Page 28 of Semi-Rejected Life

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I sighed, trying not to show that my heart was beating a million miles per hour at the sight of him. It wasn’t fear, it was pure ecstatic excitement. “Are you stalking me now?”

“N-No!” he stammered, getting to his feet. He reached down, grabbing the blanket and the shoes before handing them to me. “You left these at the beach and I wanted to return them.”

“How long have you been here?”

“I…” He trailed off, but didn’t finish.

“You’ve been sitting here all damn day?!”

“I didn’t want anyone to steal your stuff,” he said, obviously avoiding what he really wanted to say.

I snatched the items out of his hands and tucked them under my arm. “Well, I hope you know that you just wasted and entire fucking day guarding a dollar store blanket and four bucks worth of foam. Idiot.” I turned away from him and jammed my key into the door lock. “Thanks. Now go away.”

The lock clicked and I pushed the door open. But before I could get inside, I felt a hand on my arm.

“Wait–”

I turned back, growling and snapping. “Did I give you permission to fucking touch me?!”

“S-Sorry…” He pulled his hand away. “You’re right. I should’ve asked.”

“Damn right you should have you creep.”

We stared at one another for a long moment. I tried to look as intimidating as possible while River looked… well, uncomfortable was putting it lightly.

“I’d like to talk to you,” he said. “If I can. And explain.”

“Who says I’m interested in an explanation?” I snapped. “Especially not one you’ve been sitting outside my door all day rehearsing.”

“I haven’t been–”

“Don’t lie to me.”

He sighed. “Alright. I’ve been thinking about it. How could I not? But I’m not gonna lie to you.”

“I bet all truthful people say that. Telling me you won’t lie makes you sound really trustworthy–”

“I was out of line today,” he blurted.

I stared at him. “No shit.”

“I know you know… I just… I felt like I had to say it. I don’t know what came over me…”

“Oh really?”

He shook his head. “Okay… I do know… but honestly… it scares the shit out of me.”

I snapped my mouth shut, cutting off a scathing retort. I hadn’t been expecting that response from him.

“There’s things I feel that I know I shouldn’t feel… and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“So,” I said. “Because you’re having a hard time with your feelings, I’m the one that has to have my date ruined and have your tongue shoved down my throat? How is that acceptable in any way?”

“It’s not. You’re totally right. I was so far out of line today. I… I can only plead insanity…”

I cocked one hip to the side, crossing my arms. “Insanity?”

He looked up, his eyes glimmering in the moonlight. “Something about you Vincent… I don’t know what it is… but it drives me crazy.”

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