Chapter 16

Brandon stopped at my house when it was just over 2.35 in the afternoon, ten minutes before he said he would arrive. He came inside, saying hi to me and went to his usual couch in the living room.

"Oh Kara I forgot to mention. Don't wear frocks or skirts today." Brandon said turning to me, getting reminded suddenly.

"First, I wasn't going to anyway and second, you're the one who practically begged me at school to go all the cutesy type." I rolled my eyes as I sat across from him on the floor cross legged.

"I know I know but I hadn't had decided where to spend the day by then."

"So where will we go?" I was curious as hell as to which place wouldn't approve wearing skirts or frocks.

"You'll see." Brandon smirked while looking really satisfied to see me clueless. "Just get changed. We'll leave as soon as you're ready."

I shrugged and finished the apple that I was eating before going up to my room to change.

This time my outfit considered of a simple white top with denim jeans. I put a light coloured coat over it and I was ready.

I went downstairs to the living room where Brandon was waiting for me and stood at the door anticipating him to say something.

"Wow didn't know you could pull off a different look with the same jeans." He softly smiled at me coming to the door and once again, without any reason I blushed, getting shy.

"Why are you red?" The guy chuckled.

We got onto Brandon's car and started our drive to who knows where. I tried to guess the destination by the road signs but couldn't think of anything as Brandon drove through a bit of a countryside.

It had passed 40 minutes until the car was parked in a quiet environment, my confusion and curiosity high as ever.

"This way." Brandon led the way along a stoned path which directed to a lighted area about 50m ahead of us. He finally stopped in front me and spread out his hands. "Tada!! What do you think?"

"Ice skating?!"

My eyes widened at the large outdoor ice skating rink ahead of me, occupied with people trying to balance themselves on the thin blades while sliding across the ice. Small children with their parents and couples holding hands were scattered over the layer of ice, filling the place with laughter and joy. The rink was surrounded by trees which were decorated with small light bulbs tangled on the branches. It really was a sight to see.

[A/N : Imagine something like this but with no buildings in the back and more number of larger trees.]

"Do you like it?" Brandon asked nervously scratching the back of his neck.

"Like it? I love it!!" I squealed like a little girl on the spot making the boy giggle as he let out a sigh of relief.

"I remember how you had a mental breakdown when you couldn't go ice skating for your fifth birthday and I also know you couldn't go after that so I thought this might be the perfect place for our date."

He... he remembers that?

It was more than 10 years ago...

I feel touched...

What's this warm feeling? It keeps getting stronger...

"Earth to Kara!" Brandon snapped his fingers at me and I chuckled. He dragged me to the place where they give you the ice skating shoes and after getting two pairs for both of us we put it on while sitting on a bench just outside the rink.

"It's too tight!" I let out through gritted teeth, struggling to put the shoe on.

"It's your size though. Here let me help you." Brandon keeled down in front of me to help me with the situation and started laughing after just one glance at my shoe.

"Why are you laughing??"

"Why are you putting your right leg into the left shoe dummy?!" He held onto the bench for support as he lost his balance from laughing.

I felt dumbfounded and shy and embarrassed and everything you'd feel when you know you've messed up big time, in front of your best friend.

"Well humans make mistakes, alright? Now quit laughing!!" I slapped his shoulder playfully and got up from the seat, hastily going to the entrance to the ice rink.

"Hey wait up!" Brandon joined me as I finally went inside the rink with him following behind.

I hadn't been on ice since I was four and it didn't help my situation at all. There's not so much one could do with wobbly legs so I kept on falling for more than five times within two minutes, motivating my best friend to make faces at me and gracefully glide around my unstable figure to taunt me.

"Will you help me for once instead of mocking me?!" I yelled at him hopelessly, falling flat on my back again when I was trying to get up from an earlier impact with the ice layer.

Now I get why Brandon didn't want me to wear a skirt or a frock.

"Okay okay I'm sorry. Let me get you back on your feet." He slid down to the back of me and snaked his arms under my own, abruptly lifting me up without any warning. I yelped in surprise but thanked him before resuming to try and get the hang of ice skating.

"You gotta relax first. Follow me." Brandon advised from behind and I turned to him, trying to imitate what looked like a breathing exercise.

I'm not attending a competition why do I need breathing exercises?!

It does help me relax though.

The breathing exercise was followed by some tips to learn ice skating and Brandon guided me through all of them slowly, cleverly teaching me with immense patience. He held my hand in a tight grip so I wouldn't fall but it was so soft and gentle at the same time. By the end of the lessons he had in store for me, I was capable of gliding through the ice on my own.

"So did you have fun?" Brandon asked me on our way to the place where the car was parked, after two good hours on ice.

"Yeah it was awesome. Tha- Argh!!" Someone grabbed my wrist from behind and I turned around trying to shake my hand free from a stranger who was laughing with his companion. They seemed drunk.

"Are you leaving already sweetie?" One man asked in a deep rough voice, sending chills down my spine.

"Let her go!" Brandon stood in front of me like a protective shield and tried to free my wrist.

"Let's share her kid. What do you say, five hundred bucks?" The second stranger eyed me down from head to toe shamelessly over Brandon's shoulder. I was so scared that I scooted closer to Brandon with my head held down.

I feel safe with him somehow...

I could feel my best friend tensing up in front of me and clenching his hands into fists. His body was literally starting to shake violently, worrying and scaring me to the bone.

Then out of the blue he threw a powerful punch at the man who had grabbed my wrist, sending him onto the ground from the impact. My wrist was freed and I covered my mouth in shock as the other guy tried to launch at Brandon but failed to do so given his drunken state and Brandon's speed and strength. He kicked both of the men a few times before pointing his index finger at them threateningly.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that. She's my girl and she's far more worth than five hundred bucks."

'My' girl....?

What's that supposed to mean?

Brandon turned to me and gently dragged me away from there as fast as he can and opened the car door for me to get in before getting onto the driver's seat himself.

"How's your wrist?" He took my hand in his and started examining the light red marks that had appeared there. But I was far too distracted to think about that.

"Why did you say that?" I asked quietly, not taking my eyes off his own.

"Say what?"

"You said I'm your girl. Why did you say that?"

"Kara, you mean everything to me. Especially after.... you know...." His face fell probably from recalling past events and I knew it was not the time to keep the conversation going.

"Ah I'm starving." I remarked loudly trying to change the topic and he just nodded his head cutely, chuckling through the process.

His girl...

There comes that warm feeling again...