Vulnerable

Chapter 6

"Are you okay?" I asked again, since there was no response from earlier

This time, he blinked his eyes, shaked his head and I was no longer cupping his face.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me" he said

"But, i'm worried about you" I said honestly

"You shouldn't be" he said quickly

"But I am" I added quickly

"Then Don't!" He said sharply and I was taken aback.

"Derrick..."

"Just stop, okay?" He cut in

"The more you shut me out, the more I get a push to keep knocking" I said

He took in deep breaths, stared into space for a while and said.

"I hate that I care about what you think of me"

"Is that bad?" I asked

"Yeah" he answered

"How?" I asked again

"Because, I'm not one to give a f**k about what anyone thinks" he said and finally turned to look at me

"Why the hell are you all over my head" he added

I was lost of words.

His face began inching closer to me

The air feeling thick

And everything else spinning but his face which kept inching closer to me.

What is about to happen?

He was this close to touching my lips with his but his cheek brushed mine as he whispered into my ear.

"I can't do this to you." His voice thicker than usual

"You can't do what to me?" I asked my voice sounding strange like it was holding a heavy breath that finally escaped.

"Ruin you"he said as he laid back on his car seat.

His eyes closed and his hands on his forehead.

"Ruin me, how?" I asked, confused.

"Ruin your innocence and naivety" he said

"I'm not naive" I defended with a frown and my hands crossed as I looked straight ahead feigning upset

"Really?" He said and I sensed amusement in his tone

"Yes!" I replied with an eye roll

"Ever been to a night club?" He asked

"No" I answered

"Ever been with a boy before?" He asked

"Yes!" I replied like it was the dumbest question ever.

"Who?" He asked

"My brother and cousins" I said proudly

I heard a chuckle escape him but he acted like it was a cough.

Who does he want to fool?

"I mean boys who are not your relatives"he said

"Well... Yes, just one" I answered

"Who?"

"You"

I looked at him and noticed a smile creep up his lips.

"Ever gone to a party?" He asked

"No" I answered.

"Ever gone on a date?" He asked

"No!" I answered getting annoyed

"Do you know how to grind on a body?" He asked

"Grind? Like using a grinding stone to grind pepper and its like?" I asked totally lost.

He burst into laughter

"God! Audrey... No!" He said laughing really hard.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked getting embarrassed and feeling a wave of humiliation

"Well, I'm right! You are naive."he said

"I am not" I said

"Oh! You are" he countered

"I am so not!" I defended

"You so are!" He teased

"Stop, I'm not!" I said feeling bad

"Audrey just accept the fact that you are smart but naive to how the world really works. Your definition of fun is probably boring. So, tell me what do you do for fun?" He asked

"Leave me alone! I want to go home"I said feeling offended

"Oh com'on babe don't tell me you are upset about this" he said

"Just take me home" I said, staying firm

"Com'on Audrey... Smile for me" he teased and my lips creeped a little smile which I quickly ended

I shall not yield

"Audrey... Smile for Derri"he teased again. This time leaning towards me as he made a cute funny look,wiggling his eyebrows

I almost giggled

But I stayed firm

I shall not yield

"Au-dr-ey" he drawed

I shall not yield

"Smile for me" he teased, this time going for a tickle.

"Stop it" I said trying hard to avoid a smile

"Really? Stop what exactly?" His voice feigning ignorance as his eyes gleamed with excitement.

I won't deny it was a beautiful sight to see

"the tick- li- ng" I said in between breaths as I burst into laughter

"Stop it Derrick" I said

he kept on tickling

"I'm smiling now... I'm even laughing. So, pls stop" I said in between laughters

"Good, the sound of your laughter is like a sweet melody to my ears. You should laugh more" he said, having stopped his tickling torture and weirdly I wanted his hands on me again

"I like your hands on me" I immediately cupped my mouth and my eyes went wide

I don't think I should have said that

"You do?" He asked,his eyes ignited.

I said nothing.

"Well, I loved my hands on you too and I know other hand works you would love"he said teasingly.

I felt flustered

He started the car and we drove off, dropping me at my home. He said Tomiwa helped carry my school bag.

Having arrived our home, Derrick parked a few houses away from mine because I pleaded he did.

I don't want to risk it with Andy.

"I enjoyed today" he said

"Me too" I said with a smile

"Let's try this more often" he said

"I would love that but I don't want to miss any school day again"

"Then, how do I get to spend more time with you?"

"Come to school, there is always the library" I said excitingly

"I hate books" he whined.

"The library is usually empty most of the time. I'm usually there alone and it would be nice to have company especially when Mr Aminu is always absent" I said

"Hmm.. Alone with you in the library doesn't sound bad." He said, his mind drifting with thoughts

"I have to go now" I said as I unbuckled the seat belt and stepped out of the car.

"See you tomorrow, Audrey" he said with his head popped out of his car window and his hands waving at me.

I felt every eyes were on me even though they weren't.

I got home, did my routine of preparing a meal and freshening up.

Done eating, I walked to Tomiwa's house to get my school bag. I knocked.

But I was hearing moanings from inside

Is something wrong?