I was stuck in the same situation again. Raphael facing me, an alley wall behind me, and a few people walking five metres away, not paying attention to anything but their own little worlds. Did Raphael have spies watching me?
And Benjamin wasn't here.
It had been three months now, and still no word. The more I thought about it, the angrier I felt about it. How stupid was I, to fall in love with a boy like that? Always stupid, never thinking. Of course he wouldn't come back to find me. Of course. Our relationship probably meant nothing to him.
And again, I heard a whoosh of sound and this time, Raphael was yanked off me and thrown against the far wall.
When he turned, I was shocked to see that it was a she. She was very beautiful, and it almost made me want to cry. Some people had so much.
Her hair was tied up in a bun, that was why I hadn't figured out that she was a girl. A lot of men wore buns these days. Her delicate features reminded me a lot of Benjamin's – they could even be family. Her almond-shaped eyes were a startling burgundy, just like Benjamin's. And then the beautiful woman said something which made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
"You're as beautiful as we've been told, Tia."
How did these beautiful people all know my name? Or wait – maybe my suspicion was accurate: they were family, or maybe – and here I felt like crying again – this gorgeous woman was Benjamin's love interest already. But then why had she called me "beautiful"?
I stared at her, speechless.
"I'm so sorry, Tia," she said. "Benjamin told me your name, you see, and he speaks of you so much that I feel as if I know you. My name is Kebi."
Benjamin had told her.
He spoke of me.
Benjamin.
And then I passed out.
When I woke up, I was in a small, dingy room.
"How long has she been out for?" a voice asked anxiously. A familiar, lovely voice. It made me smile.
"Only ten minutes or so," another voice replied. Kebi.
Feeling disoriented, I wrenched open my eyes and looked around. The three people next to me automatically moved back.
"Tia!" Benjamin exclaimed. "You're awake! What happened, Tia? Was it Raphael again?"
I wasn't sure if I could speak, but I tried anyway.
"Yes. He cornered me in an alley again." Benjamin frowned disapprovingly.
"From now on, please stay out of all alleys, Tia. You can't be trusted to keep safe." He said my name as if he was saying the name of a god. It made no sense to me.
"Whatever you say. How does he find me?"
"We don't know, Tia." I felt a shock as he said that. I had all but forgotten the two other people in the room. Benjamin, seeing my confusion, quickly introduced me.
"This is Amun, and you already know Kebi," he told me. Amun looked very much like Benjamin, the only difference was that he had shoulder-length hair and a harder face. Right now his jaw was tight with tension and I noticed something else – his eyes were coal black.
"Easy, Amun. If it's too much for you, go and do what you have to. Kebi, maybe you should go with him, otherwise – well, accidents happen." Kebi nodded and the two moved out of a door on the far side of the wall.
So much was going through my mind. He was right here in front of me and I didn't now what to do first, question him or accuse him. Too confused to do anything, I just stared at him, my eyes tracing the lines of his face. Three months since I had seen his face, yet I had memorized it perfectly. I decided to start the conversation.
"Th-three months. Three months! You told me that you-" I stopped, thinking that I had revealed too much of my obsession with him in my anger.
"I'm sorry, Tia. It's more difficult for me – I have to do… things. I get delayed and often I have to help friends out of tight spots and that slows me down even more. I was going to come – I kept meaning to, but something always happened. I wish you could know exactly how sorry I am - "
I cut him off. "It doesn't matter, Benjamin. I understand." I took a deep breath. I wanted to tell him so much – how much I loved him even after meeting him for only two minutes at a time. But I couldn't. So much of my life depended on how he reacted. If he reacted badly, my life was ruined. How could I move on, if no one else had caught me before I fell? How could my heart shatter and expect that I could live on without it? No I couldn't tell him. Not yet.
"Tia?" Benjamin asked. I realised that I had completely tuned out and that he had been saying something.
"Sorry – I was just thinking about… something. What were you saying?"
"I was saying that if you would like to, do you want to meet me at Lianna Café at five o'clock tomorrow night? That way I can keep an eye on you and make good on my promise," he laughed.
I smiled at the sound of his laughter. So sweet – like the chuckling of a stream. "I would like that," I replied.
Benjamin suddenly took my hand. I jumped a bit in surprise, and he looked up at me from his place in a chair beside the bed where I was lying. "I'm checking your pulse," he explained. I nodded, my heart still racing.
"You look very tired, Tia," Benjamin abruptly observed. "I think you should sleep." As soon as he said that, my eyes started drifting shut.
"That's right. Sleep now, Tia." And then I fell asleep and dreamed of Benjamin's perfect face, his flawless lips parted in a smile.
A/N: Yay! My second chapter up! Thanks to Mitali and Saloni for forcing me to do this! It's fun =)
Oh, and let's not forget my wacky apartment friends who never fail to kick my butt whether I need it or not.
new york gal: YUSSS! A reader! Thank you for your review! I really appreciate it =D. Let me know if this chapter isn't up-to-standard... this is the first time I've actually committed to seeing a chapter story through - my love of the Twilight Saga and all things Twilight has really made a difference! Please review again - a little constructive criticism wouldn't be bad; it's not only my apartment friends who can kick my butt!