Chapter 6

She stepped out into the grass field and stared up at the dark sky. It had a slight purple tint and she grinned. It was just a slow, careful grin that spread only slightly. It was the calm before the storm, and she loved it. For some reason it always excited her and got her blood pumping. A slow breeze picked up and swept a few strands of loose hair out of her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to take it all in.

She just wanted to run and jump and scream, but contained herself only barely. She was savoring this moment now, loving every second of it. She stared up into the trees and noticed how their upturned leaves made it look like thin paper rustling in the branches against the purple sky. She imagined how somebody might possibly paint this, but concluded that whoever tried would never have the skill to capture the beautiful moment. Thunder rumbling slowly across the earth making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She shivered pleasurably and bit down on her lip.

Malakai saw her now, standing in a pair of khaki capri's and a brown tank top, bear foot in the grass. He smirked, although slightly confused as to why she hadn't called him up. She wasn't walking the train tracks, which was a good thing he guessed, and she didn't have her bag or her dog with her. Though strange, he somehow guessed this wasn't bad.

"You look like such a prep." He commented, smirking still.

She took an extra quick breath, not realizing he was there, though he was only a few steps away from her. She shivered involuntarily and hugged herself for warmth.

"Why didn't you call?" He asked, watching her closely, trying to understand why she was acting so strangely.

"It was just kind of… a spur of the moment thing." She said, watching the sky still.

"I don't get it." He replied, furrowing his brow slightly in confusion.

"I like coming out here just before a storm." She replied without thinking.

He raised an eyebrow. "Sounds dangerous…"

She shook her head, and then looked toward him, smiling. "No. It's… exciting."

He chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her and gazed up to the sky just as she was. She held his hands on her arms, appreciating the warmth. He smiled and looked down at her, watching her watch the sky.

Without thinking then, he leaned his head down and kissed her neck softly. She inhaled sharply, surprised.

"Sorry." He whispered into her ear. "Just thought it was appropriate. A beautiful woman deserves to be kissed every once in a while."

She smiled, and without thinking she replied, "I didn't mind…"

He chuckled softly in her ear again, but didn't continue even though he dearly wished to. Moments passed by with nothing but the thunder rupturing the sweet silence.

"Why does the sky turn purple right before a storm…?" She asked, almost unaware that she'd asked it.

He shook his head slowly. "I don't understand you…" He said softly.

She laughed and turned to look up into his eyes. "I never asked you to understand the way I think… just deal with it." She said, smiling as though she were holding back a laugh.

He wanted to kiss her right then and there, but knew he shouldn't… he couldn't! It was an absurd thought and he knew it, but thankfully a naughty little raindrop landed right on her nose, making her wrinkle it up and shatter the beautiful image before him.

He laughed, somewhat forcefully though she didn't notice. "C'mon… it's gonna start pouring soon, we should get in."

She nodded, looking down at her feet. "I guess… I didn't even bother to grab my shoes" She said with a laugh.

He shook his head, laughing. "I'll carry you!" he said triumphantly.

"No—Oh!" She screamed as he scooped her up and proceeded to carry her to the main street and toward her house.

She wriggled around, squealing slightly. "C'mon! Let me down!" she begged.

"Fine then, get on my back!" He said, still laughing.

"Fine, fine." She muttered as he set her down.

He crouched in front of her and she looked at him, trying not to laugh and gave him a dramatic sigh before climbing onto his back. A small squeal escaped her lips as he hoisted her up, laughing.

"See? It's not so bad." He said, smiling and holding her legs tight around his waist.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and laid her head down against his shoulder. "Nope, you get a much needed workout and I get a free ride." She said, smirking.

"Hey!" He said, faking offence and pinching her leg.

"Ow! I'll bite you!" she warned, laughing.

"Ooh, frisky now, are we?" He said, smirking and pinching her leg again.

And, true to her word, she bit his neck softly, lightly dragging her tongue over it.

"Mmm…" He groaned, silently wishing she'd do it again. "Well that wasn't nice." He lied.

"Oh c'mon you fucking horn dog. You enjoyed it and you know it." She said, laying her head on his shoulder again.

He laughed again and blinked as it started to rain.

"Erg. Put me down now." She said, raising her head.

"Nope." He said flatly.

"Yes, c'mon." she started squirming.

"Fine." He said, sighing dramatically. He put her down and stared at her.

"What?" She asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.

He laughed and continued to stare at her. The rain was starting to make her hair stick to her face and her clothes started clinging to her.

"Quit it, will ya?" she said, turning and beginning to walk, bear foot across the sidewalk, which was already beginning to gather puddles.

He jogged a little to catch up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. A car suddenly honked and startled her. She jumped and stared toward the little blue car. He watched her eyes get wide as it drove away and turned a corner before she stopped dead and covered her face with her hands.

"Shit. Shit, shit, SHIT!" She screamed, stamping her foot.

"What?" He asked, completely caught off guard.

"Oh my god. Oh my fucking god I'm so fucking dead!" She was pacing a little and then she stopped, running a hand through her hair.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, watching her worriedly.

"Damn it! That was Paul. I'm so-"She screamed and threw her head back.

He stared at her, worried by this outrageous reaction. "Who's Paul?"

She started shaking now, wrapping her arms around her shaking body. Her insides were squirming as she squeezed her eyes shut against the rain and bit down hard on her lip.

Kai grasped her arms firmly and forced her to look him in the eye. "Who is Paul?"

"Paul's my dad's best friend." She muttered.

He stared at her, still confused. "So?"

"So?" She repeated, appalled by his words. "So he saw us together! He'll tell my dad and my dad's going to fucking kill me!"

"But we didn't do anything!" He said, freaking out now.

"It doesn't matter. You had your arm around me. That's enough for my dad… he's really overprotective…" She muttered, not by any means calm now, but she wasn't screaming.

"Bullshit!" He yelled, startling her. She stared at him now. His face was contorted in anger suddenly, like she'd never seen before, and, the truth was, it scared her a little bit. "If he was fucking overprotective of you he wouldn't b—"

"Stop!" She said, cutting off his ranting. "You know what I mean. When it comes to me and guys… well lets just say my dad doesn't understand."

She'd stopped pacing, and was taking long deep breaths. She knew now that there was no avoiding dealing with her father, so it was no use freaking out about it. She'd probably be hit, but she'd deal with it.

"How the fuck can you be calm about this?" he asked, looking angry with her suddenly.

"Well there's no avoiding it, is there. Only if by some miracle Paul doesn't tell my dad, which isn't going to happen…" She explained.

He sighed and watched her sadly. "You'll call me, right?"

She looked back at him with a sad, defeated expression. "Yeah… I guess…"

"Promise me." He said firmly, looking her dead in the eye.

She looked back at him and squirmed a little. She never made a promise if she knew she couldn't or wouldn't keep it. "I promise." She said softly, looking away.