The Forbidden Bite

Chapter 16: Crushing On The Adrenaline Junkie

Most people on the planet know the definition of an adrenaline junkie and many are attracted to them.  They are people who are addicted to adventures, and many practice stunts that could easily end with them in the hospital.  They take risks and fear close to nothing, not even the law.  I've never hung out with someone that fits that description but I also have never hung out with people anyway.  The most social interaction I have is with Richard and answering questions in class.  Taking risks makes me feel nervous and out of place.  I think that is why Daniel intrigues me so much, simply because I have never met someone like that.  Someone so hypnotic.  

Cars are relaxing, hearing the tires roll smoothly over the asphalt.  I could fall asleep at the sound.  I lay my head back on the headrest in the passenger seat in Daniel's car.  We are headed to the mall and Daniel is focused on the road.  I was able to look over and study his profile thoroughly.  He was downright beautiful, and nobody could deny that fact.  He has a defined sharp jaw, and long fluffy eyelashes.  He lips are plump and perfectly even and his whole face aligns perfectly.  I see girls throwing themselves at him everyday at school even though they know he's gay.  He breaks the stereotype of what a gay person looks like or acts like, that's why people act shocked when he announces that he likes guys.  I don't know why there has to be stereotypes, the world would be better off without them for everyone.  Daniel turns his head to look at me and I jump. 

"Liking the view?"  His arrogant smile crawls across his face.  I just rolled my eyes even if I liked his arrogant side.  We pull up to Chapel Hills Mall, and my breathing starts to speed up, and Daniel noticed.

"What's going on Jack?"  He shifts in his seat to get a good look at me.

"Please don't leave once I tell you what I want to do,"  I look at him with innocent eyes.

"What?"  He looked doubtful.

"I want to shoplift something,"  I say.

"No, I'm not letting you do that,"  Daniel starts to put the keys back in the ignition.

"Daniel, I just want to feel the rush.  I'll just do it once, please.  I want to forget about everything, and I can with a little adrenaline.  I've never stepped out of my comfort zone, now I'm asking to,"  I whined.

"There is a difference between stepping out of your comfort zone and breaking the law."

"Are you seriously trying to play the moral card right now.  You said that you shoplifted before and apparently you haven't gotten caught.  I can do it without you,"  I stepped out of the car and starting walking towards the front of the mall.  I was determined to do this, I wasn't sure where the burst of confidence came from.  I'm not a good influence and crime isn't cool, but I wanted to try it just once.  I really wanted Daniel to come with me but I knew he was being the responsible one.  I hear someone running up behind me, and I feel someone's strong arms wrapped around my waste.  I squealed and I knew exactly who it was, I started laughing.  I heard Daniel's beautiful laugh radiating behind my head.  I turned my head to the side and he kissed me and I smiled into the kiss.  I looked over and two old women standing in the parking lot glared and looked disgusted.  For the first time, I just didn't care.

Daniel let go of me and takes my hand.  We walk proudly into the mall and once I see the items on the shelves, my confidence deflated.  My stomach starts to turn and anxiety starts to set in as I realize that I'm stealing something from someone.  If my parents ever found out, I would be a goner.  I start contemplating giving up and just leaving.  We were is Sears at the moment and Daniel went to go look at brown leather jackets.  Nothing caught my eye yet, especially nothing that I wanted to steal.

"Hey Jack, I'm going to go try this one,"  Daniel was holding one of the leather jackets.  I nodded in acknowledgment as I was skimming over the shoe section.  There was a shirt that caught my attention, it had a heart that was stitched up with needle and thread design on it.  Were we in Hot Topic?  I saw Daniel walking back over to me but something looked different, I just couldn't place my finger on it.

"Why do you look different?"  Then I realize that he is wearing the jacket that he said he was going to try on.  He is holding the jacket that he came with.  He smiles once he sees that I'm putting the pieces together.  "Did you tear the tag off?"

"Of course, I did.  So much of the clothing I steal, I just put on my body,"  He answers.  He makes it look easy.

"I want this shirt,"  I said and he realizes what I'm saying.  I take it off the rack and walk into the fitting room with Daniel trailing behind me.  Once we get into a stall, I notice a security camera, and immediately get nervous. 

"Can they hear what we are saying?"

"No, where is the tag?"  Daniel asks.  I hold up the shirt and the tag is underneath the left armpit.

"How do you do this?"  I ask, suddenly this doesn't seem so fun anymore.

"It's not easy, it's like a skill you have to practice, take off your jacket and shirt,"  I felt very subconscious inside, but I knew that he was going to help me.  I took off my clothes, and folded my arms across my body, trying to cover as much as possible.  I wasn't completely unfit, I did have small abs.  I think I could be the buffest person in the world and still feel insecure in front of Daniel.  Daniel walked closer and pulled arms away from my body and surveyed me up and down.  I started blushing, and I couldn't look him in the eye.

"Your so beautiful,"  He whispered, and I blushed even harder.  I wanted to kiss him now more then ever and I started blushing as all the different scenarios swam throughout my head.  Nobody called me beautiful except my mom, not even my old boyfriend.  Daniel took the shirt pulled it over my head, as he did this I felt a forceful tug on the armpit area.  I realized that he was very close to me and was the blocking the view from the security camera to my left armpit.  I looked down and realized that he had pulled off the tag.

"Put your jacket back one,"  I listened immediately and I slipped my jacket on.  We walked out of the dressing room, and past different store clerks.  The shirt feels like fire against my skin, as me and Daniel are walking as fast as possible to the exit.  Was stealing as exciting as I thought it would be?  No.  It's not like it is in the movies, but it definitely made me feel something, I loved.  The adrenaline of having to rush past a bunch of workers in a stolen shirt made me feel powerful.  I understood why Daniel loved it, because now I did to.  Daniel was so used to this, he was an adrenaline junkie.  Anybody with eyes could see that, but now I was dating one.  I was crushing on the adrenaline junkie.