Part VII

He was running hard as he felt the vibration in his left hip.


'My phone.' He thought. 'Yuki.'


He let it ring for a while wondering what to do.

'Yes?' he asked.

'Can you come pick me up,' she choked.

'Pick you up?' he said, puzzled. It began to drizzle slightly.

'If you can't I'll understand,' she was sobbing now.

'Wait for me at the Mobil. I'll be there as soon as I can.'

He drove faster than he normally did. Skipping red lights and weaving in and out of traffic like there was no tommorow.

Fifteen minutes later. He reached his destination. The drizzle had become a full blown thunderstorm. He looked around for her, only to find her at the corner of the petrol station; in the middle of the rain.

Not bothering to bring an umbrella, he rushed towards her.

'Baby whats wrong?' he pulled her into a hug. She sobbed and sobbed. Unable to speak.

'Baby tell me whats wrong?' he whispered into her ear kissing her cheek.

'I told daddy about us. He got real mad. Really mad. I've never seen him that angry before.' she said.

He lifted her chin to look at her face and saw the beginnings of an ugly bruise on her cheek. A cold fury burned in him.

'He hit you?' he asked quietly.

'He didn't mean to. He was throwing things around and this picture frame hit me.' she said quickly.

'Let's get you into some dry clothes and out of here.' he said arms wrapped protectively around her.

She was quiet all the way to his house. He stole glances at her, trying to gauge her mood but never said anything. She shyly put her hand on his gear changing hand. He looked at her for a while. Smiled and interlaced his fingers with hers and put it back on the gear box.

He towelled her hair dry as she sat on his lap.

'Do you love me?' she asked looking into his eyes.

'I...' he started.

'Just tell me the truth. You don't have to pity me. I can handle it,' she said firmly.

'I... don't want to lose you.' he hugged her close.

She pushed him away slightly. And repeated her question. 'Do you love me?'

'I... I can't say. I'm sorry.' he apologised.

'Lets go for a walk. Its stopped raining,' she suggested.

They walked without a word passed between them for twenty minutes. Hand in hand, and just enjoying the fresh air and sights around them.

'My father doesn't want me to see you any more.' she said suddenly.

'I understand.' he said ackwardly.

'Is that all you have to say?' she asked, the hurt clear in her voice.

'Look. I'm horrible with this. I don't know what to say or what to do. I just know that you mean everything to me. And I don't want to lose you. Not now. Not tommorow Not ever. I don't know what it means to be in love. Because I've never been in love before.' he gushed.

She looked at him and hugged him. 'What will we do? I don't want to go home anymore. I want to be with you.'

'Baby, we'll take things slowly. One step at a time k? Baby steps. Everything will work out. But you have to go home. Family is important. I'm sure everyone's worried sick about you by now. Switch your phone on if you don't believe me.' he implored.

As soon as she switched her phone on it began beeping and beeping. Message after message came into her hand phone. She was silent for a moment. Reading the messages.

'Daddy said he was sorry. And all he wants is for me to come home. That we can talk about the rest later on.' she explained.

'I was right then.' he smiled. 'Tell him you will be back slightly later. We'll have dinner and watch a movie first. This is the first time I've managed to get you to myself at night.'

'Really?' she beamed.

'Really.' he said pulling her close for a kiss.

As they kissed a leaf landed on their heads.

'I think the park is telling me to leaf you alone,' he laughed.

She groaned. 'You really have an old man's sense of humor.'

'This is our lucky leaf since it landed on us while we were kissing. I'll keep it safe in my car. And as long as I have it with me, we'll always have each other.' he said, putting the leaf in his pocket.

'You're weird.' she said but hugged him tightly.

They had Japanese for dinner. Her favourite.

'Okay. Sushi is an acquired taste. And wasabi is just a plain awful taste,' he grumbled.

'Thats cause you took too much. Your eyes are tearing,' she giggled.

'What movie do you want to watch.' he asked.

'I don't know.' she pouted thoughtfully.

'I bet you I can guess what movie we end up watching.' he grinned.

'Oh? What makes you say that?' she wondered.

'Tell you what. I'll write it down here. On a piece of paper. And we'll see if I'm right later.' he said.

They queued for their movie tickets. When it was finally their turn, she decided she wanted to watch 'The Incredibles'. He laughed and told her to unfold the paper.

'The Incredibles.' she said baffled. 'How did you know?'

'You're my overgrown baby. I know you.' he smiled.

She kissed his cheek and cuddled into his arm.

In the cinema, he found himself watching her more than the movie. When she smiled. When she frowned. When she laughed. He found it fascinating. He put his arm around her and she leaned into him. He didn't realise when the movie was over until she removed herself from his arms and got up to go.

'That was an amazing movie!' she said.

'Yeap. It was pretty good.' he smiled.

'How would you know?' she asked.

'What do you mean?' he said.

'You were staring at me through the whole movie,' she giggled.

'I was not!' he said defensively. 'Just three quarters of the movie,' he laughed. 'I can tell you all about the beginning!' he grinned.

They reached her house too quickly for his tastes. Their night together was at an end.

'You don't mind do you?'

'Don't mind what?' she asked.

'That I can't say if I love you.' he added quietly.

She smiled and kissed him. 'Good night hun.'

'Goodnight baby,' he replied.

She walked into her house thinking 'You're a fool Vincent. A crazy loving fool.'