"Hey it's you!" I shouted at the brunette, recognizing him from the week before.
He stared at me for a minute, trying to remember who I was, before breaking out into a huge grin. "Hey I remember you! You nearly ran me over!"
I laughed while I quickened my pace to get to where he was. Once I got there and our laughter died down, we settled into an awkward silence. I wanted to break it and say something, but my social anxiety kept getting in the way of that. So instead, I let myself get distracted by the tulips in the bark, swaying in the breeze.
The guy said something, but because I was so focused on the tulips, I didn't hear what he was saying. Didn't help that my brain registered the other people's footsteps, the bird calls, and the cars passing by at the same volume as his voice.
"Huh?" I said looking up from the tulips.
"I said that was a pretty nasty fall you took. Are you doing alright?" he asked.
I blinked, blanking out for a second, before remembering what he was talking about. "Oh, yea. I'm fine. A few bruises won't kill me. It was a miracle you grabbed me off my bike before I went into the roadway." And once again, the awkward silence blessed us with its presence. I looked around, trying to avoid making eye contact with the brunette.
In an attempt to break the silence, I took a breath and said, "So... nice weather we're having, isn't it?"
"Yea, I guess so," he responded, and the silence took hold once again. All of a sudden, he bent down and ripped a tulip out of the bark and awkwardly handed it out to me.
"F-for you," he said, a light shade of pink dusting his cheek. My eyes widened, at the unexpected action, and I giggled, taking the flower from his hand. Where was that charismatic ladies' man I saw a week ago who rescued me off my bike?
"Um, wow, uh, thank you...?"
"Kai. My name is Kai."
I smiled and said, "Thank you, Kai."
*****THIS STORY WILL BE COMING DOWN! PUBLISHING IT ON AMAZON KINDLE!******
"What really happened to you?" He asked touching my swollen cheek. I backed away .
"I told you what happened. I am a klutz." I argued
"I can tell when you are lying. Any other time I would have given you space but you come back with your face beat up? And you will not tell us what happened? I want to know. This is involving your health and I need to know." He said seriously
"There is nothing to say." I said turning to walk away. He gently grabbed my arm stopping me. I winced involuntarily. I think he saw me.
"Who did this to you?" He asked pleading. I looked at him for a few moments.
"No one." I lied again
"You're lying" He observed
"God! You are so......so.....so damn frustrating! You do not know when to back off! Why can't you just leave me alone!" I fumed
"Because it is you we are talking about" he said stepping closer
"What does that have to do with anything?!" I questioned backing up as he stepped closer
"Because I don't want you hurt" he said getting even closer. I backed up till I couldn't any more
"Why? I am not important. I don't mean anything. The only reason I am even stayed alive this long is because of Aaron!" I spat.
"Don't you ever say that! You are not nothing! You are important!" He growled in anger
"Yeah right! Like you would know!" i retorted. We glared at each other for a few second then Marc grabbed my face in his hand and passionately kissed me. I was taken by surprise. We kissed for a few minutes until I pulled away and turned my head.
"Forget this happened" I whispered as I walked past him back to the others and he quickly followed.