Chapter 19

(A/N: Sorry you guys but this was supposed to be up a month ago, but with everything going on and it's my senior year it's all so ugh. I barely get time to write or come up with writers block. I hope you guys like this chapter. Enjoy.)

Roy's P.O.V.

I've been sitting at this table in the restaurant for almost ten minutes waiting on Claudia. I didn't really mind much, though; I know women and they like to fancy themselves up. The waiter had already given me two glasses of water since I had arrived. Not because I was nervous, I had no reason to be, but because I was a sort of in deep thought about things. I was thinking about life, work, and a little about Claudia, but most of musing redirected itself towards Tarin.

I didn't know how it continuously kept popping into my head but it did. And along with it all, I keep recalling the night she and I got into that argument.

"Roy, you don't know what this is doing to me. What happened back there is something that wasn't supposed to happen and I didn't want to happen. When we kissed I felt… I felt like… ugh! I just don't know okay, I just don't. All I know is that that shouldn't have happened. We weren't supposed to kiss. I wasn't supposed to kiss you."

"Trust! It's trust. All of my life, I've tried trusting people. I tried trusting people: tried faith, trust, loyalty and where'd it get me? Only to be living in a life of hell. The ones I did trust all hurt me in the end. The only ones who are still around…"

"Ever since my mother died, it seemed that my trust in people decreased. I tried trusting but only got hurt. I have a hard time with fully trusting others outside that circle… and then you… You come out of nowhere and try to get all the information about me that you can, like I'm supposed to trust you so easily. Then you charm me and you use this date to get closer to me. Even though we do have feelings, I can't just-"

Everything after that was a bit of a blur; besides the kiss. I didn't even know why I did it like that? I didn't know I had kissed her until we were halfway in. I remember her lips on mine and my tongue entered her mouth; that I didn't purposely but inwardly I regret. I regret having taking advantage of her when I already knew that she was emotionally weak.

'Does that really make me that much of a despicable person for me doing that to her?' I thought. Sighing I laid my head in my palm. "What in the hell is happening to you Roy…"

"Sir," The waiter was standing at the table. "Your lady has arrived."

Looking over to where the door was, I saw Claudia taking off her fur coat before she made her way to the table. She flashed me one of her innocent smiles and stood in front of me. Quickly, before I could react, she placed a kiss on my lips then walked over to her seat. All I could do was look at her in awe.

"Don't worry, that's just a quick little preview for later tonight." She winked. By the tone of her voice I could easily tell what she meant but, regardless of how seductive and how much of a turn on that was, that wasn't going to become of tonight's plans. "I'm just so happy we could come to a place like this. It's gorgeous! I bet you've brought a lot of women here, haven't you?"

"Yes I have. I believe if you really want to spoil a women then you should take them somewhere that fits their taste." All she did was giggle and blush in response. This was a stunning restaurant and she wasn't the only woman I've brought to this place. Neither was this the place I brought… Instantly my mind went back to her. "Uh, how able we order dinner?" She nodded and looked to her menu. I mentally slapped myself. 'Damn.'

-x-

I looked at the blonde woman with gapping eyes. The steak that was in my mouth nearly fell out if I hadn't continued to eat it. "You… said what now?"

"Tarin was trying to make a move on me earlier!" Claudia said frantically. She had a serious look on her face but I couldn't come to believe her. "Earlier when I was coming to see you get off of work when I had seen her. I decided to be polite and talk with her but she was very rude. As I was talking to her, out of nowhere, she started to… court with me. I was all confused as she looked at me. Then the worst thing, Tarin tried to kiss me. I couldn't believe it. I backed away from her and she was complimenting me on how beautiful I was, which was very true, but she winked and blew a kiss at me." The look on Claudia's face showed some fear. It was like just remembering the encounter was a nightmare. "Roy, I believe she wants me."

After just staring at her I couldn't help but slowly come into a laughing fit.

"Roy? Roy, why are you laughing? I was sexual harassed."

I had to stop laughing but I almost couldn't. "I'm sorry but, I just can't see that happening." A few more chuckles came out before I was able to retain my composure. "Of most of the females I've known, Tarin is not like that."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because, having to work with someone you are bound to know some things about them. First of all Tarin isn't the type of person to go forward to a person like that or even flirt. Another thing is that I do not believe that she is of that sexual orientation."

She looked at me with big eyes before leaning back in her seat and giving me this look. "I see."

"And what do you mean by that?" I asked her. She ignored me by eating more of her food. Feeling as though I would receive no answer I did the same. The rest of the dinner remained quiet besides the fact of us eating. I could feel her looking at me every now and then. "Claudia, I know you want to say something so-"

"I want the truth." Her tone went immediately serious. "That… That girl. Almost each time I've come to see you at work there's something that has to deal with her. She's yelling at those kids; she's arguing with you; she's sitting on your desk; she's-"

"Hold on. Are you jealous of Rin?"

"What? How in the hell… Why would I be jealous of someone like… What did you call her?"

"I called her Rin; that's what she wanted us to call her. Is there a problem with that?" Thinking it over in my head I knew she was going to say yes.

"Yes. You calling an 'associate' of yours by a nickname not much of a co-worker thing; something I would not have expected of you Roy. Really, how many other co-workers do you call by a nickname? I'm sure you-"

"Actually, Claudia, on my team we all have codenames and nicknames. All of them from Riza to my new additions of Tarin and her company." I said casually to her. "I have it so not only will they all feel most comfortable with one another but also so I will know them and they will know me. I believe that a team can improve off of standards like that. Don't you think so?" She remained quiet. I could see the paleness in her complexion. The waiter than came over with the check and I paid for the dinner. "I don't think this was our best night but I did enjoy it. I hope you have no hard feelings from it." I stood from my chair. "Hope we can still be friends." Then I walked to the door and out of the restaurant but not that long after I walked out I could hear a high pitched scream of anger coming from the inside. Then I said to myself, "Roy, you're terrible when it comes to women."

-x-

Walking down the dark roads for at least ten minutes since I left the restaurant, I didn't know where to go. That was basically my entire night. I would've been home by now but I saw no use in driving since I lived a good fifteen or twenty minute walking distance from this part of town. I had to get home soon, there were clouds in the sky signaling a storm; maybe a bad one by the looks of it.

'Maybe a quick trip to the bar will take a load off.'

As I walked to the nearest pub, I noticed it was closing. There were barely any lights on inside and I could see them cleaning up. A wave of disappointment came over me as I continued to walk on pass the building. And to add to that, I was hit by the door from behind.

"I said I'm good Cal," Said a female voice; the voice of the voice of the person who just hit me with the bar's front door. "I don't mind walking myself. See you later in the- Huh? Roy?" When I heard them say my name I couldn't help but turn to see.

"Tarin?" I was shocked but it was her in the flesh. She just looked at me with astonishment as she slowly closed the door. "What where you doing here and why are you…" I couldn't complete my sentence from looking at her and what she was wearing. She had her hair up and bangs that framed her face and had on a pure white shirt that exposed her midriff and skirt with wedged heels. I couldn't help but stare for some reason. I was guessing that it had gotten to her because she had walked quickly pass me. "Hey wait?"

"Why? For you can look at me like that?" She sounded a bit angered. "Anyways I don't associate with men who are taken so if you would excuse me."

"What are you- Slow down, would you?" She then stopped and turned to me.

"What?"

"I meant to ask you what you were doing in a bar after closing."

"I was…" She sighed. "I was doing a singing gig is all." I just looked at her and she got madder. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"No reason. I just remembered you did that when we first met you in South City." She didn't seem satisfied with that and crossed her arms. "I'm telling the truth, I promise."

"Hmph," Was all she said. "Well yeah. Taylor fixed it up for me so we could get some side cash. We would do a group thing again but that wasn't what happened." She was looking down and scratching her head. I noticed she didn't make much eye contact. "So… what are you doing out at this time?"

"Huh?" I didn't expect her to ask me that but then again it does seem a little odd. "Well I was just heading home. I was going to go in the bar but it was closed and-"

"There was a mishap," She said. "Some guys were fighting and things started to get out of hand to where others were fighting as well." Tarin spoke a little under her breath saying something I could barely hear.

"What was that?"

She sighed. "I sort of took some matters into my own hands… tossed a guy out the front entrance."

"You what?"

"He almost hit me; what else was I supposed to do?"

I rubbed my head. "You're such a dangerous woman." She was about to say something but stopped. A loud rumble of thunder was heard and we looked up. The night sky was darker now then it had been earlier. A single drop of rain fell before a few more slowly sprinkled down.

"Dammit. I won't make it home in time now. If you hadn't stopped me I would have- Hey!" I grabbed onto her hand and started to speed walk through the drizzle. "Why are you pulling on me?"

"Heading to some shelter, this is going to be a bad storm. We should head to my place."

"Y-Your place!"

"Yes." I didn't look back to her but continued walking. "If you have a problem with that I could let you go the rest of the way to the outskirts of town in the rain." I didn't have to turn to her to hear her mumbling 'yes'. I didn't know if I had imagined it or not but her hand gripping more onto mine.

(A/N: For helping me keep up with my writing I thank you my fans, my supportive bf :D, and Necey, the one who will all ask me to update as she sees fit. Without you all… I think I'd be mental dead -.-.)