Wild Summer

Chapter 17

"Where are we going?", I ask for the millionth time. It felt as if I was riding this thing to nowhere. For hours! Well it was only a couple of minutes but still!

"Keep going", came the curt response. Blah blah blah.

"Whatever", I mumble. This caused him to squeeze my hips slightly. Focus Skii focus.

"What did you just say?", his voice was daring. Daring me to repeat what I had just muttered.

Silence.

"I thought so ", he said, I could feel that annoying little smirk on his marble face. Ass.

"Turn here", he orders. I turn to see and continue riding until I'm now infront of a tall building with the words 'Shoot your best shot' marked on it in big , bold letters. Well then this looked interesting. Several cars were already parked here and even a few motorcycles and bicycles.

"Where are we?", I ask genuinely curious.

"A shooting parlo", he says. His voice was raw of emotion. His face showed nothing. He was actually serious.

"Are you serious?", I ask eyeing him.

"Do I look like a man who loves wasting time on things such as jokes?", he asks icily. Dark brown eyes boring in mine.

"So let me get this straight, you took me, your lovely date to a shooting vicinity on my first date?", I ask incrediously.

"Yes".

Ofcourse he did! Ginning happily I jump off my bike.

"Awesome! Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!", I yell energetically walking towards the entrance. What? I always wanted to learn how to shoot and now was my chance I'm so excited. How did he even know I liked guns? Hmmm I'd ask him later.

Grinning like a chesire cat I push open the big black door to see a big, tall thick man behind a desk. Well more like a showcase. Showcase of guns! They were lovely.

"I see you like guns. Can you shoot one?", came Rome's cool voice. Man! how I loved this asse's voice!

"Yes yes I do and nope!", I say popping the 'p' looking up at him.

" Well your in luck. I'll teach you a bit today", he says looking down at me for a brief moment. Yes! Yes! I was gonna learn how to shoot. This will be easy. Little did I know.

_._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.

Couple exhausting, infuriating, annoying hours later.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Looking ahead at my target, not one scratch was on the paper man thingy! Not one! Not a single bullet mark! Ughhhh!

"You stupid piece of paper man thing! Die already dieeee", I scream out of frustration.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! I had to at least leave a scratch now. Glancing hesitantly at my target I curse lowly seeing that he was still very much alive. I turn to see Rome, his statue like face expressionless but something was swimming in those pool of chocolate orbs. He wanted to laugh!

"Hey you stone faced bastard! Wipe that look off your stupid face!", I yell venomously glaring at him. He looked so good. He was standing in a corner with his arms folded infront of him.

"Whatever could you mean?", he ask tilting his head a glint if fire in his eyes. Son of a b***h.

"Since you want to gloat. Show me what you've got", I say raising my nose on the air. He pushes himself off the wall, unfolds his arm and slowly stalks towards me. His eyes never leaving mine. Suddenly all thoughts of murdering him vanished and my mouth was dry.

What the hell is happening to me!

He was now in-front of me, towering over me. I was now facing his broad chest. I will not back down! Slowly I meet his gaze head on, gulping I wet my lips. Ofcourse like a predator he watches my every movement. My breathing becomes heavy, he was so close. Too close.

Slowly he starts to lean in, still his eyes never leaving mine. No no not so fast big guy! I quickly take a big step back and hand him the gun. His cold eyes burn into mine tilting his head as if measuring me up. He steps toward the target then Bam ! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

I stood there staring at the target mouth agape. Seven bullets to the head. Oh, he was good.

"Impressive, now teach me that", I order. Silence. That's what I got. His arctic stare was enough for me to know he did not appreciate being told what to do. Clearing my throat, nose in the air.

"Teach me that, please", I say softer this time.

Twenty rounds after, I've managed to hit my target 6 times. Six! I'm so proud. This date was probably not going to be so bad after all.

We were now heading outside. It was around five thirty it almost looked like night. You know, dark.

Hopping on the motor with Rome in tow we ride off.

"Go to the park", his cool voice demands from behind me.

"The park why? It closes at 6.", I ask.

Silence. Son of a b***h. He could at least answer geesh. I wonder what's at the park.

By the time we were there it was already six thirty.

Which means the park's gate was closed thirty minutes ago.

"What now?", I ask sarcastically rolling my eyes.

"Come", and he was off the bike leaving me staring at him. He starts to walk off to an unknown destination. Where the hell was he going? Groaning I jump off the bike and follow him miserably but still very very much curious.

"Hey if you're planing to murder me. Tell me now so I can be prepared", I say seriously eyeing his back suspiciously.

Silence.Ofcourse that's what I got in return! It's like he didn't know how to speak! And the only time he was speaking was when he was demanding something! He was driving me crazy! And not only in a awful way. Darn him!

I see him take a turn then he ducks under a large tree branch. Ducking after him, I curse under my breath as I almost trip and fall to my death. Yes yes I know I'm dramatic.

However, looking up I see that we were indeed at the park. Not outside the gates. No no . Inside. We were actually inside!

"How the hell did you know about this", I say motioning to the space we just emerged from.

"A friend showed me", was his simple reply. A friend huh. He said nothing else . Nada. But do you know what he did do? He contained to walk leaving me behind. Such a gentleman. Ass. Yes yes a gentleman-ass. Heheheheh.

I've had enough I wanted to know where this stupid fool was taking me. Mustering up all the anger and courage I had left of me, I take a deep breath.

"Where are we-", I trail off as I stare at the simple yet beautiful scenery before me. We were currently standing infront of the park's lake. The moonlight glistened off the water beautifully. But that's not what surprise me . Oh no no.

What shook me was the big , red picnic cloth that lay delicately on the grass along with two baskets on top of it. Around that little setup was various little candles which gave a beautiful contrast of different colors of light. Beautiful. This was unexpected. I mean Rome was Rome. I didn't think he was the candles and picnic type. Well well well. I beamed and surprised him with a tight hug. He tenses then relaxes just a little.

"This is beautiful", I whisper pulling away and gazing back at the scenery. Then I glance at him to find him looking at me. Something was hidden in those dark eyes of his. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Something good. Something new. He gives me a tiny smile and holds out his hand for me, I take without hesitation while grinning happily. He begins to lead me to the little picnic setup.

"I'm glad you like it", he says his eyes boring in mine. He then reaches into one of the baskets and takes out two burgers along with two large fries and two sodas . Oh I think I'm going to love this boy!

"Ouuuu food!", I say like a two year old clapping my hands together happily. Taking a burger it was surprisingly warm. Hmmmm seems like he made someone leave this off not too long before we arrived.

His dark eyes seem to sparkle at my enthusiasm. He laughs lightly. Wait a minute he just laughed!

Eyeing him suspiciously.

"You, you just laughed", I say eyeing him.

"You don't say", he says sternly. He stares continuing to burn holes in me.

"It's nice", I say after a long pause. Well it was. I'd like to hear his laugh everyday to be honest. Something about it made me feel....I don't even know how to express it.

We were now both silent And for once it wasn't awkward or cold. No no this silence was nice. I start to eat my burger enjoying every bit of it. Rome starts as well glancing at me from time to time. Soon we were both finished eating. We spent the next couple of minutes making small talk and getting to know each other more.

"Why do you do it?", he asks softly. Not demanding. I knew exactly what he was talking about. Suddenly I felt self conscious. I automatically move to pull my sleeves further down my arms.

"Why?", he asks again staring at me.

Silence.I was now the silent one. I can't tell him. I don't even know what to tell him. I don't know why I do it. Finally I gave him the best answer I could.

"I don't know", I whisper. He waits for me to say more.

"It's just sometimes I get in these moods. These horrible moods. It's almost as if I'm possessed. I start to hate myself, so so much. I distance myself from all my friends and family. I don't eat enough. I don't even sleep properly.", I take a deep breath. I won't cry tonight. Not infront of him.

"I, I. It's like my chest begins to get all tight and then suddenly I can't breathe. Everything is bad. Everything seems bad. And then I feel so alone. So very alone. Then it's like my mind is full of thoughts. Bad thoughts. Suicidal thoughts. So I do that instead of killing myself. I watch myself bleed. I even tried taking pills to sleep. They didn't work. I tried five one time. It didn't work. I contemplated taking all of them but decided against it. I mean how could I be so selfish? I have good enough parents. A good enough life. Good school. Good friends. I have everything I could ever want and yet here I am. A wreck. I'm just an ungrateful piece of-.", I didn't get to finsh my voice crackled and I was suddenly aware that my checks were wet. s**t I was crying. Infront of him! How could I let him see me so vulnerable.

I quickly begin to wipe my tears then I feel warm fingers over my hand stopping my hand in its place. I look up hesitantly to see him staring at me with an expression that I could actually read. He looked concerned. He looked at me as if I were a delicate flower. Far too delicate for anyone to lay a hand on.

"It's okay. I won't hurt you. I promise I'll try my best to never let you feel alone again. I promise to catch you when you fall. I promise to help you through this. You will get through this. Okay?", he starts to make small circles on my teary cheek. This seemed so unreal. These small words meant everything. He had no idea what he was doing to me.

"Please don't hurt me", I say my voice shaking. I start to tremble. Just the thought of me falling for him and him leaving was enough for me to have a breakdown.

"Shhhh I won't", his voice held promise.

He leaned in slowly.

"I won't", he whispers against my lips, only inches aways.

Then he closed the distance between us.