Author's Warning: This is an incredibly long and important chapter! So grab some Oreos, settle down in front of the fireplace with some cocoa, and enjoy!
“I need you to take it off.”
I scowled at Aiden as we stopped walking down the streets of Midtown Manhattan and stood in Times Square. I placed a hand protectively on the large hat on my head.
“What was the point of me taking you out if you’re not going to show off your hair? Own that color.”
In my last attempt, I widened my eyes until I had this pleading puppy dog look. “Please don’t make me do this.”
He raised his eyebrows at my expression. “Cute, but no. That’s not going to work on me.”
My stomach flipped at the word “cute”.
He thinks I’m cute? That’s got to count for something, right?
Glancing around at the other shoppers and bystanders, I slowly lifted my sunhat off my head, letting all of my tucked-in hair tumble slowly around and past my shoulders.
Running a hand through the magenta mess self-consciously, I turned to look at Aiden. “Better?”
He grinned “Much.”
I nervously looked around. People glanced over, and I could just hear them whispering to each other as they stared critically at me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, suddenly feeling claustrophobic under their scrutiny.
“I…” I start but shut my mouth immediately as nausea began to swirl in the pit of my stomach. I felt like I was going to be sick.
I can still feel them. Their stares.
It became harder to breathe as a boa constrictor twisted tighter around my lungs. My breaths were coming shorter and shorter until I was feeling lightheaded.
Too many eyes.
It was like every inch of my flesh was exposed for others to critique. My ideas of their judgment wormed into my skull, drilling deep into my mind and mercilessly stabbing at the miniscule portion that contained what little confidence I had.
Dear God, I’m falling.
Just as I began to tilt back, I felt an arm slip under my own and pull me along. I opened my eyes and glanced over Aiden’s shoulder to the spot where we were previously standing.
“Thank you,” I said quietly before turning around.
He led me past luxurious shops as we headed into a small boutique with gowns draped pretentiously in the windows. As we passed sophisticated looking shoppers, I shied away from them, sidling myself closer into Aiden’s side as I continued to grip his arm. After talking to a sales associate, he joined me on the couch he ordered me to sit on.
As neither of us spoke, I began to fidget nervously. “You knew I was going to freeze back there,” I said, finally.
“I knew,” he said, nodding but not looking at me. I merely nodded as I stared at the floor.
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Chase and Company
Teen FictionIt all started in just fifteen seconds. Shay never chases boys. She has been taught that it is unlady-like, and will interrupt her plans of success in the business world. Aiden never chases girls. He simply never needed to before. So when both are h...
