LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 13 : SCARED

I can't wait for tomorrow... I'm surprised by my thoughts on Sunday afternoon. It's not that I've had a tough day. Actually, today the kids I've babysat have been really sweet and exceptionally quiet, not that I have trouble with them in general. I'm pretty popular with kids; unfortunately, I can't say the same thing when they grow up... One of the reasons why I'm not usually really eager to go to high school.

However, tomorrow I'll see Alex to work on our project, and that's why I'm abnormally impatient for a Monday. I must admit that I kinda miss him. I know it's only been two days since our little zipline adventure, yet just thinking about meeting him makes eagerness flutter in my stomach. He always finds a way to make me feel good, even without trying. It's spontaneous with him; in a world where everything is planned ahead and our attitudes are calculated, it feels precious and surreal. I am relaxed... free... myself. Generally, I don't open up that easily and quickly with people, but with Alex, it's easy. It's as if with just one gaze, he pierces through my walls.

A raindrop tickles my cheek and brings me back to reality. We're still Sunday, and I'm still in the empty streets with the grey sky getting darker above my head. Suppressing a shiver because of the cold air contrasting with the warmth of my memories, I pick up my pace. Once again, I'm praying to get back home before ending up soaked because once again, I don't have my umbrella.

My rapid steps are stopped when I cross a street. My eyes catch sight of a figure that I can now recognize among a thousand: a strong back in a black leather jacket, leaning against his motorcycle.

I don't know how or why, but I take a turn in the dark alley, not caring about the gloomy surroundings, neither about the threatening weather, as all my attention is on Alex.

He is focused on his phone, his back facing me, so he doesn't see me. Yet I keep my resolute pace. For once, I don't think; I don't worry about what I'm gonna say. I guess this is the spontaneity I've talked about; I'm just myself.

When I finally get to him, he still doesn't seem to have noticed me coming, probably because I'm so used to be invisible that my feet are as silent as a shy cat in the night. So almost instinctively I tap on his shoulder, my heart still skipping a nervous beat in anticipation. Though what I'm not expecting is what he does next...

In a micro-second and a few swift moves of his, I'm spun around and thrown into his arms, one of his strong arms gripping mine behind my back and the other around my neck. My heart doesn't only miss one beat this time, it stops, or maybe it is bolting – I don't even know. I don't even have the time to understand what's happening and get scared.

"E-Elena?!" He realizes it's me and lets go of his hold as fast as he's got me in.

My mind is blank, and my body frozen; the only things moving are my wide eyes trying to blink. But his eyes are even wider, and his face has turned a shade paler, making his dark gaze standing out even more.

"Sorry, I-I didn't know it was you..." He rubs his neck, yet he still doesn't seem to regain color on his face.

"No, it's my fault... I-I shouldn't have..." I stutter, biting my lip.

All my spontaneity and confidence have vanished, and I'm back with a messy knot of nerves.

"Did I hurt you?" His eyebrows crease, deepening the intensity of his gaze as it glides to my wrists. "No, no, I'm fine." Following his eyes, I only notice now the red marks on my skin. It doesn't hurt though. Maybe I'm numbed by everything because his touch that always leaves me electrified, I haven't even felt it, even if this time it has left a real mark.