Methis Delis POV
Of the million questions running through my mind at that moment, only one dominated them.
Why wouldn't he just let me be?
I was sitting on the couch, clutching a pillow to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. Why had Jamal Kunis come to my school? What did he want from me?
Today, he had cornered me in the hallway, grabbed my arm, and whispered in my ear, "I need to talk to you. Meet me after school." His voice was low and husky, sending shivers down my spine. His breath was warm and minty, making me dizzy. His eyes were dark and intense, piercing through my soul.
I had pulled away from him, shaking my head. "No, I can't. Leave me alone." I had run away from him, hoping he would get the message. But he didn't. I had a feeling he had followed me to the bus stop, and then to my house. He had watched me from his car, waiting for me to go inside. And now, he was here. Knocking on my door.
I heard his knock again, louder and more impatient. "Methis, open the door. I know you're in there. Please, just hear me out." His voice was pleading, almost desperate. I felt a surge of curiosity and fear. What did he have to say? Why was he so persistent? Did he regret what he had done to me? Did he want to apologize? Or did he want something else?
I got up from the couch, slowly walking towards the door. I looked through the peephole, and saw his face. He was handsome, with olive skin, black hair, and green eyes. He had a strong jaw, a straight nose, and full lips. He was wearing a leather jacket, a black shirt, and jeans. He looked like a bad boy, a rebel, a troublemaker. He looked like someone I should stay away from. But somehow, apparently, I couldn't.
I opened the door, just a crack, and said, "What do you want?" I tried to sound brave, but my voice was shaky.
He smiled, a crooked smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Hey, Methis. I'm glad you opened the door. Can I come in?"
"How did you find me?" I refused to leave the door, standing in his way of getting in. It was illogical, I know. He could easily rip the door off it's hinges without so much as blinking an eye, me along with it and there was nothing I could do to stop him. But I needed to get a sense of control over myself whenever I was around him, with him. And this was the only way I knew, as stupid as it was.
He smiled, "I have my means."
"That doesn't answer my question Jamal."
He sighed, rolling his eyes, "May I come in? Then we can talk?"
I shook my head, holding the door firmly. "No, you can't. Just say what you have to say and leave."
He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Look, I know you're scared of me. And you have every right to be. I did something terrible to you, and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But I had a reason. A good reason. And I want to explain it to you. I want to make you understand. I want to make you forgive me."
I frowned, feeling confused. "A good reason? What reason? Why are you here Jamal? Why are you still hanging around? Can't you let me be? Haven't you caused enough damage already?"
The smile reappeared, "So many questions eh? I don't think I can keep track of them all, talk less of even answering them."
He wasn't taking me seriously, at all, and that frustrated the shit out of me, "You think this is a joke don't you?"
"You are a 5'5 woman standing in my way, defiantly at that." He leaned in towards me, his eyes never leaving mine, forcing me to catch my breath as I caught scent of his strong, raw cologne, "You have to admit, it is kind of funny."
I fought the strong urge to throw myself into his arms, taking a step back. It was insane, the hold he still had over me even after all this while. "Leave, Jamal, now." I could hear the uncertainty in my own voice and desperately prayed to all the higher powers that he couldn't hear it too.
"Not before we talk." He said, straightening up, the amusement gone from his face.
"About what?"
He looked around, as if checking for eavesdroppers. Then he leaned closer to me, lowering his voice. "I can't tell you here. It's not safe. Someone might hear us. Someone might see us. We need to go somewhere private. Somewhere we can talk. Somewhere we can be alone."
He reached for my hand, trying to pull me out of the door. I resisted, pulling back. "No, I'm not going anywhere with you. You're crazy. You're dangerous. You're a monster."
Jamal shook his head, his eyes softening. "No, Methis. I'm not a monster. I'm a man. A man who just really, really, needs to talk with you."
He moved his face closer to mine, his lips almost touching mine. I felt his breath on my skin, his warmth on my body, his magnetism on my soul. I felt a surge of attraction and repulsion.
He whispered, "Please, Methis. Just give me a chance. Just meet me at the hotel. The one on the corner of Main Street and Fifth Avenue. Room 314. I'll be waiting for you. I'll be waiting for you."
"I will not-"
He pulled me into him and kissed me, softly, gently, tenderly. He kissed me like he cared. He kissed me like he meant it. He kissed me like he loved me. He kissed me, and against my own better judgement, against everything I held dear and proper, I kissed him back.
Yeah, I was shameless like that.
He broke the kiss, smiling.
"Will you be there?"
I felt my head nod, even before I could stop myself.
He let out a sigh, "Thank you, Methis. Thank you for giving me a chance. I promise you won't regret it. I promise you'll be happy. I promise you'll be mine."