Black Roses

Chapter 7

Bridget sang her all-time favourite song in her clear voice. She improvised the notes, the highs and lows but still stuck to the original song. She had a good voice, one that could get noticed by music producers but she refrained from singing in front of people. Which was why she had locked her apartment door and went into her room and locked the door as well.

Then, the banging started. She rolled her eyes and got off her bed and opened the door to her room. She traced her sofa with her slender fingers and took her time to go to the door and when she did, she unlocked the door slowly. Mark and Chris stumbled in the room. Bridget's left eyebrow rose before she closed the door. Two weeks had passed since that talk with Chris and she didn't know Mark had already befriended the guy. It was odd.

'What are you two doing here?' she asked, locking the door. The two boys smiled awkwardly at each other before Mark rushed into the kitchen, leaving Bridget and Chris alone in the hall. Chris looked adorable at that moment, more than she remembered he had looked two weeks ago. He didn't have that cool and calm look on his face. He was nervous and he was blushing a vivid hue of red. He was wearing a baby blue chequered shirt over a plain black t-shirt which hugged his lean and taut body. His pants were baggy and black and his hair was all mussed up. Bridget wondered what it would feel like to just run her fingers through that hair. She mentally slapped herself. This wasn't exactly a fine time to think such thoughts.

'Hi.' He squeaked. Bridget looked at him incredulously before replying his greeting.

'Sorry to barge in on you like this but um…I know you told me your brothers would kill me if I came near you but I'm willing to risk it because I've liked you for so long and Mark's told me a lot about you and the things he told me make me want to know more about you because you're interesting and as I've said before, I'm willing to risk a broken appendage if it means I can spend an hour talking to you because it sure as hell would compensate for the two years I've been wanting to talk to you.' Chris took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. He had talked so fast that he didn't know if Bridget had heard him. He wished she didn't because that was the most embarrassing thing he had ever done in his life. Here he was, nearing his twenty-seventh birthday and he's trying to woo a girl eight years his junior. What was wrong with him?

But Bridget caught every single word and with each confession, a smile hitched up her lips and it made her heart flutter.

'Could you…repeat that again?' Bridget asked, keeping a straight face.

'Don't do it Chris! Bridget heard every single thing. She's just trying to make you squirm.' Mark's voice was heard. Bridget looked beyond Chris' shoulder and glared at Mark who cowered behind the counter top.

'It worked.' Chris said softly. Bridget turned to him with a questioning look. 'What Mark said…um…well…you just generally make me squirm. I can't think straight when you're around me and I can't be in control of what I do when I'm around you.' He looked down to the floor, his cheeks flushed.

Bridget didn't know what to do. She barely knew the guy but he claimed to know a lot about her. All she knew about him was that he was by far the sweetest, fine-looking boy she's seen on campus. Add to the fact that he was intelligent beyond reason. But he could be those guys who fly into jealous rages or he can hold up a*****e for all she knew. The fact of the matter is, he was a complete stranger to her but she felt compelled to want to reciprocate his feelings towards her. But there's also an additional factoid she just realized. Mark had willingly given out information about her to this guy. Which meant that Mark trusted Chris. When Mark trusted…the person should be a clean record. Wait…Mark told Chris about her? Without her permission?

'Mark! Get in here!' she called out to her best friend, in a voice Mark knew all too well. Which was why he was a no-show for a few seconds before Bridget cleared her throat. Mark sheepishly looked over the counter top and gave her a grin which said: 'I'm just the messenger, you have no right to kill me.'

'Come here, Mark.' Bridget said in a final tone. Mark scampered to her side and gulped. 'Yes?'

'Excuse us, Chris.' Bridget held one finger up to Chris before turning herself and Mark around. 'You told him about me? Who gave you that right, Mark Robert?' Bridget had the annoying habit of saying Mark's middle name when she was peeved at him, it seemed that old habits die hard.

'Bridge…Chris is a great guy. I can't help it that we knew each other even before I came here and when you jetted off here, I didn't have anyone else to talk to but my pen pal and the only interesting thing we could think of talking about was you. I was missing you too much and he was the only person who would listen to me. And when he asked me how you looked like, I sent him your graduation picture and well…the rest was history.' Mark shrugged.

Bridget was touched by Mark's words. She knew she should feel guilty for not contacting him the past two years but the advanced classes she was in and all the extra-curricular activities she'd been involved in and her job that took up half of her spare time, she just couldn't get the time to write or email her best friend. Thus said, it wasn't entirely her fault. But the fact was, Mark had told a complete stranger almost everything about her and now she had just found out that the stranger was someone she had admired for his lecture…this was…well it was unexpected to say the least.

'Mark…'

'Give him a chance, Bridget. You never seem to want to open up to guys and well…here's your chance. He's a great guy, trust me.'

'Mark…my brothers are here. What if they found out about Chris? There was a reason why I never open up to guys and that's because of my brothers.'

'I'll handle the Cohens…you handle your heart.' Mark said, his tone final. Bridget was about to protest but Mark placed a hand over her mouth and shook his head. He repeated what he said, word for word and turned her around to face Chris who stood straight to attention.

Bridget gulped before pulling Mark's hand down, licking her lips. 'I'm free tonight. Pick me up at seven?' she titled her head to the left and looked at him questioningly.

Chris' eyes lit up quickly and nodded. 'Definitely!' he exclaimed. He cleared his throat when he realized how eager he sounded. 'Sorry…yeah. Seven…I'll pick you up at seven tonight.'

Bridget smiled. She had a date…