Page 8 of Magic or Madness

“I’m not letting you get away from me again, Bambi,” I say, pulling her close by the belt loops on her jeans.

“It’s Fallon,” she smiles, lighting up my universe with a voice made out of velvet.

“Fallon,” I whisper, repeating the most beautiful name I’ve ever heard.

“I was wondering if you gave up on me, actually.”

“Never, the only thing on my mind has been you,beautiful girl. I don’t have much time. Take a ride with us?” I ask, waving my arm toward Oliver and Max, who haven’t taken their eyes off me.

Her gaze travels to her friends, who are nervously staring, making sure she’s safe with the strange man who chased them down the street. She looks back up at me, a small smile and pure curiosity plastered on her face.

“Where to, Ozzy?” She asks, reaching for my hand, and I immediately lace my fingers through hers, feeling complete now that we’re locked together again.

“Anywhere you want, Bambi.” That hits the spot as she nods, signaling me to wait while she walks back to her friends.

After a few minutes of whispered bickering, she hugs them both and jogs back to me, and I couldn’t have the smile surgically removed from my face if I tried.

“Take me away,” she laughs as I drape my arm over her shoulder, not letting her get too far away from me.

Admittedly, I feel like I’m daydreaming.

After three long days of searching for her, fantasizing about this moment, and replaying our first encounter repeatedly in my head — she’s finally in my arms, and I have no plans to let her go.

“Journey is going to kill us. We have to go,” Max says, rushing us toward the van as we round a corner.

“Well, what’s your name? We’re all fucking dying to know.” Oliver laughs, and I shove him across the parking lot we’ve turned into.

“I’m Fallon, boys. And you are?”

Most girls would run away at the sight of us in this light, as we give off criminal vibes, are painted in various tattoos, and never usually smile, but not her.

Unbeknownst to her, we are criminals, and we’re fleeing the scene of a break-in, but if we radiate even a hint of danger, she’s gravitating towards it, fitting right in alongside the craziness.

I’ve been in her presence for a total of ten minutes in our lives, but somehow, I can feel what she’s thinking and know exactly what she wants.

“This is Oliver and Max. Our other two friends are in the van, Journey and Lex. They’re not going to be happy to see you, fair warning,” I explain, and she shrugs as I open the sliding door and help her climb up into the seats.

“I’m not here for them,” she says calmly, the slight dominance in her voice turning me on.

Oliver and Max exchange a look, seemingly shocked by her nonchalant attitude, and I’m stuck in a permanent state of adoration.

“What the fuck, guys? Since when do we pick up strays?” Journey asks, impatiently revving the engine while we all climb in.

Oliver points to Fallon, specifically at her hair, and Journey's eyes widen.

“Sorry, it was a special circumstance,” I say softly, my fingers still intertwined with hers.

Her skin is smooth, and her hand feels right in mine, like I found the piece of me that always belonged. I take note of the baby blue polish on her nails, wondering if it’s her favorite color, and Journey’s aggression rips me from my inner thoughts.

“Thank fuck, the purple-haired girl mystery has been solved. Can we go now, Cinderella?” He says sarcastically, gesturing toward my girl, and I grow increasingly protective, not liking how he looks at her or how he gave her a nickname.

That’smyjob.

I pull her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her midsection and resting my chin on her shoulder.

“What do you want from me, Ozzy?” She whispers, looking around at everyone in the van.

“Everything, Bambi. I need to know everything about you,” I tell her, squeezing my arms tighter and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair products.

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