All Too Well

the scarf

     "People can't see me and you together. I told Lily about this, but still." Timothee tells me.

     "But it isn't like that?" I question.

      "But the internet always makes it seem like it is. I could be walking with some decaying woman and they would still create rumors that we are dating," He just sighs again. He looks back at Kai."Can you take her out the back and walk her back to her place. I'll go out the front."

      "Why don't you just go out the back with us?" Kai questions. I had wondered the same thing. Does he want the attention?

      "Because if we do get caught, we are in just as much trouble. I'll deal with the paparazzi, Kai just take her home."

       "Oh, it's fine. I walked here myself, I can walk back just fine." I say, my gaze going back and forth between the two boys in front of me.

       "There is no way I'm letting you walk home alone in the dark," Kai says, turning towards Timothee. He gives him a small hug. "I'll see you soon. We should go before the crowd can get to the back."

     Timothee nods, and faces me. He gives me another hug, like the one at the beginning of the night. "Get home safe. And have fun with Kai. Goodbye, I'll see you around J." He looks back at me and winks towards Kai. I can feel the blush building again, and I turn before he can see it also. As I fall into step with Kai, he places his hand on the small of my back, leading me out of the restaurant. The blush starts to build even more.     

      When we finally reach the outside, I start to shiver. The cold air had become prominent, and my spaghetti straps weren't really helping with anything. I pulled a small, red scarf out of my bag, and placed it over my neck. I didn't care if it looks stupid, I was too cold. We walked together in comfortable silence for a few seconds before Kai cleared his throat.

     "I've kind of just been following your step for the last few blocks. Are we headed the right way. Sorry, I forgot to ask where you even live." I laugh at his comment, not realizing it either.

      "Yes, we are on the right road. It's only like ten more minutes from here." I smile up at him, before realizing how dumb I probably look. He stands a solid half foot taller than me, and is way more intimidating. Before I can look away, he smiles back at me, staring into my eyes. I focus my gaze back on the sidewalk, waiting for the blush to fade before I looked back at him.

      "Is it okay if we stop at my place. It is right up here, like literally two minutes down this road. I just need to take my dog out. I haven't been home all day." I was surprised that he had a dog. Isn't he gone most days anyways?

      "Yeah, that's totally fine. I can go on without you. You don't have to walk me any farther."

     He then stops, looking me straight in the eyes. "I already told you this Jaelyn. There isn't anyway I'm letting you walk home alone. It will just take two seconds." I just nod back at him, starting to walk again. I couldn't stop the smile creeping onto my face.

      When we reached his house, I stared in awe. It was a huge, modern house, just sitting in the middle of New York City. I usually pass this house on my way home from most places, but I always thought it was just a work building.

      "Come on in," He said, opening his door to me. The warm air hit me quickly, and I sighed in response. I took off my scarf, laying it on the coffee table next to the door. Soon enough, a little dog ran up to us. It couldn't have been more than 20 pounds, with jet black fur. "This is Aristotle. He can be a little crazy, but I promise he is nice."

      Kai led the dog back outside, and I followed. The cold air hit me, and made me shiver. The dog danced around in the yard, eventually stopping to pee. When I looked up, Kai was staring at me. When he saw that I had noticed, he just smiled at me, and brought the dog back. "I'll be back out in two seconds."

     I realized that my scarf was still inside, but maybe it wasn't the worse idea to leave it here. It gave me an excuse to come back, or for him to see me again. I'm not complaining about that. I can handle the cold for a bit longer.

     When Kai came back out, his hand immediately went back to my back, leading me forwards. We walked in silence for a bit longer until he stopped walking, and stood up on his toes. "What is it?" I frown.

     "Paparazzi. I think they saw me," He curses, his hand still laying on my back. "Maybe we could make a run for it."

     "Kai, I wear heals a lot, but not nearly enough to run three blocks in them. I think I would break every bone in my body." He nodded, looking down at me. He seemed to be thinking. He then suddenly pulled me to the side of a building.

      "Take off your heals." He said, looking down at my feet. I questioned it, but I did as he said. I slipped each of my red heals off, holding them in my hands.

     "I ran track in high school, but it has been awhi-" I was cut off by him speaking.

     "Get on my back. We're going on a little adventure." As much as I didn't want to make him carry me, I still agreed. Much better than running from paparazzi. Just wait until Elora hears about this.

     He bends down, and I wrap my legs around him. When he stands up straight, I wrap my arms around his neck, making sure not to choke him. Somehow, I can feel him smiling. His heart beat thumps against me. We hadn't even started running yet. Now we were both smiling.

      Once I had gotten situated, he took off down the sidewalk. I could hear faint yelling, probably from the paparazzi, but I didn't care. It didn't seem like he really did either. Both of us were laughing our butts off. I lay my chin on his shoulder, and I could see his eyes glance up at me. We stay like this until we reach my house.

     "Thanks for that, even though I could have probably just ran." I say, staring at him on the porch.

      "I know, but that made it more fun," he said, the smile from earlier never leaving his face. "I should probably get going, but I had a lot of fun tonight." He said, his breath coming out as clouds in the cold air.

     "Me too. Goodnight Kai."

      "Goodnight Jaelyn."