Escape

Chapter Fifteen

On the way back to Samuels apartment I text Noah.

ME: Hey! Live music at the pub tn?

NOAH: Sure! We'll be there!

As we get back to the bookstore, Samuels and I take the stairs back up into his apartment. By the time we get back it's around 6:30 pm. Samuel says his band is supposed to go on at 8:00 pm.

He walks over to the kitchen and grabs us two glasses of water. I go over to the small grey couch and sit on one side, close to the windows. He walks over to the couch with two waters in hand and places them on the table. He rummages through the black case full of records and pulls one out. He places it on the record player and a soft indie ballad fills the apartment. He sits on the other side and lays his arm across the back of the couch.

"Come here." He says quietly and motions his hand, calling me over. I smile and move to the other side of the couch and lean into him, his arm wrapping around me. He places a small kiss on the top of my head as I melt into him. We sit like this while the first song plays. As the next song starts, he clears his throat.

"I have a question." He states.

"Um, yes?" I ask nervously.

"What's your greatest fear?" He asks softly, playing with my fingers between his.

I ponder the question for a moment, wondering how open I'm willing to be. After a few moments I reply, "Being found."

He let out a quiet laugh, "Um, care to elaborate on that?" I feel him looking at me.

"No," I laugh as I lay my head back on his chest, "Your turn. Your biggest fear." I ask.

He's silent for a moment before he answers, "Losing the one I love most." I feel the heaviness in his answer, and I think of Allison.

"Care to elaborate?" I repeat his question to him.

He laughs, "I don't think I need to."

We sit like this for awhile, our bodies sitting together, him playing with my hands as we intertwine them together. I run my finger across each black nail and spin each ring around his finger. He takes a thick silver ring off of his of his smallest finger and slides it over my ring finger. It's huge, and I laugh. He takes it off my ring finger and places it over my thumb. It fits perfectly. I stare at it for a few seconds.

"Keep it." He says into my hair, almost in a whisper. I turn and face him.

"Are you sure?" I ask, I know better than to protest much more than that. He nods his head and places his hand on my cheek. He leans in and presses his lips to mine. I feel my stomach start to flutter. His tongue parts my lips and it traces against mine. I pull myself on top of his lap and he grabs my waist, pulling me closer to him. I take both of my hands and bury them in his hair, gently pulling his head back to deepen the kiss.

"We have to leave soon." I say breathlessly into the kiss. He groans. I can feel him growing beneath me.

"I know." He growls. I reluctantly pull away from the kiss. There's a pause between us.

"So, giving me your ring..." I begin, breaking the silence.

He laughs, "Yeah, and?" He tucks some hair behind my ear.

"Does that mean I'm..." I pause, embarrassed to finish my sentence.

"My girlfriend?" He finishes it for me as his eyebrows raise. My face flushes and I feel juvenile.