Lost in thought, Varrior didn't notice when soft footsteps stepped unto the gazebo and began to approach him. He only felt when a warm hand touched his shoulders. He glanced up, straightened his back. He became face to face with the source of all his strongest emotions.
A smile immediately graced his lips as he peered into her magnificent silver eyes. Her small nose was just inches away from his. He unconsciously leaned forward and nudged hers with his.
"I'm sorry I'm late, my mom forced me to help her clean out my dad's old stuff," she said softly, a pained expression washing over her porcelain features.
Varrior quickly shook his head, turning his body to face her as he held her hand. She sat on the back of her heels facing him completely. The setting became right as he sat there, her hand in his, the gentle breeze of the sea caressing them softly, the gleaming water offering a perfect wallpaper.
"You don't have to explain, I understand," he said, staring into her eyes with such affection, fear flashed in Taylor's eyes. Varrior brushed it off as her nerves as he leaned in to press a kiss against her lips but at last second Taylor shifted and his lips connected with her soft cheek instead.
Varrior's heart jolted as he leaned back to stare into her eyes. She looked hesitant, uncertain about something but what. Though she quickly discarded this and leaned forward to press her lips against his in a swift motion. Varrior worried that maybe she was feeling doubts about their relationship, so with gentle hands he guided her lips back towards his. Her soft lips moulded unto his and he slowly slipped his tongue between her lips to caress her tongue with his. He felt her relax against him and she wrapped her hands around his neck, her soft fingers reaching up to play with his curly hair. He placed his hands on her small waist, pulling her closer.
When they finally parted, he was grinning like a fool. They spent the next hour having light conversation and eating the remaining sandwiches. They then stood and walked hand in hand towards the diner across from the beach. Taylor stopped them from entering as she suddenly gripped his arm and pulled him away from the door. On her wrist the diamond bracelet that he had used the entirety of his savings on.
"Is everything okay," he asked worriedly, leaning down slightly to observe her downcast eyes.
"Um, I have to get back to help my mom out. We are having some people over for dinner and there is still a lot of junk in the garage to be cleaned out," she said, glancing up at him with hesitant eyes.
"Do you need some help," he offered wide eyed, he had planned to invite her over to his place but he hadn't been by her house in a while.
Taylor quickly shook her head, fear flashing in her eyes once more she quickly played it off with a chuckle.
"No, it's okay. It'll give my mom and I some quality bonding time," she said, glancing up at him hesitantly.
He nodded sadly and bid her farewell with a kiss on the cheek. He watched her ride away on her bike before he entered the diner. The familiar scent immediately hugged him like an old friend. He grinned at the familiar face of his best friend standing with a bored look on his face behind the counter by the cashier.
The dirty blonde perked up as his hazel eyes fell on him. He cheered, throwing his hands up in the air, attracting the shocked expression of the customers.
"Woohoo, my best friend got laid," he yelled.
Varrior sighed, trying desperately not to act like his best friend that did not get laid. He sat on the stool before the counter a little away from Corden. The boy slid over towards him and knocked the counter three times. Varrior replied by knocking once, noting the frown that fell on Corden's lips as his euphoric energy fell down to zero.
"Seriously," he said incredulously, the bored expression returning on his face. "I told you that girl was bad news," he said, pressing his hand on his moderately chubby cheek as he leaned on the counter.
Varrior rolled his eyes at his friend's disapproval. Corden was his only friend in town, his highly sceptical friend who always warned him against certain people and things in the town. Corden always looked out for him and steered him clear from trouble but he couldn't manage to steer him clear from Taylor but he always made sure to keep a close eye on the two.
"She's just missing her dad, which is something that I completely understand and can relate to," he replied.
"Did she tell you that?"
Corden asked a good question. Varrior shrugged. "Kind of," was his response to Corden's question. He tried not to get hot and bothered over simple things that could potentially get him angry.
Corden hummed, glancing away deep in thought and a silence fell over the two until Corden spoke again.
"Hey, ah if you're free this evening I wanted to show you something, well tell you. We can talk at Jackson's party out by the lake tonight," Corden said hesitantly, struggling to find the right words to say.
Varrior nodded seeing that his afternoon freed up. He helped out at the diner until it was evening, it was his day off but he didn't have anything better to do and he didn't want to go home and then come back. He stored the picnic basket in his locker.
When Corden and Varrior finished they hopped into his van with Varrior's bike tied down safely in the back. It was a fifteen minute drive to the lake house and a 10 minute walk to the clearing in the woods where the party was.
Varrior frowned at the pit in his stomach and the sweat that coated his neck. What was this feeling, he wondered. His body was obviously trying to warn him about something but what. What could his unconscious mind perceive that his conscious mind was blind to. A shiver went down his spine and he instinctually pulled at the sleeves of his jacket, eventually stuffing his hands into his pocket.
There was loud chatter playing in the clearing along with the low tune of music. As he stepped into the clearing he immediately attracted the attention of a few bystanders. They ducked their heads as his name swirled on the tip of their tongues, their eyes watching him with disgust and wonder.
Varrior began to regret agreeing to go out with Corden, why couldn't he show him what he needed to see at his house. The Dont family has always accepted him with open arms. They considered Varrior much like a second son.
He walked closely beside Corden, sticking to the shadows of the trees that loomed over them. He paused leaning against one of the trees at the edge of the clearing as Corden went and grabbed two cans of beer from the cooler nearby. Beer was not Varrior's drink of choice since he was 13, after he had sneaked a drink of his mother's wine while she was distracted. It wasn't her fault Varrior was just curious why she acted so surprised every time she tasted it.
"So what did you want to show me? I don't think I want to hang around here for too long," he said, glancing at a few girls that glared at him as he stepped out of the shadows to accept the beer. He truly did not understand why they all hated him.
"Ugh, it's…kind of complicated," Corden said, scratching his head as he stared after the girls almost longingly.
"Dude, I know you didn't take me out here to be your wingman because I'm the last person you should have thought of," he said, shaking his head as he noticed his friend practically drooling over the girls.
"No…no, that's not why you're here. I've been wanting to tell you something for a while but there were a lot of competing factors," Corden said with a sigh.
Varrior furrowed his brow as he waited for Corden to go on but got distracted when he noticed a familiar figure in the distance. He squinted his eyes, taking a step into the light. Was that Taylor? Could never be!