Blood and Water

Chapter 84: House of the Rising Sun

House of the Rising Sun - Bob Dylan

Mina POV

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I hated birthdays, always have. Never told anyone when it was because I hated them so much and I didn't want to be the center of attention.

There was a knock on the door and Charlie opened it for me. Three men came in, filling my kitchen with dozens of red roses. They drove away before I could talk to them. I looked at Charlie and she shrugged, going back to cleaning. I didn't know what possessed her to clean. I didn't think it was in her vocabulary.

I looked at the card on one of the bunches of roses and it said, "Be ready at 3, Chibs." I chuckled, setting it back down. I looked up at the clock and saw that it was 2:32 already. 

"Oh, sh*t," I groaned. 

Running into the bathroom, I could hear Charlie laughing at me, but I paid her no mind. I jumped into the shower. When I got out, I pulled on my blue skinny jeans and a big gray sweater. Dragging a brush through my hair, I pulled it into a ponytail and did my makeup as fast as I could.

The doorbell rang and rushed out to get it before Charlie did. I opened the door and couldn't believe my eyes. Chibs looked amazing. He had on black jeans, with a black turtleneck and the long gray coat he had worn on our first date. His hair was slicked back and he had a cigarette hanging between his lips. He took it away and blew the smoke into the air away from me.

He smiled, "Are ya ready?" He moved to the side and I saw a black, Mustang convertible parked in front of my house. "Ready?" I nodded and closed the door behind me. He grabbed my hand and I jumped, not realizing he was reaching for it. "May I?"

I blushed a little, nervous, and confused. He took my hand and brought me over to the car, opening the door for me. When he got in the driver's seat, I got a whiff of his cologne, a scent I missed so much.

The engine roared as he turned over the car. He put the roof down and his sunglasses on.  I couldn't look at him; I was nervous and I didn't know why. He turned towards me and moved closer. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead, he reached around me and grabbed my seatbelt. 

As he buckled me in, he chuckled, "We don't have time for lolly-gaggin'."

Chibs started driving the road and turned up the radio. When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down was playing, a song that I had long forgotten since my high school years. As he drove down the street, it felt like he floored it, pinning me back against the seat. He chuckled, noticing me smiling. I loved it when he drove; he looked so sexy.

We stopped at a traffic light and he turned toward me. "How...how'd ya sleep?" I could see that he was almost as nervous as I was, but he was trying to play it down. He checked the light then looked back at me. "I mean...how are ya?"

I chuckled, "I slept well, better than the past few nights. And I'm fine too. How about you?" He stared at me, not noticing the light had changed. "Light's green."

He started driving and sighed, "I'm...I'm fine too."

As he drove faster, I asked, "Where are we going?"

"You're gonna have to wait and see," he chuckled, not looking at me.

I looked out the window as we drove. He pulled into a parking lot and shut the car off, getting out. As he got out, I looked around outside and saw how beautiful it looked. He opened the door and held out his hand for me. I took it and tried to get out, but the seatbelt stopped me, pulling me against the seat. I chuckled out of embarrassment.