A TALE OF TWO LOVERS

BLUEBERRY

I’ve always thought it weird how once you meet a person under undesirable circumstances, well, I wouldn’t call my encounter with him undesirable but it’s funny how one runs in to the person more frequently. It always felt as though the universe was trying to teach you something. ‘Be aware of your surroundings’, ‘Avoid embarrassing situations’ and ‘You might have asked for it, who knows?’. Excuses that were in certain categories that escape responsibility and I would consider them too far, too hopeful and maybe. I was considering Fiona’s idea and as I walked home, I realised that subconsciously, I wanted to be attracted to someone. I wanted to be in a relationship and my many visits to the love measurer did nothing to extinguish the fairy tale I had built in my head. When Fiona decided that it was time for us to experience love, I immediately countered with the love measurer and she asked whether we had to get married.

I pulled an ice cream out of one of the bags I was carrying, a chocolate flavour from the heaps Brandon bought. We had separated outside the mall since they had their own apartment. The mall was near home so after seeing them off in a taxi, I started walking home. It was around half past six in the evening and I was passing the park when my eyes landed on him. Max stood a few feet away, with one leg on the wall and his eyebrows creased with frustration. A girl who seemed to be around five foot six stood in front of him, her hands constantly going mid air as if she was badgering him with questions. Uneasiness creeped in as I watched him. He constantly rubbed the bridge of his nose as if to ease the tension and I narrowed my eyes at the action. His hair was a bit dishevelled, showing the number of times his hand passed through it. He wore dark blue jeans and a grey hoodie, casual yet he still looked great. The setting sun captured his side profile perfectly, exposing the jawline and his straight nose. I looked away for a moment, mourning the girl I was the day before I met him because I was a goner. One push on a wall outside the cassette shop and I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head.

I took a bite of the ice cream, for a reset and an attempt to cool my self down. Placing the bags down, I massaged my wrist twisting it in the air before bending down to pick up the bags. I offered one last look at the boy who had filled my thoughts to find him looking at me. The glint in his eye as he studied me, the smirk that graced his face and the lip bite not only made him irresistibly handsome but also spelled mischief. I took a step, sensing the trouble after all, he was the guy who cornered me due to a picture and only whispered his name, crazy. His arm went up and I shook my head slightly in warning.

“My love..” he boomed making the girl whip her head in my direction and I blinked.

What? Really? I could have been ‘my friend’ but I was elevated before the acquaintance stage. He had a wide smile on his face, as if the love of his life was in front of him and the girl narrowed her eyes. She looked between my unbelieving expression and his enamoured one making me flash an awkward smile.

“Have you been waiting long?” he asked, making his way towards me, his tired eyes suddenly full of life.

What was this? He didn’t even know me and yet he felt familiar. Was it because he was all I could think of since I met him? I couldn’t describe it but he was charming and there was something about how he carried himself that drew me in. I raised my eyebrows as he came close and he offered me a sweet smile to which I sneered. The girl was hot on his heels, following and I looked beside him for the expression on her face and… nothing. There was no reaction of substance on her face, a slight annoyance but nothing else. I looked back at Max as he stopped right in front of me.

“Do this for me” he grit out.

“Why should I?” I whispered and he smirked.

“I’ll pay you back” he said with a wink and the heat rose up my cheeks.

He placed a hand on my shoulders, pulling me in, closer than necessary as the girl reached us.

“A date. That’s all I need for the parents to let go of this matter” she said and Max let out a long breath as I bit my ice cream.

“Tell them to contact my parents. I need to go” he answered before snatching the last of my ice cream and eating it all in one go.

I stared at my empty hand, wondered why I was in this situation and reminded myself of the many ice creams in my bag. I could spare one, it wasn’t even one but whatever. The feel of his warmth against my side made my heart pound, palms sweaty and knees weak, yet he took the one thing that was keeping me sane.

“You know how their relationship is” she said, exasperated.

“I don’t care, cousin. We have a date to get to and I hope you don’t plan on staying here for long” he said making me look up at him. Cousin?

“Look, you made her get the wrong idea” he said, feigning annoyance and I leaned my head slightly.

Unbelievable, how was he such a good actor? Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong. There was a tinge at seeing him with another girl but I didn’t feel entitled to him, no, not at all. He passed his thumb at the corner of my mouth, slightly pinching my cheek before letting go.

“She’s my cousin, darling” he said and my heart skipped a beat at the endearing word.

“Fine, I’ll leave you be. I’m sorry if you waited too long” she said, directing the last sentence to me before walking away and her dark hair bounced on her back.

Robotic, that’s what I became as he turned us around and started walking us on the path. I was comfortable, abit too comfortable in his arms and I only came to the realization after we had walked a considerable amount and I stopped on my tracks. What was I doing? Fairy tale? This would be so embarrassing if I was the only one writing stories in my head.

“Give me that” he said, taking me out of my thoughts. I looked at him and he motioned to the bags in my hand.

“Aren’t you too comfortable despite this being our second encounter?” I asked and he shoved his hands in his pockets in thought.

“Mmm, it’s weird how naturally comfortable I am but if I’m honest, I’ve liked you since that day” he said and his honesty rendered me powerless before a thought crossed my mind.

“It’s only polite to be equally honest. I’m also weirdly comfortable with you so let me repay you for that day” I said, placing the bags down.

His eyes widened a bit in confusion as I stepped near him. He took a step back and I finally cornered him when his back hit the wall that was right to our left. I moved even closer and his eyes went dark as he observed my actions. I moved closer so that my mouth was on his ear and he swallowed before biting his lower lip making me smile. He was nervous and it felt good to know I wasn’t the only one affected.

“Amanda” I whispered and he turned his head suddenly making me step back.

“I was wondering whether it was as cool as it looked. It is” I said, walking away and he suddenly laughed.

“I’ll take those” he said, carrying four of the five bags.

I reached in to the bag in my hand and retrieved two ice creams. Handing him one, I opened the other and started enjoying the creamy goodness. It was a bad idea as I hadn’t had dinner but I needed it. I had cornered the six foot of attractive and I felt weak, I needed the sugar.

“Shopping?” he asked after a while, holding up the bags.

“Yeah. I needed a distraction” I said, offering too much for a response. Why, I wondered.

“You went alone?” he asked, taking a bite of his desert and I shook my head.

“No. with my sister and her fiancée” I shared and he hummed.

“The one whose testing is tomorrow?” he asked and it was my turn to hum.

“Blake told you?” I asked and he let out a small laugh.

“He informed me that we were going” he said and I smiled. That was so Blake.

I was only relaxed because he was. He spoke to me and carried himself in a calm manner. The conversation that consisted of mundane topics was enjoyable.

“Even your favourite in ice cream is chocolate, huh” he stated, finishing his ice cream stick.

“It depends on the brand. For this one, chocolate is their best but it’s strawberry for that panda one” I explained before handing him another ice cream.

“What? No. Blue berry is their best” he countered and I slightly lifted one side of my mouth in disagreement.

“The purple one? Never had it but I highly doubt it” I said, opening my third bar.

“That means I’m the most qualified to judge since I’ve had all of them” he said and I had to agree.

“It remains chocolate for me. At least until I try your choice”

We rounded the corner that led directly to my house and I already felt anxious. The awkwardness yet comfortability of our conversations and the lightness of our walk was something I usually didn’t particularly like yet I wanted it with him. I always wanted to speak seamlessly with someone yet I had drawn a journey with him in my head where we started from awkward to the best.

“I guess we have our snack for tomorrow” he said as we stopped right in front of my house.

Tomorrow? Were our conversations amazing to him too? We stopped, face to face and he placed the bags down before leaning in. His cheek was on mine and I could feel his stubble making me drop the bag I was holding. He smirked against my skin and I suddenly got lightheaded.

“I can hear the pounding of your heart” he mumbled

“And whose fault is that?” I said through gritted teeth.

A rich laugh came out of him and his breath only served to make my cheeks hotter than they already were. He placed his forehead on my shoulder as his laugh stopped and I felt the urge to place my hand on his hair. He was too forward, not hiding how he felt and doing whatever but somehow not crossing the line with me. I mean, was there a line anymore? His lips were suddenly on my cheek as he delivered a kiss that rooted me on the spot.

“Thanks for bumping in to me that day and for today” he whispered before fully moving back.

The butterflies that people wrote of, the nervous bliss that lovers described and the heat that covered the body. I felt all of it and weirdly loved it. He picked up all the bags and placed them in my hands, flashing me a smile.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked and I nodded, my talking abilities suddenly checking out.

“Yeah. Yeah” I finally let out .

“Great” he said and I held the bags tight, ready to go in to the house as the urge to ... I didn’t know, do something was too overwhelming. I wanted to be as forward as he was but I couldn't and before the nervousness left, I needed to go.

“Good bye” I said, turning around “See you tomorrow” he replied and I hurriedly walked up the four stairs and entered the house.