CHAPTER FOUR
1569 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
“What are you staring at?”
Rivanna jerked at the voice and turned around, finding herself face-to-face with DiAngelo. A small smile played on his lips.
Standing in a queue to buy coffee, everything around them seemed like it had disappeared.
“You startled me,” she huffed, punching his chest lightly in retaliation. But it was her knuckles that were affected the most. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Just got here,” he replied smoothly, glancing at the café counter. “So, what were you staring at?”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Just silly stuff." I wanted to try a different coffee flavor, but I had no idea which one to pick.
“Oh.” He nodded. “What’s your usual?”
“Cappuccino.”
“Alright. Have you ever tried…”
“Don’t say Depresso,” she cut in sharply. “My dad drinks it, and I know for a fact that it’s not what I want.”
DiAngelo chuckled. “I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to suggest Turkish tea. It’s their specialty here.”
“Really?” her eyes kindled just like on the bus, and he couldn't control the warmth he felt. “ I am definitely going to try that out,” she eagerly moved to the counter and he followed.
From the coffee shop, they both went for their separate lectures. The day passed quickly, and then, after the lectures, it was time for football.
She found him warming up. “My friend in class told me you are a bit of a star player,” even though he was clearly big enough, she sized him up with her eyes. “Are you going to score points?”
He smirked. “I’m a quarterback. "I create opportunities to score." Then he leaned close, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “My coach says ever since I met you, I’ve been playing like the superstar that I am.” He grinned. “He says you make me shine brighter.”
“Yeah, keep deceiving yourself,” Rivanna scoffed, shoving him playfully, even though half of her mind wanted to pull him closer.
Just then, a sharp whistle blared across the field and someone called his name.
“ Gotta go,” he began to walk away, but faced her as he did. “Hey, after the match, the boys and I are having a party. Their girls will be there. Want to come with me?”
“No,” Rivanna didn't even think of it.
DiAngelo raised a brow and smirked. “Bring Carly along,” he added the sweetener that was needed. “Also, there’s something special I want to show you. Trust me, you’ll want to see it. It’ll blow your mind.”
Her curiosity sparked. “What is it?”
“You’ll only find out if you say yes.” His grin widened.
Rivanna rolled her eyes. “Fine. Maybe. But I’m not making any promises.”
He shot her a wink before jogging onto the field.
Rivanna turned to leave when Carly appeared at her side, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“How did it go?” Carly smiled mischievously,“ Did you kiss him for good luck?”
Rivanna nearly choked. “No!”
Carly scoffed. “Then what were you two doing, besides making those girls over there jealous enough to pull their own hair out?”
“What girls?”
Carly gave a subtle nod toward the top row of the bleachers. “ I overheard them say you and him were PDAing at the coffee shop.”
“ PDAing?”
“ Yeah, public display of affection,”
“Are you sure it was me?” Rivanna glanced at the girls in doubt, but her doubt was cleared when she spotted the girls whispering whilst they looked at her.
“ See what I am saying?” Carly wiggled her brows. “Now spill. What did he say?”
“Nothing major,” Rivanna said, feigning nonchalance. He just invited us to the after-match party. He said he wants to show me something special.”
Carly’s eyes widened. “Wait, us? As in, both of us?”
The evening came. Rivanna and Carly arrived to see music blasting, laughter filling the air, and people already halfway through their drinks.
DiAngelo spotted them the moment they stepped in. A proud smile spread across his face as he made his way over. “You made it,” he said, his voice warm with excitement.
“ Yeah, we did,” Rivanna replied,“ But just so you know, I must go home early." My parents are out of town and that's the only reason I could even come.”
“ Yeah, of course. "You'd go early,” he nodded, but his mischievous smile didn't make it convincing.
“DiAngelo.” She shot him a pointed look.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, agreed.”
Satisfied, Rivanna nodded, and DiAngelo wasted no time introducing her and Carly to his friends and their girlfriends. He handed them drinks, and soon, the party melted into a mix of conversations, jokes, and cheerful clinking of glasses.
Midway into the night, Rivanna leaned in and asked, “So, are you finally going to show me this special thing you’ve been talking about?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He grinned, stood up from the couch they had both been sitting on, and then offered her his hand,“Come with me,”
“ To where?”
“ Just trust me,”
After reassuring Carly she wouldn’t be gone too long, Rivanna let him drive her away from the party, and to the front of a dark tall mansion in the middle of an empty stretch of land.
“ Where are we?”
“ We are at my home,” he got out of the car, circled to the door and helped her out.
“ You live here?”
Seeing the fear:“ Don't mind the darkness, it's just to scare people away,”
“ To scare people? Aren't you scared of yourself?”
"His lips curved, I want to introduce you to someone,” he brought two fingers to his lips and whistled.
One minute passed; nothing happened.
But then, out of the darkness, she emerged. Tall, graceful, and moving with a quiet elegance.
Rivanna eyes went wide instantly,“ You have a horse?” the tall animal got closer and leaned its head into DiAngelo’s embrace.
“ Aww, she's beautiful,” gently and in the most cautious way she had ever been, Rivanna reached to touch it.
“ Wait!” DiAngelo softly made her freeze,“ Be careful." You must never show fear. Dangerous hate fearful people,”
“ Dangerous?” Rivanna arched her brow.
“ When she first came, she was a wild horse. No one rode her. Anyone who tried broke a bone or two. Everyone feared her. But every night, I would sneak out, find my way through the darkness until I found her. Then I'd climb onto her back, and ride till I see the sun coming out.”
“ I don't think I am a horse person,”
DiAngelo chuckled,“ You can only say that after your ride.”
“ What ride?” Rivanna wondered. Then it hit her,“ No! "No way, no way,” she shook her head, backing away, only to be held by his arms wrapped around her waist.
Rivanna glanced up to see his green eyes staring back at her. For the first time ever, he looked serious. Then one of his hands let go of her waist and to her chin.“ I swear to you, for as long my heart beats faster when you smile, I will never do anything to harm.”
His words instantly struck a chord. Rivanna felt her own heart begin to race. This was the first time he touched her just the way she wanted. Her eyes went to his lips.
Heaven knew the next thing that was going to happen was it.
But he let her go. “Do you trust me?”
Swallowing hard, Rivanna nodded, while hating herself for thirsting so hard on him.
Then, with his help, they both climbed onto the horse.
From small gallops to long strides. Before she knew it, they were blistering across the field, her hair dancing in the wind.
“ Woooaaaaa! ""This is… amazing,” she admitted, leaning slightly against DiAngelol as they rode.
A phone beeped. Rivanna saw it first. “Oh no!” she glanced at her phone screen.
With a gentle pull, DiAngelo made Dangerous stop,“ What's that?”
“My alarm.” she smacked her temple lightly. I completely forgot. I’m squatting with Carly on campus, and the lights out in thirty minutes.”
WHEN they arrived, Carly was waiting, arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face.
“You’re late,” she accused.
Rivanna winced. “Sorry.”
Carly sighed, but her expression softened. “Lucky for you, your knight in shining armor introduced me to one of his teammates, so I wasn’t completely miserable.”
“God your!” Carly blurted,“ You look like you had fun. Tell me everything,”
“ Let's get home first.” Rivanna whispered back.
- Writer
