When We Collide √

Chapter 71

"You normally look really weird in those combat boots," Amell quips trying to break the silence around us as we walk to the parking lot. He offered me a ride and of late the boots had been giving me a hard time so I had no choice but to accept. The sole was almost worn out and I kept saying I'll get a job in order to buy new ones.

"I like them," I say and shock myself when I playfully punch his hard muscle.  A small smile creeps on his face and he let's out a small sigh.

"Hey boots," he says and I don't look at him. Did he just call me boots? He repeats the weird nickname and I turn my head towards him with a raised brow. "Where's boots -?" I playfully ask
"- then you must be Dora," I say and we both go silent before bursting into fits of laughter.

"Boots?" He repeats and I find my head turning to his side on its own accord." I wanna make it up to you ,"he continues and I farrow my brows as he continues elaborating. "- For making you uncomfortable - all this while ," he says as we both enter his car.

I'm not sure of what to answer. I don't know but there is a certain voice within whispering at me to accept his offer. And again my conscious keeps blurting about how he makes me have mixed feelings, about how each time I'm with him I end up getting hurt which results in crying. Maybe this time things would be different. As if Amell notices my inner dilemma he rephrases his question.

"Are you willing to come?" He asks and I turn my head away shutting the door. "Okay," I say and a smile forms on his lips. The engine roars to life and Amell abruptly opens my window for me. I smile at him and we veer of the parking lot.

..........

I finally make out the familiar street on which my house is located. Amell expertly parks on the side and I open the door to get out. He doesn't say anything just like he hadn't all through the journey. I'm shocked when he gets out of the car himself, I look at him from the other side over the hood of the car.

"What?" He shrugs and I cock my head at him. A loud sigh escapes me when I don't see any chances of him getting back in the car. We briskly walk to my foyer and I momentarily stand glued to the welcome doormat,Amell behind me,do I honestly want him in my house. Well technically he'd already been to my house, but that was without my consent, this time it would be different. I squeezed back all bad thoughts that clouded my mind at the moment. I pushed the metallic handle and the door budged open.

"Do you mind ?" Amell asks and I turn back to find him looking at me. He just wanted to walk me to the door? "Come in ," I say as I  remove my combat boots ,leaving them on the rack near the door.

I hear movements in the living room but I ignore them because I know it's Aiden. I walk to the kitchen and I feel Amell following me. Due to habit , I walk to the tap directly drinking water from it. When I turn I find Amell looking at me with amazed eyes.

"What? -" I ask and shrug ,"- I know, normal girls don't do that, it's just a bad habit,"I say while chuckling."I think it's-"he pauses as if searching for the right word to use, "- cute," he finishes and I feel my heart somersault literally. Even the smallest remarks from him make my insides jump.

"Hey Rae your dad -,"I almost jump when I hear aunt Marie's voice. Why is she home at this hour. It's almost six in the evening and she's supposed to be at the hospital getting ready for her night shift." Hey?"she says to Amell but it sounds more of a question and she cocks her head towards me. Amell rubs the nape of his neck and tugs at his brown curls.

"He is -," I pause a moment to think of how to refer to Amell,"- a friend ,"I blurt out rather loudly. Amell extends his hand towards Aunt Marie's and she willingly shakes it. I see her green eyes grow wide when she takes in his appearance, Amell is clad in a white T-shirt a very clear juxtaposition to the tattoos on his arm so they were definitely more highlighted. She turns her head and looks at me a small smile on her soft features. Aunt Marie was still very beautiful for her age , always confidently wearing that smile that could stop traffic that made her cheek bones more evident.