01.
"What about you, Dennis? Will you always be my friend?"
"Molly, I'll always be your friend. You couldn't lose me if you tried."
10 years later...
The seventeen-year-old Molly Smith barely paid attention to the boring history lesson. It was her last class for the day and she was really tired. Looking somewhere out the window her thoughts ran wild only to focus on one particular person yet again.
She ran a hand through her hair absentmindedly as she thought about what her life would've been if her father hadn't left her at Teshima's daycare center before he was murdered all those years ago. She would've probably shared her father's faith or even worse. She missed him and her mother a lot and would forever be grateful to her aunt Janet for taking care of her and raising her to the young woman she had now considered herself to be. She was the only family Molly had. Well there was one more person in her life but she didn't exactly consider him family because to her he meant more than anyone else in the world.
Dennis Booker.
Ever since her father left her at the daycare center of Dennis' office building, he never stopped taking care of her. He took her in his home, he gave her his bed while he slept in an uncomfortable chair and when he found out her father was dead he did everything to find someone from her family who would take her in and raise her with love and devotion. Even after that he never forgot about her and sure as hell never broke the promise he had given her before leaving her at her aunt's. He visited her at the farm every week, he rode horses with her, he took her out with his car and he always remembered her birthdays. Last year he had even agreed to take her out with his motorbike and it was one of the best birthdays in her life. She'd never forget the warmth of his muscular body while she held her arms tight around him under his leather jacket and his scent invading her nostrils; a mixture of his cologne, mango shampoo and cigarettes. She wasn't sure when exactly her feelings for Dennis had grown so much but lately she couldn't stop thinking about him and she missed him every second whenever he wasn't around.
Just then the bell rang and she quickly shoved her books into her backpack before throwing it over her shoulder.
"History class is so boring." She heard a voice next to her and turned to look at her friend Maggie.
"I couldn't agree more." Molly nodded and the two shared knowing smirks.
"I saw you daydreaming again during history." Maggie teased her, but Molly shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah, you do. You were thinking about him again, weren't you?"
"Who?"
"That Dennis guy you're always talking about."
Molly sighed while the two walked out of the building together. She and Maggie were best friends and she was the only one who Molly could talk to about Dennis. She turned to look at the other girl.
"I just…" She began when Maggie suddenly grabbed her wrist stopping abruptly on her place.
"Who's this guy?" She asked, voice choked and Molly frowned at her.
"Who are you..?" She began to ask but stopped in mid-sentence when she turned around to look at the direction Maggie was staring at.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Dennis?!" She gasped and her lips immediately pulled into a smile.
"That is Dennis?" Maggie asked tightening her grip on her wrist. "The Dennis?!"
She suddenly smirked at Molly's direction and casting another glance at Booker she licked her lips.
"Well now I know why you can't stop talking about him. He's so hot."
Molly turned to glare at her friend and elbowed her slightly before she hurried to where Dennis was standing.
"Dennis!" She exclaimed with a smile and he gave her one of his award winning smiles before she ran to hug him.
When they released she introduced him to Maggie.
"What are you doing here?" She asked after the other girl waved for goodbye and left.
"I'm here because I have a surprise for you." He grinned and opened the car door for her.
She got in quickly and he closed the door climbing on his own seat.
"Ugh, that stupid seatbelt.." Molly groaned trying to pull it so she could put it on but it didn't move.
"Here let me.."
Dennis quickly leaned in to help her and because of the close proximity of their faces she suddenly found it hard to breathe. He was too preoccupied with the seatbelt to notice the way Molly was looking at him. Due to their closeness she could feel his warm breath on her skin and her eyes immediately travelled all over his perfectly sculpted face memorizing every detail. His deep brown eyes were narrowed in concentration and his full pink lips were slightly parted. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest and she was too lost in her thoughts to notice he had finally succeeded fixing her belt.
"All done." He grinned while pulling back on his seat, putting on his own belt.
The sound of his voice took her out of her thoughts and she smiled, redness covering her cheeks.
"Thanks."
Shooting her a smile he started the car and drove off.
"So how was school?" He asked and she shrugged her shoulders.
"Boring. Especially the history lecture that was our last for the day. I was counting the minutes 'till the end of the class."
Dennis chuckled and Molly couldn't help the smile on her face.
"So...where are we going?" She asked, because her curiosity was killing her.
"You'll see." He answered, his eyes fixed firmly on the road and a small smirk dancing on his lips.
After driving a couple of minutes in silence they finally reached their destination and Molly's jaw dropped in surprise.
"You didn't tell me we were going to your house!" She exclaimed excitedly.
Dennis only smiled and the two climbed out of the car. After making sure all the doors are properly locked he motioned Molly to follow him in the house. He then asked her to close her eyes and carefully lead her further inside. When they reached his art studio he carefully helped her through the door and both of them finally stopped.
"Can I open my eyes now?" She asked impatiently, her voice full of curiosity.
He only smirked.
"In a minute."
He busied himself with arranging something in front of her and when he was done he smiled.
"You can open your eyes now."
She did as she was told only to gasp slightly. There were four amazing paintings in front of her and she stared at them in awe.
"I've been working on these few pieces and I want to give one of them to you as a present. But I want you to choose which one." He explained nodding towards the paintings.
She looked at the four paintings but they were all beautiful and it was really hard for her to choose only one. It was then that she spotted something with the corner of her eyes. On the other wall there were more paintings and all were turned around with their backs but there was one turned with the front and it looked kind of freshly painted. It was blue mixed with white and a small dots with any other color she could think of.
Before Dennis could stop her, Molly walked over to the painting and stared at it in awe.
"Can I have this one?" She asked. "It's amazing!"
Dennis thought about it for a moment. The painting she wanted to take was really personal, not to mention it was entitled after something Molly still hadn't felt and was yet to experience.
It was that realization that struck him hard.
Molly was seventeen.
She was growing up without her parents by her side. Her only family was her aunt that had raised her. But she had no other father figure in her life except for Dennis himself and the memories of her father who wasn't exactly what a person could call a 'role model'. Gary Smith didn't even have a place to call home (from what Molly had told him, Dennis knew they used to live in a hotel). He tried hard to provide for his daughter but in ways that weren't exactly legal.
It was then that Booker realized he needed to talk to Molly and explain some things to her. She was intelligent and an exceptionally smart girl but there were a lot of bad people, a lot of bad men out there whose minds were sick and twisted and they would do horrible things to young girls like her and Dennis knew he needed to prepare her.
He was brought back to the present with a jolt when Molly's hand made contact with his arm.
"Dennis? Can I have it?"
He blinked realizing she was still waiting for his answer about the painting and nodded.
"Yeah. I guess it's alright to take that one."
She glowed and threw her arms around him to pull him in a hug.
"Thank you so much!"
For a moment Molly got lost into the warmth of his body and the scent of his cologne and she closed her eyes committing them to memory. Dennis pulled out of the embrace and they took the painting loading it to the truck of his car. When they got back inside the house Dennis took her hand and led her to the couch. He waited as she sat down and he tried to calm his nerves a bit. Recalling the little girl who knew way too much for someone her age he couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"You've grown up so much." He said, the smile never leaving his face. "Yet I still remember you as the bubbly little girl who was really smart and knew so much about cars that it was actually scary."
Molly frowned slightly. Looking at his handsome smiling face she wished more than anything that Dennis could view her as the young woman she was, not as the little girl he used to take care of.
"Anyway my point is you're not a little girl anymore and I just wanted to talk to you and explain some things. You're at the age when most young girls meet the boy of their dreams and fall in love and you probably will too. I know I'm not your father but I'm talking as your friend. As a former police officer I've dealt with all kinds of criminals but working undercover gave me a better perspective of the criminals in high schools and universities. What I'm trying to say is that there are a lot of dangerous people out there, a lot of dangerous men and I want you to be careful. I know that you're in the age where you will probably meet some cute looking boy and will fall in love but I know you're also very smart. So whatever happens, whoever you meet and fall in love with, be cautious and don't let him talk you into doing something you're not ready to do."
'If you only knew...' She thought looking straight in his dark eyes. However realizing he was expecting her to say something she nodded her head slightly.
"I understand and I promise I'll be careful." But you don't have to worry because I'm already in love with someone and that is you.
Dennis smiled at her words and lean to press a kiss on her forehead causing her stomach to flip flop inside her but she kept her face expressionless.
"And if someone does something, anything that upsets you or makes your feel uncomfortable you'll tell me, right?" Booker asked and she nodded.
"Yes, of course."
"Good."
He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug and she got lost into his warm embrace.
"So..what do you want to do now?" He asked gently pulling out from the hug.
Molly didn't really want to leave so soon so she came up with an idea.
"Why don't we watch a movie? I know you have a big collection of horror movies so we can watch one of them."
Dennis hesitated.
"You have school tomorrow."
"Yes but I don't have homework. Please, Dennis." Molly begged and he sighed.
"You know I can't say no to you. But I want you to call your aunt and ask her, ok?"
"I'm seventeen."
But when Dennis gave her a stern look she sighed.
"Ok, fine, I'll call her."
Once that was settled and Molly had gotten her aunt's permission Dennis took a few movies and handed them to Molly so she could choose one. She picked one that didn't seem so scary and after they got settled on the couch, they put it on. Molly was curled in a blanket and Dennis was holding a bottle of beer, occasionally taking sips. At one point she moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked down and suppressing a smile he put his arm around her protectively.
"If you find the move too scary we can always stop it and pick another one." He suggested but she shook her head with her eyes fixed at the screen.
"No, the movie's ok."
They didn't speak again during the rest of the movie. When the end credits rolled Dennis looked down and realized Molly was asleep. He turned off the movie and gently lifted the young girl in his arms carrying her to one of the empty rooms. He placed her on the bed and covered her with the blanket. The memory of the little girl asking him for a bedtime story popped into his head and he smiled.
"I don't believe in fairytales but I'm sure one day you'll find your prince and you'll be very happy with him." He carefully placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Sleep tight, princess."
With that Booker stood up from the bed and walked out the door. Not knowing that the prince she was dreaming of was no other than Dennis himself.
He had yet to find out that that dream was about to turn their lives into nightmares.