Tell Me Ariel, Are You Mine?

Chapter 24 - Cracks

I didn't have plans to post any updates, so I'm doing a stealth update. I'm going under-the-radar with this one, i'm just posting it.. If you happen to see the update, feel free to read it. This is spur of the moment for me.

EDIT: *Shakes head* Just realised I posted my very first mistake-ridden draft of this chapter on here last night *slams head on desk*. It was such a spur of the moment upload that I didn't even check. Only have time to quickly upload the right one so I've corrected it now. Doh...

                                                 Chapter 24 - Cracks

There he was.

I could see him. He stood outside the exit and paused for a moment, seemingly bracing himself in the darkened silence. I sat there and breathed deeply at the sight of him, his appearance making the hairs along my arms prick forward, my skin tingle, my senses come completely alive. He was safe.

Relief washed over me in that moment. My eyes fixed firmly to his image watching his minor actions, little things like how many times he'd shifted on his feet, how many times he'd run his hand over the top of his head, maybe twice, how uncertain he was coming across right now.

If ever I wondered how a moment in time could be captured by the look on someone's face it was this moment. A look of unease, uncertainty and yet a noticeable despair. A look that had me sitting there observing his frame that appeared somehow defeated. To mentally go back to the way he was around the time we first met, his sure-fire confidence, his tempting grins and that cocky edge he had that was laced with sex...I mean, watching him now you'd think it had all been shot to pieces.

He shifted his weight and put his hands either side of his hips, his head momentarily dropping. When he lifted, even in this dark I could see the sternness of his features. They were so purposefully set together that his expression became unsettled, thoughtful. He just wouldn't let himself move.

A chill ran through me.

Be calm, Ariel.

Slowly he began to step down the short steps, his pace steady and in no rush, it seemed like an endless walk to me, like he had caught time in his steps. Coming closer he looked slightly on edge now. My thoughts were spinning. I couldn't even begin to imagine what had gone on in there but part of me was scared to find out despite the fact that we depended on it.

When he got to the door he stilled for some moments, sliding his hand into his back pocket and pulling out his phone. He knocked at the window and I quickly scrambled to unlock the doors. When he pulled at the door and sat himself in the driver's seat dumping his phone carelessly in the glove compartment, I couldn't help but notice the lithe-like motion in which he soundlessly slid inside all masterful and dominating, as if he could swallow the whole space with just his presence alone.

Heart pounding, I let my gaze run over him, scanning him. He puffed sharply but I couldn't tell if he was doing it out of frustration or relief. He soon cast a look my way. His ever beautiful eyes examined me briefly.

As I heard my breath exhale I couldn't tell whether things had gone well or not. I couldn't tell if they'd had a fight or a talk. From the looks of it, a quick sweep over him suggested it had been a talk or possibly a minor scruff. No, scrap the scruff, it was definitely a talk. Clothes still tidy save for dried blood stains which I could only assume were from his earlier scruff with Nate, hair like it was when I saw him last, face wasn't mangled despite a minor scratch I wanted to smooth my fingers over, and a quick observation of his knuckles as he placed his fist over the wheel hinted there'd been no fists flying. Had it really all been so...civil?