Thorny kind of Love

Chapter 17

Bell's POV

I don't know where we going and don't bother asking, so the drive is quite intense, Ben looks at me frustrated, shakes his head slowly as he looks away, and turns up the volume as the sound of Tevin Cambell's "Tell me" plays. I lean my head against the window and I hear Claudia's words, "Typical player." Is that what Ben is, is he playing me I ask myself. Just asking those questions in my head, hurts, I feel the tears roll down my face, I warned Ben not to take me for a fool and now that's exactly what he did, I wipe the tears and continue starring out of the window, after driving for about a half an hour, I see that we are driving past the sea, I wonder if we're going to Muizenberg, the sea's view is breathtaking, we hardly get the opportunity to come to the beach this side, I take in the smell of the sea.

It's almost sunset, Ben turns off the road and stops at a security booth, pays a ticket and the security lifts the barrier pole, Ben continues to drive and pulls into a secluded area, the view is beautiful, you can see the sea's horizon and the sun, almost setting, in one look. Ben gets out, pops the boot of the car, and takes out a basket, he opens my door and holds out his hand for me. I can't help but think that this is part of some joke, so I decline his hand and step out of the car. Ben places the basket on the bonnet of the car and walks a distance away from me, his back is turned to me, I watch him and see him fold his hands behind his head, and he kicks a stone with force, and then places his hand on his hips, he turns around and walks towards me, he looks upset and says, "Bell I need you to tell me right now what is wrong with you." I can tell by his tone that he is irritated. If he thinks I'm going to accept being taken for a fool, then he's got another thing coming, I strike back by screaming, "You tell me what is happening, Ben!" He looks shocked and surprised, probably all an act, I tell myself. "I don't know what you're talking about Bell, what did I do?" He asks me moving closer. I don't allow him to get closer, "I warned you not to take me for a fool or lie to me!" I lash out at him.

Ben's look of confusion makes me feel confused, but I stand my ground. "Bell I never lied to you or took you for a fool, why would you say that?" he questions me. "Who were your friends you went out today with?" I ask out bluntly. Ben looked shocked and almost nervous to answer. Again I feel the anger rising inside me and say, "You better think carefully before you try and lie to me." The look in Ben's eyes is killing me, it's a mixture of fear and sadness. "I went to show Gina and Miriam around town." He answers calmly, I wasn't expecting him to be so open with the truth and I feel unsatisfied because I wanted to be angry at him so I lash out at him, " So why were they in your room? Are you dating one of them or both?" I realize how stupid and uncalled for that last question was, but I still stand firm.

"Bell I am not dating anyone of them, they're friends from Po..... from me back in Germany and they wanted to see the town before they fly back and they came to my room because I allowed them in, I was still sending some emails when they arrived, they were talking very loud in the passage and the other guest became irritated by them."

I instantly regret my outbursts and have nothing left to say except allow the tears to roll down my cheeks, Ben comes closer and wipes my tears. "Is that what was bothering you? I will never take you for a fool Bell, I love you." I look at him and say softly, "I love you too and I'm sorry for accusing you of lying to me." Ben embraces me and I feel a rush of relief, this is what matters, what we mean to each other and nothing else. Ben pins me against the car and we have an intense make-out session.

When we were done kissing, Ben takes out two wine glasses from the basket, hands it to me as he takes out and opens a bottle of wine, he pours and then unpacks some snacks from the basket, Ben leans on the front of the car, he pulls me nearer and turns me to face the sunset while he is holding me from behind. We sip on our wine and I would occasionally turn around for a kiss. This was the most romantic thing I have ever experienced in my life.

After taking a whole lot of selfies and once our snacks were done, we start packing up and head towards Franschoek. Ben stops at a petrol station and I jump out to use their toilet, when I return Ben is inside the express shop, so I wander in after him, he asks if I want anything and I answer, "What I want can't be bought." Ben looks confused, so I lean nearer and say, "This can't be bought," and with that said I kiss him, he looks at me with love and that was what I wanted. We return to the car and continue driving and again kissing at every traffic stop and at one stop Ben asks, "Bell do you need to go home tonight?" I look at Ben and know what he has in mind, but I cannot take the risk of sleeping in Ben's room again and how would I explain being at the B&B if it's not my shift. "Yes, Ben." He looks disappointed and I explain the situation that I am concerned about.

Ben's POV

I can tell that something is upsetting Bell, all the while we're driving she is wiping tears and it breaks my heart to see her this way, she is so damned stubborn and I don't know what to do. I occasionally glance at her as I'm driving. I concentrate on the destination that I googled earlier as we driving past the sea, I find myself a bit relieved to see Bell relax a bit as she inhales the sea breeze.

I turn off as the navigator showed and stop at the security booth, I pay the ticket and the security lifts the barrier pole, as I look at the view, I see the sea's horizon and the sun, almost setting, in one look. I get out and fetch the basket I had placed in there earlier. I offer to help Bell out of the car by giving my hand and she refuses. I immediately become frustrated, place the basket on the bonnet of the car then I rather walk off than show Bell my frustration. Bell is upset and I don't know what to do. After I blow off some steam, I walk back, I'm a bit slightly irritated but calmly say, "Bell I need you to tell me right now what is wrong with you." And then she burst out screaming, back by screaming, "You tell me what is happening, Ben!" I'm shocked, I have never seen Bell this angry, but what is she talking about, I'm confused. "I don't know what you're talking about Bell, what did I do?" I say trying to reach out to her but she moves away and lashes out, "I warned you not to take me for a fool or lie to me!"

All fear creeps in, suddenly afraid of losing Bell I softly say, "Bell I never lied to you or took you for a fool, why would you say that?" She looks deep into my eyes and asks "Who were your friends you went out today with?" Did Bell see me with Gina and Miriam? I ask myself and panic, what do I tell her I ask myself, she looks at me and warns, "You better think carefully before you try and lie to me." I answer as calmly as I can, "I went to show Gina and Miriam around town." Bell looks a bit confused and continues, "So why were they in your room? Are you dating one of them or both?" I realize that Bell is feeling insecure and say, "Bell I am not dating anyone of them, they're friends from Po..... from me back in Germany and they wanted to see the town before they fly back and they came to my room because I allowed them in, I was still putting on shoes when they arrived, they were talking very loud in the passage and the other guest became irritated by them."

I could almost kick myself for almost mentioning Polla's name, Bell looks relived I move closer and wipes her tears. "Is that what was bothering you? I will never take you for a fool Bell, I love you." I say. She looks at me with puppy dog eyes and says, "I love you too and I'm sorry for accusing you of lying to me." I embrace her and wipe her insecurities away.

We nibble on the snacks I brought along in the basket and drink of the wine, we kiss, talk, and take selfies and once our snacks were done, we start packing up and head towards Franschoek. I see the tank is almost empty and stop at a gas station. Bell needs to use the restroom as I wander into the shop, I needed some water, as I pay for the water, Bell enters the shop, I ask if I should buy her anything, she comes closer and says, "What I want can't be bought." I am a bit confused and then Bell leans closer and says, "This can't be bought," and kisses me. How can I let someone so amazing like this slip through my fingers? I ask myself. As we drive, I suddenly feel a bit low, knowing that our day together will end soon and I didn't feel like being away from her yet so I ask, "Bell do you need to go home tonight?" She looks at me and says, "Yes, Ben." I feel saddened by her answer and I understand her reasons as she explains it, but I don't intend to not give up our time together so easily.

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