Protection

Chapter 5. Rob

"So mate what's been happening in your life?" Tom asked over his chicken and bacon sandwich.

"Nothing much." Understatement of the year. "You?"

"I've met a lass since I last saw you. Her name's Sofia. Great tits." Tom was an unaffected yorkshire-man, born and bred.

"Sounds swell." I mumbled concentrating on my pasta.

"Ya what?" He practically bellowed across the canteen at me, regardless of the fact I was sat across the table from him.

"I said it sounds swell." I looked up at him.

"Aye it is. So what about you mate, have you met any gals recently?" Tom winked suggestively at me.

I debated whether or not to tell Tom about Haines. She was beautiful, witty but fragile. I didn't know if I could talk about her without feeling bad.

"Nah just same old same old, you know?"

"My sister stills thinks you're quite fit."

"I'm sure she does."

"Oh for fucks sake Rob she's been after you for years, give a girl a chance!?" Tom's outburst surprised me.

I was born in London and my parents were often on the move. I met Tom and his younger sister Angie when I was 14 and my parents rented a farm house in Rotherham. By coincidence Tom went to the same uni as me, even though by then I had moved on to sunny Birmingham.

"Look mate, no offence but your sister is 16." A year younger than Rosa. "I'm three years older than her."

Tom shrugged and sighed resignedly. "Not gonna bother wasting my breath, just remember you lead her on and you have to face the consequences."

I chuckled, "Okay Tom, I'll remember that."

I got up and left the canteen, thoughts of Rosa fresh in my mind. She was so breathtakingly stunning, and so out of my league. I should have known the boundaries.

But yet everytime I saw her I just wanted to do things to her that, had she have been a couple of years younger would have been illegal. She was my definition of perfect- softly tousled auburn hair, expressive brown eyes and little freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose. I was almost certain I was in love with her.

But is this love, I asked myself.Or was I confusing love and lust? I don't honestly know.

Haines trusts me.

I can't take advantage of her trust otherwise I may lose it altogether.

That's what I should really be remembering.