If Only

C H A P T E R 2

REWIND

MIRANDA

She's kissing me?

Momentarily immobile, I felt an arm circle my upper body–hauling me closer to her. My fingers dug in her arms as she tilted my chin to meet her lips.

This wasn't how I pictured being kissed again after so many years.

I did my best to push her away. Succeeding in throwing her off for bare seconds was no reprieve. She'd only come back and kiss me again.

Somebody help me!

Nobody came.

She stopped but her other hand came up behind my neck this time. Less than an inch separates us–both struggling to breathe but me, mainly because of the struggle. Shuttering my eyes, I sagged against the wall until the assault on my lips ended. My chest hammered from the effort of breaking away.

"Why?" the word was torn from her in anguish.

Her hands found my arms. Goosebumps rose where I felt her skin touched mine. Feeble, I couldn't conceal my shuddering. I could hear fabric rustle and then I felt myself being pulled away from the wall.

Somebody...

Expecting her to take me again, I was startled when something soft and warm was draped around me rather than her lips and arms.

Eyes still closed, I fumbled to clutch the cloth to me in a vain attempt to shield myself from her. I flinched when her forehead rested on my shoulder–her body shook as she broke in sobs.

The vision of Ruen in a similar state flashbacked, unbidden, my hand let up from my hold and went up to carefully stroke her head.

"Ssshh, please don't cry," I tried to soothe her.

I should be the one to.

Anyone who could walk in on us would think I was the one who hurt her and not the other way around.

I kept my hand on her head–my fingers entangled in her silky short hair.

"Rave?"

Footsteps resonated in the hall then a bright orange light chased away the darkness. The weight on my shoulder disappeared as she lifted her head.

My view no longer obstructed, my heart went out to the tear-stained woman looking at me. The end of the shawl in hand, I gently wiped her cheeks dry. Like a lost puppy, she leaned unto my hand. Her mouth pouted in a cute kinda way.

What am I doing?

She was suddenly out of my hands as an older man grabbed hold of her, "are you hurting?"

"Aa...Aaron?"

"Yes... yes, it's me," the hulking man, Aaron, said, "what happened?"

He surveyed her for any damage and was relieved to find none–save from the trace of dried tears on her cheeks, "why are you crying, Rave?"

Rave?

She escaped from his hold and shifted to me. Re-capturing me into her arms, "I think I found her, Aaron," she kissed my cheek.

Found 'her'?

Me?

"What are you doing here!" Aaron stared at me in–shock, confusion, anger, dread, mostly dread, "no, you're–"

His eyes were accusing.

What's happening here?

"Hun, is Raven ok?" A familiar voice broke the tension.