Life & Love of the Tormented

Chapter Four

The drive down to the beach is short but it gives Carter enough time to tell me about where he and Benjamin are from. I don't even know how we got onto the topic to be honest because I haven't spoken much since we got in the car and I certainly didn't ask. They're from a town in New Zealand apparently... I can't pronounce it...

  There's excitement in his features when he talks about his home though. The landscapes, the people, the food. I'm bewitched by his expressions and I am fighting hard against myself to not become invested.

I can't.

If anything this guy will just be a bit of fun, if he doesn't annoy the crap out of me first.

  "You miss home then I'm guessing?", I say quite abruptly cutting him and his excitement off at the knees.

What a fucking bitch.

  "Ohh.. Ah, yeah, I mean my parents are here, my brother, but all our extended family is in New Zealand and it's such a beautiful country. I will always miss it. It will always be my home", he says as a smile, one I've seen far to many times already today, spreads widely across his face.

  "Cool", is all I seem to spit out.

Wow, I really am a bitch.

  We pull up at the beach and I almost jump out of the car. Carter was making his way around to my side to what I'm assuming was to open my door for me... But I don't let that happen...

Not today Casanova.

"So tell me about you?", Carter says trying to turn the topic of conversation onto me as we begin our walk across the car park.

  "What about me?", I reply.

  "Tell me something about yourself ... Please ... I'd like to get to know you", he presses.

  "Not much to tell I'm afraid". I cast my eyes down at my feet as we walk towards Jupiters.

  "Not a sharer then?", he says with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Not particularly".

  "Can I, maybe, ask you some questions? And you just answer as you feel comfortable?", he presses again gently.

  "I'll give you three questions", I say to shut him up.

I instantly regret my decision.

"Awesome!", he says.

Carter's smile widens as if he'd just won the lottery. The giddiness in his voice makes me want to smile back, but the cynic part that makes up three quarters of my personality doesn't allow that.

  We walk into Jupiters and approach the counter. It's a small cafe, with a beachy, surfy type of vibe. A Shawn Mendes song, 'Summer of love', plays over some speakers, really setting the tone for the quaint little space.

  "What would you like?", Carter asks me, gesturing towards the sixteen or so year old standing at the till with a 'I can't be fucked' look on her face.

"I'll get mine, thanks though", I say, waving a hand 'no' at him.

  "Really I insist, please?". His pleading meets his eyes, he's so expressive in his features.

  "Pushy aren't you?", I respond with a little sass in my words.

  "A little, sorry, but please, let me get yours". He almost looks child like with his puppy eyes on show.

  Ahhh fuckkk!

I cave.

AGAIN!

"Fine, thanks. I'll get a long macchiato, traditional with an extra shot please".