Chapter Four.

I have always been a person very glad about returning back home from work but on this particular Tuesday, I wished the time would've ticked a lot slower so I wouldn't have left from work this soon.

I was currently back home from an amazing stressfree day at work as our Boss miraculously didn't show up for reasons I cared little to nothing about but only hoped that it could go on for the rest of the week.

It is the Tuesday for my stupid drive out with Ralph and I've been dreading it since after receiving his stupid reminder text at the restaurant with Brittany yesterday.

I still haven't forgiven mom for giving him my number though.

I seriously see no point in all of this. He's grown enough to find his own way around town. Mom thinks it's a way to bring us both to agreeable terms before the wedding officially unites us as a family but I think it's just his own way of trying to test my patience.

It's gonna be just us this time so one wrong move from him and I swear I'm gonna smack him in the jaw and then send him flying off my car right out to the middle of the road and I'll drive off with a triumphant smirk on my face then return home to tell mom how lovely an evening ride we had.

I quickly rushed towards my window as I tried not to dwell too much on my pleasing thoughts of ditching Ralph in the middle of traffic but now centered my entire focus on the vehicle that I had just heard pull up outside our house.

Up by my window from where I stood a number of feets off the ground, I watched Ralph emerge out of the car and wrapped my Mom in a warm hug. Honestly? It kinda annoyed me. I've had my mom all to myself for twenty four years and now I suddenly have to share her with someone else! I couldn't really tell if it was annoyance or Jealousy or probably a mixture of both but I scoffed loudly at the scene and harshly dragged on the curtains to shut out the cute view I have no further interest in watching. Tsk.

Seeing his arrival for myself, I shook off the thoughts of coming up with an excuse but just grumpily strolled towards my closet to snatch out my most casual of shirts with a loose round neck and almost faded grey color matched with a pair of dark blue ripped jean and exchanged the pair of flipflops I had on for a pair of night drive-out worthy shoes.

Not that I cared a bit about my facial appearance but I did stop by my mirror to brush my thick dark blonde curls and touch up my eyelashes with a bit of mascara before taking a very necessary deep breath then carried on out of the room.

By the time I was halfway down the stairs, I met him awaiting me at the foot of the stairs with Mom behind him discreetly telling me to behave well with her silent hand gestures and facial expressions that only I could see.

"Looking lovely as usual" he commented once I got really close to where he remained standing.

So, he has lying added to his displeasing qualities? What is lovely about my appearance? It's definitely not my worn out ripped jean nor can it possibly be my shirt that could fit for a rag.

"You look just as lovely" came my response and although he lied about my 'lovely appearance' I was being honest about his.

He did look lovely clad in a plain white shirt that was a snug fit on especially his obviously muscular arms and he calmed his appearance to casual with a pair of black sweatpants and his hair was cutely messy and not as controlled back as it looked during the family dinner.

"Shall we?" He questioned. Breaking the weird silence that suddenly fell amongst us all. It wasn't more than a minute but it felt pretty weird especially with the stares.

"Sure. We shall." Came my brief response and although I could clearly see his hand he held out to me, I totally ignored it and pushed forward on my own with him following behind me seconds later.

"You kids have fun okay?" My mother called out from behind us and my only response to that was rolling my eyes then I mumbled some inaudible and meaningless words as I slipped into my car and waited impatiently for Ralph who was still busy waving my Mom goodbye to get in.

After contemplating Blasting the car's horn to hurry him up, he rounded over to the other side of the car with three long strides and got in beside me.

"Where do you wanna Go?" I questioned dryly once he had buckled up.

"Anywhere you wanna take me" came his casual response and I smirked internally at his response.

If only he has the slightest idea where I really would like to take him.

"The park?" I asked the first place that dropped into my mind and he shrugged carelessly and nodded his head in response. It actually took me a while to notice we both were still right at the same spot buckled in our seats, staring at ourselves without a word. I only noticed when his lashes blinked and my eyes shamelessly dropped down to his lips on their own Accord and then realization struck me.

I cleared my throat loudly and turned away from his piercing gaze as sharply as I could and then gripped the steering wheel like my life depended on it.

With me trying to focus my eyes and mind on driving, I hit the road with country music booming loudly through the car's stereo just so he doesn't think to speak to me throughout the drive.

I could always feel his heated gaze on the side of my face the whole time but I didn't turn to look at him for even a second. I couldn't risk turning to look at him.

I didn't want to admit it but it sure seems as though his face has this magic spell that has a strong hold on me.

I thought to let down my hair I initially held up in a high bun so it could curtain down my face and shield me from his gaze but that will just be plain weird and extreme wouldn't it?.

We eventually got to the park after what seemed like forever and I was the first to hop out for another calming deep breath.

I took the first step towards the entrance and he followed closely beside me. It was almost late in the evening and most people present in the park were already leaving in groups of twos or a small number of clustered together people laughing loudly and talking amongst themselves.

From having Ralph beside me and facing alot of people I was suddenly starting to feel uneasy which was unlike me. It felt as though the whole world was staring at me when in truth, they probably didn't even notice me or whoever did might just see me as someone random who surely needs a new shirt.

The more I tried to fight my uneasiness, the more it overwhelmed me and made me clumsy to the point that I almost tripped while walking. Twice!

"Are you alright?" Ralph questioned and I only just nodded in response and avoided his gaze which was the last thing I wanted to add to my present troubles.

"You seem...... Uneasy." He pointed out in truth and just when I thought to reply him, I bumped into one of the guys that just happened to be passing by me at that point.

"I am so so sorry" I apologized immediately in a squeaky voice and forced a smile back at him when he smiled and casually waved at me then continued on his way.

I heard a chuckle from Ralph and just when I thought to glare at him, He grabbed my hand in his and laced our fingers together as I swallowed hard at the sudden connection.

I wanted to yank my hands out of his but I couldn't trust myself to walk properly if I let go.

No, scrap that. I didn't let go because I didn't want to. His hands were so warm and comforting.

He appeared protective of me with my small hand in his and I'm pretty sure the Jordan from Sunday night's family dinner would have scoffed and rolled her eyes at this but the present Jordan thought his act cute and surprisingly lovely.

Great. Now he probably thinks I'm a clumpsy teenager. Just Great.

Perhaps I've been too harsh on him like I was with his Dad?

That is my one special talent. Misjudging everyone for no just reason except Ralph did have a reason. He did seem arrogant at first and I wasn't going to get started about the kiss. No. Not now while our hands were joined and we were strolling through a small beautiful garden reaching close to a small fountain where I faintly heard him say we should sit for a while.

"So, will I be seeing you on Monday?" He asked one very random question suddenly after moments of peaceful silence that surprisingly wasn't awkward for either of us as we've had a straight conversation seated by the fountain for almost half an hour.

"What's happening on Monday?" I questioned with honest confusion after briefly searching my head for just what he could be talking about.

"You're not really involved in the wedding preparations are you?" He questioned and I chose to reply with silence.

I wasn't involved in the preparations at all. I only get to know about an event on the particular day or a night before just like the family dinner. The only thing I knew very well was that the wedding was in two weeks time and if I'm being honest, I don't exactly know the actual date.

"Not exactly, No" I confessed in a low voice and fixed my eyes on the strange piece of smooth rock that wasn't too far away from my foot.

"You know what the best part of this wedding is?" He questioned in response and I peeled my eyes off the stone and rested it on his face while stopping myself from getting comfortable with his dark eyes.

"What is?" I asked calmly.

"You." He replied and I would've smiled if I didn't grow curious.

"You knew about me?" I questioned.

"Yup." He replied simply with a firm nod that only buttressed his short response even further.

"I'd never heard a thing about you till you showed up in my face" I confessed although he already knew that.

I mean, I was hell bent on knowing who he was when I found him in my room.

"And trust me, you're nothing like I envisioned." He stated and I raised a brow but he didn't notice that because he was busy throwing tiny pieces of rocks at nothing in particular.

"What do you mean?" I asked almost too crossly.

"I expected to see a little, fresh outta high school nerd like the photo of you your mom showed me one time. But I was definitely wrong to imagine that because Damn............" He explained and I swear my ears were higher than usual just so I wouldn't miss a single word.

That's it?? Because Damn what???

I waited for a continuation of his explanation but it seemed as though he was done with his statement.

I let my mind drift a little as I wondered what picture of me Mom must've shown him to make him think me a Nerd?

I seriously hope it wasn't the photo of me in my PJs and pigtail on one Christmas Eve some few years ago while I was helping bake cookies with her in the kitchen.

What If it's the photo of me on my unequal fringe and oversized glasses on that night before my final exams?

I had to stop thinking at that point because every new possible photos I thought of was even a whole lot more worse than the previous.

Right there, I made a mental note to swipe mom's phone somehow and bury those embarrassing photos in her digital trash can.

I have better pictures but the goofiest of them all are usually her favorites.

"Wanna go get some ice cream?" He questioned and pulled me out of my thoughts to the ice cream truck that had been present at the far end on the same spot since we arrived and by the time I turned my focus from the truck and back to him, he had shifted from close to disturbingly close.

I could literally almost feel his breath fanning against my cheek.

My heart beat increased as I got reminded of the last time we happened to be this close and it seemed as though it was about to happen again because I noticed him slowly lean even closer.

"We should get going. We have alot of places to see also." I suddenly announced and stood up. Abruptly stopping what was about to happen within seconds.

Without another word, I led the way back to the car and drove around different places in town till we both decided to call it a day.

When I found myself back in my room, I pressed my back against my door and with my eyes closed, I drew in another deep breath.

You got this girl,

You got this.