The Island Of Freedom

Chapter Four

Evi eagerly waited for his answer, intently staring at Thomas. His eyesight was fixated on the view in front of them. George and Noah slowly moved between people, swaying their intertwined hands.

"Maybe we should go with them too?" Thomas asked, still looking at his friends walking away.

"I asked you a question, Thomas. What dare?" Evi said with a small annoyance, scanning his face.

Thomas's eyes widened as he looked at Evi once more. "So," He rubbed the back of his neck. "That night when I messaged you, it was for a dare."

"Elaborate, please."

"Well, I broke up with Ava, as you know. And after two weeks or so," He shifted in his seat. "Guys took me for drinks at this local bar. So we were drinking, playing games, and ended up playing the truth or dare and well—"

"They dare to message a stranger," she concluded, standing up from the grass.

Thomas followed Evi's actions and stood up. As she cleared the grass specks off her overall shorts.

"So I messaged you, and you turned out to be great and," Thomas paused, glancing into Evi's green eyes. "I didn't want to tell you that was the reason for my message." He lowered his head.

"It's fine," She took a step toward the crowd. "So are we going or what?" Evi asked, lifting her chin toward the stage.

"Yeah," Thomas agreed in a whisper.

"The only reason I wrote you back is because of the poem," she said as Thomas followed her.

"Oh," His facial expression remained questionable as Evi glanced at him.

She halted and grabbed his forearm, forcing him to stop. "Was it a dare? The poem," She scanned his face. "it was." She made a conclusion. "And all the other stuff?"

"That part was all me," he spoke in an apologetic tone. "I didn't tell you about a dare thingy, because I was afraid you would disappear."

Evi never got any direct messages on Twitter before and the night Thomas messaged her, she was in a bad mood that evening. His words brightened her day, and as she checked out his profile she noticed a poem "Love and Friendship" by Emily Bronte which piqued her interest in him even more.

Evi stood looking at Thomas, her grip on his arm loosened, and she slowly removed her hand from his body. She recollected all the conversations they shared in the past year. The way he made her laugh and comforted her when she felt sad. That can't be faked, she thought. She gazed into his dark eyes, they seemed warm and honest to her.

She cleared her throat. "We should go or we will miss the concert."

"Right," Thomas agreed with a nod, lowering his gaze.

Soon they reached a more populated space, and Thomas grabbed Evi's hand, intertwining their fingers. He led the way through the crowd. It became more difficult to move when the stage slowly grew closer. Evi gasped as some guy's elbow nudged into her ribs. The guy murmured something in Polish and from his tone, she assumed it was an apology. They moved further, taking tiny steps through the masses.

Evi moved her head to the song's rhythm as Thomas halted and she bumped into his back. She giggled nervously, he slightly turned back to her and leaned closer to her ear.

"Here will be fine, right?" His warm breath fanned against her ear and neck, making her breathing fasten.

Evi slightly nodded, and they turned to face the stage. Space seemed hotter as they moved with the crowd. Thomas held her hand tightly as they jumped to the fast rock tune. The proximity of that many people made Evi anxious, but the live performance helped with her worries. She felt thirsty and exhausted as the last accords of the song rang out.