Poison Kiss

Chapter 18:

Poison Kiss:

Chapter 18:

Vincent's POV:

As I waited impatiently outside of Ashlynn's bedroom door, I secretly wondered what I was getting myself into. Since when had I gone on dates? I knew practically nothing about romance or 'setting the mood'. What mood were they referring to anyway? If it was morbid, then I was the right guy for the job. Any other mood, and I would most definitely screw things up.

Ashlynn popped her head out from behind the door, looking embarrassed. "Sorry for the wait..." she mumbled, brushing a stray strand of black hair out of her sparkling hazel eyes. "I couldn't decide on what to wear." She stepped out from behind the door, and I could just make out the heaps of clothes piled on her bed, before she bumped it shut with her foot. She nervously shuffled a bit as if she were walking on coals, obviously worried about my opinion of her choice of attire.

I looked her up and down and then back up again. She wore a pair of slightly faded blue jeans and a black band T-shirt. She had obviously opted out for casual, yet it still looked charming on her. Her hair was a bit frizzy, as if she had just woken up to a broken hair straightener., and her makeup was a bit on the heavy side. All in all, she looked a bit more average than I had expected. Well I guess it's the girl that matters and not the choice in clothing and makeup.

Ashlynn cleared her throat as if anxious to get a response. "Umm yes, right." I raised an eyebrow as if seriously contemplating the quality of her clothing. "It looks...nice."

She frowned. "That's it? Nice?!" she looked as if she were about to stomp her foot and retreat back into her room in search of a new outfit.

I did notice her eyeing the door, so I reached out and took a firm hold of her wrist just in case of any escape attempts. "I was kidding. You look marvelous." I put on my most convincing I-meant-it-as-a-cute-joke face and gestured in the vague direction of the front door.

Ashlynn glanced at me skeptically before taking my hand and practically prancing out of the house. I headed for my car, only to be hurriedly pulled in the opposite direction. "B-but!" I stuttered reaching for my car.

Ashlynn shook her head gleefully. "Nope." she said smugly. "We are going to walk. I have already chosen the date location, and I want it to be a surprise."

I sighed and nervously took her hand as she practically dragged me away from my car. I never agreed to go on a date with her. Maybe we needed more time to think things through.

Ashlynn pulled out of my grasp and began skipping down the street cheerfully while I sulked behind. My hair was blowing in my face and the sun was almost blinding. Anyone who had ever called me cheerful had obviously not spent much time with me. I had about as many mood swings as a hormonal teenage girl on her period.

Ashlynn glanced over her shoulder at me, a childish grin stretching over her face and causing her lopsided dimple to become visible. "Come on Vincent!" she exclaimed happily. "Skip with me!"

I pouted and crossed my arms. "Just as a friendly warning, Raven spit up on me twice this morning and I'm out of cookies." I grumbled miserably. "I was thankful that my mother could take her today for our date."

Ashlynn skipped back to me and began tugging on my arm. "Stop it Mr. Grumpy-Baloney!" she scolded playfully. "What you need is a good dose of song!"

She began skip-dragging me along and singing a song from Cinderella three. "Will you stop singing if I skip with you?" I asked miserably. Nothing against her personal talent (or lack of it) but I preferred skipping to her singing.

"Nothing more than a dream!!!" she crowed out in reply.

I sighed and began halfheartedly hopping alongside her. Within five minutes she had fallen silent, and I was surprisingly starting to feel less grumpy. I was almost enjoying our skipping time.

Ashlynn beamed at me. "Vincent, you're a natural!" she cried joyously.

I felt a hint of a smile creeping onto my lips. "Y-yeah. Maybe you're right-" I broke off as my foot caught on a piece of loose cement and I went hurtling face first onto the stony ground.

"Oh Vinc-" Ashlynn cried, only to be interrupted by a growl that would have scared the toenails off of a grizzly bear if it had anything other than claws.

"So not cut out for the this!" I moan-yelled from my place on the ground. "Maybe we should call it a day."

"What on earth do you mean?!" I glanced up to see Ashlynn, an appalled look plastered on her face. "It's only ten in the morning. We haven't even reached the botanical gardens yet!"

"Gardens?" I asked. "That's the date plan?"

Ashlynn nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, they have a wonderful selection of the most beautiful flowers. It doesn't hurt that they have a wonderful bakery next door that sells all the kinds of cookies you can imagine." she wiggled her eyebrows at me expectantly.

"Fine.." I mumbled, getting up off the ground and dusting myself off. "Gardens it is."

*. • .*

We spent at least two hours staring at rare plants like a couple of old ladies before Ashlynn would allow me to got to the bakery, which really did have a lot of cookie selections. After debating between several different types, I finally decided on peanut butter, which brought back lovely memories of my childhood when my mother would bake cookies for my father and I.

I sighed in relief that something good had come out of this day as I ate my last cookie. Ashlynn was blabbering on noisily about some special orchid and it's amazing scent, which made the moment slightly less enjoyable.

"And then there was this simply fine plant-" Ashlynn enthused.

"Enough about the orchids!" I exclaimed loudly.

Ashlynn briefly paused, before continuing on as if nothing had happened. "And the there's the eucalyptus plant that does wonders in healing burns!" she gushed.

I sighed and press the tips of my fingers into my temples. The cookies were worth it, I thought soothingly. The cookies were worth it.

"Did you see those snapdragons?!" she exclaimed loudly. "Those lusciously vibrant hues. Too bad they didn't have magenta."

I felt my annoyance reaching it's boiling point. She needed to be quiet before I did something that I would regret.

"Tulip!"

"Iris!"

"Petunia!"

"Begonias!"

"Daffodils!"

"Easter Cacti!"

Arrrggh!!!! There was only one way to shut her up. I felt myself losing control of both my mind and body, almost as if becoming someone else entirely. The actions were not of myself, but some inner being as I leaned forward and gracelessly mashed my lips into her's. The most blissful silence I had ever heard followed, and I almost felt as if my actions were justified. I wrapped my arms roughly around her pressed her somewhat squishy body into mine. I felt as if I had been dipped into a volcano and then thrown into the ocean. My body tingled with passion, which probably was not such a good thing at the moment. If we had been elsewhere... I mentally slapped myself for the offhanded comment.

What was supposed to be a meaningless kiss to shut her mouth had turned into something so much deeper. What it was, I wasn't sure. All I knew was the bright colors flashing across the insides of my eyelids due to the excessive sunlight, and for once, I didn't care a single bit.

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Hey guys! Sorry for the wait. I've been busy working lately, and I only got this chapter out due to excessive back and stomach pain that has me bedridden. Lovely, right?

For some reason every time I spoke in Vincent's voice in this chapter, it sounded like Dorothy from the Golden Girls, and when it was Ashlynn, I heard Rose saying everything. I watch that show too much...

I know that it was short and that I kept you guys on your toes for far too long, but I hope that the events in this chapter have helped to make up for it.

I'm really tired so I'm going to go back to sleep.

I love you all!!!!

Asylum