Chapter 5
night. "Yeah, if you can get your hands on her, you'll be the luckiest out
of all of us." Another voice added. "I don't want to get my hands on her,
Keith, I just want to go out with her. But she's so young…" I could hear
Rowen's deep, even voice say.
"Young? You call 16 young? Sixteen is not young, mate. You should go for
it." Another voice said. "I think her eyes look like stars." A completely
different voice said. There was around of laughter. "I think so too,
David." Rowen said, in wistful voice.
Blushing deep red, I stepped out to the light. The voices died down as
soon as the ring of lads spotted me. "Ariana…" A murmur went around. David,
a tall, skinny lad with glasses, stepped forward. "Ari, you look lovely."
He said, with a smile. I blushed again. Accepting compliments was not a
strong point of mine. "Thanks" I managed to whisper, before looking up atRowen.
His dark hair was washed and spiked. His hazel eyes twinkled merrily
against the dark blue sky. A powerful smell of after-shave washed over me.
He looked great in his dark blue shirt.
"Mrs. S said you came in looking for me." I said, wishing my voice didn't
sound so high. "Yeah." He said, glancing around at his friends. They all
nodded, excitedly. He took a deep breath. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
He asked. "Go for it, Ro!" I heard one guy whisper. I smiled. "I'd love
to." I told him. His knitted eyebrows smoothened immediately. He flashed
his million-dollar smile at me. "Great." He said, holding out his hand. I
took it. We stepped away from the ring of lads, out to the Subratas' large
garden.I could smell Emily's roses in the dark, and it was lovely. "Don't you
think the smell of flowers in the dark is really beautiful?" I asked, my
heart beating faster as I grew aware of my hand in Rowen's. "I think a lot
of other things beautiful, too." Rowen said, softly. I blushed again,
feeling glad for the dark. "Oh?" I said, lightly. "Like what?"
"Well, I told you the other night, Sligo bay, for instance. Ireland. The
sky. The stars…." He trailed off. He glanced at me from the corner of his
eye. "….Even you…." He added, so softly that his voice was barely above a
whisper. My heart was hammering in my chest. "Rowen, I…." I tried to speak.
"Please… Don't say anything." He whispered, and placed his lips gently onmine.
He was warm, and gentle. His arms slipped around my waist, and held me
carefully, as if he was afraid that he would hurt me if he held me more
firmly. The kiss was brief, and light, but I felt like it had gone on
forever. It was definitely a piece of heaven.
We pulled apart. He looked at me questioningly. I looked into his
concerned hazel eyes and smiled. Sliding my arms around his neck, I kissed
him again. Smiling, he kissed me back; this one leaving us both breathless.
We pulled apart again, laughing. "You're so pretty." He whispered,
pushing away a wisp of hair from my face. I smiled, my dimples deepening.
"I don't even want to tell you how handsome you are, your feet will get far
too big for your shoes!" I said, jabbing him slightly in the side. "So,
will you go out with me?" He asked, looking at me expectantly.
I looked at his eyes again. They were serious, and so very beautiful. I
smiled. "What do you think?" I whispered, wrapping my arms even tighter
around his neck. "I think yes." He whispered. "I think yes, too." I
whispered back.
He smiled. "Come on, let's go and celebrate!" He said, pulling my hand.
Laughing, I fell into step beside him. It felt so good to know that I was
with him. He made me feel warm, secure and wanted. That was everything that
I wanted a guy to make me feel.
As we walked inside, hand in hand, the whole party seemed to be waiting
for us. One look at us, they all erupted into cheers. "I knew you'd ask
her!" Mark exclaimed, picking me up and twirling me around and around. "And
I knew she'd say yes!" Emily laughed, her eyes dancing happily. Kate handed
us both a glass of champagne each. "That is the sweetest thing I've seen!"
She said, all smiles and happiness.
Everyone was crowding around us, congratulating us. It was like we had
gotten married! I laughed as Bryan tried to pick me up. "No! Mark already
ruined my dress once!" I said, swatting him away. Nicky gave me a big hug.
"Lucky lad, Rowen." He said, giving Ro a friendly slap on the back. I
kissed Nix on the cheek. "You feel better?" I whispered. "Around you, I
always do." He said, smiling at me.
Bernice was bubbling with happiness. "God, lucky girl! Rowen is sooooooo
hot." She said, rolling her eyes dramatically. I laughed. "You flatter him
way too much." I told her. Rowen appeared by my side. "May I have this
dance, Miss. Wickremasinghe?" He asked, smiling as the music started. "Yes,
you may." I said, sliding happily into his arms.
The whole night was absolutely the best. The only bad thing was a phone
call from Ray at about 1:30 am. "Get to bed in half an hour, Madam Long
Legs, tomorrow I'm making you swim a 3:47!" She shouted. "All right, all
right! I'm going home now. I've got good news, but I'll tell you tomorrow."
I told her, and put my phone away.
As Rowen took me home, walked me to the door, and laid a kiss on my lips,
I felt like the happiest girl on Earth.