Okay...I must say as always thanks for sticking with me and the reviews. This chapter and the next one were hard chapters for me to write. I can't actually explain why but they were kinda grueling for me. Anyway I hope you all enjoy them and Please R&R. It's so cool reading your comments good and not so good...as long as its contructive I 'preciate cha! Take care and happy reading.
Having given up on finding the familiar guy in the Red Sox cap, Felicia returned her focus to the concert, only to find that by now the Goo Goo Dolls had taken the stage. The band was beginning to perform their smash hit "Iris."
As she listened, the music began to take hold of her emotions, Felicia found herself unable to stop thinking about the guy in guy in the Red Sox cap.
Feeling suddenly chilly even though there wasn't a breeze blowing in off the Ohio River, Felicia proceeded to run her hands up and down her arms attempting to warm her chilled skin. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on edge as the lyrics to the song seemed to speak only to her…
And I'd give up forever to touch you,
Cause I know that you feel me your're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be,
And I don't want to go home right now.
And all I can taste is this moment,
And all I can breathe is your life,
And sooner or later it's over,
I just don't want to miss you tonight.
Less than a hundred feet away, no longer wearing the Red Sox cap, Ethan continued to watch Felicia. Not unlike her the words seemed to be speaking volumes to him as well…
And I don't want the world to see me,
Cause I don't think that they'd everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I you cant fight the tears that ain't coming,
Or the moment of the truth in your everything feels like the movies,
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive.
All at once Felicia was feeling overwhelmed by…by…the crowd, the song, the lyrics…everything.
She had to get away! Not wanting to draw unnecessary concern from her brother she just needed a few minutes, alone.
"Hey D, I'm gonna head to the ladies room!" she said speaking pretty loudly so that he could hear her over the music and crowd. Felicia was trying her best to calm her frazzled nerves as she spoke to him.
"Okay, I'll go with you." Darius said preparing to go with her.
"No!" she replied a little to quickly.
Darius shrank slightly taken aback by his sisters sharp tone "I'm not letting you go by yourself Fe! Kenyatta can go with you then." he offered instead.
"N-o way. D I'm fine, I don't want you guys to miss the concert on account of me. Besides I'll be right back, I'm just gonna head into Lucky Strike and use their bathroom really quickly." Felicia thought about it a minute and then added "actually that will depend on the line when I get inside."
He hesitated a minute while studying her face "Fe, if your not out in twenty minutes I'm coming in after you!" he warned.
"That's fine. Remember I have my cell phone. I'll call you if I need you." she said thankful that her brother relented without putting up too much of a fuss. Turning away from him she began to make her way in the direction of the Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes.
Ethan watched as Felicia began forging her way through the crowd. He noticed almost instantly that she was headed in his direction. He begin to back away from the Lucky Strike entrance. He moved just far enough so that he wouldn't be in her line of vision when she arrived at the entrance, but keeping his eye on her all the while. He was less than ten feet away when Felicia pulled open the doors and entered. Waiting a few seconds he proceeded to walk through those same doors, no more than a few paces behind her.
Felicia knew the place well as she and several of her friends had been regulars during the summer months. Even though it was a bowling alley, it was made to be an upscale one. One of her girlfriends had even worked there briefly. During that time she'd shown Felicia and the rest of their friends some of the more isolated spots she'd sneak off to, when she wanted to avoid dealing with her one particularly aggravating boss's, or she just needed an extra break. There were plenty of private party's held here. Lucky strike was known for its many VIP room's, and lots of places to get lost if one needed a little privacy, and right now she wanted…no…needed a little privacy to…to…release some tension and maybe get some…anyway she just need to get away!
Steadily she made her way toward a hallway in the opposite direction of the restrooms. The crowd began to thin out as she continued her trek. As she grew closer to her destination she noticed the lighting in the hallway became dimmer, but she continued on. Finally, she arrived at the door of her destination. She paused briefly, then taking a deep breath she turned the handle…it was unlocked. She opened the door quickly and stepped inside…
Ethan had seen Felicia head in the opposite direction of the ladies room, and he was a bit confused, so he just continued to follow keeping a safe distance growing a bit apprehensive about her destination. When he saw her head down the hallway which looked to be somewhat isolated he was beyond curious and a little worried. He muscled through the crowd a little faster so as not to lose sight of her. Ethan arrived at the hallway entrance just in time to see in which door she had entered. Rather than immediately pursuing her he leaned against the wall for a moment pretending to take in the scenery, all the while scoping out a possible tail, or any sign that her brother may have followed her inside. He Remained that way for a full minute just leaning on the wall nonchalantly adeptly taking in his surroundings. When he was satisfied that neither of them had been followed he pushed himself off the wall with his foot, and in one swift motion Ethan entered the hallway, advancing on the door in which he had seen Felicia enter minutes earlier..
Upon reaching the door, unlike Felicia he did not hesitate for a second. He slowly turned the door knob surprised to find it unlocked. Ethan entered the dimly lit room and closed the door quietly behind himself.
"Why are you following me Ethan?" Felicia asked at first with her back to him slowly turning revealing arms folded haughtily across her ample chest.
Ethan was momentarily taken aback by her question. Not only her question but the fact that she had been so certain that it was him entering the room behind her. How had she known that he was following her?
Not waiting on him to gather his thoughts and completely ignoring the look of surprise that briefly played across his dark features as she turned to stare at him coldly, Felicia asked him again "W-h-y are y-o-u following me!?" This time raising her voice while adding a sharpness to her tone. Letting him know that she was all business.
Now that his eyes had adjusted somewhat to his surroundings. He was able to see Felicia more clearly. He could tell immediately by her stance that she was angry. Her arms were folded across her breast angrily, as she gave him her best glare. This one was even worse than the one she had given him in the bus station, or even on the Greyhound bus, but damn it all if she still didn't look cute as hell! He wanted to walk over to her and scoop her up and kiss her senseless…
Ignoring her question. He slowly began to walk towards her, never taking his Smokey blue eyes off her as he advanced.
Felicia drew in a sharp intake of breath…don't come any closer…don't come any closer, her mind screamed! She wanted to take a step back…turn and flee…run…anything, to ensure that he kept his distance from her. Instead, she stood her ground.
Ethan stopped his pursuit a few feet away from her. His heart was beating wildly in his chest. He would have sworn that she would be able to hear its loud drumming if he were any closer to her.
"How are you?" he asked ignoring her previous question.
Not realizing it until she heard his question, she had been holding her breath waiting for his response. Upon hearing his question she somehow became infuriated. Expelling an exasperated breath she was now beside herself with rage!
"His utter fucking arrogance!" She thought frustrated "Why did he think that he could just dismiss her question and ask one of his own!"
This time it was Felicia doing the advancing, as she stepped to him angrily.
"How am I? HOW AM I?!" she asked incredulous practically shouting in his face.
Ethan could smell her fragrance. The scent he'd been missing for weeks. The sweet enticing smell of vanilla and jasmine assailed his nostrils causing his loins to tighten involuntarily.
"Why do you care?" Felicia's voice was now no more than a hoarse whisper interrupting his thoughts. Just as swiftly as her anger flashed at him it had dimmed equally as quick as she fought back tears. Just thinking about how hurt she had been at his betrayal of her. "You should have asked me t-h-a-t before you decided to leave me sitting there, at the restaurant…without so much as word of goodbye." she swallowed hard after those last words left her mouth. Fighting hard to resist crying as the bitter memory of having to explain without explaining where and with whom she had been with, while her family had been going crazy with worry.
"Felicia I…-" he began
She cut him off "No! No Ethan. Don't. I've got too many questions about you, and you don't seem to want to give me any answers." she said as she made a motion to brush past him heading for the door.
He stepped in her path blocking her escape preventing her from fleeing.
"Get out of my way!" she all but yelled at him.
"Let me explain." he pleaded
She halted her attempt at a swift exit and eyed him doubtfully before saying "I'm listening."