Twins With the Queen Bee

Chapter 2: Where You're From Doesn't Matter

"Miss do you know this man?" The police officer asks after being a little taken aback by the guy with his arm around me.

I hesitate for a moment but answer. "Yeah this is my friend. We were supposed to meet at the cafe over there but I guess we're meeting here then."

The guy smiles at my lie. It's not a creepy I've got you where I want you smile it's more of a hey you're doing this one.

"Yeah I'm sorry, I got here early and couldn't wait any longer." I didn't here his English accent before but now it's pretty clear.

The cop still looks unsure but nods and leaves anyway. Once he's out of sight we act like our true selves who have no idea who the other person is.

"Wow that was a long shot I thought I was going to get arrested." He squats a bit and takes deep breaths. "Man you are either a very young and well hidden prostitute or you're very brave and want something interesting to happen in your life." He's not wrong with the second one. "I'm Ryder by the way." He sticks out his hand and I shake it. "And by the way it's only when I'm drunk that I make horrible insensitive jokes with my name." I can't help but chuckle at that. "Oh she likes humor huh?" I shrug. "So I think because I taught you my name I should get to learn yours." Ryder smiles hopefully.

Hmm... should I make this easy or have fun and make it hard?

"Learn huh? Well I'm not a teacher so you're out of luck here." I smile at my wit.

"You don't have to be a teacher in order to teach Belle."

I'm taken aback by his comeback. I've been outwitted. And Belle? Isn't that a word for... I don't know something good or the name of a Disney princess or those things that jingle?

"Belle. Why did you say it?"

His smile becomes wider. "Because you said I'm out of luck of learning things from you like your name so I'll call you Belle." I can't think of anything to say. I just look at him. Stare at his beautiful grey eyes and his short brown hair and the way he's standing right in front of me wearing dark jeans and a zipped up black leather jacket.

"You know, some people say it's rude to stare."

I break out of my trance and can feel the blush creeping up. "S-sorry I don't get out much and that's a nice leather jacket." Seriously have I never talked to boys before?

Ryder chuckles at my embarrassment. "That's why I said some people and thank you it's mine actually. I bought it with some of the money my parents gave me when I moved here."

I nod, pretty interested in what he has to say. "So where are you from?" I ask.

His expression makes me feel like I've just asked about the most deepest personal thing about him but he smirks it away ignoring the topic.

"So from what I hear we were supposed to meet at the café down the street am I correct?"

A smile forms on my face. I don't know why. I nod and take the arm that he's holding out for me. Together we walk the thirty or so feet it takes us to get to the café in the scary night that just became more soothing.

* * *

"So I asked you where you're from and you just ignored the question and changed the topic, why?" I ask before taking a bite out of my muffin.

He hesitates looking at me curiously. "Some things happen. Maybe something like growing up one way and changing completely that remembering where you came from hurts a bit or maybe being a type of person who grew up with a wonderful childhood that you want to go back to, so telling strangers where you came from is just too personal." He pauses taking a sip out of his hot chocolate. "So what about you? Would you tell me where you came from?"