Chapter 3
I've come up with millions of ways to kill Eros Carmichael. The bane of my existence. I was the talk of the school, and I wouldn't be surprised if I was even the talk of the town. Some say that Eros has kidnapped me and tortured me, others say that I was part of Eros' mafia group, but the last one is worse. People are saying that Eros and I have eloped.
The nerve of some people. Melissa, on the other hand, cried her heart out when she saw me the day after. She truly believed something bad had happened to me, and to me, going to dinner with Eros was already considered bad.
Melissa and I were placing fliers around town to advertise our school's Welcome back fair. "He really asked you out?" Melissa couldn't believe that the Eros asked me out. I gave her a simple nod and said "It doesn't matter anyways. Even if he bought me gifts or treats me like a queen, as long as he's Eros Carmichael I'll never agree."
"It's kind of scary to think how a guy like him is interested in a girl like you. No offense Grace, but we're both just plain Janes. It makes you wonder what he's really after." Melissa's words kept repeating in my mind the whole night even during the welcome back fair. Music and laughter filled the grounds of the fair but all I could focus on were Melissa's words.
I have good grades, great family, and a mind of a medical doctor. I had no riches, curves of a model, nor am I a great lover. So what is Eros really after?
I was walking aimlessly until I bumped into something solid. I then noticed that it was someone. "Oh, my apolog--" I cut myself off as I saw who it was. "Oh, it's just you."
"Come on, I deserve a better greeting than that from you little Grace." it's not a surprise that he said that while smirking. He then looped my arm with his and entwined our fingers together.
"The only thing you deserve is a knuckle sandwich." I growled which made him laugh, "That's so old school of you," he commented. "Too bad I don't have enough middle fingers to express how I feel about you." This time I'm the one who's smirking. "And what are you doing?"
"Taking you on a date," he said as if it was the most obvious thing. "I'd rather stab myself than go out on a date with you," I spat out and this made his smile widen. "Feisty little thing aren't you?" I wanted nothing more than to execute one of the ways I thought of killing him. He turned his head to look at me and smiled. I was taken back for a bit because this smile was different from his others. They didn't have the hint of mischievousness or a perverted grin nor was it a scheme behind a smile. This was a genuine Eros smile and it had my heart feel all sorts of wonderful. The last time he showed this smile was when he saw me on the night I broke his window. Little did I know that my heart was secretly yearning for this smile.
I shook my head and pushed aside those thoughts and shoved them in the garbage bin just where the likes of Eros belongs. "You either let me go or I'll scream," I warned him. He tossed his head back and laughed "Little, little Grace. What I'd do just to get you to scream my name," he teased which made me glare at him even more.
He then guided me to one of the fair's game stalls. "I tell you what, let's play a few games, ride a few rides and if you still don't want to go out with me then I'll leave you alone," somehow those are music to my ears. I smiled at him and said "Then what are you waiting for? Win me a stuffed toy," and once again I'm drowning in the butterflies of my stomach because of that addictive genuine smile of his.
I've lost track of time as Eros and I played games and rode a few rides. He even won a stuffed panda for me. And as I'm lost in our laughter and fun I forgot that this was only part of the deal for him to leave me alone. All my life I've strived to be a good student and good daughter that I've never let myself have any fun. It was like a breath of fresh air.
During our little fun as we laughed and shared cotton candy, a group of men wearing hoodies came up to us. "Boss," they nodded towards Eros. "We have a situation." one said, and as I looked at Eros he was no longer in a jolly mood. His carefree smile was replaced with a serious expression. "I'll be back little Grace," he said as he left with his men leaving me alone. It wasn't even minutes till I finally snapped out of the little bubble that Eros has created for us.
What the hell was I doing? He's in the freaking Mafia for all I know. I mean a group of men in black hoodies showed up and called Eros, the boss. My mood turned sour as I stomped out of the fair and started heading home. But before I could reach my car a hand tapped my shoulder. I spun around expecting to see Eros but instead it was a man wearing a white shirt. "May I help you?" I asked politely.
Suddenly three more men appeared behind him and all the blood has left my face. "That's Eros' girl, get her." one of them said. Two men grabbed me by the arms and tried lifting me but I wasn't going without a fight. The other two tried grabbing my legs but I was kicking like the day I was born. "Let me go! Let me--" I was suddenly cut off as one guy shoved a piece of cloth into my mouth. I tried screaming and shouting but it only became muffled.
I knew just being around Eros was going to get me into trouble. I heard tires screeching as they started dragging me towards the car. "Get off of her!" a familiar voice growled. I was dropped to the ground as the men who carried me started fighting with Eros. It wasn't much of a fight when it's obvious that Eros was winning. My body ached from the struggle but my focus was on Eros beating the men into pulps.
I was in awe at the way he moved. He obviously knows what he's doing. He moves like a warrior would combine with gentleness. His eyes focused on his moves and his face full of anger. Once the men were down on the ground, Eros growled "You stay away from what's mine!" the men then ran away.
In a blink of an eye, Eros was right beside me checking for any injuries on my body. "Are you alright little Grace?" he asked. His eyes full of concern. I won't deny that I enjoyed his company today and saw a whole new side of Eros but I can't ignore the fact that's he's Eros Carmichael. The dangerous man who lives next door. Who claims that I’m his, when nobody owns me.
I pushed his hands away as I stood up. "I could've handled myself," I tried my best to stay angry. "Little Grace, I know you can handle yourself but I can protect--" before he could say anything else I stomped my foot and said "Enough of your games Carmichael," he flinched. Probably because he could detect the irritation in my voice. "The best thing you can do for me right now... is to stay as far away from me as possible."
I grabbed my stuffed panda but before I could leave Eros grabbed my hand. "I will always protect you even if you don't want me to," he said. I looked into his eyes and saw that he was hurt by my words but I shrugged it off and said "But how can you protect me from yourself?" my heart clenched by the way he looked at me. “As you wish,” he said emotionless. I turned around and left without looking back but the way he looked at me will haunt me for the next few days.