Natural Chemistry

Chapter 22: A little deeper

Before I could stop him, Vince took his bag and with long strides started leaving the hall.

"Vince. Wait!" I yelled after him, immediately catching the attention of the librarian who know glared at me. I mumbled a quick apology to her and speed-walked after Vince.

He was just about to twist the key when I stood infront of his bike.

"Are you crazy?!" He exclaimed with wide eyes.
"Please, listen to me." I said in a pleading voice.

"No." He said in a tone that signalled no bullshit. But was I going to comply? Nope.

"Why? Why can't you tell me? What is it that is haunting you that can't be spoken of?" I threw questions his way, poking him to keep talking.

"Remember how I told you I was in things that you shouldn't be involved in?" I flinched, I knew it was going to be brought up.
"It's that." Vince shook his head, reaching for his helmet that sat behind him.

"You have to trust me on this."

"How can I trust you when a part of you is something I'm not allowed in?" I wanted him to tell me that it wasn't anything bad, that he wasn't what my parents claimed him to be, that I knew him as I thought I did.

"Well, that's where the trust comes in." I stepped out of his way as he pulled the helmet on. He wasn't going to say anything more and I couldn't let myself be in a relationship that was based on uncertainty.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, his eyes showcased so much pain making me hate my stand in this situation.
He revved his engine and with one final look, he left me standing there.
The more our distance grew, the more I hated myself. Not everyone can be an open book.

Why couldn't I just accept him the way he accepted me?
It's because you care about what people say and he doesn't.

The next few days passed by in a blur, everyone sensed the tension but no one said anything. No one could, Vince avoided me like his life depended on it and I didn't know if he wanted to be fought for, even if he did, what could I say?
I found myself retracing our conversation and thinking that I should've just let it be. All he had asked of me was to trust him, why couldn't I?

The weekend rolled in and I was out looking for a bag of gummy bears. Gummy bear consumption had increased considerably over the last couple of days yet no one bothered to keep the stock up to date. Our Butler offered to go fetch me a packet but the soft breeze invited me to go for a drive.

I rounded the corner to the supermarket, parking it in an empty spot.
I could find the candy section with my eyes closed, I don't know what that said about me.

I picked up a pack and looked around for any other interesting toffees. Just as I was stepping back to get a holistic view, I bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking!" I said. The woman, not older than forty, sent a sweet smile my way. Her blue eyes looking at me the same way a certain someone's did.

"Nothing to fret about, my dear." I nodded back at her, taking that as my ticket to leave.
After the long line at the counter and thankfully no other run-ins I was set to cuddle with my bag of goodies and waste away my time.

Just as I was backing out of my parking lot, I recognized the same woman from earlier but this time a man with jet black hair had a tough hold on her arm.
Immediately jumping to action, I pulled my key out of ignition and run to her aid. Girl scout.

"Leave her!" My heroic actions were a little too late as the man slammed the petite lady's body against the car body with a loud bang.
Upon hearing my words, his head turned in my direction, glaring at my being.

"Who might you be? Want a badge for good work?" He sneered at me, still holding onto her hand.
"I'm someone who is one call away from reporting harassment." I threatened, following suit by bringing up my phone.

"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots." He mused, shifting his attention back to the bent over female.
"One more time you do that, Laura. No passersby will see you drop dead." He spat at her, once again pushing her to the car door.

"You." He pointed his gaze at me, "better thank your stars I'm in a good mood." I wanted to scoff at him for thinking that's how people act in their supposed good mood, but I sealed my lips, probably realising he was not joking about murder.

As he retreated, I went to see how the woman, now identified as Laura, was doing.
"You shouldn't have done that, my dear." She said in a weak voice, still trying to hold her figure up.

"I'll bring you home, ma'am." I ignored her statement as I gathered up her things in her shopping bag.
She was in no state to drive and I didn't jump in a fight just to leave the victim hanging.

She put her hand up to protest but I was having it. Upon guiding her to my car, Laura immediately dialed a number.

"Hey, Deli." She whispered, I couldn't hear the receivers reply but it seemed like something that didn't make her happy.

"Yeah, I'm coming home. I ran into him, actually. But a kind girl was quick to-" Before she could continue talking of my heroism, she stopped.
"No, no she isn't hurt." She hesitated, "he saw her but it wasn't like that." Whilst talking she gave directions to her home with her hands.

"I'm almost home." She hung up with those words and pinched the bridge of her nose.
Laura asked me to stop in front of a two story posh looking Villa. I helped her out and concluded that she was indeed well off, it made me question her relations with the man before, actually, it made it a bit clear too.
Just as I was climbing the steps of her porch, the front door pulled open.

"Mom, how man-" I froze mid step as I realised who's voice that was. Vince stood infront of me, his mouth agape at the scene before him.

"This is the girl I was telling you about, Deli." Laura, now Vince's mom, was unaware of the happenings. She kept referring to him as Deli and it was clear Vince didn't like that.
"I never asked your for your name, dear." She looked at me.

"Me-" before I could say anything more, Vince interrupted.
"Let's get you inside." He said, pulling her in. I stood awkwardly on the porch, not knowing what to do, brown bag filled with groceries still rested in my arms.

Vince came out and took the bag from my hands. I didn't know what to say or do, so blurted the first thing that popped in my head.

"Why was she calling you Deli?"

"It's my middle name." Vince shrugged, evidently not happy at the reveal. It is better than Devil, right?

"Your middle name is Deli?" I prodded further, clearly have not been taught social etiquettes.

"No, it isn't."

"You jus-"

"Deli is short for Delicia which is my middle name." His eyes dared me to say anything more on the topic but I couldn't stop myself from letting out a laugh.

"Vince Delicia Montero? No wonder you never gave away your full name." My laughter died down as Vince's glare intensified.

"Melissa. What are you doing?" Vince let out with a frustrated look on his face. I was a little disappointed that he didn't call me by the nickname as I had grown accustomed to that.

"I-I saw her, and she was with this guy." I fumbled over my words, backing into reality, the playful atmosphere long gone.  Why did I meddle into someone else's business? But then again, wasn't it humane to stop someone such as the man from hurting someone like Laura?

"You shouldn't have." He exasperated, running his hand through his hair.

"That man was hurting her, Vince, what did you want me to do?" I was as annoyed as him now. He should be inside, taking care of his mother who had clearly had a tough day.
"To stay out of it." He gritted out, leaving me staring at him astonished.
There was an air of silence, both of us just stood there and I didn't know what else to say.

"But the ma-"

"He is my father."

Delicia say what?

********
I mean, come one everyone knew he'd have a funny middle name, also, the plot thickens!

Love,
Rojesta 💜