C6 Chapter 6

As they drove, Brandon would throw random glances at her, watching her look out the window with a smile on her face enjoying the wind and view. Nymph.

"Oh yeah," she suddenly said and pulled her bag up. He glanced in curiosity as she rummagd through it and after finding what she was looking for, she dropped her bag and leaned towards him, dropping something in his pocket.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Your change." She answered.

He glanced at her. Her face was a well of calm happiness.

"What change?"

"You gave me too much money last night. I used what I needed. There's the rest. Thanks by the way." She beamed up at him and turned back to look out the window. Brandon was shocked. No one had ever......

"How much was your cab fare?"

"A dollar and fifty cents,"

He turned to look at her in incredulity.

"But i paid two dollars instead because-" she'd began to explain in guilt but he cut her off.

"Don't explain. Elizabeth, a dollar? Where you told me to stop, it was around your house, right?"

She nodded, "Yes."

He parked the car. Beth watched in confusion and apprehension.

He turned to face her and after scanning her face, he asked

"Elizabeth, did you walk?"

She nodded, "Yes, but only a little bit."

His eyes narrowed, "A little bit? Did you see the distance we drove before getting to your place? If you walked for a little bit, how come your fare only cost a dollar?"

"And fifty cents." She added.

"Elizabeth," he warned.

She lowered her eyes, running her tongue over her teeth.

"Why did you walk?" He asked.

She rose her eyes to his, "Because I had the energy to."

His brows dipped, "You had money, Elizabeth."

"Money that wasn't mine. I didn't want to waste it."

"Waste it?" He questioned, not believing it. "Waste it? It was so late at night. Do you know what could have happened to you?"

"But the money wasn't mine-"

"So what? You would place your well being at risk, just to save money?"

She said nothing. After staring at her for a while, he shook his head and started up the engine. Brandon focused his gaze on the road, gritting his teeth in anger. What if something had happened to her? He should have ensured she left in the safety of a cab before leaving and he had wanted to but she had been already too anxious to get rid of him. She had- why did he care so much!?

Beth was uncomfortable. The car was quiet. Brandon was angry and she... She didn't feel comfortable.

After a while of him driving in silence, she turned to him and leaned in till she was looking directly at his profile. He didn't move. She huffed on his face but he gave no reaction. His jaw was set in a grim line. She gently placed a hand on his leg.

"Brandon?"

No response.

She smiled at his expression, "You look so cute when you're mad."

He finally sighed.

"Brandon?" She called again but got no response back.

She then dropped her head to his shoulder and angled it to be able to look up at him. He kept on ignoring her. Even if he wanted to, Brandon couldn't look down. She was breathing directly on his chin. If he so much as turned his head and angled it the right way, their lips would touch and that thought caused him to grow rigid because he began fighting the urge to do so.

"You smell nice." She commented, taking a whiff of him. He frowned. Weirdo.

She sighed and folded her arms around his arm that held unto the staring wheel.

"Elizabeth," he warned.

"I'm sorry," she apologized but he said nothing. Didn't even look at her.

"You won't forgive me?"

Nothing.

"Fine then." She scooted back and relaxed in her seat, turning her head to look out the window. Two could play at this game. Brandon eyed her, thinking the matter over and over again, trying to gain comprehension. She was mad at him?! Her? She was mad? At him? Unbelievable. She suddenly turned and caught his eyes on her.

She smiled cheekily.

He turned back to face the road.

"Brandon?"

"What?!" He snapped.

The car was quiet for a while, before she suddenly erupted in a laughing fit. The sound of her laughter caused him to sigh and shake his head as he felt his anger evaporate. He almost jolted when he felt her lips on his cheek. His fingers tightened around the staring wheel. It took sheer wheel not to grab her and kiss her the way he wanted to.

"That's for being cute." She sat back.

"And childish." She mumbled.

"Childish?" He questioned with an open mouth.

She giggled and nodded, "Mm-hmm. Cute and childish."

All he could do was shake his head.

They arrived at the beach. He put on a pair of sunglasses and a face cap, and they began on the beach. With the white sand everywhere and the sea lazily engaging in a slow kiss with the shore, Beth smiled. There weren't a lot of people, like she'd expected. It was the middle of a working day, after all. They got a spot under a public umbrella and after buying beach towels, they sat next to each other. Beth couldn't keep her eyes off the sea and couldn't keep the smile off her face. After a huge sigh, she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the cool sea breeze over her sensitive skin. The sound of seagulls greeted her ears and she laughed to herself. Oh, how long it had been. All through, Brandon watched her. Gentle in simplicity, exotic in beauty. Was anyone really this innocent?

"Elizabeth?"

She opened her eyes and looked to him, smiling in happiness.

"Why would you save money over your well-being?"

She blinked. He watched the smile slowly drain off her face, leaving a blank look in it's stead.

"Why?"

"I'm concerned and curious."

"You don't have to be worried about me. I'm fine." She said, and looked forward.

She felt his fingers on her chin, turning her head to his.

"I know you are. I don't doubt it. Just give me something to hold on to."

She looked at him, then tilted her head to the side. A move he was slowly learning the meaning of.

"Why do you care?"

"I could say that I care about everyone, but i won't. With you, it's different and I don't know why."

As the breeze blew, she watched his face. He was being honest. He really didn't know. Was that a good thing?

"I'm fascinated by you."

There was that statement again. Maybe everything lay in the fascination. She reached forward a pulled off his sunglasses and he let her.

"Why?"

"You're different."

"The minute the fascination of something different wares off, what happens then?"

"I'll keep guessing. You keep me guessing and wondering without trying. I don't think you'll be able to get out of my head anytime soon."

She looked to the water, "I will eventually. What happens after that?"

He once again took her chin and turned her head so he could look at her.

"I don't know."

No one knew. Everyone could only say what they wanted and wished for, but no one really knew what would turn out. The good thing was, everyone was allowed to fight for what they wanted if they didn't get it. But what happens when they realize that what they spent days, weeks or even years fighting for, wasn't worth it? And what they wanted but didn't act on, was what was worth fighting for? What happens when they realized that they wasted more time that they could recover from? Or that they let what they wanted, keep them from realizing what they needed, In time to fight for it?

"A penny for your thoughts?"

"Make it two pennies."

"Done."

"I know you don't know. I'm just wondering why you want to be my.... What do you want from me?"

"What are you willing to give me?" He asked back.

They held each other's gaze, totally buried in the depth that was each other.

"I'll give you an answer to your former question now. I would save money over my well being because I need money."

"But if you don't protect yourself, how would you use it? There won't be a you to use it."

"The money needed is not for me. Me, I can take care of myself. It's for another reason. That reason.... That's why I'll always be fine. I have to be fine."

With a gentle voice, he asked, "Do you want to tell me what the reason is?"

"I would be exposing myself. I won't do that to have you bail on me."

Shaking his head and looking at the water, he said, "I don't think I would."

"How do you know that?"

She was already living rent free in his head. How does a man bail on his own head?

All he could do was shrug.

"My mom. She's the reason."

He turned to her, recognizing that she was letting him in. And from how he'd seen her to be, it was not easy for her. Why was she doing it?

"Is she okay?" He asked gently.

Beth began to play with the sand, gathering it and letting it drop from her fingers.

"She has heart cancer."

Brandon felt his heart drop as his body stiffened.

She looked at him, gauging his reaction.

He opened his mouth to speak.

She smiled and shook her head, "Don't apologize."

He felt terrible.

"What about your father?"

"He died when I was fifteen years old." She said, the sadness in her voice weighing down on him.

She was dealing with so much. How was she paying her mother's hospital bills with what she was earning from the coffee shop? Guilt and regret suddenly hit him as he remembered degrading her because of how she looked. It was obvious to him now that she was the kind of person to sacrifice wholeheartedly for people. The look in her eyes couldn't be faked. Her littles gestures couldn't be planned. Her smiles couldn't be a façade. She came from a place, too real for pretence and everything he'd ever heard about her, confirmed that. Brian would never be willing to fight for an undeserving person. This same person... He'd bet on. His insides quivered. He knew what about her got to him so much now... Her originality. Elizabeth was unapologetically herself. The look in her eyes told him that her innocence was a her thing. Life had given her hell but she'd fought right back with everything she had, still being herself. The innocence was there in the way she smiled. In the way she casually touched him. Even in the car, he could have taken advantage of her, but he respected her and himself. She didn't know that.... Didn't pay attention to that tiny what-if.

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth."

"Call me Beth," she said, looking at him with a smile on her face.

He let out a small smile.

"Beth."

She nodded and lay back on the blanket. He stood up and put his sun glasses back on. She looked up at him, "What?"

"Let's go to the water." He suggested.

He saw a certain look over take her face, before she bit into her lower lip. His eyes followed the movement but he pulled his gaze away. She looked.... She looked pensive all of a sudden.

"Elizabeth?"

She looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting back down.

She sat up and turned to face him, "So, I might kind of sort of maybe have a fear of water."

He creased a brow, "You do? But you wanted to come to the beach."

"I know. I know. I miss the water, I do. But, I can't help but fear it."

She looked at him and sighed. Here goes...

"One time, when I was in highschool, all the girls in my class decided to come to the beach to hang out and I joined in. It was a very lovely time we had, in our cliques of course. The more popular girls to themselves, the less popular kept to themselves, same way the non-existent did. High school was messed up. Anyway, the popular girls got bored really quickly and decided to have fun with the rest of us and guess who was first on their list? They picked me up and threw me into the sea."

Brandon felt his body tense in anger as his brows dipped. She had been bullied. She returned back to her former reclined state, sighing.

"Feared the water ever since?"

"Yup."

"Not anymore." Beth didn't have time to think about what he meant before she was suddenly in the air and being carried to the water. She tried to fight him but he wasn't letting up. He saw her eyes widen in fright and panic but he didn't let go. They got to the very tip of the shore and he let her down, but held unto her to make sure she didn't run.

"Let me go!"

"No."

"I tell you what I don't like and you do just that!?"

He spun her around and pushed his sun glasses up, locking his eyes with hers.

"You told me what you used to love, till a bunch of airheads took that away from you. I want you to get it back and show yourself just how strong you are because I see that you're very strong. You miss the water. You said so yourself. I want you to leave the beach today, very happy with yourself. We can't have it any other way." He ended, smiling at her. She looked up at him.... Sighed and then he saw the fear.

"Brandon, i-"

"I'm here with you. I won't leave you."

She took in a deep breath, looked behind her and groaned.

"Dio, se muoio, per favore perdonami."

Brandon chuckled. She shot him a glare. He stilled his laughter. He placed his hands on her shoulder and helped her turn. He felt her body tense and press into his, the minute she saw the waves headed for them.

He leaned down and whispered in her ears while interlocking their fingers,

"Breathe, Beth."

She saw the waves approaching. She watched with a pounding heart as the water barely licked the tip of her toes before receding. Okay.... Okay! That wasn't so bad. He took a step forward, thus, pushing her forward also.

"No, Brandon, please, move backwards."

"Forward? Okay." He took another step forward. Her heart began to pound with renewed frevor.

"No. Brandon, backwards." She rushed out. She watched an even heavier wave build.

"Forward? Okay." He pushed her forward as he took another step. She made to turn but he wasn't letting her.

"Brandon, I want to go back."

"Beth, breathe."

"I am breathing!"

"Close your eyes, Beth. Just breathe. I'm here." Groaning, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She could do this. She would get over this. It was just water anyway. It would be a piece of cake. Her eyes opened.

No. No it wouldn't. The water was rushing for her like a boulder. She began to hyperventilate.

"Brandon, please," she begged but he stood firm. As the water reared up and dove straight for her, she screamed and spun around, burying her face in his chest, holding onto him for dear life.

She felt the water hit her legs and progress up her thighs, before receding. Trying to catch her breath, she slowly looked back to be sure that it was gone, before looking up at Brandon. He was smiling down at her.

"You see?"

"I almost died!"

He began to laugh. She huffed.

"It's not funny, y'know."

He just kept laughing. Looking down at herself, she found that as the water reached her thighs, it had barely gone above his knees. She looked up at him, Indignation written all over her face. He shrugged, looking smug. Oh really? As the next wave came, she waited for it and was able to stop herself from running but just before it could begin receding, she pushed him into the water. Hah! That oughta keep the smile off his face.

"Beth!" He called in annoyance as he resurfaced, trying to find his footing and his eye sight. As soon as he got up to a knee, another wave hit, toppling him over again. She bellowed out, laughing so hard her stomach hurt. As she laughed at him, he rushed up, grabbed her and literally threw her into the next wave. Beth went under and came back up, coughing and wiping her face. As soon as she regained her sight, she glared at him. He stuck his tongue out at her. That was it! She lunged for him but he evaded her, pulling his shoes off and throwing them randomly to the sand as he ran, trying to avoid her arms. She ignorantly went after him, till she realized when the water was at her chest, that he'd lured her in. A huge wave was coming. His laughter rang out, mocking her. She eyes widened and she suddenly turned around flee but it was no use. His arms were around her, grounding her in place. The water toppled over them both.

"Brandon!" She banged against his chest. "You pine cone, I'm all wet now!" She yelled, frowning up at him in anger.

"So am I." He responded, looking down at her. His gaze held hers. There was something to the way he said it. He was wet? He was wet? They both were but why had he said it like th- her eyes widened as realization hit her.

"Brandon!" She grimaced.

He laughed with abandon.

"You said you were wet."

She nudged his stomach, "Not down there. Ugh." She rolled her eyes.

His body kept shaking with laughter as they made their way out of the sea. Beth smiled as she heard him guffaw. She shot him a look but couldn't keep the smile off her face. She was happy. She was happy inside her. It had been a while since she'd felt this way and him... The icy CEO was like an onion. A man with many layers. She was about to say something to him when she heard her name being called. She turned and gasped in delight, walking faster. Brandon looked up ahead and saw a woman running toward them. It wasn't till she came closer that he recognized her and the man behind her.

Sherlie and Brian.

"Hey you!" Sherlie smiled as she hugged Beth. After snuggling into her warmth, Beth pulled back and was about to ask her what she doing out of work, when she saw Brian and Brandon hug each other.

"You two know each other?" She questioned in surprise.