Chapter 3:Success

I inhaled deeply again grasping for air that I had no trouble taking in. I was in a hospital room and the steady beat of the monitors in my ears. I looked around expecting everyone still to be in the room, frowning at my survival. Why would they do such a thing?

There wasn't anyone in the room with me, and with a rush of relief I realised it had only been a dream. My family wouldn't betray me. I felt wetness on my cheeks, and caught on to the fact that I was crying; incredibly relieved for obvious reasons: 1) I was alive and 2) everyone I loved weren't trying to kill me.

I rubbed away the tears on my cheeks just as the door burst open. My heart skipped a beat when Aleeysha strode in flushed.

My boss was whining, "You barely even left his bedside, come on!"

"He saved my life and nearly died! I have every right to be here!"

"Hi" I croaked.

They both whirled on me, surprise on his face and relief on hers. I tried to sit up; the pain in my chest was outstanding-

I opened my eyes and Aleeysha was in front of me holding my hand, eyes wide with concern.

I still was a little disorientated. "Let me guess, I just fainted?"

She laughed a little. "My dad went to get the doctor."

-0-

After the doctor sentenced me to bed rest for a week, I was finally left I alone with Aleeysha.

"Honestly, I can't thank you enough but you really didn't have to do that. Jump in front of a gun? Smart going."- She sighed-"WAIT, no that`s not the point. The point is that I if I wasn't that unbelievably stubborn you wouldn't have needed to risk your life."

"It's all right, really, and besides it was really brave of you."

"What can I do In return?" she asked, her eyes begging me.

I shrugged, "No, its fine." I lied, there was one thing still tugging at me, but I tried to let it slide. It was a selfish idea and surely something I could keep without

``Nothing? Come on, there must be something?"

I discovered that she needed to do this for me, or she would not forgive herself; and therefore I owed it to her. I tried to think of something decent. I set my mind on keeping my job as a favour, but when I opened my mouth these words came out, the one thing that nagged me blocked everything out: "A date?"

Everything in her complexion spoke surprise, I saw, as I glanced away uneasy. I looked up at her again and she looked exasperated, almost even angry. "Did you seriously have to nearly die to ask me that?"

I smiled weakly, my voice sounded thin and smaller than I wanted to admit. "You could've just said no"

"That didn't mean I was going to say no." she grinned slyly.

My spirits rose instantly, yet was I asked, just to be sure. "So that's a yes right?"

She sighed, still smiling. "Yes, Darren, that's a yes."

I knew I was smiling the biggest smile I could manage.

-0-

We had fast food during our date because that wasn't really the part I was looking forward to.

"Oh come on; please just tell me, you said we're almost there anyways!"

"Yes, but that would completely spoil the surprise, now wouldn't it?" I replied to every whine or reason. She crossed her arms and stooped her tracks, chin jutting out. It was the middle of winter and I knew she was freezing, but I couldn't help it. I turned and proceeded s if I hadn't seen her, then bent down to "lace up my boots", then in one swift motion I brought the snowball I made, turned and got her on her shoulder. (Even though I could've gotten her in the face, for how shocked she was)

She chased me pelting me with snowballs, just as I'd planned. I led her through the snowy expanse of a park then to a frozen lake, on locals use. Everything looked perfect, and I could tell its charm hadn't been lost on her, when she stopped, the snow in her hand falling through her fingers.

"Want to go skating?" I asked. The look she gave me was enough of an answer, so we spent the rest of our afternoon together clumsily making our way around the arena, no one to disturb our loud laughter with.

-0-

I was reinstated as the bodyguard at our shop, even with no experience, at least I had the means to deserve; though this time my bulletproof vest secured at all times. They hired a new employee to take my place, a strapping man named Colin that looked always so innocent, like a lost puppy.

I don't think my boss, Jackson (he decided now that I could call him by his first name, now that we were all practically family), could have been anymore supporting in our relationship.