Behind The Mask

Chapter 10

Michael’s POV

I woke up rather late. Past breakfast, anyway. I spent some time in the shower thinking about last night. Maybe I’m seeing too much into that kiss. Well, today will show me how much progress I made for real. I look out of my window and I see a table set with some healthy snacks and cool drinks under the canopy. And she is there…She’s lying comfortably in a swimsuit on an easy chair. I gulp hard and try to cool down. She’s in a swimsuit….a dark blue one piece swimsuit! Immediately, I put on a light pair of trousers and a soft cotton shirt, and I skip down the stairs as fast as humanly possible.

“Hi” I say bringing an easy chair for myself and placing it as close to hers as I can.

“Hello. We got a lovely day today. I took a swim in that enclosure in the river. We filter the water, so it’s clean. Join me?”

“I don’t have bathing trunks” I say as an excuse.

She turns her head and her steely-blue eyes give me an “oh please” look.

“I am sure that you could arrange to get some…”

I sigh.

“I am not sure it’s a good idea for my Vitiligo.”

“That’s why we have the canopy for.”

I change tactics.

“What about you? Why do you sit under the shade?”

“Because of my skin, too.”

I look at her perfect, blemish free skin on her arms and legs.

“Your skin is perfect, Anouk.”

“Perfectly free of pigments. I have the lightest skin type. I never catch a tan. I go all red like a lobster and blisters appear. Then my skin peels off. The sun is no friend of mine, just like in your case.”

I cannot help but think that this is more than a coincidence. We both have to keep away from the sun, so we can have the same type of fun, without her feeling like she’s missing something.

I get a cool orange juice for myself and one for her. I let my fingers linger over hers as I hand her the glass. She drinks in silence then lights a cigarette.

“When did you start smoking?”
“Some 6 or 7 years ago.”

“You were underage!” I exclaim shocked.

She blows the smoke carefully away from me, then turns to give me a lopsided ironic smile.

“Prosecute me, then” she challenges.

I shake my head. She’s so unlike the usual kind of girl I’d be attracted to. But I am attracted to her worse than if she was a magnet and I was made of iron. And she is a considerate smoker, too. She never blows the smoke in my face. When she’s in a room she opens a window and smokes out of the window…No, she’s not perfect. But I want her…simple as that. I want her open, direct nature, her honesty and her no-shit-taking personality. Okay…let’s see where I stand.
“So…about last night…” I trail off.

She looks at me blinking and waiting me to say more.

“Yeah?”

“Umm…did you have fun?”

She smiles widely.
“Yeah, it was really fun. It was nice. I had a good time. Perhaps we can do it again.”

I sigh and look away. No mention of the kiss. Yeah, I’m seeing too much in it. It was her way of saying thanks.

“Yes…we can do it again.”

On the whole I feel dejected. But perhaps I expect too much too soon. It was an evening out dancing in a club. What could I expect? However, to test if any closeness grew between us, I reach for her hand. She lets me take it and entwines her fingers with mine. I smile. It’s a small step, but it’s a far cry from the girl who shouted at me to leave her alone.