Red

Chapter Ten

(PICTURE OF TANNER ATTACHED ON THE SIDE)

I felt my eyes slowly closing as we leaned in closer and closer to one another. My heart was beating at what is most likely an unhealthy heart rate and the butterflies were flying like crazy throughout my belly.

Uneven warm puffs of air was blown onto my lips, showing that I wasn't the only one struggling to breathe normally. I wasn't thinking straight and the one thought that was running through my mind was 'I want this.'

It felt like hours that I was waiting for him to close the distance and to finish what this moment started, but in reality it had mere seconds.

'Heads up!!!' A loud voice snapped me out of the moment and caused me to whip my head around, only to see the fast approaching object of a bright green cricket ball. Still in shock from wanting to kiss Michael, I merely turned my head and covered it with my hands waiting for the impact.

But it never came.

I slowly brought my head up from the protection of my arms to find Michael's body in front of mine, as if he were protecting me. Since we had been so close, it's not like he had flung his body with great speed, but he only had to readjust how he was sitting to cover me from the ball.

A low all too familiar growling sound brought me back from my thinking and cowering away to see Michael's death grip on the small ball. Only a small portion of the ball could be seen with the bright green showing from the cracks in his fingers.

The sound of heavy thudding footsteps made me turn my head once again to see a guy around my age running up towards us.

'Sorry about that guys, my bad.' He smiled down politely and I returned the action. Michael however, scowled up at him. If looks could kill, this guy would have been dead 5 times by now in the short time space.

The guy who had hit the ball was average looking, who I picked to be around my age maybe even a couple years younger than me. His average looking brown hair was slightly sticking to his forehead from sweat which I assume he got from playing the game of beach cricket with his mates.

His eyes were a dull brown, nothing too spectacular. Or maybe they were dull because I was used to Michael's deep brown eyes that were frankly quite intriguing. He wasn't fit but wasn't fat either. His stomach was flat with the slightest bit of puppy fat on it.

I elbowed Michael to indicate that he was waiting for the ball he was holding, but instead Michael rose to his feet.

'What the fuck,' he started saying, his voice very deep with anger lacing every syllable he pronounced. Without thinking, I quickly reached up and tried to snatch that ball that his firm grip was holding; much like how someone would hold a stress ball.

I tried to pry his fingers off the ball hurriedly, wanting to give the ball back and make the guy go back to his game. I've seen what his like when his angry and in worst case scenario I didn't want him lashing out or turning into a wolf in front of everyone here.

Michael abruptly stopped talking and intently stared down at me. I didn't look up at him so I wasn't sure if he was still angry or not and I didn't want to find out. My actions were getting frantic, and it caused Michael to worry. He loosened his grip on the ball slightly, and I managed to yank out the ball from his death like grip.

I sighed in relief and pretty much threw the ball at the guy who came to collect it. He was looking at us with concern and a bit of fright.

'Why,' Michael started questioning before I quickly cut him off.

'There you go.' I half smiled, but it was forced. I'm pretty sure the guy noticed because he looked at me worriedly before jogging back to his friends who were waiting patiently for the ball so they could continue their game.