The Forbidden Fruit | 55

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Arabella's POV

"So can I try yours?" I pouted as I dropped my face into my hands and smiled innocently. He rolled his eyes and chuckled before winding up some pasta onto his fork and then bringing it to my lips carefully. I took the food into my mouth and moaned in delight as it melted against my tongue and slid down my throat.

That sounded less sexual in my head.

I didn't realize that my eyes were flickered shut as I ate and quickly snapped them open, only to see that Tyler was gazing back at me amusedly and some sort of look of adoration in his eyes. "What?" I mumbled sheepishly and he grabbed a napkin before leaning towards me and then gently wiping it against my chin.

"You got a little carried away there." He whispered softly before pulling back and slumping against his chair. I cleared my throat in embarrassment and grabbed the wine glass and slowly brought it to my lips. Tyler's eyes never left mine and I giggled once again as the cool drink went down my throat.

"You look a little flustered." He mocked as he gestured towards my face frantically. I flipped him off and his behind my glass when he burst into a fit of laughter. "You're something else, Arabella." He sighed as he took a bite from his food.

We were halfway through our dinner at this point. Tyler ordered the creamy fettuccini steak and I ordered the Hanger steaks with French onion sauce. I knew that I was wary of my weight and what I consumed but every other month I'd decide to spoil myself and have one night where I eat anything fatty at all.

Tonight was that night for two months and then I might spoil myself again.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"You did actually." I chuckled, his mouth fell into the shape of an O and he nodded his head before smiling–that charming smile unlike Ryan made my stomach churn in ways I could not comprehend. Tyler wasn't perfect but there were qualities of him that I would say was perfect.

And despite everything that we have been through. All the fights and back and forth bickering eventually led us here, together and I'm thankful that in the midst of all our toxicity we found a way to love one another and shove that dislike to the back of our heads.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked in concern. I pursed my lips in a thin line and sipped the wine from my glass slowly before placing it back onto the table, "you. . .us." The last thing I wanted to do was make this amazing night turn into a sob story.

I decided here that I would leave the worrying for another day. I have one more week to make a decision. Maybe less since tomorrow, I'm scheduled to go dress shopping with my mother and obviously to avoid her I will be taking Erika with me.

I didn't bother asking what the plan was for the wedding. Like who was catering or who would attend or even where the venue would be. I didn't care about any of those things because to me this isn't my wedding. This is just the day that I sign an agreement with Marks Enterprise and then I'll move on with my life.

Wait why am I speaking like I already made a choice?

Maybe deep down I knew Tyler would still never agree with me and that scared me because I didn't want to leave without him, I don't know what I'm supposed to do all by myself if I run away and I can't ask Erika to do something like that when it has nothing to do with her.

But I also know that I can't ask Tyler that either, I'm being selfish asking him to give up how college life and his parents and everything to run away from me. But I can't do this without him.

"Babe, your mind went far again." Tyler's voice snapped me out of my reverie and I shook my head lightly and flickered my eyes shut, a sigh escaped my lips as I curled my fingers into the material of my dress and then released it in fear that I'd wrinkle it.

"Arabella, seriously if you're going to sit there and doze off with that face then we best get going because you're worrying me," Tyler exclaimed as he squeezed my hand reassuringly, his brown eyes gazing down at me in concern.

"I'm sorry Tyler. I'm okay, really, let's just enjoy our dinner," he sighed deeply and leaned over the table, I watched silently as his hands outstretched towards my face and he took my cheeks in his grasp and squeezed them lightly. "Ouch!"

"Shush, I'm having a moment." He whispered before planting a kiss against my nose. I giggled and brushed his hands away but he tightened his grip and lowered his eyes to my level, "I love you okay, and I know that you want this night to be special. But after this, we go back to the real world and I want you to tell me everything you're thinking of okay?"

"Okay," I mumbled softly. He smiled and nodded his head before pressing his lips against my cheek.

~ ~ ~

"And here is your bill, how would you like to pay?" The waitress asked as she lowered herself down beside us. "Debit card," I muttered as I pulled it out of my purse and turned towards Tyler who was retrieving money from his wallet.

"Tyler, I'm paying." He snapped his head towards me and frowned deeply before his eyes slid towards the bill and he let out a humourless chuckle, "Bella this is a two hundred and seventy-five dollar bill."

I shrugged nonchalantly and retrieved my debit card from my purse.

"You weren't kidding when you said you were taking on the role of the man tonight!" He exclaimed in astonishment and I couldn't help but recognize the way his voice rose an octave higher as if he were embarrassed or stunned. I sighed deeply and leaned in towards him before kissing him chastely against the lips.

"Fine, I don't wanna hurt your ego so fine! You can pitch in, we'll split the bill." I mumbled in defeat and he squealed softly and nodded his head sheepishly before retrieving his wallet. I chuckled softly as I listened in on him mumbling to himself about how he should be the one paying for his girl and not the other way around.

I paid with my card and Tyler paid in cash whilst also tipping the waitress for her assistance tonight. "It's what a gentleman does." He exclaimed as he slipped his jacket back on and stood up. He outstretched his hands towards me and I took it in my grasp, allowing him to hoist me upwards and into his arms.

"Now where are we headed, next M'lady? I suppose you have the entire night planned out?" He inquired as he wove his hands through mine and interlocked them. I nodded my head softly and we both fell into place as we exited the restaurant and back onto the chilly streets.

What I had planned next wasn't as nearly as romantic as dinner but it was mediocre and it only required us to walk side by side and gaze upwards. I wrapped my free hand around Tyler's arm and leaned my head against his shoulder as we trekked down the sidewalk.

He flickered his eyes down at me and smiled and somehow I couldn't help but mirror his cherry expression although I knew that there was literally nothing to be happy about.

This might be the last date we ever have.

"Where are we going?" He asked softly just in time as Palmer alley appeared in my front view. We bent the corner and found ourselves standing at the entrances of the alley. "Right here," I mumbled as I tightened my grip on his arm and led him off the sidewalk and down the alley.

"Look up." He did as I said and we both gazed up at the paper lanterns strung up on the strings that hung from building to building above our heads. The lanterns were varied in colours such as orange, purple, red, blue. It gave the dark streets a bright soft glow and sort of made me feel at peace.

"This is beautiful." He whispered softly as he gazed deeply at the bright lights illuminating from the lanterns. I smiled in response and nodded my head before flickering my gaze away from the lights and towards the closed stores on either side of the alley.

Even though most of the stores were closed there was a man sitting on a bucket, a guitar perched in his hands and his guitar case opened out before him. He looked stressed and concerned, and I suspected it was because he didn't earn much money today.

"Tyler, I have something in mind." Tyler flickered his gaze away from the lights and followed my gaze as I motioned towards the man. He smiled and beckoned me towards him.

The man gazed up at us and offered us a warm smile. "Goodnight! You two look like such a lovely couple." He exclaimed, I chuckled and thanked him softly. Tyler retrieved a hundred dollar bill from his wallet and instead of placing it into the guitar case, he handed it to the man.

His face was stunned as he gazed down at the bill and he stammered before shaking his head softly. "I–I can't take this! You two are such a young couple, surely you may need it to help yourselves."

"No, it's okay. Take it, and plus it kinda isn't for free, I'd like you to play a song for us on your guitar, please." Tyler exclaimed as he placed the bill into the suitcase and stepped back. The man gazed up at us and smiled, I could see the glaze over his eyes and found myself clutching Tyler's arm tightly.

"T–thank you, and no problem. I'll play the best song for you two."

I turned towards Tyler and blushed deeply as he placed his palms against the small of my back and I wrapped my arms around his neck. The guitar started to strum softly and I recognized the melody he was playing, it was dancing in the dark by Ed Sheeran.

Well, this guy knows good music when he hears it.

Tyler and I began to sway slowly and for a second I forgot we were standing in the middle of the alley where people walked up and down. But I didn't care, this was America, shit like this happens everywhere.

Plus who wouldn't dance under these beautiful lights? It was such a romantic night I couldn't let it pass by.

"Thank you for tonight. Everything so far is amazing. The dinner, the walk, the lights, this; being here with you in my arms, sometimes I still think this is all so surreal and we never said the words I love you to one another." Tyler said as he closed the space between us.

I smiled in response and nodded my head, I wanted to fight it, I wanted to keep it together tonight but I couldn't control the tear that trickled down my cheek as he hugged me in his arms.

I laid my head against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. Somehow the sound of Tyler's heartbeat seemed to calm me down and I pulled away from his chest and closed the space between our lips.

Somehow much like the first time we ever kissed I could feel that spark jolt between us as if we were transmitting energy from each other's body to the other. I know it sounded ridiculous but somehow this felt like it was the last night we would share something like this.

Why? Maybe my subconscious knew that I wanted to do right by my parents and I didn't want to be their downfall.

And maybe another part of me wanted to save myself but I couldn't without Tyler.

Maybe I was lost and maybe my mind wanted me to think this was the last time Tyler and I got to share a moment like this.

Whatever happens after this, I'm sure we'll get past it.

"I love you, Tyler."

"I love you too."

A/N: I'm sure everyone reading this is aware of the ongoing George Floyd protests occurring around the world right now. I'm aware that not everyone (including myself since I live in Ontario) can actually get up from their homes and join a protest and act for justice but there are things you can do at home to help the cause such as;

• Sending a letter demanding justice to the Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey or Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

• You can sign the petition @Justice for George Floyd on change.org. To get the other officers involved in this vile act to be fired from their jobs and for charges to be filed.

• And you can also donate to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund on godfundme.com

Please, coming from a black young woman it hurts to see that the world is only becoming more corrupt day by day and nothing is being done to prevent it. We actually have a chance to make a change, keep people safer and actually live in peace without worrying about who will be police officers next victim.

If you can just take a moment out of your day to help make a change it would be much appreciated.

#Blacklivesmatter ✊🏾✊🏽✊🏿❤️

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