?WINGLESS AND BEAUTIFUL?
?EPISODE 25 ?
It took him a whole minute to answer. He took a deep
breath and he whispered against my ear. “You’re welcome,”
he said in a weak voice. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
I nodded against his chest. “Because you were there to
save me, nothing happened to me.” I pulled away from him.
He stared down at me and looked like he was reading
my thoughts… trying to decipher the words I couldn’t say
out loud. And then he smiled. “I told you. I’m not such a bad
guy, if you only gave me a chance.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“So does this mean you’ll be nicer to me from now on?”
he asked, grinning.
I gave him a short laugh. “I am not making promises.
But I sure will try.”
He nodded. “Well, maybe that’s good enough for now.”
I stared up his handsome face and his genuine smile. If
in the previous days, he looked gloomy, now, the
playfulness returned to his face. Maybe Denise was right.
Maybe he really only had good intentions for me.
I stepped away from him and I realized that almost half
of the kids around us had stopped whatever they were
doing to watch us.
A blush crept to my face, as I remembered that I hugged Chaise and he hugged me back… in front of all these people.
I took another step back again and nodded at Chaise.
“I’ll see you around.”
Chaise raised a brow at me. “What? I thought we’re
okay now.”
I nodded. “We are. We’re okay enough for me not to…
be mean to you anymore.”
He shook his head. “Oh no. I just risked my pretty face
to save you, princess. You at least owe me a date this time.”
My eyes widened in disbelief.
A date? Is he serious?
I shook my head. “I’m grateful. And I probably will owe
you for the rest of my life. But I’m not for sale, not even in exchange for my life.”
He frowned but then he nodded slightly. “Would you at
least consider a friendly date? No pressure. You can even
bring your friend if you want.”
I looked at him skeptically. First, he helped me out with
my job. Then he stole a kss from me. Then he stalked me
and scared me half to death.
And then… he saved me from
sure tragedy and maybe even a possibility of death. And
now, he wanted to go on a date with me.
“What do you want from me, Chaise?”
He shrugged and smiled at me sheepishly. “You really
have no idea, rock princess?”
I shook my head.
Instead of answering, he said, “Okay. Friends.” Then he
smiled and added, “Now, can I get your phone number?”
“What for?”
He shrugged. “Friends call each other, you know. And
you said I could be your friend.”
He got me there. Reluctantly, I gave him my number. He
fished his phone and pressed the buttons on it. After a few
seconds, my phone beeped. Chaise grinned at me and then
he turned to leave.
I sat beside Denise again. She was giving me a weird
look. So were the other kids around us. Some girls were
even glaring at me, including Candy and Chelsea, who were
sitting on a bench nearby.
“Okay, care to tell me what that was about?” Denise
asked. I could see the excitement on her face.
“Don’t get your hopes up. You heard what I said. We
could be friends. Nothing more.”
“Okay. But why? Why the change of heart? You said you
don’t want anything to do with him.”
I nodded. “I did. But that was after…” I sighed.
I guess I really have to tell Denise even a little about
last night.
“Well… I owe him. Last night, I sort of ran into some
weirdoes. He… happened to be in the area…” Stalking me
maybe, I added in my head. “And he sort of saved me from
being… assaulted.”
Her eyes widened. “Allison Elise Harley! That’s serious!
You realize that you will walk those streets home almost
every day until you quit your job, right?”
I sighed. “I know. I was hoping that was a one-off deal.” I
wasn’t hoping. I was desperately begging God to make last night the last scare of my life.
“And you’re still showing up to work tonight?”
I nodded. “I need this job, Denise.”
“But how are you going to get home… safely?!”
I shrugged and then I flipped my phone open
remembering Chaise’s unread message.
Chaise: Pick you up after work tonight… friend. 😉
Relief washed over me. I guess I will be safe for one
more night.
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