UNCONDITIONALLY YOURS

It was an 'in the moment' thing // 13

"I just..." Could I even lie? I did not know if there was any point. "I tripped, I am really clumsy, you know? I just hid it because I thought it was fine." His anger did not fade. No, he knew there was something deeper going on.

"You can use your tricks on your friends at the café like you did last week, but it won't work on me, you are lying. Do not mistake me as an idiot." Of course I did not think him to be an idiot, quite the opposite. I knew he would know. Though his anger triggered something in me. Who was he to be angry? He didn't know me. I appreciated what he was doing for me, I really did, but there was no condition that that meant he had to be involved in my business.

"I am not lying!" I responded. "Maybe you should have a little trust and believe that!" Funny, me talking about trust like I had any of my own. I became angry because I had no other way to conceal the truth, it was like a reflex emotion for me when I was hiding something. He was, in fact, completely correct, as he always seemed to be. He just couldn't know. He was the only mental support I had and it was not the right time to lose him to the truth of my messed-up life.

"Stop lying to my face, Riley! Please, I am trying to help you, who was it?" His voice grew increasingly agitated and I could not blame him.

"Why the hell can't you believe me?" I resisted more and more, determined to resist his persuasion. I tried to make him feel bad for not believing me, but the fact that he knew I was lying made me look stupid.

"I'm not an imbecile! I am not fooled by you resisting the truth. Look, Riley, you have to tell me what happened." He reached for my hand and like a reflex I snapped it away.

"I do not have to do anything!" I continued coldly. "And if someone did hurt me like you seem to think? Why do you care Parker? It doesn't affect you, you don't have to be dragged down in this if you let me mind my own business." It wasn't like it benefitted him what had happened to me, I needed a place to sleep but I was not his responsibility. He scoffed as me.

"It doesn't affect me? You wonder why I care. Do you want to know why, Riley?" He questioned sarcastically without taking his eyes off mine even for a second.

"As a matter of fact I do want to know why the hell you are acting like it changes anything for you." I challenged.

"Yeah?"

"Yes!" I said shortly. And then silence. It was so dramatic in contrast to shouting and raised voices. Much more powerful and effective than any words, or any strength or force anyone could deliver their words with. His eyes flashed down slightly before they flicked back up to mine. I noticed as his emerald eyes glowed at me just like the day we met. His eyes were filled with nothing but warmth and sincerity and I knew that if there was anyone to let my trust slip with it would be him. In one smooth movement, using only his index finger he lifted my chin and leant forward toward my face. My skin burned with nerves where his finger rested on it. We lingered in the moment for what felt like an eternity, our faces inches apart, lost in each other's eyes whilst both trying to read the other. The tension was close to unbearable. I could hardly take it anymore, I felt like I was about to explode and I needed a quick escape out of the room. Before I had to chance to act on my thoughts, Parker gripped my chin firmly, yet still gently as he pulled me to him and he kissed me.

Don't get me wrong, I had been kissed before. Multiple times. Ben and a few boys from school. But with the way that Parker kissed me it felt like a different thing. I had never been kissed with such emotion. I could feel the anger and the tension flooding out. He kissed me like he cared, like I meant something and that was feeling I did not often have. He actually made me feel wanted, desired even. It was how you would imagine something from a movie and how I had always imagined my first kiss to be when I was young. His warm, soft lips were addicting and I knew that I could not move on from him as easily as I planned to. We found our way closer and closer to the other, it was like a magnetic pull, we both needed to be as close to the other as possible. I brought my hands up the back of his neck and tangled them in his messy black hair. It was the kind of kiss you never want to end. And it created the kind of memory you want to bottle up and keep for ever. I guess the difference was that this was the first time someone who actually liked me kissed me.

He eventually broke the kiss. I struggled to catch my breath. We rested our heads against one another, both of us inhaling and exhaling deeply. I slid my hands to his neck and let them rest there as his hands remained still around my back holding me in a tight embrace. I decided to be the first to play the silence.

"Someone did it, they hurt me. The bruise, I mean." I admitted, I knew he deserved the truth and not my anger.

"I know." He whispered quietly and simply.

"I will tell you." It came out quickly, but I knew it was right. I was being selfish by not telling him, I just needed the support but I wasn't ignorant of him needing an explanation.  "You deserve that much. I just need to explain everything first."

"Everything?" He must have known there was going to be a story, so I wasn't sure if the shock in his voice was fake or if he was surprised I was telling him.

"You will see. There's..." I sighed and paused as I leant away from resting against his head. "Quite a lot to explain." I continued.

"Okay. I'm glad you want to tell me, but please change into something lighter and comfy first. You are still boiling hot, and whatever you what to tell me it doesn't sound like it is going to be easy so it will be better if you are comfortable." He sounded like someone who cared and I trusted that. It was enough for me. I looked back at him. "Down the hall, second door on the left."

"You are sure she won't mind?" I did not want to be intrusive, seeing as I didn't even know this person.

"Certain."