"Haden.." I let my voice trail as I cleared my throat while pushing away from him. "Why did you bring me here?" I had to know, my voice shook and it sounded hoarse. I sniffed and rubbed the back of my hand under my nose.
Today wasn't any different from any other day; he would go away on a business trip and leave me by myself. So why did he bother this time? I just had to know.
His expression changed and he broke eye contact with me, choosing instead to focus on the floor as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. My heart raced with anticipation. "Because I....didn't want to spend an entire week away from you." He sounded sincere, and I didn't know how I was supposed to respond.
He chuckled, and rubbed the back of his neck in what I presumed was embarrassment. "So where do you want to go?" He said, shifting the conversation. His hand reached for my cheek. I flinched when the back of his fingers touched my skin softly and brushed the tear away from my face.
"I just..... I just want to go back to the hotel" I said and looked back up at him. He looked a bit disappointed. But he didn't protest or even dare to suggest an alternative, and instead helped into the car and in no time we were back in our quite hotel room.
When we walked in to the cold hotel room I found myself wondering why I had suggested we come back here. It was clearly a terrible idea. There was nothing to do, and it was boring as hell. I flopped on to the bed and closed my eyes for a moment.
The sound of the hotel bathroom door opening caught my attention. Haden walked out with just a towel wrapped around him. I tried not to stare. But he looked godly with the shower steam behind him. He caught me staring and a smirk flashed across his face. I shifted my eyes away from him and looked away, pretending to not have been caught ogling him. In my peripheral vision I saw him slowly approaching me. Yet, I kept my eyes focused on anything but him. I felt a hand on my cheek. Haden turned my face to meet his and before I could process what was happening his lips were on mine. It was nothing intense, just a quick kiss. The kind that was warm and made someone's stomach flip. I loved it. Before I could reach out to him and run my hands through his hair he pulled away; I was left there speechless.
He quietly got dressed and then disappeared into the balcony with his phone. I heard him pacing and speaking to someone over the phone.
Before I knew it I had drifted off to a deep sleep.
When I finally jerked awake it was dark outside and the city glowed with its night brilliant lights.
How long had I been asleep for...
The table electric clock beside the bed flashed 7pm in bright neon lights.
"Mr. Anderson?" said a voice cautiously. It was an unfamiliar voice and my head turned to the stranger in my room. It was the man that had brought our breakfast in the morning. How did he get into the room? the situation was all kinds of weird. He placed a large bag on the side of the bed. It was full of clothes. I turned my attention to the nervous looking man. "Mr. Smith wanted me to hand you this sir," He held out an envelope. My blood slowly started to run cold as I slipped the envelope from his grip.
He gave a small nod and said "Your car is waiting downstairs sir" before leaving.
My car?
Confused, I swung my legs from the edge of the bed I searched the suite for Haden. He wasn't anywhere to be found. I ripped the envelope open and pulled out the letter inside.
Beautiful handwriting I thought as I read what it said.
Dear Derek:
Please do me the honour of meeting me for dinner at either at Masa or Daniel's. I wasn't quite sure what kind of cuisine you preferred.... And I didn't want to drag you to some place you probably end up hating so I decided to let you chose..
David should be down waiting for you as you read this so once you are dressed meet me at either one of those places. Let David know and he shall take you there.
Masa is a Japanese restaurant and Daniel's does French cuisine. So take your pick and I will meet you there at 8. If you decide to not meet me I'll understand but I'll wait for you till I can't no longer.
~Love
Haden Smith
I stared at the note for a moment trying to process everything. The suit that was on the bed called to me. Subconsciously, I reached for it and sat next to it on the bed. He expected me to be at one of these restaurants by eight. I didn't know exactly why he went through all this trouble. But this time I wouldn't disappoint him. I had only half an hour to get dressed and go.
Who was David? I asked myself, but then decided to not be bothered by it.
My eyes scanned the note again and again. The last sentence made my heart clench tightly. He had every reason to think I wouldn't turn up. I wasn't the most reliable or easy to understand person. I felt a smile just play on my lips as I slipped into the shower.
By the time I got out of the shower I had only 5 minutes to get ready and run down and find this David person.
I couldn't help but stare at myself in the mirror contemplating what I should do next. The answer was obvious... go meet him... but I stared at myself in the body length mirror and cleared my throat. Calm down I told myself. But it was as useful as using a banana as a hammer.
Finally getting a hold of myself I rushed down stares where the man from before was waiting. Maybe he was David. Nope. He wasn't... but he did however show me to a shiny back car that was parked in front of the Four Seasons hotel. The driver, David, smiled and opened the door for me.
"Where would you like me to drive you Mr. Anderson?" he questioned me in a polite manner as I stepped into the car.
"umm" I looked back at the note and shuffled it in my hands... "To Daniel's??" I said in an unsure, confused and sceptic tone.
"Sure Sir" As the man started the car it occurred to me... how would Haden know where to meet me if I was to choose the place. What if I chose the wrong place. I took my phone out from my pocket and dialled his number. I held the phone to my ear... it wasn't ringing. "The number you have called is busy please try again later" said the automated robotic female voice. I looked at the time it was now 8:15 and I had just gotten into the car.
What if he wasn't there? What if ended up sitting waiting for him instead? What if I was too late.
My mind was being bombarded with questions that I didn't want to know the answer to. The 'what ifs'. The car however came to a quick stop and David opened the door and smiled politely.
As I stepped out the cold air blew on my face and made the surface go partially numb. I rubbed my cold hands together and shoved them into the pockets of my trousers.
Without another word David left leaving me standing there in the cold and not to mention utterly confused.
A well-dressed woman in black and white approached me and smiled welcomingly. "Mr. Anderson?" she squinted her eyes at me and I gave her a friendly nod letting her know that I was Anderson. "follow me please" she said, and swiftly turned around and walked into the restaurant. The warmth that flowed through the restaurant had a wonderful feeling. The low clanking of knives, spoons and the soft classical music that played in the background added to the whole feeling of the restaurant. I followed her through the busy restaurant all the way into the private dining area. She paused and turned to face me. "that table sir" she said pointing to a table by the window. I focused my eyes on it and my heart paused for a moment. My blood ran cold and warm at the same time, my palms were sweaty, but yet I nodded politely and watched as she left me to find my way to the table.
I hesitated for a moment but then it vanished. I watched him sitting there all alone, hunched over with his palms covering his face. He looked nervous. I caught a glimpse of his nervously shaking leg from under the table. The time read 8:30 when I looked at my watch. I wondered whether he thought that I wouldn't show up. A smile pressed across my lips as I watched him sitting there nervously... he took a sip of the red wine and looked out the window while occasionally looking at his watch. He was nervous.
He hadn't seen me yet... I wanted to watch him for a bit longer. The expression on his face was so captivating. Those slightly parted pink tinted lips, slightly sun kissed skin, dark eyes and hair that brought all of his features together to create utter perfection. My heart raced a bit faster as I took the first step towards him. He still didn't look my way... I wondered whether I had ever seen him this nervous before and I couldn't recall any moment that I'd seen him acting nervous at all. He tugged on his formal jacket and placed his elbows on tabled and intertwined his fingers together placing his face on them in thought.
I breathed in a rush of air and stopped opposite him at the table. He seemed to be caught in his own thoughts.
"Haden" I said in a mousy voice.
His head switched up to me so quickly. The nervous expression that I had been watching from afar faded away and was replaced by a huge grin with happiness. He abruptly stood up and stared at me. The smile on his face was contagious that I caught a glimpse of myself smiling back at him on the reflective window.
I sat in the empty chair in front of him quietly. Neither of us said anything to the other but then Haden took the initiative to speak first.
"I thought you weren't going to show up" he said. I hung my head in shame for being half an hour late. It wasn't as if the restaurant was that far away from the Four Seasons either.
"Sorry" was my only response. "But-um-Haden" my face flushed when I spoke his name "how did you know that I would come here?" I asked looking slightly away.
He chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "A hunch" was his reply.
I narrowed my brows at him. "what?" he asked with a throaty chuckle.
"nothing..."
"fine... I spoke to Tanya and she said you weren't that fond of Japanese food.. .so" he laughed and bit his bottom lip.
He spoke to Tanya? I didn't like that idea.
I'll say it out straight...I was jealous of him speaking to her. It kind of made me feel like he would leave me for her. She was far more likable than I was. It felt strange and ashamed admitting to sting of jealousy.
"But then why ask me to choose?" I questioned him.
"because I didn't know that till half an hour ago" he said tilting his head curiously while his eyes watched me. he spoke to her half an hour ago? I didn't even know they had each other's numbers. He noticed the look on my face I assumed because then he said "don't worry... she only called to check up on you. I have to admit, I didn't plan this out very well. I should have just asked David to tell me where you were heading."
Was I that easy to read?
"...well...it was more like to threaten with murder if I hurt you... or did anything to you" he continued with a chuckle. That would make sense; she did have the tendency to threaten people with murder even though I highly doubt she would ever do something like that. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm sure she wouldn't kill you, she wouldn't hurt a fly" I said lightly laughing.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that..." he said jokingly with a borderline serious tone. That's when the waiter approached us. He took our orders and left just as he came. I had no clue about what to order. It not like I haven't been too expensive French restaurants, because I have, but I was never the one to flaunt money.
My family was rich, but not as much as Haden's. And the key word in that sentence is 'was'. My family lost its fortune when I was in "King's college"... the place I first met Haden. I went through high school being the borderline rich kid. I wasn't rich enough to buy a Maserati and I didn't care for money anyway so it had not much of an effect on me. Then last year my father's company was on the verge of collapsing....
I ordered the least complicated sounding dish on the menu and let it be.
"Derek.."
"hmm" I looked up at him when he spoke my name.
"you know. About what you said before..." his voice trailed leaving me to wonder what he was talking about them it occurred to me. He was talking about what happened this morning or afternoon. Blood rushed to my cheeks. I couldn't believe I had said that to him.
"Look at me Derek" he said in a whisper only audible to me. But I didn't look up... that was until he said "please" in a pleading voice.
"Do you regret saying that you love me?" he asked. My eyes widened and fixed on his. His face was unreadable. But in his eyes I could see pleading pain. With my mind blank I looked at him in an utterly confused state.
"No" I replied, my nose tickled and I shook my head vigorously.
"Good" he whispered and the corners of his lips curled up to a smile. Next thing I knew I was looking at the ground avoiding his gaze.
"cause..." his voice came again, and my face tilted to look at his beautiful and handsome face. His elbows on the edge of the table as his hands meet together and his fingers intertwined with each other. It covered his lips only leaving his dark eyes staring at me "if you did ever decide to take it back..." his voice was so low that I could barely hear what he was saying. There was a painful expression on his face and his eyes held mine captive as he spoke.
"Pardon?" I asked leaning in towards him.
He laughed and leaned back in his chair "I said.... I'm going to hold you to it and never let you take it back..." he said and ran his fingers through his hair.
Something told me that that wasn't what he said before.
>>>>>>>>>>>> 72 hours later<<<<<<<<<<<<
I had no clue as to where we were going. We've been travelling in this car for the past 4 hours and I was starting to feel car sick. I held the unpleasant. Occasionally I would open my mouth to ask him what was going on but then I'd swallow my worlds.
Last night kept popping into my head. Dare I say that I had fun!
It was like the past few days he has been someone completely different. His personality was completely different. There were doubts, I can't deny that.... after what he had put me through I just needed convincing. But I knew how I felt towards him, I was completely and utterly a fool to love him. The only question that I had had was whether he was being genuine; I didn't want myself to be crushed again. I wouldn't survive it.
"I said.... I'm going to hold you to it and never let you take it back..." his voice rang in my ear and heat rushed to my face. Parts of me did fully and entirely believe him but then that small part of me that needed convincing held doubt.
When the car stopped it was already getting dark outside. Maybe it was bad idea to over sleep and leave late. It had taken us five hours to come here. Wherever 'here' was.
"umm.... where are we?"
"it won't be a surprise if I told you.... Now put this on Derek" he said with a smirk and pulled his tie and handed it to me. I looked at it curiously. A tie wouldn't suite what I was wearing.
"turn around" he ordered and slipped his tie around my face covering my eyes. The black cold fabric allowed no light to come through it. My heart raced... as much as I liked surprises I hated it when I got blind folded. It made me feel a bit claustrophobic. I heard the driver's side door open and close. As I sat there quietly I could hear his shoes against the pebbles he walked on. Then the door on my side opened and I felt a hand on mine. My heart pounded at his touch, mainly because it made me remember things. He cautiously guided me out from the car. As we walked I heard the sound of the crunching sand beneath my feet it was soon then followed by the sound of waves crashing on a shoreline. Where the hell was I?
"step" he said and I lifted my leg and stepped up.
"step" he said again. he still held a firm grip on my arm and then with the cold wind that was blowing and sending shivers down my spine I heard clinking sound the keys made when the hit each other. I suspected that we were at a house or something which only made me even more nervous.
"take three steps and stop" he directed.
"okay..." I did as he directed and stood there. His hand left mine and I felt as if I was standing there alone. It was a very hostile and crushing feeling that I didn't like at all. There was quietness in the air and the only sound I could hear was the waves in the background and the cold wind that blew.
My body jolted when I felt his hands on me again.
"Close your eyes and keep them closed" he whispered into my ear and I felt his arms reach around me to the back of my head. The fabric that was around my eyes impairing my vision came loose but I followed what he said and I kept my eyes closed. The anticipation was killing me.
"okay now.....you can open them" he whispered in to my ear from behind me. When did he go behind me?
I slowly opened my eyes mentally trying to prepare myself for whatever I may see.
Goosebumps prickled over my entire body. What was before me was something that I never anticipated. I was standing in a dark room a really dark room but it was set alight by the candles that were scattered all around the room. My jaw hung open at the sight. Was this his surprise?
At the middle of the empty room was a blanket surrounded by pillows. A bit corny, but also sweet.
"wha-"
"Happy Birthday... Derek" he whispered from behind into my ear with his breath kissing my skin as he spoke. My eyes grew wide and I swung around to face him. He just smiled at me. It wasn't my birthday.....
....was it?
"But it's n-"
"Don't tell me you forgot your own birthday!" he joked and laughed.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the date. It was my birthday. With everything that was happening around me I had forgotten my own birthday. My eyes switched to him.... how had he known?
Then it dawned on me.....
Was this why he brought me here?
He raised an eyebrow at me and smiled at the dumbfounded expression on my face.
I didn't know what to say, I was speechless.
The tips of his fingers caressed my face while slowly sliding down to my chin and at my against my wishers tilted my face up to his. I had no other option than to look directly at him.
"Happy birthday..." he whispered again without breaking eye contact and placed his lips on mine very softly. It sent a very peculiar pleasurable feeling down my spine. Wrapping my arms around his neck I subconsciously grabbed a fist full of his hair while pushing my lips with more force against his. A moan vibrated through his throat.
To my embarrassment he pulled away and broke the kiss. I stared at him with my body growing hotter with each second.
"You asked me why I brought you here...." his smile grew wider "well I just wanted it to be just the two of us....... for your birthday" he said in a whisper. I caught a flash of embarrassment in his eyes but he soon covered it up with his unreadable poker face.
"Thank you...." The words escaped my drying lips without me knowing and the next thing that registered was his lips on mine once more.
Later, He and I sat down outside on the porch with our backs facing the candle lit room. There always was quietness when neither of us knew what to say.
"Where are we anyway" I asked in a meekly voice while watching the water crash on the shore. The smell of the seas was wonderful.
"oh... the Hamptons" he answered simply with his head tilted up at the star lit cloudless sky.
The Hamptons?
"who's house is this?" I asked turning around to take a clearer look at it.
"Julian's" he replied.
I was surprised that he didn't say this was his. "mine's just there..." he said pointing over me.
My eyes followed in the direction he was pointing and there in that direction stood a large beach house. Even in the darkness the shear glow of the white washed two story building could be seen. "it's being renovated so I had to convince Julian to let me borrow his" he chuckled.
Right, well I was wrong.
I turned to face him again, he eyes studied the night stars and suddenly a gush of icy cold wind blew past with it came back a memory from almost a year ago. The very moment he caught me staring up at the sky. I turned my head to look at Haden. That day was a lot like today but at the same time it wasn't. If I remembered correctly that was the day that Ash kissed me and Haden walked in on it. There were so many unanswered questions in my mind.... I was dying to know, but for now this moment felt as if it was right and as if this is what I've always wanted it to be like. I wanted to stay in this moment for a bit longer.
"two weeks" he muttered to himself while leaning back on his elbows. His voice brought me back from my thoughts.
"two weeks?" I echoed his words and turned to him.
He smirked and shook his head in disappointment. "till the wedding"
"Wait, what." my eyes
"Don't tell me you don't remember"
I sat gaping at him.
I was going to be married to Haden in TWO F*CKING WEEKS!
He laughed and patted my head patronizingly. "This is your last birthday being Derek Anderson" he chuckled and smiled at me with such emotion.
My mouth hung open and my eyes grew wider as I stared at his smirking, self-asserted, jerk like image.
I'm going to be honest, this was not my favorite. I kept cringing the whole way through, which was why this took so long. I'm sorry. I hope at least YOU enjoyed it. There is only so much i can change and still preserve the original story.
Also, on the topic of my absence; i am aware that i basically disappeared for a month, but a lot has been going on. including, Job Interviews, filming, and cases. So i really appreciate how patient y'all have been.
xoxox
Nic