Girl on the Bench [Completed]

Met my Match

Dominic

She answered the door, wearing dark blue jeans and a black vest top. Her hair was pulled up away from her face into a ponytail and, as she looked at me, I could see the bruising that had been left from her attack. Anger bubbled in my stomach and I clenched my fists.

Rosa stepped aside and let me in wordlessly. I walked in and stood awkwardly next to her small kitchen area. She closed the door and watched me, fidgeting with her hands. She opened her mouth then groaned and sat on the bed with her head in her hands.

"Rosa! Are you ok?" I sat down next to her and, after hesitating, I put my arm around her.

She mumbled something into her hands.

"Sorry?"

She took a deep breath and sat up straight.

"I don't know what to do," she said. "I called the police after I spoke to you and they won't let me see Dad. I can't organise anything until after the autopsy and I don't know what to do. I don't know how to feel."

Now that I was closer to her, I could see the freckles that scattered across her nose and cheeks. She looked straight up at me with her stormy blue eyes and I felt my stomach swoop as if I was on a rollercoaster. Rosa needed answers, she didn't need saved and I didn't know how to help her.

We sat there, looking at each other until she coughed slightly and stood up. I followed her and took her hand.

"Rosa," I said softly.

Rosa turned, tears running down her cheeks.

I brushed one away with my thumb.

"Put some shoes on, lets get out of here."

**

Rosa

We sat in comfortable silence as Dominic drove along the motorway. I looked out the window and watched the other cars drive by, wondering where they were headed and if the people inside them were happy. I frowned and chewed my bottom lip. What was I? My phone rang and I checked the id- CHRIS?! No, I couldn't possibly dealt with that right now. I silenced it and put it back in my pocket.

Dominic pulled off the motorway and soon we were heading down a smaller road until we came to a village. He stopped outside the pub and we got out.

"Lunch?" He suggested as he opened the door.

I realised I hadn't had breakfast and that I was starving. I nodded and followed him. My phone rang again and I silenced it once more after seeing that it was Chris again.

"Do you need to take that?" Dominic asked, as we ordered drinks at the bar.

"No, it's something that can wait," I replied.

We walked through the pub into an open beer garden. It was early and we were the only ones there. The sun beat down heavily so we tucked away into a table at the back. A warm wind blew through.

I sipped my Coke and sighed.

"This is lovely, have you been here before?" I asked Dominic.

He nodded, "A long time ago."

I looked at him, he seemed sad. He fiddled with a paper coaster and looked at me.

"This is strange, isn't it?" He said, abruptly.

I blinked, "What do you mean?"

"We barely know each other, I've seen you in a horrible situation, I've scared you at your cafe, we literally bumped into each other and the day after your dad dies, we are sitting in a beer garden having lunch."

He was right. What was I doing here? I didn't know him. I just called him and got into his car! What an idiot. I started to stand then stopped. He looked at me with a odd expression that I couldn't quite read. Slowly, I sat back down and stared at him defiantly.

"So, talk," I said.

**

Dominic

I don't know why I had become so hostile towards her. Actually, that's a lie. I do know why. I liked her and, according to Lola, I've become an expert at pushing everything away. I had done ever since... No. Stop it.

I took a deep breath, "Talk about what?"

Rosa sighed and threw her hands in the air in exasperation, "Anything! What's your favourite colour? Do you have family? What do you do? How old are you?"

I grinned at her, "Been thinking about this, have you?"

She blushed and the colour hit the tops of her cheeks. Wow.

"Ok. My name is Dominic Logan. I have a sister called Lola. I'm 24. My parents are dead. I work in sales. My favourite colour is blue."

Stormy sea blue, like your eyes.

She nodded, "How old is your sister?"

"Lola's 27. It's just us. My family moved here not long before my parents died."

"What happened?" She asked, "Sorry..I..."

"It's ok, there was an accident. They died. That's all there is to it."

Most people would have left it at that but I could tell that Rosa was stubborn.

"How old were you?"

I felt myself being dragged back to that night, Lola opening the door. Paul entering the room and patting my head, whispering that he'd look after us now.

"I was 16."

"Wow, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so nosy." She reached over and gently squeezed my hand. I laced her fingers between mine and squeezed back .

"What about you?" I asked.

"Me?"

"Yup, same questions." I grinned at her.

"Uh ok," she furrowed her brow as she tried to remember them all. " I'm Rosa McKay, I'm an only child and, I guess, an orphan now. I'm 23. I own a cafe and...uh...."

"Favourite colour?" I prompted.

"Oh yeah! Green, like wet grass. I love that colour."

She leaned back and smiled at me, arching one eyebrow.

"Ok, I have a question," I said, running my thumb along her hand.

"Who keeps calling?"

She grimaced and pulled her hand away.

"Really?"

I nodded, " You wanted us to talk."

She threw me a dark glare and I laughed loudly.

"That won't work on me,Mckay. Talk."

She pouted slightly and I had to stop myself leaning over the table and kissing her.

"It's Chris, he's my boyfr...my ex boyfriend."

Jealousy crawled up my back and wound itself around me. I started slightly, that was a new feeling for me. I didn't like it.

"Is this a new thing?" I said, keeping my tone level.

"No, it's nearly a year ago but it didn't end well," she answered. She looked away and fiddled with the strap on her top.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked.

Rosa said, "No. No, I really don't."

The waitress arrived to take our order and I watched Rosa. I knew there was more to her, I just didn't think she was going to tell me. I smiled to myself, I've met my match.