Revealed

26. Jeremy

*Picture of Harrison*

I really hate myself for what I'm doing, but I made a promise. And even though the boys aren't here, and I'm technically not in danger, I still have to keep it.

Just because I robbed a few banks, sold a few drugs, and stole a lollipop from a baby, doesn't mean I'm not a man of high standard and character.

Solie finally comes out of the bathroom. In my head, I tell her, "You look beautiful. More beautiful than anyone I've ever laid eyes on." But in reality, my mouth stays glued shut. I can't let her or anyone else know that I find her interestingly intriguing. I'm doing it for her own safety.

As she resumes walking, she doesn't come towards me, but instead towards another table which seems empty. Then she stops and places one hand on her waist. What is she doing?
I try to see what's happening without being noticed, but I can't get past another family whose in my line of sight. Soon, Solie sits down. At this point, I need to know what's happening so I quietly move to a table closer to Solie, though remain out of sight. Then, I listen to her conversation.

"Can I buy you a drink? You seem a little thirsty," a guy's voice says very seductively.

The man slouches his posture a little and Solie moves in closer to him. When she touches his chest, my body reacts by making my hands into fists. A flurry of anger rushes up my spine. I shouldn't be feeling this way, Solane and I aren't even dating, but it bugs me so much to see her cozying up to another man.

"I'm actually okay with refreshments. I just saw this fine guy and thought.. Why not say hi?" Solie's voice is extremely alluring. Even I'm tempted to do something unthinkable, yet I force myself to stay seated.

The man attempts to wrap his arm around Solane but surprisingly, she resists. Grabbing his hand before he can try anything, she smirks a evil but sexy smirk.

"Though, now that we've met, I think it's time for me to go." As soon as Solane gets up, I dash back to our booth. When I reach there, I see the man grab Solie and pull her back into the seat.

"Get off me! Don't even think about it!" She yells.

Shit. This is how it all starts. I need to get her out of here before someone gets hurt. I run over to Solane and pull her away from the stranger. She hides behind me and tries to peep over my shoulders.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A Mr. Jeremy Thorne. A fine man, indeed. Clean, shall I say?", a second guy, who I had not heard or seen, chuckles, "I don't think I can say the same."

That voice is so familiar. "Harrison. Harrison James. What are you doing here out in the open?" Solie scrunches her eyebrows. I can tell she's confused about where I knew Harrison from.

This is going to ruin everything. Damn it Solie. Why do you do this to me? Why now of all times? In public?

"Protecting your girl?" Harrison has on a mischievous smile. I stand my ground.

"I'm not his girl..", Solane whispers quietly enough that only I can hear. I know she didn't want me to hear it though, and it breaks me on the inside. Harrison laughs out loud.

"She seemed a little too comfortable around my boy Draven." Solie tenses up and gets ready to fight him but I hold my arm out to stop her and she calms down a bit.

Without warning, Harrison pulls out his gun and points it at Solie. She doesn't make any signs of being scared, just like she did when I tried that stunt. Gasps can be heard all around us. I need to get Solie out of here. Instead of using my brain and knocking the gun from Harrison's hand so Solie and I have time to run, I make a decision, for the first time in my life, based off of my heart and take out my gun to point at him.

The people around become frightened and all try to shuffle out at the same time.

Soon, the whole restaurant is empty and here I am pointing a gun at the guy who got me stuck in this whole mess while he points a gun right back the a girl who means so much to me. I'm immensely tempted to pull the trigger, but Solane's hand on my shoulder distracts me. Now that I think about it, she probably did it on purpose.

In the corner of my eye, I see Draven reaching for his gun, and in that moment, it was like Solie can read my mind. She uses her leg to unexpectedly pull Harrison's knee towards her direction, causing him to lose control of his gun. I punch Draven in his gut and Solie knees Harrison in a place she knew it would hurt. I laugh a little. She quickly grabs the weapon from Harrison's hand and we both race out of that place and into my car.

It takes me no more than 5 seconds to start the car and speed away.

Solie sticks her head out of the window to check behind us. Her hair flows smoothly in the wind. Then, she pulls her head back into the car and yells excitedly, "That was so fun!"

I don't think I ever felt stronger feelings for her than in that moment. She just helped me get away from a very dangerous guy and didn't even get hurt in the process. The thrill keeps going through Solane's body and she can't sit still. After she relaxes a little, she turns on the radio.

"Tonight in the Italian restaurant, Ben Fatto, some guns were pulled, lives were threatened, but none taken or seriously injured. Police are currently at the scene reviewing cameras.

Witnesses say a young girl took it a little too far by wandering away from her date and provoking a set of young men. Sources say the reckless couple drove away in a hurry after an attempt at injuring the men. The suspects are yet to be identified...."

I switch off the news completely so that it can not interrupt my thoughts.

Solie takes a deep breath. "It's funny how they thought you were my date. I don't even know what you are to me, really."

Shivers travel down my whole body. Solane saying those words did something to me. I thought by now she'd be comfortable, but I guess not...

"Ok as fun as tonight was, I'm gonna catch some Z's. My heart can't take anymore pounding," says Solie in a more calmer voice than 5 minutes ago. I agree to her idea and she falls asleep a little too fast if you ask me.

I slow the car down and take time to admire Solie. Like I had said before, she has long, black, perfectly curled hair. Her skin is the most perfect shade of brown and as she sleeps, she has a cute and natural smile on her face.

Speaking of natural, how can anyone's eyelashes be so long? I begin imagining what her lips would feel like on mine. They were full and a darker shade of pink, never chapped.

My eyes drop down to her hands which are placed under her head. They aren't too big or too small, but just right. Her nails are naturally long too and have a fresh layer of clear nail polish.

Then something crosses my mind. "Eighteen year old Solane Royal went missing two days ago. She's an African American girl with curly black hair. She has a scar along her back...."

I really wanted to see this scar when it was first mentioned but I thought that would've been too abrupt seeing that at the time, I had only kidnapped her a little over 24 hours before.

Three days is still too soon to want to get into her life more than I already am, but I want to know everything about Solane, all her beauties and and her flaws, and I want to be the one to accept them. All of them.

The car slows down even more. I'm probably going at like 5 miles per hour at this point. Only because I'm not going to crash by not paying attention to the road.

Taking my right hand, I move her hair away from her back. It feels just as I had expected... soft. I know I could probably feel it for hours and not get tired of it. Trying to be as careful as possible, I stretch her dress away from her skin and peek inside it.

There's no way anyone can miss it. The scar goes from one side of her back to her spine just under where her bra is supposed to be. I play multiple scenarios in my head of what could have caused that terrifying mark on her body. How can anyone do that?

Solie seems like such a kind and pure soul. Though deep on the inside, I know she's been through a lot. It must be hard to conceal all your feelings and hide your pain from the world. I thought I had it bad, but no. Innocent people are suffering way more than I am.
Damn it Solie. Why do you have to make me look back on my life and regret all of it? Why?