Chapter 84: 84-A Request For A Kiss
Clementine:
I did not respond to his comment, but I must say, my body was covered in goosebumps at just the idea of it.
"Are you sure it will be able to take my weight?" Haiden complained as he climbed the tree with me. I didn’t have any ladder or anything, I didn’t want it to be so accessible.
"Come on, you’ll be fine. What’s the worst that could happen?" he said, getting into the treehouse. It was just a floor and two small-sized walls, two large-sized walls with a big roof above.
"It could fall down," he said, as if that would hurt him.
I rolled my eyes. Now we both sat, our legs hanging from the backside of the treehouse, looking at the water stream.
"You were telling me something before I fell asleep last night. Tell me, I’m interested," It’s not like I forgot. When I woke up, I instantly remembered the conversation we had started but couldn’t continue because I had dozed off.
"Right," he uttered. "When my mother was raped and killed, she was pregnant."
In one line, he was able to shake the world from under my feet.
"Oh," I uttered, sitting back, and then it just hit me. I knew it was an inappropriate time for this conversation, but I couldn’t help myself. "Is that why you cared for Sadie so much?" And just a single nod from him made me feel so heartbroken for him.
"It reminded me of my mother. When she was pregnant and my father was at war, she spent her days in pain, constantly seeking help. At night, my sister and I would massage her feet until she either fell asleep or pretended to. By morning, she’d be gone again—out asking pack members and my father’s friends for help. Eventually, she found her way to your father," he stopped talking because I already knew the rest.
"That’s when she met the devil," I completed it for him.
"But don’t worry. I hope he’s getting torn apart in the North right now," I hissed, picturing his face. No wonder he always carried that heavy, bitter look, he was a coward. A nasty man through and through. I thought of my father.
"Anyway, let’s not talk about that. I just really hope when we go back, Sadie is there," he wished. At least I finally knew he wasn’t in love with her, not that it should’ve mattered. Still, I couldn’t help feeling confused about why that mattered to me. He should be free to do whatever he wants.
"Right," I said.
"Now can I ask you a question?" he asked, and I gave him a head nod as a go.
"Who was Professor Sawyer?" he asked, and I met his gaze.
"I mean, I remember seeing him on campus, but then he disappeared after the rumor started," he added.
"What exactly are you asking? Where he went? Who was he? If he was a good professor? Or—" I paused, watching him smile as I caught him.
"Did you like him?" He had asked the question I’d expected.
"He was kind. He always looked out for me. And yeah, I had family issues, so, I found him cute, but he wasn’t mine. He was engaged. Just a substitute math teacher who taught us for a few months before he left," I said, remembering that man, kind, ridiculously good-looking, and, yes, sexy. But I was only fifteen. Of course I had a crush on him.
"That is odd, Clementine having a crush on someone," Haiden said, elbowing me.
That was so weird, sitting with him and talking. We had never done that in the past.
"Did he run away because of the rumor?" he asked.
"Oh no, no, no. The rumor didn’t do anything to him. Everybody loved him. They knew there was no way he was involved in that kind of thing. In fact, he never even said anything to me that would now make me feel like he was a red flag. He was pretty young too, so maybe he decided to explore other jobs," I explained before he thought it was the rumors that made him quit his job.
"Do you still love Yorick?" And then Haiden hit me with another question.
I frowned at him. "No," I groaned.
"Did you ever love Yorick?" I didn’t know what kind of questions he was asking me. It was pretty odd.
"I would rather not respond," I said, looking away, not meeting his eyes.
"It was not a wise thing to ask all these questions," I commented, still stealing eyes.
And then he went silent. We both just sat there, watching the sun go down. It was the prettiest sight. But then I noticed his fingers gently touching mine on the wooden flooring of the treehouse. I noticed what he was doing. At first, I actually thought maybe it was a mistake. But the minute his index finger started to rub against mine, I felt goosebumps cover my skin, and I instantly removed my hand.
"I... um," I uttered, not able to make a full sentence.
"I know you don’t like me because of—" he paused, not finishing the sentence either. "I just want to do one thing. I just have one request," Haiden said, and I turned to look at him, although I did it mostly to create some space between us. His body was radiating a lot of heat, and I bet so was mine. In simple words, our bodies were going into heat for each other. Sitting together, having shared our past and feeling so emotional, was a bad combo for mates.
"What is it?" I asked.
"But promise me you will fulfill my request," he insisted, stretching his hand out for me to promise him.
"Let me know first. I will see if I can," I uttered.
"No, you will have to tell me first. Promise me. It is a very exciting thing," he said, and I began to notice a little smile on his lips, although he was trying his best not to show it too visibly.
"No" as I continued to refuse to promise, he answered himself.
"I want to kiss you."