A Rose to Change a Life

Chapter 9

Life's too short to be living with regrets
Steve's words made me think. Devin looked like a guy who could not care less for the world... and hey, I was not weak. Goddamnit.

If I would be, I wouldn't have survived high school or my entire life! Sure, I did understand him, he just wanted to protect him, however it didn't really give him the right to talk to me like that. Or did it?

As I stepped out of the door, Devin wasn't leaning against the motorcycle like I would have guessed. Instead he was pacing around anxiously like a bunch of bees were eager to sting him in his ass. I approached him like one would approach a deer who was afraid of theheadlights of a car: VERY slowly. His pacing stopped the second he saw me.

"I'm sorry, Elva. I didn't want our first date to end like that."

"Something happened it ... I'll explain.. another time...?", he stuttered.

Was he serious? I was starting to worry more than I probably should. I hoped nothing too severe, but it looked like that. The look that haunted his eyes made me forget about everything my mind came up with in the bar, how could I have ever thought that a guy like him would be another one of 'the doucheclub'?! Elva, come on. Now you are the one doing the prejudices. Do not let your own experiences get into the path of your future. You block paths that aren't bad at all. I glanced towards him again: Yup. Not bad at all. I didn't want him to feel the same way I did. I wanted him to smile again, making ME smile.

I settled for a nod, not letting him see how concerned I was about him, picked up the helmet and straddled the bike.
"Would you be mad at me if I'd drop you off at a bus station? I have to drive into the other direction." The other direction meant the east coast of the country, the land, the small town he probably referred to was called Smithen. I've heard of it once, Elise

Rosecashier-A rose to changexplained it to me, saying it was in a poorly condition – the unemployment rate was rather high, food was sparse, the people lived from the remains of other cities, I felt bad for these people, even if the possibilty of it being only a rumor was rather high. People tended to exaggerate nowadays, feeding on the problems of others, harvesting all the rumors that they could lay their hands on, and then spreading them like a plaque. I didn't want to believe in rumors, but I couldn't say anything positive either because I've never been there. I was from another part of the state.

"That is okay, I have a spare bus ticket anyway." I answered him.

The bike roared to life under me, I felt the vibrations of the engine, the soft purring of it, and when he shifted gears I felt like all my thoughts were left behind, blocking out any ideas my mind decided to cook up. His body moved with the bike when it turned a corner, just like they were one.

Strong arms gripped the handles, straining his shirt, making his earned muscles visible. They didn't look like he developed them by visiting a fitnesscenter like all the other guys today who were trying to make watermelons out of their biceps, his made the impression of hard work – I couldn't NOT notice these things. I was still a girl. Sure, one with issues and problems, but a girl nevertheless.

Naturally, we didn't speak during the ride, as he dropped me of at the nearest bus station. I hopped of the bike, handing him the spare helmet. I turned to walk away, but he gripped my waist, forcing me to press myself against his side. I had to steady myself by laying a hand on his shoulder, whereas his hand trailed circles on my back, letting me shirt ride up a bit, touching bare skin. I shuddered a bit, though, I couldn't shake a dark feeling that clouded my thoughts.... like it didn't feel right...