Heart's Games

Heart's Games|Chapter 38: Safe for Tonight

Chapter 38: Safe For Tonight

After I had dried away my tears and had managed to look crowd-acceptable, I decided to make my way out. Grace put an arm around my shoulder and offered me a smile.

"You'll be fine," she repeated. Again and again and again. I heard her, I just doubted she meant it.

But life keeps on. Problems and drama, there's still a silver lining to it all. You just have to look closely. And right then, I had to meet up with mine.

I arrived at the greenhouse, where no one would've known a crime scene had happened not so long ago. And Tyler was standing there, with his button-up, long-sleeved dress shirt. And a pair of blue jeans. I had to smile at that, and at the flowers he was holding in his hands. At the small picnic he had set up. The candles. The music. The smiles. The gazes.

"Hey," he smiled. He began to take steps closer to me. Once he was close enough to make me lose my senses, he looked into my eyes. "Let me help you clear your mind. Please?"

My lips twirled up. "I've heard those words before."

Tyler gave me that toothy smile only he could wear so well. "I'm worried, Katherine. Please?"

That day, I wondered why he treated me so well. Why he tried to make me feel like if he had never liked a girl so much before. Although later on I learned the answer to that, I must admit I always felt like if it was because Tyler himself wanted to be treated like that. He wanted to feel love for someone, and he didn't want to lose that person.

"Only because you asked."

His laugh echoed through the green house, and I knew that if we got caught we'd be in deep trouble. But I didn't mind being in trouble as long as it went by the name of Tyler Stevens. Besides, everyone else was way too focused on the performances going on back there.

"Seriously, Katherine. You have got to get over that!" he laughed wholeheartedly.

"I can't! You just looked like such a jerk coming in like that." He laughed and I giggled before admiring the complexity of his smile. It's rare to see Tyler so happy and vivid. Seeing him laugh; it was rare. Maybe that's what made it so wonderful.  His face looked so different. It was like taking a coloring book and filling all the blank spaces with the brightest colors.

The laughing slowly stopped as he calmed down. "Ah," he sighed. "I remember that day. The first time I saw you."

"What did you think?"

"Well, clearly, I wasn't as judgmental as you were," he kept on laughing.

"Stop it! What did you think?" I giggled.

He chuckled before turning to look at me. For a moment, he simply stared at me. Lips curled up, brows rested forming a perfect arch. I thought things were perfect. "You were sitting there, staring at me like if I was the biggest dumb-ass in history. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but think you were the prettiest girl in the entire room. And that maybe, some day, I wouldn't just be the biggest dumb-ass in history. Maybe I'd get to be your dumb-ass."

I took a second to just smile at him. To let his words sink in. "You were kind of judgmental." He laughed. "But, turns out you and I were secretly sharing the same dream."

"Then I am one lucky man, aren't I?" he smiled.

"Boy. You're one lucky boy."

Tyler didn't even hesitate. He crashed his lips onto mine. Pressing harder like if he wanted more and didn't know what exactly. So we kissed. And kissed. Until I let go, out of breath, holding him by the back of his neck. He grinned and I smirked. Man, I might never get over his kisses.