"Go away. Please. I didn't do anything." I cried as I tried to push away the two boys who were pulling my hair out because I stepped on their car.
"You should know what happens if you mess with us." One of them said pulling one of my band out so that one side of my hair were let down. I cried as I tried to push them again.
"Hey! Leave her alone." I looked up and noticed Xavier running towards us. His hair were cut short and although he was not that tall he ran with all his might and as fast as he could.
"Reed." I cried out of happiness. I knew I was saved now. He was here now. He'll protect me. Protect me from these boys and anything that may come to hurt me. And I didn't know that. I believed that.
He pushed the boys away from me and made them fall. Then sitting on top of them he punched them one at a time.
The boys tried to punch him back but I was fast and kicked one of them in the shin. Just as Reed had taught me. He groaned in pain before laying down on the ground.
I saw Xavier groan as one of the punches hit him hard across his face. Making his nose bleed. He cursed making me gasp. Then with all his might he punched the guy again and then getting up asked them to leave both of us alone.
Once the two boys had gone. He turned towards me. His nose still bleeding. I pointed it out to him wincing myself to look at him this way. He tried to wipe it away with his sleeve before coming towards me and inspecting me.
"Are you hurt pancake?" There was concern in his voice.
I shook my head at him and hugged him, "You got here just in time."
I was afraid. Afraid of those boys until Xavier showed up. And looking at him I couldn't help but hug him.
He hugged me back before stepping back and going ahead he picked my band up and gave it to me.
"Stop crying already pancake." He said wiping my tears off.
I nodded my head at him trying to wipe my tears off myself but the more I tried the more they came.
I noticed him shaking his head before ruffling my hair, "When will you ever learn to fight for yourself?"
I looked at him with swelled up eyes, "I have you."
"Yes you do, pancake. But I would love to see you as an independent woman when you grow up. Just like our moms."
"But I am small right now. You see I will be a strong woman when I grow up."
He laughed as he nodded his head at me, "Sure. And then you won't need me. Then I would love you to beat some guys for me."
I nodded my head at him enthusiastically. I will become a strong woman. The woman, Xavier will be proud of. And the woman I want to become.
Xavier tried brushing off the dirt that was attached to his clothes and his face.
"I don't get into fights for anyone. You should consider yourself lucky that I am your friend."
Typical Xavier.
I laughed, "I am Reed."
He held his hand out to me, "Come on. Let's go to your home. My mom would be there too."
I put my hand into his as we walked hand in hand. Swinging them. Like friends.
Just like friends. When we were still nine.
°°°°
"Where are you lost?" Xavier snapped his fingers in front of me.
I looked at him shaking my head at him.
So much has changed from the time when were nine. I don't think I kept my promise to Xavier. I don't think I became strong enough. But I want to. And I will try my best.
And Xavier? He isn't the same anymore. He doesn't protect me like he promised. And he doesn't care about me like he used to.
My eyes shifted to the packet of food in my hands.
We were currently sitting in one of the seats on ferris wheel. The one which was closest to the ground.
"You didn't tell me. Do you remember this place now?" Xavier asked me sitting beside me.
His shoulder brushed against mine. I couldn't help but notice the proximity between us.
I looked around again. No. Nothing came to me.
He sighed from beside me, "Come on pancake. It is the same amusement park we went to as children."
My jaw dropped down. Now when I pressure my brain, I think I remember. I remember an amusement park we went to. With our parents. I just can't believe this was the same amusement park. It used to be so cheery and lit. Unlike this. Now it is just abandoned and seems old and rusty.
"How?" I asked unsure, "it doesn't look the same."
"Because it isn't the same. Don't you think it is sad? This place which once used to have this crowd. The crowd with all the type of emotions. It saw every emotion. Happiness, loneliness, love. And now just look at this place. Abandoned. Lonely. No one comes here."
"You come here." I whispered.
His eyes snapped to me. Staring into my eyes and nodding his head, "I do. And now you too."
I smiled at him. I didn't know that Xavier gave this much thought. And this was the side I was talking about. The side I wanted to see.
"Thank you Xavier. For bringing me here."
He laid his head back on the support and closed his eyes. I stared at his face for a while. Admiring all his features before his opened one of his eyes and looking at me with his hazel eyes he said, "Pancake?"
"Yes?"
"Just call me what you used to when we were younger." He said going back to closing his eyes again.
Did he mean what I think he just meant? Did he really ask me to call him...Reed? I can't believe my ears. That's impossible. He asked me to never call him that again. And now suddenly he is asking me to call him that again.
"Are you sure?" I asked him unsure. I wanted to be sure. What if he was lying.
"I have never been so sure." He muttered. His eyes still closed.
I laid my head back too. Just beside his. And closed my eyes, "As you say Reed."
I could hear him take in a sharp intake of breath. I didn't know if he felt good or he just wasn't ready to hear it.
When I opened my eyes again after some time I noticed his head turned to me. His eyes already open.
He got up a little. His eyes never leaving my face. Slowly as if not sure he started leaning towards me. His eyes fleeting to my lips for a second before returning to my eyes.
I could feel my heart beating wildly. I won't be surprised if it even came out because of how fast it was beating.
Is he really doing what I think he is doing? Is he going to kiss me?
Oh my god. I don't know how to react. It's so UNEXPECTED. He doesn't like talking go me. And suddenly he is about to kiss me.
Once Xavier was so close to me that I could smell his cologne he cleared his throat lightly. Then bringing his lips close to my ears he whispered,
"The food. It's getting cold."
And with that he went back-- laughing. I looked at him confused. What the hell just happened?
My mind was in a haze when he ruffled my hair just like he used to when we were kids, "Come on. I am sure you are hungry. Just eat it. Before I finish it myself."
It was now that it dawned upon me. What he did. He is such a jerk!
I threw the packet on his lap. And faced away from him, "I bought it for you anyway. I thought you would be hungry after you didn't have anything at school."
He was quiet for a while before he spoke, "You are joking, right?"
I rolled my eyes even though I knew he couldn't see me, "I don't joke unlike you."
I heard a little shuffling before he made me look at him, "Are you mad?"
"No."
He gazed into my eyes before sighing, "Yes you are. Do you really want me to kiss you that bad?" He asked wriggling his eyebrows.
I pushed him lightly, "No! Just eat your damn food."
He laughed before shrugging his shoulders and taking the food out from the packet. The smile was still playing around his face before he became serious and looked at me, "This food is for just one person."
"Yes." I stated as a matter of fact, "And that is you."
"Either you are stupid or...no you are definitely stupid. You were hungry. Then why did you buy it just for me?"
"Because I didn't have enough money at the time."
"And I offered you the money!"
"But I didn't want to take it from you."
He sighed before shaking his head, "You are one stubborn girl, pancake."
He knew I was stubborn. If I put my mind onto something, then I didn't listen to anyone.
"Okay I am not going to eat it while you watch me like a ghost. So," He split the burger into two and handed me one of the shares.
I looked at him surprised. How in the name of god was he feeling this generous today? First he brought me here. Then he called me pancake which he hasn't called me in like what? Seven years? And then he jokes. He jokes. Yes, even I can't believe. This was the same rude, ignorant guy. And now he is willing to share his food with me!
But just as friends. He still sees me just as a friend.
And I don't know how to feel about that.
____
Vote, comment and share!
Love you<3