Hiding Behind White Shadows...Chapter One.
I'm finally posting my first chapter. I changed the title from White Shadows to Hiding Behind White Shadows. Hope you enjoy! Chapter under cut. ;) I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day!
Chapter 1
Always quick to follow
The boys are too refined
Won't matter tomorrow
Oh to be in his mind
And if the timing is right
To sneak off into the night
I'll let myself be taken just for the thrill
- The Boys Are Too Refined (The Hush Sound)
It was a brisk autumn day in London when I first met him; everything was going well in my life, for once. I was out in the yard, and he came up, a solicitor is what everyone was thinking, but we were all wrong. Wrong by a mile stretch, and the saddest thing was that we didn’t know at the time. But we all knew now, and we are still paying for that one brisk autumn day.
“May I help you sir?” I walked around to my front door, throwing off my gardening gloves, letting them fall on my concrete sidewalk.
“Ah, yes. You see, I’m quite lost.” He smiled sweetly to me, and fiddled with his car keys in his right hand.
“Well, that’s not good, now is it?” I chuckled, for at the time, I thought he was quite good looking. Now just a picture or thought of his face made me want to cringe in disgust.
“No, it’s not.” He laughed then put his bitter-looking hands on his waist. “And I’m trying to make it to my niece’s birthday party in time…she’s turning..erm…uh, 5.” That little liar.
“Aw! How sweet…What street does she live on?” I curiously wondered why he wasn’t getting to the point when I noticed his beat up red truck near my sidewalk.
“Um…Gerard.” He replied, letting his gaze meet my eyes.
“Oh well, that’s a couple of blocks down. What you do is turn right at this street here,” I pointed to the left. “then you make two lefts. You should see it from there.” I let my suspicion grow when he didn’t seem ready to leave.
“Oh, thanks so much.” He turned his body slowly to make his exit, but he seemed resistant to leave which sent chills throughout my entire body. “What’s your name?”
“Oh, uh…Ithica. What about you?” I hesitated, showing my uneasiness.
“I like your name. Mine’s Adin. Nice to meet you, Ithica.” He said, nothing above a whisper.
“You too….bye.” I whispered, half to myself, half aloud.
“Bye.” He smiled to me, and slowly walked back inside his car.
The second I heard his beat up truck start, I shot straight for the door and locked it shut, nice and tight. I thought that I could possibly be over reacting, but I’ve always been taught to trust my instinct. And my instincts were telling me to get away, and to get away fast. So there I stayed, in my room, all night, only catching a few hours of sleep.
When the light crept through my bedroom window, I figured I wouldn’t get anymore sleep, so I decided to get the hell out of my house. Anywhere but here… I said silently to myself as my body sent chills up and down my spine. I’ve never felt this way before…I always feel so snug and warm in my house. I brushed it off, finding it extremely silly at the time, and fuddled my way into my closet.
Shit…it’s only 7am. I flicked my watch. I never get up until 10 at least. What in the hell is wrong with me? I’m sure that guy was just...was…just…going to his niece’s birthday party like he said. Nothing to freak out about, Ithica.
I parked my little red C-RV in the Starbucks parking lot about twenty minutes later. I then walked into the store, noticing the normal 8am ‘Starbucks Traffic’, or so my friend Elise put it. Great…just what I need. I said sarcastically to myself, at the back of the line.
Then, all those feelings came rushing back to me. There he was, sitting down on a table sipping his mocha latte. Ithica…calm down this instant. He did nothing to you. You’ll probably just make casual conversation and never talk to him again… I said over and over again as I tried to order my coffee.
“Um….caramel latte please…” I looked around the room, and he gave me a little wave.
“That’ll be 3.57, mam!” The bright and cheery check-out lady stated.
“God, I think I’m going to have to switch to tea…” I muttered to myself.
“What’s that?” She blinked, waiting for my change.
“Oh nothing…” I handed her my bills and quarters.
“Thank you! Enjoy your coffee and have a nice day!” She spoke, handing me my receipt and coffee.
I decided it was best not to run away from him, so I sat down. Then he slowly walked over to my table and sat, putting his coffee down on the hard table. All of those feelings rushed back again, and I felt as lonely as ever in this packed Starbucks. If he tries to strangle you, you’ve got at least 30 eye-witnesses, Ith.
“Hey you.” He said, smiling brightly at me. His torn shirt revealed a little bit of his chest. He took a long gulp of his coffee.
“Hi…” I trailed off, starting at the table, then the coffee, and then the table again. “How was your niece’s birthday party?”
“What?” He paused. “Oh…yeah….that. I forgot. It went well, same old same old, I guess.” He flinched, hoping I didn’t catch his lie.
“Oh…well, that’s good. Did my directions help you out any? Or did you have to search and search till you found her house?” I rambled on and on.
“Oh, yeah…they helped. Thanks.” He smiled, tilting his head all the way back to finish his last gulp of coffee.
“Well…it was nice meeting you…again.” I twitched nervously, sitting up and throwing my napkin away.
“Wait!” He touched my arm gently, gesturing that he didn’t want me to leave.
“Yes?” I turned to face him, right in front of the exit.
“I want to see you again.” He said bluntly, turning his gaze toward the people watching us.
“Um. I don’t think so, sorry.” I refused to meet his stare, I turned my head quickly.
“But…please.” He meddled, playing with my emotions.
I gripped onto my purse tighter, as if it would bring me comfort. Stepping, a step backwards, I had the strength to tell him no. “Sorry…not now.” And with that, I left his guilt ridden face, hopped into my car, and started the engine.