He was sweet. He was nice. Apart from ordering me some caviar, for the most part he was a gentleman, I thought feeling a little dreadful. I didn't have to know all the details to figure out this was for business. His father was a lawyer and naturally he wanted to have legal representation of Tony's companies. Or maybe it's because he's running for Mayor and wanted Tony's support since he was voted Most Influential Person three times in a row. Nothing is set, but my intuition never fails me. Great, nothing better than being used as a pawn right.
"I heard your father is in town," he had said sometime into the dinner and I froze working on instinct as my hand dropped down to my lap feeling for the weapon that I had to carry with me that was safely strapped to my thigh, reassuring myself it was there and for a moment forgetting I wasn't in any actual danger.
"Uhh, from who?"
"Just the paper." He reads paper!? "I especially loved his thesis of..blah blah blah," he said and I visibly relaxed swirling the wine slowly as I sat back on my seat. Tony again. It was the second time I had heard about Tony and it hit me making me mentally roll my eyes and honestly I realized how our school was easily called school of the snobs. I might dress like them, go to school with them but I refused to believe that I was one of them.
I was bored but I figured in his eyes I was interested in whatever science stuff he was talking about and I sighed taking another sip of the wine I might have bribed the waiter to hand it to me all night long and he'd kept refilling it. Hmm, he deserves a hefty tip.
"Don't you think you should slow down?" He asked and I realized he had stopped to watch me concerned at least, I think it was concern.
"Sorry, I got carried away. It's just so good," I said with an innocent smile and he nodded absentmindedly.
"Right? Sorry I got carried away to talking about myself. Ah tell me about you."
"Me? There's not really much going on with me."
"Are you sure? Aren't you ever excited that you're the little Princess of the great Tony Wallace?" He asked and I froze putting down the champagne flute I was about to drink from.
"Huh?"
"Always so modest. You know to tell you the truth after that date at the movies I never thought we'd ever have a chance again and because of Ryder... honestly speaking I'm glad you agreed to go on this date with me. I have to apologise to Kate. I thought she was just feigning being sympathetic when she said you'd agree. I thought I'd lost my chance given he always hangs around you ..." Oh god, no.
"What are you saying?" I asked quietly watching him reach out for my hand and bile was slowly rising up my gut.
"I know it's fast but I want to get to know you and you me. Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked and I could feel my throat dry before a chair dragged on the floor signalling someone had stood up almost grabbing everyone's attention and it took a while to realize that it was me.
"Are you kidding me?" I asked loudly and I'm sure now we had grabbed everyone's attention.
"No.." he started before he paused his eyes widening in shock. "I thought you knew..."
"Are you kidding me?" I asked once more as he tried to plead me with his eyes not to cause a scene.
"I have never been treated with disrespect as such Clarkson and it's not going to start now or ever. I have a right to make decisions for my own life," I said grabbing my clutch before storming off ignoring his calls and I could feel the prickling sensation at the back of my eyes.
It was finally happening, I thought feeling the cold air hit my bare arms and legs and I finally let the tears fall. I should have known, hell I should have grown suspicious when they suddenly brought me here without even giving me a heads up.
"Are you crying?" A lazy voice reached my ears and I snapped feeling angry.
"It's a free country damnit. If I want to cry out here, I will. Go bother someone else!?" I snapped to turning around to see Ryder looking at me shock and all at once I could feel myself crumbling once again.
"God, Babydoll," he whispered before closing the distance between us and scooping me into his arms and I fell into him glad for the comfort and the silence till I quietened down.
He didn't tell me it was going to be okay, because it wasn't and I was glad as he pressed me into his chest, not seemingly concerned about getting smudged make up and snot all over his shirt. I was an ugly crier and I knew it.
"Come on babydoll, let's get you out of here. I didn't come with my car so you'll have to make do with me, okay love," he said as I pulled away from his chest and he wiped away the telltale tears and I nodded, before I saw his eyes go wide and he pulled me behind him shielding me.
Paparazzi? Did they intend for this to go public?
"Are you the daughter of the esteemed Tony Wallace?"
"Diana over here!? Are you and Kyle Clarkson together?"
"Are you two a couple?"
"Are you cheating on him with Ryder Stone?"
"Are you engaged?"
"Is the engagement off?"
The questions hit me like a ton of bricks and I froze for a moment before I felt his arms tighten around me and I turned to him, watching him afraid as he squeezed my hand softly. Engagement!? Fucking hell, I was just grazing seventeen.
"You don't have to answer them if you don't want to. They are like hounds you give a taste and they hound you for more," he whispered in my ear that I was the only one who could here and I let out a sigh of relief glad I had one person here with me. He was here with me. "Stay close to me."
He said reassuring me once more multitasking between pulling me through the throngs safe and protecting my eyes from the blinding flashes till I finally understood want he meant by not having his car and I beamed before tugging on his arm and he stood turning to me.
"I'll talk to them."
"Are you sure? No pressure," he asked and I nodded and they were surrounding us yet keeping their distance and I realized that they were a little wary of Ryder as they once again yelled out their questions seemingly keeping the one about Ryder off the table.
"If we are together, I think that one answers for itself don't you think?" I asked pretending to be looking around me to try and spot him and they laughed. "As for the engagement, I don't see a ring anywhere. Do you?"
I asked 'innocently' and I could see Ryder trying hard not to laugh as I turned to Ryder and he led me to his bike, shrugging his leather jacket over my shoulder and handed me a helmet as he got on.
"Come on babydoll. We have to go before they realize they have more questions for you," he said hushedly holding his hand out for me and I flushed in embarrassment wondering how on earth he could still be so calm while my heart was racing like I was just running in a marathon. "Don't worry babydoll, I haven't crashed this thing since I started riding it. I won't start now."
He said and for some reason his confident and somewhat cocky response had me feeling relieved as I climbed on relief flooding my heart as the flashes quietened behind us as we zoomed away from the hotel and I allowed myself to relax resting my cheek against his back my hands still around his torso where he had made sure they firmly wrapped.
"I've never been on one of these before."
"Really?" He asked and I could feel the smile in his question.
"I always wanted one but I never got to learning how to ride or buying one for that matter since...I don't know. It's been long since I thought about it," I said and he chuckled slowing down. "Why are you slowing down?"
"Come on, hand me the helmet. I'll show you the best part about riding," he said and I nodded handing him the helmet before he smiled at me through the mirror. "Ready?"
He asked amused and I nodded eagerly before he revved the bike and took off. He didn't have to explain but I knew what he meant. It was thrilling, somewhat exhilarating as my blood rushed eagerly through veins. With the wind rushing past my ears and letting my hair billow in the wind, I felt free. Not like a bird but free either way as I angled my face up lifting my hands up.
"Oh my God, I might probably wake up with pneumonia but this is freaking amazing," I yelled out and he laughed reminding me to be careful and I laughed along hugging him once my hand finding itself under his shirt from my sudden movement but I didn't bother to remove it as his back tensed before he relaxed and I hummed laying against him.
"Thank you. I really needed this," I said and he patted my thigh in response as he drove silently and I didn't care where he took me as long as I was with him and away from all of them.
*********
"Aarrgh," I screamed horrified and he hanging on for dear life before I heard his laugh and I peeked my eyes open to find myself seated in front of him and I slapped his chest making him laugh even harder.
"Shut up idiot. You couldn't tell me to get off and sit here," I questioned as he watched me smugly.
"Too much work and besides if I didn't that I would have never realized how much I like this position," he said referring to the fact I'd wrapped my legs around him in attempt to remain anchored and I rolled my eyes feeling myself blush in embarrassment as he pulled me even closer to him that I was half sitting on him and half on the bike. "Babydoll.."
He whispered licking his lips before giving me a once over and I realized we had more or less the same idea as I grabbed him by his tie crashing my lips with his, muffling his groan as he pulled me ever closer and I could feel my dominance waver as his tongue ventured into my mouth and mine into his for a brief moment before I pulled away and he murmured something along the lines of a fucking tease as he stared at me under the moon light.
"What was that for?"
"I thought you deserved a better thank you," I said and he pouted drawing a smile from me.
"And here I thought I'd hate those paupers for good. We might as well become best friends if this is how you kiss me when you're thanking me," he mused out loud and I laughed slapping his chest before returning my hands behind his neck and pressing my lips against his on. "Careful babydoll, I might just start believing you like me."
He mumbled against my lips and I chuckled.
"Isn't that what you'd like?"
"Maybe but for now, you need to stop before you do something you'll regret later," he said pulling away and I pouted making him laugh. "Sorry babydoll but as the sober one of the two of us, I'll have to be the responsible one this time."
He said and I groaned throwing my head back.
"It's not my fault. He kept on and on about Tony this Tony that. Science blabity blah blah," I said waving my hand up and about and he chuckled.
"What?"
"I know," I said falling into him and he laughed wrapping his arms around me.
"So not the best date ever, I presume?"
"I hated it. I hate this. I don't know why they'd do this. And you wouldn't believe what he said, Kate knew it was him when she set me up for this. Am I really not that approachable that he went to Kate so he could ask me out on a date? And then, asking me to be his girlfriend when he knows what I feel about it. I hate it. I should have probably punched him. It would have probably made me feel better and show them I'm not as weak as they think I am to even dare pawn me off. "
"And you're not," he said some tension leaving his body as he looked at me almost pitifully, and yet in my drunken haze he seemed pissed off.
"Huh?"
"You're not weak are you?" He asked and I shook my head no. "Good, then maybe it's time you show them how badass you are. You are way stronger than you give you give yourself credit for. You are one of the strongest people I've ever met. Don't lose that side of yourself that can even put this cocky jerk in his place."
"You know what you're right!?" I declared and he placed a hand on his chest feigning hurt.
"Ouch, babydoll. And here I thought I'd finally gotten through to your heart," he said and I giggled.
In all honesty, maybe he did or already had. I couldn't remember the last person who could make me feel so many things at once. It didn't matter whether it was good or bad, but I liked. It felt...real.