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"Storms make trees take deeper roots."
-Dolly Parton
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CHAPTER-04-She Is My Girl
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Hiding from Skyler behind the doors of lockers and peeking into the classrooms before to check whether space isn't occupied by him. I'm not scared. Just saving my seventeen years old soul.
I'd have chosen another option but it's a complicated MCQ with similar looking answers and the correct answer cannot be guessed by me because I'm an average student. I can only assume, Skyler Foster, dropping me home in his car even though I try my best to escape from the walls of our school, the results are already claimed--Fail. With remark--Skyler is going to drag me anyhow so why should I waste my energy.
I'd better prepare myself to use the emergency call as fast as possible rather than making him feel-I'm scared of him. Facing him is better than surrendering.
Honestly, I sense exaggeration but instead of thinking straight to the point, I'm creating fudge in my brain. However, he used word 'chase' with an alerting whisper in my ear how can't I protest against it.
The sole of my shoes hit hard over the parking lot rough surface as I approach close to Skyler's car.
His crystal eyes are gawking somewhere far to his left. With crossed ankle over other, his palms are resting over his car hood behind and hips supporting his leisure posture. His maintained athlete body is footed as if he is posing for me to capture it. My pace slows down and for the least moment, I appreciate the way he looks especially his angular jaw and the creamy skin which is melting under this faded sunlight.
He catches the presence of mine but remains on the same pose just the eyes of his scans my features thoroughly and after the judgement, he realizes that it's really me.
"I was about to call boys to bring you to me." He says with a boyish grin.
"What a gentleman," I say standing meter away from him.
"Okay then let's go... We gotta a lot of things to talk about," He tilted his head towards the passenger seat then looks back in my eyes but I break it instantly stepping aside to the passenger seat door.
I swing it open and take a seat without disturbing my brain. I fasten my seatbelt and then he finally appears to the opposite door. Skyler leans down and looks inside, "I'm still in doubt--"
"Don't stress your brain... I'm getting late."
He takes his seat and the aroma inside mingles with his scent as the door gets shut. He cares fully drive to the exit and continues further. He looks at me once and when I catch his glimpse, he takes back his eyes on the road and chuckles. His grip is soft over the wheel. I study his veins climbing over his arms. He is physically sexy I cannot deny it.
This time he catches my stare at him and smirks but then his chuckle escapes which only fills my cheek with an embarrassing blush.
"Do you know where I'm taking you?" He asks looking at me again with that boyish grin.
"Do you know 911?"
He chuckles nonchalantly, "Starbucks!"
"First you are going to drop me and then wherever the fuck---"
He arches his brow but this time I continue, "---Wherever the fuck you wanna go, Go!!"
He sighs but then speaks, "I'm hungry."
"Alright."
"What?" He looks at my shock.
"Alright... Let's go to Starbucks."
"I'm not buying for you."
"I'll buy for you then," I grin ear to ear, "Now pass me the aux cable, Its getting boring in here!"
"It's my car!" He denies brutally.
"Then you play something!" I snap.
"Don't you have earphone?" His words hinder against my request. I don't say anything for the next two minutes and keep glaring at him with my squinted eyes.
"Don't look at me that way... It's my car--"
"Saying it thousand times won't make it mine, play Shawn Mendes!" I say grinning.
"I don't listen to him!"
"Then Eminem!" I say instantly.
The resolute features of his turns cold then he pulls out his phone from his pocket. He unlocks his phone and hands me quickly.
"Seriously...! You trust me?" I say with a shock.
"I just don't want to listen to anything from your playlist!!" He turns the wheel to left, "And if you dare to do something else then you know what worst could happen!"
Before playing any song and after ignoring his threat, I notice the image of a girl on his home screen sitting beside him giving him a side hug. She looks ager than him but I still find it cute because Skyler is smiling widely as fresh as lily glowing under the moonlight, "Is she your sister?"
"No! Play the song or give it back to me!" He is so cold sometimes. Icy lily.
"Ohh... then she is your girlfriend?" I ask teasingly but he snatches back his phone. I frown but notice his flushed cheeks but I don't speak for my soul sake.
After sharing the same breathing space with him in his car, I jump out as he pulls over for the parking. Without coming in his notice I take a long breathe then approach to the entrance behind him.
Besides collecting the coffee beverage and fresh sugary smoothie from the Barista we turn over our heels around to occupy two empty seats but suddenly Skyler and my walk come to halt as a woman in her formal trouser and a shirt stops in front of us holding an office bag. She looks in mid-twenties. Her brown hair stream down her shoulders and face doesn't look that covered with makeup.
I was about to excuse her but I tilt my head and see Skyler turning red from his ear and cheeks. I avert to this woman again then back to Skyler. I cannot understand but then I carefully see this woman. She is the same woman from Skyler's Home Screen wallpaper.
Ohh, God! But wait why are they so shocked and why the fuck now she looks bigger in age from us... Isn't it illegal for them to date?
"Hey, Skyler! How are you?" She asks clutching her bag close in her hand.
Unfortunately, because of heavy calculation going under my membranes, I take a noisy sip of my smoothie so then I apologize, "I'm sorry!" I take a sip again but this time very slowly and shyly. They look at me a shock as if I interrupted their heavenly moment. So true.
Skyler ignores my apology and sweetly addresses her, "Long time no see Kristina!"
The woman speaks whose name is definitely Kristina, "Yea.. been busy with some office work."
Skyler opens his mouth to speak again but he closes it as soon as we both catch a glimpse of a six feet tall hunk in his late twenties wearing formal attire walks behind Kristina and keep his hand around her waist from behind and stand beside her.
Kristina looks at him then smile, "Oh babe.. look, whom I ran into!"
Skyler clenches his jaw but Kristina continues, "Meet Skyler.. he used to be my neighbor! He is a lovely guy...."
The hunk stretches his right hand to Skyler, "I'm Troy... Kristina's fiancé. Nice to meet you, Skyler."
Skyler shakes Troy's hand but his emotions look dead inside his eyes. Troy's eyes lands on me. I smile widely before to speak, "I'm Mabel... Skyler's girlfriend."
Skyler tilts his face slowly towards me with a doubting widely eyes and I put my arm around his.
Kristina's face has turned pale. "Is this true Skyler?" Kristina asks and sounds like a girlfriend who has caught her boyfriend cheating.
Skyler removes his hand from mine and I feel quite rejected and also wrong but then his hand hovers over my hips and lands around the corner edge of my waist and he pulls me close. My eyes turn wide and heart pounds heavily. He looks down at me where I stare at him with incredulity and he smiles, "Yea... She is my girl."
I try to smile at Kristina and Troy, holding my smoothie close to my chest between my hands.
"It was a pleasure to meet you guys. And very much Congratulations!" Skyler says holding me tightly in his grasp, "Mabel and I will just excuse!" He walks past them dragging me with him. I take another big sip building tension in my heart.
Skyler pushes me lightly from my waist towards a corner chair and sits exactly beside me bringing his chair closer to mine. I take another noisy sip. His hands come around my back and he turns towards me, "Who told you to say that?" His voice sounds husky and clear filled with enmity.
I tilt my head and yes it is right he is very close to me and his arm is around my shoulders now, "I was.. just... You know..."
"Do you think any movie shooting going on here!!" He leans cautiously close. I gulp.
"I'm sorry... I was just..." I try to speak while he looks back at them. Kristina and Troy are ordering something to Barista and when I turn back for a further explanation. I see his crystal ocean eyes are already staring at my lips. What? I grit the straw between my teeth and hiss, "Hey... Don't you dare? I was just helping you!!"
His eyes come back into my gaze, "You wanted this right?" He smirks and brings tangible space between our lips.
"Skyler you know we are in public!"
He says huskily looking at my lips, "Shut the hell up Mabel!" I try to lean back but his fingers are already guarding over my nape. Offensively but honestly I'm melting under his soft touch. I immediately close my eyes tightly as he leans more close. I guess I also stopped breathing. His fingers pull the straw away from my lips and my heart pumps out of my throat. Is he really going to take my first kiss?
This is how a kiss feels because I don't feel anything. Not even his touch. Am I senseless?
"They are gone, Mabel... Now you can calm down!!" I hear his deep chuckle.
I open my eyes and see around, Kristina and Troy are nowhere and even Skyler has returned to his original place. Inches away from me.
"You were using me to make your ex jealous!?" I shout at him, "How dare you!"
After taking a sip of his coffee he informs, "You wanted me to.. so I did!"
"You bloody Foster... I was just helping you... And this is how you pay me!!"
He takes another sip and then I notice he has already finished his coffee. This guy is literally a beast! He licks over his upper lip with the sharp tip of his tongue smugly or more I can say seductively, "Want me to pay you in a better way?"