Into The Night

Twenty-Three

Well, I feel dammed.

This isn't exactly the kind of "going out" or whatever you call it, thing, I had in mind. Actually, I've got nothing else on my mind.

It's not that I have no experience, I've gone to dates many times than I can really count. . . but none of them is the actual Riptide, aren't they?

So here I am, with two guys from the bungee jumping safety business –don't ask me, I didn't ask them what their occupation is either!– playing nothing but Good morning Queen at the side of the bridge. They're the Ryan brothers, the older one with the bald head is Castor while the younger one with green colour in his emo-styled hair is Dennis. I've called them for a favour because I didn't want to jump out of the bridge without style. . . it wasn't my surname for nothing.

The game was growing rather intense as there is probably already a stack of about ten cards. It was my turn and it turned out to be a number, then Castor, it turned out to be a King so we all imitated a salute –as the game requires. We all laughed it off as we all did it at the same time and so the game continues.

When it was about quarter to seven, I told the lads I'll just pick up Taylor –not exactly as she had deliberately ordered me not to through a text message– and I told them I'll be back later.

Of course, I hummed along the way, mostly the song Terminal because it is such a nice song.

I stopped in my tracks once I've had a dog at my feet, a Siberian Husky, I believe. I didn't move –or attempted to but, I think I might be in the wrong place.

"Otis!" Taylor called and the dog came rushing after her. The rest I'm realising is that I've been walking too much I've actually arrived at her house.

Well, I saw Taylor, alright. I saw her side-braided, wearing a white, turtleneck sweater and black pants. I don't think I'd want her to change, if I'm going out with her like this, I'd be alright with it. In fact, I don't think I would mind anything she wears so long as it isn't too flashy or anything.

She sighed in distress once she saw me, "I deliberately told you not to--"

I saw a maid behind her.

"That's a nice dog, ma'am, and I'd really watch out for it." I cut her off before she said something. "And I gotta go, I've got a date with a beautiful young woman. I think we're both insane, and well, I thought it would be discreet if I didn't pick her up casually. But then, I uh, erm, I changed my mind so, well um, bye, I guess."

Taylor smiled up, lighting up relief all over me. The maid came up to her and that's when she wiped the smile off her face. I didn't see the next things that happened as I was already walking away.

I waited at the side of the road, in the shadows for a bit. I watched Taylor's house for a moment. Her bedroom was lit up, and I was expecting her to walk out the front door. And I was wrong. She went out of their house using her window, and climbing down the way I did, gutter tracks and inches of cements coloured grey for design and for us, a bit of footing.

I need to stamp it in my thoughts that she is Riptide.

Once she stepped foot on the ground, she made her way to the tree, too much work but I soon realised why, the shih tzu at their yard barks at anything. She climbed the tree and went over the wall to their neighbours. That's when she ran to the other side of the road, my side of the road.

She kept on running but I don't need a watch to keep my timing right most of the time. I stepped in front, causing a bit of an impact on me, making me stumble a bit backwards. My arms are around her and had crashed against me.