The Stranger I Met

No Love Lost

The only reason I wanted out of the dance floor was so I could think clearly, alone! Not to be pulled away from the throbbing songs by Tristen so we could continue where we left. But that is exactly what is happening.

We walk out of the house and Tristen takes me around it with hurried steps. He looks over his shoulder to confirm that no one is following us.

We come to a halt in front of a line of picket fences. There's a door knob on one of them which Tristen twists and pushes and the door made up of six of those fences hinges inside.

He pulls me in with him and I look around to see where we are. Being aware of every nook and corner of Zack's house, I know it's his backyard but the picket fences around it are a renovation.

The yard is spread around in a quite wide area with a medium sized swimming pool in the middle and grass covering the rest. The water is shimmering with the little moonlight falling on it. We can still hear the music but it feels more like a distant sound now.

He gets out of his loafers and I remember how Zack hates anyone walking on the grass wearing shoes, hence I follow his actions, dropping my sandals near the back wall of the house. He starts walking towards me and the sirens in my head go off. This is going way too fast.

" I want to take a look at the pool. It's been so long." I try to make him buy my excuse. He gives me a skeptical look but doesn't question.

I reach the edge of the pool and sit down in the grass with my feet dangling in the water back and forth. Tristen joins me and mimics my motions.

What am I supposed to do now? I am pretty sure Tristen's one track mind is thinking about only one thing and the decision making part of my brain has left my side, the reason why I am sitting here with the guy I loathe in the first place.

I sigh and try to strike a conversation.
" How come Naisha's not here? Didn't Zee invite her?" He frowns at me, definitely not up for any kind of words.

" I didn't want my nosy sister to come here and interrupt us. So I told Zack not to invite her." He answers truthfully.

I continue moving my legs, enjoying the feel of the water against my sore feet. I try to think of a topic that won't end up on him flirting with me. " Your dancing skills have really improved." Great! Now I was flirting with him.

He looks at me and grins." That means a lot coming from you."

He takes a deep breath." I need to confess something." His tone turns solemn and his eyes turn towards the water, concentrating on the ripples.

" I've been a real dick towards you all those years and I'm really sorry about it. The fact is, you were the only girl who didn't fall on her knees for me and it really bugged me.

So when the guys told me that it might be because you had a crush on me, I went for you in a pretty harsh way, thinking that it would make you confess your feelings for me." I scoff at his apology.

" Harsh is an understatement. Don't you think?" I try to tease him but he doesn't lose his somberness.

He looks at me and studies my face for a while before finally speaking." You really are beautiful." It comes out like a whisper. He catches a strand of my hair between his thumb and index finger and tucks it behind my ear, resting his palm on my cheek afterwards.

His focus shifts towards my lips and he takes a deep breath, parting his mouth a little. I didn't notice when he had scooted so close to me but our proximity was the only thing running through my mind right now.

He tardily leans in, trying to keep it subtle, but just like every single time before, my face jerks away from his, making his hand fall off my cheek, and I scramble up on my feet." I think we should go back inside."