Friday means new chapter guys! I'm so happy with the response with this so far, just keeps inspiring me to write more! By the way...If any of you have any thoughts/ideas of what you might like to happen let me know! Writers block is killing me lately and I wanna make sure you guys stay happy :)
Remember to favourite and review, thank you to everyone who has;
ilnany - You'll find out soon ;) their relationship changes a lot in this chapter, hope I don't disappoint :)
VKxXx92 - It's like you can read my mind ;) Hope you enjoy this one, things start to get a little more exciting...
After pulling into the parking lot and looking over at Zoe I began to regret the sudden decision to take her shopping but I needed something to do. I didn't want another breakdown, stuck in my room not really knowing what the hell to do. She stared out of the car window and by the looks of it was breathing a lot faster than normal.
"Ok, no spending limit right?" Silence.
"Are you alright?" she realised I was talking to her and turned to face me. I noticed a tiny, miniscule spot of sweat crawling down her forehead, I was right; she was breathing faster than usual and shaking like a leaf. She nodded quickly and straightened up a bit, trying to sort her self out I guess.
"Yeah…" she saw my eyebrows raised, silently questioning her.
"They're just so many people there…" I could see the worry in her eyes, her body stiff and her hands idly playing with the sleeve on the hoodie I gave her before we left.
"You're safe. It's not like anyone's gunna attack you when you're with someone that's 220lb." I said sending her a smile, she struggled to return it. I sighed and took her hand, she jumped for a second but then relaxed, I gave it a quick squeeze.
"I won't let go of it unless you ask me to, ok?" she nodded her head, still trying to get in a positive mind I assumed. I let go and got out the car as she did the same. I was a little surprised when she ran around the bonnet and reclaimed my hand again, squeezing it like a life-line.
I smiled at her and grazed my thumb across her knuckle every so often, just when she got wide-eyed as people wandered too close. Thankfully she didn't notice my death glares at anyone that started to run towards me for an autograph or gave Zoe 'the eye.' By the sounds of it she'd had a lifetimes worth of people screwing her over and I'd be damned if it happened if I was around to stop it.
After a few hours of various shops, mainly thrift to my credit cards pleasure we sat down for lunch. She only let go of my hand to go in the changing room, and she only did that once. In a way I was grateful she was starting to accept my help, even if it was because I was the only one around offering to help her…but my hand was seriously starting to cramp up. She released my hand when we were seated at our table. A corner booth with a horrible looking, green cushioned bench, she shot right next to me like we were magnetic. She realised I noticed and gave me an apologetic smile. We ordered a small lunch and I thought it was time for small talk.
"So, what's your story?" I asked, in a simple tone but with layers underneath. "Why did you run away?" she looked at me from the corner of her eye, and then looked back down at the table.
"Ignore your problems and watch them escalate, or trust the guy that walked around a shopping mall for at least three hours to get you clothes, a guy that held your hand so you wouldn't be scared and a guy that carried you to safety when you were vulnerable." She didn't seem completely swayed…I wasn't giving up.
"How about this, I tell you something I'm scared of first ok? Then we'll trade." She looked at me like I was joking. I held out my pinkie to swear my secrecy, no matter how old you are, pinkie promises are always legitimate.
She laughed to herself but mimicked my movement anyway, linking pinkies and shaking on it.
"Well, one of my biggest fears is water. I don't even know how to swim because it's gotten so bad." He looked at the table almost laughing at himself.
"That's a completely rational fear! You can't be ashamed of it, it's understandable. Mines just crazy…"
"I'll be the judge of that." I said and we both chuckled slightly.
"I'm scared to trust people. I hate giving people a little part of me to look after because all they do is break it…" she never took her eyes off the table. It did kind of make sense though.
"Hey," I took her hand. "That's rational too ya'know" I whispered. She squeezed my hand back and smiled…oh so slightly. But she still smiled.
Our food arrived and after a while of chasing it round her plate we finished, paid, and found our way back to the car. We sat inside it for a moment, not speaking, just in a comfortable silence.
Eventually I started to drive back to the hotel; Zoe even turned on the radio and damn nearly killed me with all her Indi rock. It was good to see her smile though, so I didn't mind so much.
We pulled in and wandered into the elevator. My room was on the 5th floor and we were the only ones riding until we got to the second floor. A guy, probably late 30's, with a hoodie that made him look like some kind of prehistoric high school jock and stonewashed jeans that make him look even worse. A red bandana was tied underneath a plain black cap as his flabby hand rose to scratch his un-shaven cheek that wobbled underneath his touch. He's the picture boy for mid-life crises and seemed to take pride in it. I struggled to swallow the bile as I saw his bellybutton peek out from underneath his jacket. Besides worry for his hygiene I didn't think anything of him. Zoe instantly came as close to me as possible and her breathing became fast and shallow, she was freaking out about something but refused to look any where but dead ahead. Not wanting to make a huge scene with this dude behind us I put my arm around her shoulder and squeezed her closer to me reassuringly. Not having much effect I offered her my free hand and she greedily grabbed it. I could feel her body shaking and nudged her to look at me. Third floor, not much further. Her hollow, scared eyes gave me Goosebumps. She stared back at me like I held all the answers…I didn't even know what was wrong.
"You're ok, I'm here…I've got you." I whispered so only she could hear. She nodded slightly and her breathing became a little more rational, but not completely normal. It stayed like this until we reached our floor, the dropped my hand and raced out of the elevator so fast I almost didn't see her. I stepped out as the doors 'dinged' shut behind me.
"Zoe!" She stopped and turned around, relaxing a little when she realised it was me.
"Our rooms this way…" I pointed in the direction behind me, she nodded and speed walked over to me, staring at the floor the entire time. When she finally reached me she sent me another apologetic smile.
"You don't have to tell me what just happened, but don't be sorry…everyone freaks out sometimes." I gave her a smile and she gave me one back. I chuckled slightly and threw my arm around her shoulders as we headed back to my room. What we would find there I would never, ever expect.