The Beast

The Beast (8)

The door shut firmly behind me and with shaky breaths, I stumbled my way to my room.

I didn't even get to take a step on my carpeted floor before my cellphone rang in my back pocket.

"Hello?" I squeaked into the phone, not even bothering to see who it was.

"I'm sorry."

My heart stopped in my chest as I heard those words and I immediately froze.

"A...Adrian?"

"I'm sorry Raine." He repeated, sounding even more softer than the last time and I swear, I felt like fainting.

He was apologizing to me?!

"I'll give you time to think but if you forgive me, meet me at the park at twelve. I didn't mean to sound so... violent but I...." He trailed off, letting out an angry sigh that had me stiffening.

Just noticing my trembling hands, I gripped the small device tighter in my hand, not even able to understand what in the world was happening.

"I'll...be waiting. I would understand if you don't go."

Then the line went dead and I stared at my phone in silence, his words finally sinking in.

What?!

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By the time my clock struck 11:30, I was still sitting on my messy, unmade bed, not knowing what to do.

A part of me wanted, no, begged for me to go while the other half of me just wanted to stay here in my room and completely banish the intimidating yet insanely stunning man named Adrian from my life.

I was completely torn at that point.

He did say sorry and he did sound very honest but isn't him disappearing from my life what I always wanted?

What I desperately tried to achieve even just this morning?

So what was the part of me doing, wanting to forgive that dangerous guy?

Even the thought of leaving him was already tugging at my heart to the point where it hurt so much.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Raine, you have one messed up life." I found myself muttering under my breath. I never did ask for this.

All I wanted was to be alone, unnoticed by these people but he just came waltzing in and, even on the first day, claimed a part of my life without me noticing until it was too late.

No one has ever done that before. They haven't even bothered to try.

But why did Adrian? What was so special about me?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

But he made me feel....like I was actually important to this world or maybe just his. For once, I understood what it means to be cared for.

I never felt it from my aunt, seeing how she gave up with me easily but Adrian was persistent, determined to be a part of the hell I call my life.

And with that thought, I pulled my self up and tied my hair into another ponytail as I headed out the door.

I really don't know why in the world I was doing this but it felt right....too right that it scared and amazed me at the same time.

I found myself walking to the park, the wind smashing against me until I felt like screaming at it but that would only add to the reasons of why people would torment me.

When the park greeted me, I paled considerably but still went on, hesitantly might I add.

I looked around, seeing no one besides a guy at a candy stand, looking quite bored. His sleepy face contradicted his jolly-looking uniform and I found myself tilting my head to see the stand better.

My mouth watered at the sweets I saw, my craving for sugar-loaded delicacies hitting me like a ton of bricks.

I stood, rooted to my place as I studied the stand, the guy completely oblivious to the teenage red-head that was eyeing his merchandise quite hungrily.

I just couldn't help it. Candy would always be my weakness and God knows how long it was since I've eaten my last candy.

"Do you want some?" A voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked beside me to see Adrian with his usual towering frame looking back at me with those entrancing eyes of his. He was staring at me like he was expecting for an answer, studying me.

My cheeks flamed and I shook my head, turning my eyes to look at the ground.

I reddened even more when he slowly took my hand in his, seeing if I would pull away but I didn't. I honestly liked it when he held my hand.

He gently tugged me to the stall and my eyes went wide when we neared the sweets. They looked even better up close, promise.

"Do you want anything in particular?" He asked and the candy man immediately shot up after hearing Adrian's voice.

"I...umm... You don't really have to do this."

His eyes kept trained on me and he leaned in. "Let me do this for you...please."

I bit my lip and nodded hesitantly. "Anything would be fine."

His face softened and he turned his attention to the candy man who was staring at Adrian with wide eyes. Adrian towered over him, being at least half a foot taller and I couldn't blame the guy for being intimidated.

I was even smaller than the guy and seeing Adrian's muscular and very imposing figure was scary to me.

Adrian mumbled something to him before he nodded, stuttering a "Y-yes, s-sir before he rushed to shove lots of sweets down a plastic bag.

Adrian handed me the heavy plastic bag before he paid the guy who accepted it way too eagerly.

I peeked inside to see so much candy that I almost felt like I was in heaven and I didn't even make a noise when Adrian led me over to a bench and made me sit only to plop down beside me.

I clutched onto the bag, hesitating because Adrian might think I'm crazy after I wolf these things down.

"You like candy?" It sounded more of a question but I had a feeling Adrian knew already. Even so, I nodded timidly and I took a caramel sweet from the pile in the bag.

Adrian kept quiet as I unwrapped the thing and popped it into my mouth. The flavor burst in my mouth and I sighed in content.

We stayed silent for a while, Adrian seeming content with just my presence but of course, he had to break the silence. We didn't meet just so I could eat some candy while Adrian watches me devour each and every little piece.

"Thank you for giving me a chance." I froze and tilted my head to face him.

"You forgive me....right?"

I swallowed the remains of the marshmallow in my mouth before I looked at my lap, my hands twitching. "I do."

I peeked through my lashes to find him smiling, actually smiling at me. It wasn't toothy but it was there, showing off that dimple of his that had my heart fluttering in my chest.

I unconsciously smiled back, the corners of my lips quirking up and his smile widened a tad bit. It suited him...to smile like that.

Wanting to break the silence again though it was more than comfortable, just wanting to hear his voice or maybe just open up to him, I held the plastic bag out to him and looked up at him through my thick lashes.

"Do you want one?"

His smile stayed on and he nodded, reaching out for the bag.

My heart melted at that point and even if I had no idea what he was doing to me...my feelings, I liked it.

I really liked it, I thought to myself as we shared the bag of candies in the park as the sun peeked out from the clouds.