5. The Half-Truths To Hide The Secrets
1304 Words
*
*
*
Zahra cannot believe that she was tailing the random stranger she met approximately seven minutes ago to God-knows-where.
Come to think of it, Zahra had trouble believing a lot of things that she did today.
She didn’t even know his name!
But then again, had he introduced himself to her properly she would be obliged to do the same. What was she to say? Her real name? Or the one Raul provided her with? Where was she to say she came from? Surely, she cannot leave any bread crumbs for her father’s minions to find.
Worrying about her introductions, Zahra almost missed the fact that the handsome stranger himself was hesitating with his. She wondered what he had to hide to delay telling her his name.
Was he a serial killer or thief like she originally assumed?
Zahra felt sorry of him if he thought he could get away attacking her. Not just that her brothers made sure she could defend herself, she was quite sure that Raul have hired eyes watching her. It was quite easy to assume, considering his work ethic. Blue eyes wouldn’t know what hit him if he so much moved a muscle out of order.
The Ford truck ahead of her slowed down and slipped into a free parking lot, prompting her to do the same. She stepped out just as Blue eyes paid the parking meter before turning to meet her.
“So where is your magical Boston adventure?” She asked.
“Is that a Disney reference?”
Aladdin, she wanted to add but instead gave a flushed nod.
Blue eyes chuckled in amusement and motioned for her to turn around. Zahra turned to where he gestured only to be blown away. How she hadn’t noticed the sight around her while she drove was beyond her. Admittedly she had a lot on her mind, it was no reason to see the rustic perfection that was this place. It looked more like a European street more than American; its cobblestoned paths, brick buildings and worn green paint gave it a quaint, historic touch. Not to mention the bustling crowd and the sun setting behind the short buildings casting the skies a mixture of pink and reds.
Much, much different from the spotless luxury she came from.
“Welcome to the North End.” Zahra could hear his steps coming closer to her. “Impressed?”
She smiled wide, still absorbing the view around her.
“Very.” She breathed.
“Come on, siren, your tour awaits.”
She turned to Blue eyes with a wide excited smile and found him offering her the crook of his arm to her like she had seen in many Disney movies. She laughed and placed her hand on his elbow excitedly.
Ironically, she had never felt like a princess more than she did right then.
*
Christopher had trouble peeling his gaze away from her.
Her excitement was contagious and he couldn’t believe he brought her to a crowd where he could be easily identified and cause a stampede any moment. But surprisingly, his Superman-disguise had worked and no one cast him any long looks as he strolled around the cobblestone with her. If any looks did come in their direction, it was admiring male gazes for the exotic beauty hanging off his arms.
To his immense relief she had not recognized him or asked him his name as he did not want this simple companionship to end. It was refreshing. He knew that if she came to realize who he was, their interactions wouldn’t be the same anymore. But he hoped to God that her coming from another part of the globe would play to his advantage.
“Mm, that smells delicious.” She commented as they walked closer to a patisserie.
“They have the best cannoli around.” He confirmed for her and swiftly placed an order to exit with the cannoli before he could be identified. They sat down on a public bench a little away from the freedom trail they were on.
“Oh wow…” She hummed contentedly after taking a bite out of her sweetened goodness. “This is so good!”
“Warned you.” He took a bite for himself and savored it as they watched the people walking across streets in comfortable silence.
“Thank you so much for showing this place to me.” She turned to him with a small smile. “And the cannoli.”
“You didn’t thank me for my amazing presence, but that’s alright. You are welcome.” He grinned, making her laugh. For a minor achievement such as making this beautiful woman laugh, he sure felt mighty proud of himself when he listened to her tinkling laughter.
“You are the one who asked me out.” She chuckled. “I believe you are the one who should be thanking me for trusting a random stranger.”
“Oh? Is it a date now?” He raised a brow and watched with satisfaction as her cheeks colored beautifully.
“N-No… I meant—“
“Relax, siren. I was just messing with you.”
They settled into silence as they ate the rest of the cannoli. Once the bags where disposed of and they resumed into the trail with idle chit-chat he asked he what was burning in his mind.
“So you didn’t tell me where you are from?”
If he hadn’t been so close to her, he would have missed the way her body tensed. But faster than he could suspect anything, a charming smile was playing on her full lips.
“There are a lot of things I haven’t told you, as you never did either. Like our names…” She replied teasingly and his heart dropped.
Should he tell her? Was he to ruin a moment he had enjoyed the most now?
“Chris.” He supplied figuring that as long as he hides his second name, it was mainstream enough. “It’s Chris.”
“Hmm…” She mulled with a pout. “It suits you, but not as much as the name I already have for you.
“And what would that be?” He raised a brow and looked down at her in amusement.
“Blue eyes.” She admitted.
“That is not even original!”
“You called me a siren! A creature that eats poor, stranded sailors! At least mine was tamer.” She bumped her shoulder to his playfully and laughed with him.
“Fine, fine you win! Give me a name to put for your pretty face.” She looked away shyly and he had an innate urge to pull her closer to him till she connected her smoky eyes with his.
“Its…Its Zahra.”
“Zahra.”
He tested her name and loved the weight of it on her tongue. He also didn’t miss the way her eyes fell on his lips when he called her name. And if the sparkle on her eyes was any indication, she liked it. But all too soon, they reached their parked cars; bringing an end to their two hour stroll. The sun had set completely and the roads were lit with streetlights, making her appear more of the mirage he had thought her to be.
“So this is me.” He stepped away and stuffed his hands on his hoodie’s pockets to keep it from pulling her closer.
“It was an unforgettable evening. Thank you, Chris.”
When his name rolled off of her tongue in an accented lilt, his attraction towards her felt like a bowling ball that dropped on his stomach. He wanted to listen to her say it again, again, again and again. He cleared his throat.
“Yeah, you are welcome.”
She gave him another heart stopping smile and turned to her Prius.
“Wait!” He called in a spur of a moment and jogged after her. She stopped with a questioning look. “May I have your number?”
She looked unsure for a second before she nodded. He slowly took down her number, prolonging each moment where she was close to him. Regrettably, that too ended way sooner than he wanted it to.
“See you around, Blue eyes.”
And she was gone.
It wasn’t one of his finest moments, but Chris lifted his hoodie on his arm where she held him during their walk and inhaled the last of her bewitching scent.
*
*
*
- Writer
