Chapter 7:
When I looked into Criss' room after I had changed into something nice, he wasn't there. I then heard my younger brother and my dad exclaiming in the living room, only one guess why that was happening. I rushed downstairs to find Criss finishing a demonstration for them involving what looked to be a book.
"What's going on?" Everyone's head turned to see me wearing a dark blue dress shirt, a black skirt and a pair of my nicest flats. My hair was pinned half way up and my makeup was finally decent. Criss' eyes went wide and before he could say anything, my brother replied,
"Criss told me to pick out a page in the book, he read my mind and made the page disappear! IT WAS AWESOME!" I couldn't help but laugh as I kissed my parents goodbye.
"Where are you going?" My dad questioned.
"Criss is taking me out for a bit, I won't be home late." I grabbed Criss' arm and led him to the door. "Love you!" I called back to them. I raced over to his car and jumped up and down like a little schoolgirl. "So where are we going?" He smirked devilishly and opened the car door for me.
"After you, miss." As I sat down in the car, I looked around frantically and analyzed every angle.
"This is so freakin' cool!" Criss took his seat next to me and turned to face me,
"I want you to think of your favorite place to eat right now. Don't say anything to me, but along the way; in your mind, I want you to tell me what direction to go in to get there."
I nodded and gave him a sly smile. "You'll never get it."
He revved the engine and returned the smile. "I like a good challenge." Along the way, I did just what he asked of me, and every time I gave a direction in my mind, he got it right! I shook my head as I laughed with disbelief. When he pulled up to a building, he unbuckled and only spoke four words,
"Hope you like Italian!" He came around to my side and held the door open for me and helped me out of the car.
"Okay, that was incredible! How'd you do that?" He simply shrugged and led me inside. "But; then again, I'd expect nothing less from the greatest!" I teased.
"Oh!" He teased back. "What's that supposed to mean?" I simply shrugged with a smile.
As we sat down; him across from me, he stuttered nervously, "I-um-I didn't want to say anything in front of your family but you look beautiful." He turned his attention back down to his hands and gently bit his lower lip.
"Really?" He smiled while his attention was still directed down. "Well, you could've said it in front of my family…I wouldn't have cared!"
"I didn't want them to think anything bad of me. It's an entirely different perspective coming from an adult, let alone your parents."
"I see your point…they can be a bit over-the-top at times."
"Is that what you meant by the mention of your family in that letter?"
"Well, I-" Before I could get into anything, two girls came over to our table. They looked as though they were in their mid-twenties and going to a Brittany Spears concert.
Easy much? I thought.
"Oh my gosh! Criss Angel?" The first one exclaimed.
"We're huge fans of your show!"
Oh God, even their voices are annoying! Too high pitched!
"Thank you ladies very much! I appreciate it. What are your names?"
"I'm Jamie." Said the first.
"And I'm Brittany."
Wow, that's what I call ironically creepy…
"Pleasure to meet you. Ladies, this is Serenity." He extended his hand towards me and I smiled politely.
"Oh…hi." They rudely replied. "Anyway, it was nice to meet you Criss!" They smiled back at him and gave me a dirty look before they strutted away.
Criss turned to me and gave me a look of sympathy. I grinned at him and told him to watch… I grabbed a few singles from my purse and caught up to the girls.
"Excuse me, I believe these fell out of the bottom of your dresses…try to be more careful where you leave your money next time!" And with that, I left them open mouthed and speechless as I walked back to my table. I've never felt more proud.
Criss was trying so hard to contain his laughter until after they had left. "Now THAT was good!"
"I try!" I high-fived him and got myself situated again.
"So, what was it you were going to say?"
"Nothing, it doesn't matter now…" I took a sip of the drink the waitress brought over to us.
"No, I really want to hear it. Please?"
I couldn't resist him saying please… "Well, a little bit. I don't know…they're a bit old fashioned when it comes to thinking. They're very closed-minded, too. They can either be very nice, or very difficult to talk to and aggravating. They get angry very easily and constantly preach to my brother and I. If I'm going through any personal problems, I don't feel like I can go to them at all. Believe me, I've tried. And with any of the problems I go through, I know that if I ever tell them, their solution would never be to talk it out…it'd be a psychiatrist and medication. Honestly, I don't think it'd help at all and I feel very alone at times. And I've done some things I'm not proud of…" I paused. "That's part of the reason why I love you so much, you help me to feel like there's a way out of it. You help me feel free. I'm very grateful to you, Criss…Sorry if I'm depressing you with any of this!"
He looked deep into my eyes and touched my hand, "I'll always be here if you need to talk to anyone. You can trust me with anything; I want you to know that. I'll help in whatever way I can…what have you done that you're not proud of?"
Crap, I knew he'd ask. I took a deep breath and I could feel myself tearing up again, "I've attempted and contemplated suicide on many occasions, I've almost run away a few times, I've cut and bruised myself many times-" He stopped me and spoke gently,
"Please don't ever do any of that ever again. Please promise me?"
I stared into his eyes as he stared back into mine, deeper than anyone has ever looked. He could see into my heart and I could see that he saw the pain that I've felt. Suddenly, I felt as if that pain went away. He took away all of the negativity I've felt, all of the pain I've been through. He made sure I knew that he truly was there for me.
"I promise, Criss. I promise." Nothing could hurt me now.
When we walked out to the parking lot, it was around eight-o-clock, still pretty early. Before we reached the car, Criss stopped me and stood in front of me, holding my hand. The swarm of bees came over me again and I could barely breathe. I finally broke the silence,
"Thank you for tonight. I really had a lot of fun!" He smiled and stuttered again,
"Serenity, there's something I've been wanting to do since you've opened up to me a few hours ago…and I'm hoping you'll let me do it." I said nothing. I only stood with my feet planted in the ground and my eyes focused on his as he leaned in closer.
He's going to kiss me, oh my God. What do I do? I want to kiss him so badly but I know it's not right! Oh God! The thoughts swirled around in my head like a typhoon and I became somewhat dizzy. And then, he kissed my cheek so softly and perfectly. I was kind of relieved. Then I realized that his hand was lightly touching my side. I softly gasped and he pulled back.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" His face turned red with embarrassment.
"Don't be, it's okay!" I assured him. We walked back to the car and I smiled a little to myself…Criss touched me!
"Hey, you want ice cream?" He casually asked.
"I'd love some! Let's go!"
We didn't get back to the house until eleven-thirty that night and everyone was already asleep. We quietly snuck back into the house and made our way to the upstairs floor. Before we parted ways, Criss kissed the top of my hand and joked in a British accent,
"Until the morning, my dear!"
I giggled and kissed his hand back, "Goodnight Criss, thanks again."
"The pleasure's all mine." We each turned back to our rooms and closed the door. I stood, pressing my body against the inside of the door and thought back to the night I had just spent. I smiled to myself and sung as I dressed myself and crawled into my bed.
"I don't need no dreams when I'm by your side
Every moment takes me to paradise
Darlin' let me hold you, warm you in my arms and melt your fears away
Show you all the magic that a perfect love can make
I need you night and day, so baby be mine."
