiped a tear which had trickled down my cheek. I shivered from his feathery touch but he must've thought I was cold because he immediately took off his jacket and covered me up.

"You're cold and it's late. Let's go back to the car". He turned away and almost as a reflex action, I grabbed his arm forcing him to turn back to me. He raised his brows in question.

That one voice in my mind screamed "What are you waiting for?! Do it!" Before I could stop myself I raised myself on tiptoes and kissed him. All I could think of as I felt him part his lips was — I like this guy.

                          ***

For two days after friday night- the night of my kiss with Sam, my phone was constantly in my hand or in my sight. I waited for it to ring with a call or buzz with a message.

Mind you not just any message. There was this one time I was having a bath and had forgotten to take my phone with me to the bathroom. When I was lathered with soap and all, I heard my phone buzz in the bedroom.

Happy that Sam had finally sent a message and too curious to know what the message said, I had not waited to rinse off the foam or even tie a towel. I dashed out to the bedroom to read the message only to discover that it was not from Sam but the SIM card service. Imagine how I felt! I would've smashed my phone then and there but one tiny voice from my mind stopped me — It would be two long months before Dad gets you another phone.

That's right. I immediately agreed with it. Wait! That's not how my inner voice sounded. This voice sounded like... I whipped around to see William in my room covering his face with a bundle of fresh towels, the bedroom door behind him, wide open.

I opened my mouth and screamed in horror my hands flying to cover my breasts and then down to my pelvic region. Even in that horrorsome situation I found myself debating which of them to cover.

The stupid brother of mine boldly opened his mouth and offered me a piece of advice, the towels muffling his voice. "If I were you I wouldn't shout like that or dad will come up. Remember the door is open".

As if on cue dad called from downstairs alarmed. "Alex? Something wrong? Should I come up?"

"Nooo!" I shouted in horrified alarm. "Everything is as perfect as it can be". I turned to William who was standing still. "What the hell are you waiting for? Get out now".

" The towels". He brought down his hands and offered them to me with closed eyes. "Mom said I should give them to you".

"William," I started really holding back. "If you're sure you're not ready to go to hell right now take those towels with you and get out before my patience runs out and don't you dare open your eyes". I pushed him outside and LOCKED the door. Never again in my life will I ever leave my room unlocked.

"I didn't even see much". William said behind the door. The nerve of that boy.

The main point is that I waited earnestly for Sam to reach out to me but he didn't. He had kissed me as passionately as I kissed him. He had even pressed his body to mine. He had elicited feelings in me I did not even know existed. We had then walked back to the car hand in hand. He had driven me home and kissed me goodnight. He had even watched go inside with a smile. All in all, he enjoyed what we shared that night so why he hasn't said anything yet was beyond me. I wanted to know what we were now because we weren't just friends anymore, right?

I climbed into bed in my nightie and turned off the bedside lamp. If we don't talk now it would be very awkward when he comes to pick me up tomorrow which was Monday.  I decided to swallow my pride and text him first. Just as I picked up my phone, a message rolled in from Sam.

It read: In a memory as ripe as wine I taste your lips again.

I giggled and typed: LOL. Suddenly a poet huh? Why did you take so long to text me?

He immediately replied: I had a hard time believing my dream has finally become reality. I'm one lucky guy.

I blush and type: You know it!

He replied: I'm your best friend, your boyfriend and your love. Goodnight babe. Don't snore!!

I laughed at the last sentence. Whoever told him I snored.

To Sam: Goodnight.

I placed my phone down on the bedside table and hugged my pillow tight. I was a long while before I stopped blushing and fell asleep.