AGAIN

Chapter Eleven

Flashback

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Clock ticks.

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He snatched my hand from the knob, his touch sending electric current all over my body.

I turned around and our eyes met. My pulse sped up as I stared into my weakness, his steel blue eyes.

"Stay for the night, please?" He pleaded, his tone torturing my insides.

"Why?" I asked, hoping to hear the words I was longing for him to say.

The silence felt like forever until he spoke.

"Because I need you. I need you, Dale."

The sound of thunder boomed again, resonating all over the place, and then, the lights went out.

**********

I breathe in his strong personal scent, a mixture of smoke and sweet honey thrilling my whole body through my nostrils. My grip tightened on his shirt as I felt the smooth and warm fabric against my face. His strong arms unexpectedly wrapped around me, bringing me instant comfort while his hand traced my sensitive spine underneath.

The pounding in our chests went by turns. Though they weren't synchronized, it was one of the most splendid music I'd ever heard all my life. A heavenly orchestra was formed at that exact moment as the roaring thunder joined in the rapid beating.

And then, the darkness faded.

I almost cursed the lights when they went on once again, ruining a moment I couldn't even describe. It felt wrong but at the same time, felt right. It was confusing. It was bizarre.

I wished the lights would go off again so I could jump into his arms one more time.

I'm crazy.

Shaking the terrible thoughts out of my head, I tried to push myself away but his arms were locked around my figure.

"Red?" I said, looking up to see that his eyes were closed. "It's back." I tell him before pinching his side gently.

He quickly opened his eyes and stared down at me strangely. Without saying a word, he released me in a slow pace.

"It's stormy outside. Stay." He said, sounding more like a command than a request.

I nodded, without even thinking.

...

"I was in my room for a week. It felt like-ughh. I was really sad and I skipped almost every meal that summer. My mom probably got really annoyed with me, so since then, she decided not to keep any pets again." I ended my rant with a sigh.

We found ourselves in the living room minutes later, hanging out like real old friends; I was slouched on a small couch while he's on the longer couch drinking a bottle of beer. We're watching TV but not really focused on it. He asked me about my family and I ended up telling him a terrible childhood experience.

"You should've sued the driver for killing your dog." He said, holding an amused laugh before taking a swig of his bottle.

"How about you?" I asked, turning to him.

"What about me?" He said, furrowing his eyebrows while putting the bottle down on the table.

"Tell me something about you. Why are you the way you are? I heard your mom calling you Kyle. Is that your real name?" I straightened my legs that were folded with me on the couch. My bare feet met the cold, beige, tiled floor and I watched them, still swollen, while waiting for his response.