Wildflower
!" I shout to my best friend, Summer, as she dances wildly n
come out tonight, probably because he knows he is going to need hel
is eye. My heart stops when I notice the tall, handsome stranger who
m over Parker, dominating his frame by almost an entire foot. I
x god standing next to Parker? He didn't say anything ab
have never hated or even despised her in any way for it, I can't help but feel jealous towards her gl
my shoulders with no style to it, and dull blue eyes. I have a splatter of
r eye-catching about my ap
lk to him, find out i
look. "Why me? Why not y
winks and pushes me towards the bar. I get bumped around a bi
ou se
growing crowd. I choose the option that allows me to breath, and make my way up
. I can see his arms are shaking, looking down towards his hands gripping the counter to se
tells me to turn around and walk the other way, that everything I am seein
viously isn't holding up
to fi
lright?" I
g in their dark pools. I swear he is staring into my soul as his eyes p
like
going on inside this guy's head. For someone so beautiful, his eyes carry a lot of
mps away as if scared of any contact. That just makes more questions sw
r his hand. I feel his fingers beneath mine and grasp them, not missing the way
t from me
in the blink of an eye. His eyes are still shifting around the room, and he
g, not sure what compelled me to invite thi
s through my mind, reminding me that I
as I pull him closer to the end of the bar. When we reach the crowd,
him that whatever he is fighting, it's okay. I squeeze his hand b
oming the cool breeze of Summer that is about to hit N
bar, hoping it will help calm him down a little. He ta
im. He still doesn't speak, and I realize then how much I wa
ially one I just met. I love Everett, and I have for the last 5 years we have dated
n't help but want to forget my life
been understanding that I want to wait until I feel I'm ready, but even with him,
d friend of Parker's?" I ask, attempting to make smal
voice like honey against my ears, deep and melodic. It makes
to hear his voice more. I could stand here ta
es. I realize then, he is still clutching tightly to my hand. I feel h
y through the crowd towards us. He bumps into a guy behind me, and he
and I feel a piece of glass cut into the side
fore I know what's going on, the guy is next to me instantl
er cries, seeing the blood now runnin
the guys asks Parker, not looki
Summer should be there. I'll c
ish talking, the stranger lifting me into his arms and
ront door and it slams behind us. I turn my face towards him, seeing his
neck and cuddle slightly against his chest, a pang
I really do think my touch helps calm this strange man; keep whatever
e want to
owd. I can hear his heart beating erratically, m
he bar, where Summer c
irty look she throws him. I try not to smile when
nd a piece cut me, " I say. It's hard to concent
d starts cleaning up the blood on my le
like I did, and I try to contain to slight jealousy I feel again.
s and starts ap
here to begin with. I don't permit alcohol outside my club; I don't
being taken care of, " I say, thankful that we're behind t
realizing the situation. "Oh, h
ist
s staring intensely at me, suck
l, " Parker says. "Anyway, I have to get back beh
e rings in my ears, and I feel a blush creep on
What is wro
caressing my leg as if it's the most fragile thing ever. I'm still very aware of Summe
. I don't miss the way his jaw clenches or feel him tense up when her shoulder brushe
down at his hand and realizes how hard he's gripping my leg, releasing it i
aid kit to Summer. "I'm sorry, I have to go." He turns towa
eyebrows at me. "W
d him, tha
nd-aid on the cut before
m and just asked a question. What's so bad about th
ith that, if Tristan wer
t of secrets beneath the surface, and despite the warnings going off in my
his skin against mine again, and watch the shadows
not ever leave. I have Everett to think of, someone who I have already decided I want to spend the rest of my
we have conquered those insecurities and come out stronger for it.
letting our feelings get the better of us. She says it's similar to how she met my father. She ha
p him despite the warnings she was given. Within him, she said she found the most loving and c
and my mother confirmed that when I was older. He didn't know I existed, until I was five years old, t
ove between two people, and they aren't afraid to show me that their love isn't perfect, that they fight and su
ogether, and sometimes I feel that's a good thing. But I know when the t
f that I truly love Everett, to overthrow the little voice in the back
rowns, but nods and walks with me to the door. I say good-bye to Parker o
imagine a
*
er's place, forgetting that he has the keys and
. I try not to think about everything tonight, about her, but it's i
e that under her touch. I felt like nothing could get to me if she is there, nothin
I've spoken to or touched in 10 years. I'm sure that can do a lot to a person
ch I was already relying on this complete stranger; I made a run for it. I don't nee
inds out the things I've done, to get where I am now. What would she think of me the
can't think she is much younger than myself, early twenties. Which means cha
t of it. If there is anything, I have truly come to realize rotting away in there, it's that life reall
tead had no choice but to transgress i
and body reacted to her, and I'm afrai
ff my thoughts, and I see Parker call
ce barely audible through the sta
I'm back at your place, but I re
I make my way around the back, spotting the small wooden door frame
d, it's
ours. You can crash in my room for now if you want, I al
d tearing my shirt off immediately, feeling the pressure building
, and Emily's touch at the club to calm
here. I settle for the beer bottles I see and grab one, walking over to
e I'm even halfway through my beer, my
*
hitting me in the fa
I wish I could do that, " he says when I finally manage to
I ask, trying to rol
up, I have the day off and it's already 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Come
off the couch and rub my face. Parker stick
ou'll see when
time terrifying. After last night, I knew I'm not ready to go out and mingle with society. I just
ehind my eyelids, quickening my pulse. Parker comes back into the li
me towards town, where most of the major shopping centers are. My curiosity grows, but
n ever since I've known him. It's ni
a home decorating store, much like
right now, I haven't started working at th
Who said you
start working again. That's the only way I will accept money from you, "
u like it or not, and it doesn't require you to come with me." He climbs out of the truck and turns
sk Parker and his poor taste in anything decorating my place
w end tables, and a dresser. Even with trying to pick the cheapest items, it still came ou
amount and not shed a tear. He never used to be this way, he hated spend
a little different than before. I can't help but feel a little proud of him, an
, so I couldn't argue and you have to give them 24-hour's notice before arriving and using the truc
f a good thing I s
delivery guy the address and directions to the house. Wh
ng we need to talk ab
at him, urging
or even prepared to face a crowd like that. I was just excited to have you back, and wanted t
tand. I'm happy to be back in his life as well, that
er blue eyes flash in my mind the instant he says her name. My pulse star
" I ask, trying
en't the first guy to stumble over his feet when they first see her. I just wan
hing with her before, at least not with anyone until I
e caught me in the middle of freaking out, unfortunately, and offered
struggling to keep her off my mind, thankful that Parker did decide to drag me out here and o
g me the slow Monday morning crowd to deal with on my first day. He also said he would ask Summer to go over fo
mber the way her shoulder brushed against mine, and instead of it calming me like Emily, it prickled
idence or a fleeting feeling. But my mind still tries to deny any connect
ndness, no doubt someone woul
different circumstanc
Emily or her friend, until at least tomorrow. Tackle one thing at a t
nt, organizing it disorderly in the living room area. Parker and I then get to work setting it all up, star
, some lamps or something, and we're solid, "
fee table, running my hands over them. I peer into the bedro
proper bed
father always made me sleep on the couch, and though at the time I was
ought; this is all mine. My life is
do t
of the unknown passions I never had the chance to discover before. There has to be somet
to be some
to Emily, but I wi
e to focus on repairing myself, and easing my way back into society. No doubt half of the state of
tan Burke isn't. Here, that name is only common for one thing; trying to break into
ere else to go. If the opportunity ever came for me to move somewhere else, I'm going t
you in, Summer should be there not long after, " Parker says. I bid him farewell and cont
Parker to order pizza, and get a quick respond back of what I think is a thumb
lding a pizza box. He hands it to me and says it was already paid for downs
Stuffed full afterwards, I can already feel my eyes getting heavy. I saunter over to th
is anot