Hide and Seek

Chapter 8: Heartache

"I'm sorry that I'm your umbrella and the rain" -Unknown

*Kesley

"I could ask you the same thing tiger." I said thinking out loud now, and regretting using tiger, I blushed.

His grin spread farther across his face and he ducked his head in disbelief causing some of his hair to fall into his face.

My stomach twisted in pain at his beauty.

"You first," he insisted, "I asked first, after all."

"Kelsey, but my friends call me Kells." I wanted him to call me Kells to me it felt like it meant something.

"Ah," he said, his smile showing through on his voice. "We are friends, are we not, Kells?"

"Yes we are," I smiled and stared at him "your turn."

"Hm," he said hesitantly, smile slightly fading," that's a hard one. I go by many different names."

"Haha casanova." I said serious because he wouldn't tell me his name.

His smile returned. "But you can call me Onyx."

A huge smile spread across my face "That's ironic." I said giving him a light chuckle.

"How so?" he cocked his head in confusion.

"Well you have onyx colored hair so when I saw you earlier I remembered you by your onyx hair"

"So, I'm assuming my name, in your language, means black?" he questioned "I'm sorry, my english vocabulary isn't the best."

"Sort of. It's a Mineralogy. a variety of chalcedony having straight parallel bands of alternating colors, or black, especially a pure or jet black. Also Medicine/Medical like a nail of a finger or toe." as soon as I said it I regretted it.

"Interesting." he said giving me a confused look.

"Oh i'm so sorry, let's back up and forget all that." I quickly added then said "Yes."

"Yes," he confirmed, coming back to his comfortable nature. "Tell me about your parents."

My smile faded, a look of melancholy creeping onto my face. I took in a shaky breath then said "They died in an home invasion five months ago." Taking a breath I continued "That's why I'm studying psychology to figure out what made them want to kill my parents."

His brows creased in worry and sorrow. "I'm sorry to hear that, but may I ask of what profession your parents were?"

"Before they were married I don't know they never told me, all I know is that my dad changed to teaching first graders and my mom bought a clothing store."

"Hmm," his grey eyes bored into mine.

Looking away I asked "What?"

He smiled comfortingly, "Nothing, I'm sorry that you lost them."

"It's okay my boyfriend helped me through it." I said hoping to change the topic

His eyebrows rose. "Boyfriend? Am I intruding?"

"Oh! No." I said laughing a little and shaking my head. "You might have seen him with me earlier, but I dumped him since he wasn't interested in me any more." I looked down "Everyone seems to leave me."

He nodded slowly, understanding in his eyes, "What makes you think I was watching you?"

The smile returned to my face "I never said that!"

His mischievous grin came back "Were you, mio caro, keeping a close eye on me?" his eyebrows rose teasingly.

"No, I was watching my boyfriend so I could break up with him." I said trying to hid a smile that would say I was lying.

"What about your parents?" I asked trying to get the heat in me.

The grin faded completely, replaced with a look of conflicted emotions.

"I don't know," he finally said.

My smile faded as well and I shook my head "How do you not know?"

He thought for a moment before answering. "My father died when I was twelve in a coal mining accident. Soon after that, I quit school and took a job in a perfume factory cleaning up broken glass--hence all the scars. Not long after, I was taken away from my five siblings and mother to be brought to America, the land of opportunity."

I gave him a sympathetic look "I'm sorry, I guess we have one thing in common" I said then leaning into his chest and swayed to the music which now was sad and slow. I took in a wiff of his sent and relaxed into him, but he tensed under my touch, muscles clenching.

I stayed in that position hoping to help him relax, as a small tear slipped down my cheek. He wiped it away, a sad look of understanding crossing his features.

Just then Van came and ripped us apart, he turned toward me pure anger across his face. "We broke up half an hour ago and now you're snuggling with this bimbo!" He came toward me ready to grab my arm so I punched him in the face causing him to fall onto the dance floor unconscious.

"Nice," Onyx's impressed voice emanated from behind me.

"Thanks, my parents made me take karate, boxing and jiu jitsu as a kid." I said letting out a hard breath.

"They were smart people!"

I just realized everyone was now staring at us. I turned to everyone "It was self defense. I swear." I said putting my hands up in surrender.

A strange beeping came from behind me, and I turned to see Onyx looking down at his phone.

"I've gotta go," he said, a frown creasing his brow.

"Is it because of me? Did I make you late for work?" I asked paranoid.

"No, it is um, work, but you didn't make me late. Atleast not yet."

"Okay bye. I hope I can see you again. Soon?" I breathed out. "I can give you my number so when you're free we can meet up. If that's ok with you."

"Yes, Perdere," he said. "Sicuro, I would love that."

I quickly gave him my number and he left when he did it pulled on my heart a little and I decided to leave the dance before Van woke up. Plus I didn't want to dance without Onyx. As I hurried out of the school and to my car I looked up hoping to catch a glimpse of Onyx leaving, but I got nothing.

I started my car and drove off with a sleek black mustang in front of me, but it went the opposite direction when we came to a four way stop. I ignored it and kept driving to my house the whole way thinking of Onyx.

When I finally got home I dressed in my pjs and went to bed, the whole night dreaming of Onyx and my parents.

*Kelsey