The Rainbow at the end of my storm

•10•

"Oh, Jesus!" I gasped.

I jumped sideways, reaching for the nearest tree trunk to steady myself. I grazed my hand slightly across the bark, wincing as I did.

"Fuck, that hurt" I breathed to myself, still glancing everywhere but at the mysterious voice now in front of me instead of behind.

"You okay?"

I looked up to see a guy I didn't recognise. He had dark hair just like Mason, but it wasn't him. His eyes weren't as dark either, more of a bluish tone.

"Seriously? Does everyone go round sneaking up on people?" I was yelling, still gripping the tree behind me.

"Not sure, I don't usually. Just thought it was a little strange."

Huh?

"You thought what was strange?" I asked, confused.

"You know," he started walking towards me. "A young girl, pretty, and walking through the woods on her own" he was less than a centimetre from my face now. "A really pretty girl"

I gulped. He was handsome, real handsome, and the way he said that made my blood run south.

He all of a sudden burst out laughing, a massive chuckle filling the space around us. "Did I scare you?"

Unable to speak, I stood still and didn't reply for a while. "No, I just"

He raised his eyebrow waiting for a response. "Hmm, I did scare you. Come on" he carried on walking in the direction I was heading, gesturing for me to follow.

When I stood still, an astonished expression on my face, he looked at me like I was stupid.

"Well? Come on." He threw his keys in the air catching them, then waving them by the side of his head.

No way was I getting in a car with a stranger. No way. Was he even at the bonfire? I didn't see him.

"No way, I'll sort an Uber. I don't know you" I answered, walking past him. I finally could see an entrance but he was following me. He was as bad as Mason. Just not as hot, doesn't make your body ignite like a fire, and his lips aren't as soft - or so I presume. But he was definitely infuriating just like Mason.

"I don't feel comfortable putting you in a taxi-"

"Well good because you won't be. I'll be putting myself in one" a sarcastic smile played on my lips as I looked back at him. He was shocked to see I'd answered him back with such a response. But I didn't care, I wasn't getting in his car.

"I'm not going to hurt you"

"Ha!" I scoffed. "Thats what all murderers and creeps say isn't it?"

"Okay, you have a point. But I'm not a murderer or a creep" he shrugged.

"Another thing they might say"

He laughed, chasing after me down the small road we'd come out on. "Look, I just don't want to see you get hurt. Okay?"

He looked genuinely concerned as he came up beside me. I'm sure if he wanted to hurt me he would of done it already, but then he could have some weird fetish or be a strange serial killer. You know the ones that have everything in a particular way? Maybe his didn't include 'kill girl in the woods'. Okay, seriously Victoria? What have you been watching?

"You okay in there?"

Isn't that like the second time someone's asked me that because I've zoned out?

"I'm great, look I appreciate the concern but I'm okay. Really. I'm just gonna sort out an Uber"

"At least let me wait with you" he begged.