Thorny kind of Love

Chapter 9

Ben's POV

At Big Joe's, we are shown to a table on the patio overlooking a vineyard, I watch Bell as she tells the historical value of Franshoek, she sounds excited as she talks of the many festivals the town has during spring and summertime, she tells of the biking and hiking, wine and cheese tasting. "I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide, she's perfect, "I tell myself.

"So from which part of Germany are you? Not that I know Germany at all." She rolls her eyes and laughs as she says it. "Well," I start and get interrupted by the waiter bringing our order. "I live in Hamburg with my parents and sister, I will be moving out soon, I'm just not sure where to though," Bell asks about my family and the work I do. I don't mind answering her questions.

Once we were done eating, I pay and she tells me of the Kittle winery where you can taste wine and cheese, but she advises that we do that a bit later, and suggested that we should first go to the museum. After spending some time there, we head for Fernery nature reserve, taking a nice walk along a riverbank, I ask her about her life. She talks of her little community and how the people are there and the local taverns where you usually get drunk. I ask her about her family, she tells me about her amazing dad and brother, I can't help but notice some sadness in her voice when she speaks of her dad and I know that she is pretending to sound more happy than sad, but I don't push her and say, "Your town sounds nice and I can tell you care a lot for your family"

As we make our way back, Bella steps on a slippery stone along the river bank halfway losing her balance and I grab her swaying her towards me, pressing her against my chest. I look down at her, I am lost in her eyes, I'm overwhelmed by her smell, like freshly picked daisies and again I feel the warm sensation cutting through my body. Her lips part and I want to kiss her right there. "We need to go back," she says softly.

I let her go and we end I'm walking to the car in silence, some guy approaches us and hugs Bell from behind, I look away as jealousy takes over, but look when I hear her shriek loud she gives the guy a hard punch on his chest. "Wesley!" I hear her say and she goes off on the guy in Afrikaans. I can tell she is upset with him and he moves away towards his car.

"Excuse that piece of shit," she says and explains that he is some sort of womanizer, I am relieved to hear that it's not her boyfriend. We decide to have a late lunch at the reserve's restaurant, it was Bell's idea to try the fried fish and chips platter, "This fish tastes so good" I tell myself. Surprisingly there is no awkwardness between us after the river bank drama, we talk about our friends and the funniest moments we had.

At the wine and cheese tasting, I purchase two of their finest bottles of wine, "My dad will love this," I think to myself. In the car on our way back, I notice Bell yawing and ask, "Should we head back? It's been a long day." She looks a bit disappointed and I continue to say, "We can always continue after the engagement party," She agrees and I offer to take her home, for a second, it looked like she wanted to hesitate but was too tired to argue. As I am driving into her little town, I notice how lively it is here, music is coming from different directions, children playing in the street and some older boys playing soccer.

I stop at where she directs me, it's a little house with a short brown wooden fence. I switch off the engine and turn to her, "Bell, thank you for today, I had a great time and looking forward to picking up where we left off today" She looks down and smiles. "Yes it was nice and of course we can continue next week." She looks directly into my eyes as she says so. We lock eyes for a few seconds and then she excuses herself and gets out of the car.

Watching her leave, I am reminded of what I told myself, not to give Bell any hope for a relationship, but Dear God, I think I am falling in love.

Bell's POV

Big Joe's is usually quiet this time of the morning, and I hope that the seating at the patio is available, it has a beautiful view of the Kabol's vineyard, lucky enough, and we get it. I excitedly tell Ben of our town many festivals, not forgetting the biking and hiking, wine, and cheese tasting.

I ask Ben, "So from which part of Germany are you?" He tells me of Hamburg and his family and the work he is currently doing, I'm amazed as young as he is about the dream life he has and I can't help but feel a bit down thinking that I never pursued a career after I completed school. Anyhow my dad needs me more now and I will try college next year.

Next, I show Ben the museum and I'm glad that he finds is interesting. I then show him the Fernery nature reserve, as we are walking on the river bank, Ben asks me about my life. I think to myself, "What can I tell Ben, my life is not exactly exciting like his and I don't have much of social life, especially all the time I put into work and taking care of my dad," but I don't tell him my thoughts instead I make it sound exiting and tell him about our little community, the local taverns where you usually get drunk. He asked about my family, "I don't want Ben to feel sorry for me", I tell myself, so I tell him exiting stories of my dad and brother.

I love the way the stones are spread on the riverbank, it's like stepping on the right stones, and it will lead you the right way. I pray and step for the next stone to give me direction, doing this the stone I step on is slippery and wet, "Wrong choice, wrong direction!" I tell myself as I slip and losing my balance, Ben grabs me and sways me against his chest. He looks down into my eyes, his smell was a mixture of vanilla and citrus, the Goosebumps sending shivers through my body, "Is this the part where he kisses me?" I ask myself. I slightly part my lips, then manage to say softly "We need to go back."

The walk to the car was silent. I feel someone hugging me from behind when I see who it is, Wesley, I punch him as hard as I can on his chest, I scold at him in the worst possible way. "Who does he think he is, the piece of shit, and what must Ben be thinking?" I ask myself.

"Excuse that piece of shit," I say and explain the type of person he is. I can't help but notice some relief on Ben's face, I wonder if he thought that Wesley was my boyfriend. I brush my thoughts aside and I tell him that we should perhaps stay and have a light lunch at the reserve, I tell him how delicious the fish and chips platters are. I'm grateful that there isn't any awkwardness between us after the river bank drama, we talk about our friends and the funniest moments we had.

After the wine and cheese tasting, I can't help the tired yawn, Ben asks if we should go back, I didn't want to, I was kind of enjoying myself in his company. "We can always continue after the engagement party," he says. I sadly agree, he offers to take me home and I panic at the thought of busy Aunty Wilma and my dad if they see Ben dropping me, the questions I would have to answer, but I am too tired to travel home, so I accept the offer.

As he stops in front of my house, he switches off the engine, turns to me and says, "Bell, thank you for today, I had a great time and looking forward to picking up where we left off today." I smile for the "pick up where we left off" part. "Yes it was nice and of course we can continue next week," I say. For a few seconds, I am lost in his eyes, I want him to kiss me, and I'm feeling something I have never felt before. "Am I falling in love with Ben?" I ask myself, reality sets in and I tell myself that it's not going to end well. I unlock my door and get out, without looking back I rush inside.

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Author's note:

Hey guys, I hoped that you guys enjoyed this chapter, please, please leave a comment.