The Bully

Chapter Twenty One

Burying my face in his shoulder I gave a small shriek. I felt him chuckle beneath my face and scowled, refusing to come out to look at the screen again. Bret nudged me with his shoulder and I looked across at him, my eyes wide with fear. With a grin he handed me the popcorn and I hid behind the carton as I ate some. Why had I let him talk me into this? I didn't think I'd sleep for a week. When the film finally ended, he took my hand and stood up.

"Never ever again," I said, firmly as we headed out into the daylight. Bret laughed and put an arm round my shoulders.

"It was just a film Angel."

"It was terrifying," I retorted. "I'm not gonna sleep for like a week!"

"You don't sleep anyway," he replied, grinning as he moved to take my hand. "Come on, let's grab a bite to eat and then maybe we could head back? You look tired."

"Gee thanks, you're all charm," I replied, rolling my eyes, though he was right. It had been a late one again the night before and the dark of the cinema had made me sleepy.

"Well, I still need to head to the gym for a workout so I figured I could do that while you rest up before tonight."

"Why? What's happening tonight?" I teased and he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm officially moving in," he said.

"Yeah, only because I need someone with me after that film," I said, digging him in the ribs with my elbow. He laughed again.

"I just don't get you. A wander round a graveyard in the dark with only Mark for company and you're fine but a film which is literally completely fake and you're terrified. Just completely insane."

"I have never seen so much blood on the screen. There was no blood at the cemetery," I argued.

"Yeah but fake blood," he countered.

"Like your fake sport," I muttered and he stopped us.

"What was that little girl?" he asked, looking down at me.

"Nothing," I said, quickly . "Nothing at all."

"That's what I thought," he said, walking us on towards the restaurant he had booked. The waiter showed us to our table which was in the back of the restaurant and behind a screen to give us some privacy. He ordered us drinks and then leaned back in his chair, surveying the menu. I watched him as he concentrated and felt a rush of affection for him. I remembered the teenager who used to call by the burger bar everyday to watch me. At the time I thought he was out to annoy me but I knew better now. He was there just to see me, to be close to me and the realisation made me smile because it occurred to me that he had always loved me, despite everything we had been through, despite the best efforts of my family, we were still in love and together again. He looked up, seeing my face. "What?" he asked.

"I'm just so happy to be here with you, Bret. I love you so much and I'm so glad that we get this second chance."

"Me too, Angel," he said, softly. The food was fantastic and I was stuffed by the time we'd finished.

"How will you work out after that lot?" I asked. "I could just fall asleep after eating so much."

"Well you can sleep and I'll work out," he said, as we wandered slowly back to the hotel. He gave me a kiss and then headed to his own room to change into his gym gear. Once I was alone I decided that a bath might be nice and ran the taps, adding in plenty of bubbles and then I sank under the hot water, sighing contentedly. After a long soak, I climbed out reluctantly and had just pulled my robe round me when there was a knock at the door. Figuring it was Bret I went to answer the door, a big smile on my face.