Appointment, Chapter Thirteen

My heart bumped so hard in my chest I thought it would come out any minute. I still could not believe it. Why the HELL did I k… ki… did that? I took advantage of his weak moments at that! I disgusted myself…

Gently, Law breathed out slowly and moved in his sleep. He was now presenting to me his back. I observed a few minutes the back of his head while being lost in my thoughts. My mind was raising, flowing all over like a river, and each drop of water was a question. Why did I do that? Why wasn't he moving? Should I wait until he wakes up? Why can I not keep out of my head the warmth of his lips? Should I tell someone about this? Or keep it for myself? Did he noticed what happened? Will he wake up soon?

Most of my questions were unanswered and I was even more confused than before. I sighed for a long time. All these events ran over my head. All those weird emotions.. Absentmindedly, I put my hand in his hair and started to comb it. It was as soft as Bepo's fur. They were more soft and silky than I imagined…

Soon, sleep took over and I succumbed to the world of dreams.

xXxXxXxXxXx

The week passed at the speed of light. After Wednesday's episode, I tried to keep my distance from Law to try to think it over, but it was not a simple task due to the fact we lived under the same roof. Actually, he kept his words and used me as his slave. Bring me this, do that… It did not help me analyse my thoughts and make some sense into the events from the past few days. On one side, there was that Doflamingo and this strange story between him and his ex "employee". On the other side, there was the weird behavior of Law, but more importantly, my own behavior. I still did not have answers for that kiss (kisses, since there was two actually), and I still wondered what came over me. Maybe a small distraction.

Anyway, after I fell asleep on the couch, Law and myself slept until the morning of the next day, and since we didn't have an alarm clock to wake us up, the two of us were late. So, as you can imagine, many rumours gossiped around the school about us. Some were completely stupid (I was his wife), others were closer to the truth (we lived together). There was one in particular that made me laugh out loud. I heard a student say that I tried to kill him that morning, just like the time I made my pencil fly across his class "that was actually a sharp blade" (quote from a student, not my own), and that was why I was late that day.

I wanted to talk to someone about this, but each one that could be a potential candidate was just not good enough. I couldn't tell every detail to Nami, and since our last conversation, it did not need a genius to know that one plus one equals two. And with those rumours about us, I was too scared she could place a name behind the mysterious person behind my story. There was my sister, but many reasons that convinced me not to say anything. First of all, I was scared she would say a word to her husband and like dominos, everything would fall down: every single person at the garage would know. I don't think Ace would tell his brother, but nothing guaranteed the others would do the same. Second of all, Leïla would surely try to give Law some "subtle" messages to get us together, but subtlety and my sister were two different things. And third of all, she would not STOP teasing me about what I did. And that, never. I also thought during a millisecond to tell Luffy because we got along really well and we told each other everything (let's just say he was my best friend), but I had trouble imagining myself talking to him about those kinds of things. Luffy was interested in romance as much as I was interested in eating a live insect. And in any case, I was certain he would not have the answers I sought. I would be back at the starting point.

Slowly, I got out of my own mind to get back to reality. At the moment, I sat on a bench in a park, waiting for a certain meat lover. I asked him to meet me this afternoon so we could do some shopping and I could by myself a cellphone. Usopp would have been a better choice, since he was more of a technologic expert than Luffy and I were, but he already had plans for today. So I was waiting for my friend for a couple of minutes in the cold, freezing my ass off on this icy bench, and he was late as always! I swear to Satan, if he did not get here this second, I will tear off his hair off and-

"Sorry I'm late!"

Two shoes entered my vision. I slowly raised my eyes and noticed the person in front of me was taller than my friend. I finally arrived at the face of the young smiling man. Upon seeing my surprised expression, Luffy's older brother started to laugh.

"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed, stupefied.

He offered me a warm smile.

"Luffy got sick."

Luffy, sick? No way was this real, he must be talking about something else.

"I think he caught a cold."

Oh. Wait, I thought imbeciles could not get a simple cold?

"So, he asked me to replace him for today.

I nodded and got up.

"Are we going?"

Without a single word, he placed himself next to me and we peacefully walked. During our walk, I asked him all kinds of question, just so we had something to talk about, not to get awkward. That way, I learned that in fact, he wasn't Luffy's brother in term of blood. They grew up in the same orphanage and when he turned 18, he decided to take Luffy under his wings and they started to live together. They were not blood brothers, but more heart brothers. He told me he was a real thug when he was younger, but when he grew up, he learned to be more mature. He loved cars, the colour red, the ocean. His dream was to get on an adventure and travel around the entire world, a simple bag on his back as his luggage and his two legs to walk. "One day, maybe", he told to me, a discreet smile on his lips. Then, after attacking him with a million questions, he said it was unfair that I was the only one asking and it was his turn to ask me the questions. The afternoon passed at lightning speed and it was now time to go our different ways. He had to go back to his sick little brother, so he could treat him and stop him from eating something a sick people should not eat, and I had to return home to prepare diner if I did not want Law to get my head. I was already late as it was.. Ace returned with me to the apartment and stopped in front of the building.

"Thanks for coming with me today." I smiled at him.

He gave me a bow somewhat mocker.

"The pleasure was all mine."

I slowly started to laugh, then the silence came back. Awkward, I shifted my weight on one foot, than the other.

"Well then.. Good night I guess."

He smiled at me and leaned down, his lips grazing my cheek. His kiss left an extreme warm feeling on my skin,

"Take care of yourself, Cerys."

"Y-you too…"

He smiled one last time before turning tails and walking away. I watched him go, my hand landing on my cheek. It was only when his silhouette completely disappeared that I finally awake from my torpor and turned around, my cheeks still as crimson as before. I climbed the stairs and arrived at my apartment level. While I walked, I tried to gain back a more natural colour before opening the front door. No doubt Law would tease me about it, and I want to avoid it if I can help it.

I opened the door and saw he was waiting for me in the entrance. My eyebrows frowned as much as his at the moment. He did not seem happy at all. What was he doing here, waiting for me?

"Where were you?"

"I went to the store to buy a cellphone, remember? I told you this morning."

His eyes left mine to look down at the bag I had in my hands. Without saying a single word, he approached me and took it without my permission. I protested, even if it was futile, and he searched inside. He pulled out a box containing a modest little cellphone. I didn't want anything fancy. It was just a tool I would used to call and text, after all. All the extra and useless features didn't interest me in the slightest. I did not know anything about technology – if we didn't count the few programs used for photography. In fact, this object would just use as an insurance if someone wanted to call me, so they would not fall on Law's voice.

Still silent, he put back the box in the bag and stretched it out to me. I took it and he turned around to disappear in the hallway. I stayed immobile a few seconds. What's gotten into him?

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Ninomiya-kun."

"Sensei."

"Ninomiya-kun!"

"Sensei!"

"What the hell are you looking at, a porno?"

I rooled my eyes and paused the video.

"Of course not! It's just.. Never mind."

I closed my laptop, took it in my harms and went over to my bedroom to put it away. I came back to the hallway and saw Law staring at me strangely from the entrance. I send his way a piercing look.

"What?"

"Put on your coat, we're going outside."

My eyebrow raised on its own.

"Where are we going?"

He suddenly threw me my coat, which smashed itself on my face. The zipper hit my teeth.

"Get dressed, I said!"

A little please wouldn't hurt you know.. I did what I was told (even if I was not happy about it) and put on my shoes. We got out of the apartment and climbed down the stairs to get to his car. I sat on the passenger side, he obviously took the driver side and he started the engine. In complete silence, Law drove the car down the street and crossed the city until getting to the outskirt of it. We travelled across the countryside road. The silence got on my nerves, so I decided to turn on the radio. A familiar melody took over the small vehicle and I immediately started to sing in a joyful voice.

"I touch myself in the park, people makes all kinds of remarks, before the cops show up-"*

Law bursted out laughing and during a moment, I thought we would have an accident since the car was moving left and right. Fortunately, we were the only one on the road.

"What is that?!" He asked between two fits of laughter.

I laughed with him.

"You don't know that song?"

He didn't had the chance to answer me since he choked on his own spit. Even after he obtained a more calm state, a few laughs escaped him from time to time. The rest of the ride was punctuated with my singing and Law's tapping on the wheel when a song caught his attention. Finally, we arrived at our destination and Law stopped the car inside the parking lot of.. an amusement park? What the heck were we doing here?

Without any words, Law turned off the engine and got out of the car. I did the same without really knowing why, for the love of photography, we were here. He locked the doors and went over to the ticket office of the park. I trailed behind him.

"Two tickets for two adults."

The little lady at the counter observed us for a couple of seconds before a knowing smile appeared on her face. Law payed for the tickets even after I protested and the woman gave him our two entrance tickets.

"And there you go, for the cute little couple. Have fun now!"

As soon as she finished talking, I became a tomato and stuttered, trying to tell her she was wrong. Law did not seem fazed in the slightest and just took the tickets while thanking here. He entered the park.

"So, you coming or not?"

I hesitated for a second, but upon seeing his persistent stare, I joined him. He started to stroll around.

"What are we doing now?"

Suddenly, I heard screams coming from my left. Gigantic rollercoasters shadowed me and people's shouts could be heard. Some from joy, others from fear. Law gazed over his shoulder, an enormous smirk on his lips.

"No. Nononononononononononono!"

I tried to back out. Immediately, he caught my wrist and dragged me behind him. I really tried, in vain, to get out of his hold. I hated, loathed heights, and he knew it oh so well! Unshed tears in my eyes, I resigned myself to the inevitable death (?). We arrived at the waiting line and we stopped moving. Gently, Law lowered his hand to take mine in his. It calmed me a little. My eyes could not help but fix themselves on our joined hands. There was nothing romantic there. Our fingers weren't even intertwined. Even so, I could not stop the warmth spreading in my stomach. His hand covered entirely my hand. It was so small, compared to his. Still, I felt completely secured, like that.

"Next."

I sharply raised my eyes and saw that it was our turn to advance and take place in the killing machine.

"I beg you.. Don't do it Law.." I murmured pitifully, my tears coming back.

He offered me a recomforting smile and gently pullet on my hand. Surprise by his behavior, I silently followed him. He let me sit in the back, took place beside me and closed the security bar. We were at the very end of the benches and not long after, the employee verified I everything was in other before starting the ascent. I was trembling now. My right hand gripped so hard on the metal bar that my joints became white. The more we were going up, the more I was terrified. My left hand moved so my fingers were in between Laws and I squeezed as much as I could as if my life depended on it. I could not say for certain, since I was holding on for dear life, but I swear his hand tighten a little bit more in mine, as if he wanted to reassure me. Too fast to my liking, we arrived at the top. The paradise before our trip down to hell. We advanced slowly, simply to torture me. Then, I felt gravity take over.

I screamed.

xXxXxXxXxXx

The young woman turned her back to the teacher, out of breath. Her shoulders were trembling. Law frowned. Maybe he went overboard, with the rollercoasters and all. He did not think she would react so violently.

"Cerys?"

"That was…"

Law approached the teenager to examine her face. He could even feel her hand, which was in his, shaking.

"That was…"

Suddenly, she turned around, a huge smile on her lips and her eyes shining with excitement.

"That was awesome! Can we do it again?!"

Law stared at Cerys for a while, blinking a few times. Then, he laughed, so hard his stomach hurt. What an unexpected reaction!

Without taking notes of the laughter of the older one, she dragged him behind him to the next ride. She looked like an excited kid in a candy shop.

Law tenderly smiled. And he noticed just then that he loved her. He did not know since when. Maybe when he moved back here after those five years? The only thing he knew, is that he loved her from the bottom of his heart. He wanted to make her his. Caress her tender skin with his fingertips. Taste again her soft lips. Feel her whole body. He didn't want any other men, or even women, to touch her. A nameless wrath came over him when he saw that Ace kiss her! On the cheek, sure, but even so, he went too far! He wanted to protect her from the outside world, especially from that pink coat bastard. He would kill him if he had to, and he would never let that despicable man do wrong to the only person hold a place in his heart!

xXxXxXxXxXx

Accident.

"Did you see the hips of that English teacher of yours? A real miracle! If only I could take them in my hands and-"

Law stopped listening to the perverted rambling of his friend a long time ago. How could he be so obsessed with sex? Of course, Law was himself a man, so he wasn't an exception either. He had to release once in a while, so he took a student in heat on the campus and there we go, no more questions asked. However, he was not as obsessed as his friend was. Shachi exasperated him sometimes. Often. All the time actually.

"Arrgh! Why do every single hot girl want to get in YOUR bed?!"

Law shrugged and got inside his car. Shachi continued to protest against his popularity of the future teacher and got inside the car as well. Law started the engine and got on the road to get back home. The brown-hair man really was getting on his nerves, and he was about to tell him to shut up when the two men were propelled forward. Fortunately, Shachi did shut up. Unfortunately, someone just smashed them on the rear of the car. Not waiting for something else to happen, Law got out of the car and saw another man with a strange hat on his head that said "Penguin" ran towards him.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I did not see you! Are you alright?!"

Upon seeing his visible distress, Law could not hold a grudge against the man. He really did not see him.

"We're ok."

The man sighed for a long time. However, as sudden as the accident, his stare took notice of the front of his vehicle.

"My car!"

*I swear, this is a real song! The song's called "Je me touche dans le parc" (I touch myself in the park) by the band Les Trois Accords. Those guys make the most hilarious songs I ever heard, go check it out if you can understand French! They also made another song called "J'aime ta grand-mère" (I love your grandmother), which is also gold.