Clare fixed an exasperated gaze on her ex-boyfriend as he stopped the motorcycle at the side of the road, telling her to get off the machine.
She thought he had decided to play the bastard again and leave her in an unfamiliar place, but was relieved when he turned off the engine.
He intended to keep her company.
He stood in front of her and nervously bit his lip, directing his gaze to the view behind her. The noise of the waves was so loud that it was able to overshadow his thoughts.
- What did you get me into, Felix? - she asked him the question she most dreaded the answer to. She supposed that he had messed with the wrong people, but she wanted to know how it had happened and why she was also involved.
He didn't look her in the face, yet he spoke up.
- You don't have to worry about anything. You are bait, so they won't do anything to you," he declared dispassionately, ignoring her eyes, which were close to tears. - They will only frighten you.
She couldn't believe that he continued like this, although something was threatening her. Felix had involved her in a situation she had nothing to do with. He wasn't her boyfriend, she didn't even keep in closer contact with him, so why was she the one in danger?
- If I'm in no danger, why did you take me away in such a hurry? - She realized that with this question she would throw him unbalanced. She knew his character and was aware that not a brief moment would pass when he would explode with anger.
- Be glad that I decided to save your ass at all!
She furrowed her brow, unable to ignore the fact that he had once again dealt her a painful blow.
- No one asked you to do this," she announced in a bitter voice. She turned her back to him and was about to walk away, but then she felt a strong grip on her elbow area. Felix pulled her close. She fell into his arms, not realizing that he had saved her from an oncoming car.
- We are on the side of the road. Watch where you're going. Realize if you're even alive, girl.
She clenched her teeth and pushed him away from her, throwing him an angry look.
- What for? - She replied in a nervous voice. - Since I might die in a moment anyway because of the people you messed with.
She was sick of the way he treated her. He put her in danger and wasn't going to do anything about it, claiming she was just bait.
This was too much.
- Don't start again...
Without a word, she turned her back on him, taking uncertain steps as she didn't know where she was going. She didn't know the area, so she decided to walk ahead.
- Clare! - His voice was firm, and she guessed that he would try to stop her, so she sped up her steps.
She was no one's toy, and treating her this way was harder to bear when it was done by a boy who meant so much to her.
She opened her eyes wider when he pulled into her path and stood motorcycle across, preventing her from leaving.
- Stop acting like a child.
She bravely looked him in the eye and took her phone out of her pocket as the tune she had set sounded.
- Ian? - She read aloud, wondering what he might have wanted from her. She had a person by her side who had grated on her nerves enough, so she didn't need the accuracy from a particularly annoying man.
Her hand hovered in the air as Felix unexpectedly snatched the cell phone from her hand. He swung and, with visible indignation on his face, threw the ringing phone into the water.
Clare leaned over the railing, watching her smartphone become a gift to mermaids and other underwater creatures.
- What did you just do? - she squeezed out through her teeth, feeling like crying when she thought of all the lost numbers, photos, and videos that meant a lot to her.
- I got rid of the problem.
- And who is acting like a child here? - She fixed her eyes full of regret, blaming him for her thoughtless behavior. - Tell me, why are you doing this? After all, you've clarified it that you want nothing to do with me, so why this sudden change? Why are you trying to protect me when I mean nothing to you?
He did not look away. He got off the motorcycle and stood in front of her, so she lifted her face and carefully examined his handsome features.
Before, he belonged to her, and she could gloat over this sight every day, but now he was unattainable to her.
- Because this is my duty. I thoughtlessly brought you trouble, so now I have to take responsibility for it and take care of you.
- You don't have to," she replied directly, feeling anger rising. - I don't need help from a man who directly to my face was able to declare to me that he never loved me.
*
Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared at the water, ignoring the presence of the boy accompanying her.
If this had happened earlier, she would undoubtedly have been happy at that moment, but not after hearing so many unpleasant words from him. Then, at the cemetery, he hurt her to the point where being in his presence made her feel uncomfortable.
She didn't know what she should think about it. Was Paul right in telling her that the two cases were connected? Should she find a way to prove it?
- What are you going to do? Do you want to keep me here for the rest of my life? Is this your solution?
- Stop being oppressive.
A sour smile appeared on her face.
- Why don't you tell me what you did to mess with the wrong people instead of looking senselessly ahead? I'd like to know what's going on since I'm involved. - She fixed an investigative gaze on him, hoping he would finally explain it to her.
- The less you know, the better.
Felix had always had a difficult character, but he had never acted as abrasively toward her as he had begun to do since they broke up. She didn't recognize him. She got the impression that she was in the presence of a boy she didn't know at all.
How could she have fallen so much in love with a man who had no sincere feelings for her from the very beginning? Why was she so nave and let herself be fooled by the person? Failing to see that she was a toy for him — a product he was playing with and had been doing so up to this point, bringing her trouble.
Just why was she still unable to reason with herself that falling in love with this boy was the biggest mistake of her life?
- I would rather not be in your company. Is that reason enough for you to drive me home?
Brown looked at her obliquely, and then a slight smile appeared on his face. He stared at her for a long moment, watching the wind blow her long blond hair away, and she squinted her eyes, looking particularly charming in this way.
- Until recently, you were running after me yourself, but I see that the conversation at the cemetery has changed your attitude. And rightly so," he declared. - At least you don't see me as a man, but as trash.
His answer agitated the blonde.
- Before you started dating me, you could have said the same words to me to warn me that you are trash and not a man. - She felt tears coming to her eyes, so she hastily started blinking her eyelids to chase them away. Felix noticed this and became dumbfounded. - Why is this wind so strong? - She turned her back to him, rubbing her face with the top of her hand.
The boy lowered his head, looking at the sand with sad eyes.
- I brought trouble on you, so it's better if you hate me. I don't deserve you to give me affection," he muttered under his breath, out of the corner of his eye looking at her distant silhouette. - I don't want you to end up like my mother....
He was surprised when he noticed that Clare had unexpectedly turned back. Clenching her fists, she headed straight for him, so he got a bad feeling that she was going to nail him, but his guess was shattered when she stood in front of him and, straight to his face declared:
- What will you do if I still love you? - He opened his mouth and blinked his eyelids, surprised by her incomprehensible behavior. He wanted to say something, but eventually became speechless. - I knew. - When she looked into his eyes, a smile appeared on her face. - If you didn't love me, you would have laughed at me or mocked what an idiot I am, but your reaction shows that this is not what you expected. You wanted me to hate you at all costs because that's how you were going to protect me.
He knew her and knew she was a smart girl, but he didn't think she was so smart that he would quickly catch on and connect the two.
*
Clare's discovery of the truth led to Felix not knowing how he should relate to her. This time, it was him who was uncomfortable being in her presence; he felt strange when she looked at him with a smile on her face. He supposed she was happy because his words turned out to be a lie.
He couldn't mess it up again, and above all, he didn't want to. Now that Clare was in danger, and he understood that rejecting her was a bad idea, he felt he should take care of her.
He would hate it if she ended up similarly to his mother. With her, he didn't have a good relationship, but if something happened to Clare, it would ultimately destroy him.
- You win," he pronounced, resting his chin on his hand. He looked at the passing people who were walking along the shore. - There's no point in me continuing to act like this. I did all this to make you stay away from me.
Clare squatted closer to the boy and put her hands around her knees. She spoke up in a whisper, as if she feared that someone was overhearing them.
- So you can assure me that the words you said to me that day in the cemetery did not come from your heart one bit?
He fixed an uncertain gaze on her and shrugged his shoulders.
- I lied, but I can't assure you that at that moment, no word was sincere....
- And that... - She did not finish because he entered her word.
- That I never loved you was a lie," he replied confusedly, nervously scratching his head. - I was so angry and concerned that you were in danger that saying those words came with unimaginable ease. - Clare noticed how intimidated he was. It was hard for him to admit it, so clearly embarrassed he bit his lip, not taking his eyes off the water. - I'm sorry I hurt you so much then. It was stupid of me.
He finally looked at her. He fixed a gentle gaze on her, hoping that she would not hold a grudge against him for too long.
Although he had hurt her badly that day, she was not going to judge him any longer. He did it with her in mind, and hoped that in this way he would not bring her trouble, so she was able to forgive him.
- I'm not angry with you, and I would appreciate it if you would point out to me what this is all about and why you left me that day without a word of explanation....
The boy let out a quiet sigh and sat down comfortably, his hands resting on the warm sand.
- Since the moment has come when we are honest with each other, you should finally know the truth.
Her heart went up to her throat. She didn't know what she should expect. Even though she was afraid, finding out the whole truth was what she wanted most. Even if it was hurtful.
- And once again, the two are connected....
*
Clare smiled broadly and snuggled her face into Felix's back, hugging him tighter around the waist.
Nothing at that moment made her happier than finally knowing the truth. With the discovery of the reason he left her, a stone dropped from her heart.
Even though it all came together with a dangerous situation and people who were a threat to them, Clare couldn't stop smiling. She was happy because Felix didn't leave her because he would rather not be with her anymore, but did it to protect her.
He did it because he loved her.
- Do you know what was the worst thing for me when I decided to leave with them and keep you safe? - Clare carefully looked into his eyes and lowered her gaze to his hand when he touched her arm. - I was afraid I would never see you again," he declared in a sad voice.
The blonde blinked her eyelids, feeling tears coming to her eyes.
- But more important to me was your safety, and I thought you would be able to cope with our parting because you are a strong girl," he added, giving her a tender smile. - I was wrong. Only now did I find out how fragile a person you are.
Memories of the beach were still running through her head, and she didn't even realize when Felix stopped his motorcycle on the street where her house was located.
Only when he spoke up and communicated to her that they were on the spot did she step down onto the sidewalk and hand him her helmet.
- You stopped exactly in the same place as always.
- I think it's better this way. I wouldn't want your parents to see who you came with. - Clare nodded and still wasn't going to leave, hoping that Felix would stay with her for a while longer.
- You should go into the house. I'll wait here until you are outside the gate.
She was disappointed.
She guessed what kind of hell was waiting for her at home as a result of the fact that no one could contact her. Felix had destroyed her phone, and she stubbornly believed that he had done so because the name of the boy she had planned to marry appeared on the screen.
She was about to leave when she felt a firm grip on her forearm. Ian tugged at her too hard, not realizing that he was causing her harm. Strong emotions were speaking through him, so he did not control himself.
- Where were you with him! - he yelled sharply, at which the girl opened her eyes wider. - You can't hang out with him, Clare!
- What do you mean? - The girl was about to show him where he belongs, but Ian pushed her away slightly, by which she hit the fence with her back.
Felix didn't have an opportunity to react, and already got a fist to the face from Ian.
- I know very well that you have messed with the wrong people and because of you, Clare is in danger. Stay away from her!
The blonde jumped to Ian and punched him in the chest.
- What are you thinking, you bastard?
- If you don't stop contact with him, I will tell your parents about everything," he threatened her. She opened her mouth, but was unable to get anything out. She knew that Ian was capable of this, so she could not ignore his words.
She swept her ex-boyfriend's face with a tender glance, stopping her gaze at the cut lip. He was in pain, yet he twisted his lips in a slight smile.
- Go home. He is actually worried about you. At least I will be calmer knowing that you have such a brave person at your side.
- Felix...
He put on his helmet and drove off, leaving behind the smell of exhaust fumes. Clare pressed her lips together as Ian grabbed her hand again, leading her into the house.
- I'm warning you that if you don't leave me alone for a while, I'm going to kick your ass.
He stopped and turned to face her, but still did not intend to let her go.
- I won't allow you to go out with him.
- What's gotten into you? After all, you have constantly striven to make me suffer. So why do you now want to protect me?
She looked at his stony face while he looked above her head at the little, busy street.
- Because I won't let anyone hurt you. - When he lowered his face, he saw great astonishment in her eyes. He realized that this was not how he should say it. He would rather not come off as a nice guy, and certainly not to her. - This honor is mine. Only I can bully you. No one else," he added, looking everywhere but at the girl who made him mad when he couldn't get in touch with her. He was afraid that something bad had happened to her even though he didn't allow himself to think that he could worry about anyone.