Rebuilding and Resistance

BECCA

God, how much I missed this silence. There were a few customers, but mostly I was left on my own. I even had time to watch the last season of ~13 Reasons Why~.

I know that I am a grown-up and this story is about high school and teenagers. But for me, it was something so much more with a lot of depth and strong feelings. Netflix did a great job giving this project the green light.

It was almost 6 pm when the door opened, and Patrick walked inside the store. He was wearing a blue checkered shirt and dark blue jeans. He brought me flowers. Again.

Though this time, he bought me pink gerberas and pink Asiatic lilies. I felt flattered honestly, but it also had me feeling unsettled. The second bouquet within one week. He tried to make me understand that he was interested. Damn!

“It’s so nice to see you, Rebecca! This is for you.” He stopped before the loveseat I was sitting in and extended the flowers to me. I took them and hid my nose in them, sniffing the aroma of freshly collected flowers. “Do you like them?”

“Absolutely. Thank you so much, Patrick.”

“Where is your mom?” He sat on the windowsill in front of me.

“She had some matters to take care of.”

“Well... I think it’s good that we are here alone. I could finally ask you to go on a date with me.”

“Patrick…”

“No, Rebecca, listen. I’ve been alone for quite some time, and I was perfectly fine like that. Until I came here and saw you. You are the most beautiful woman that I ever had the pleasure to meet. And it’s so easy for me to talk to you.

“Your mom said that you are recovering from your last relationship, and I can respect that. I can wait. I am asking you to give me a chance. Go on a date with me.”

“My mom forgot to mention that I don’t want to be in a relationship. Not just temporarily. I don’t want to be hurt, like never again. So I would prefer to stay single.”

“Rebecca, what do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror?”

“Me. The broken-hearted version of me.”

“While I see a stunning young woman with a strong personality and a sharp mind. You amuse me, Rebecca. You make me feel and want things that I didn’t want for a very long time. Because there wasn’t anyone like you.”

He placed his hand on my knee. It was warm. But I didn't feel anything more. No excitement, no desire to know him. Nothing.

“Patrick, you are a very interesting man. I like talking to you, and I know that you can make me laugh with such ease. But it's not enough for me to want to try something.”

He hadn't taken his hand off my knee, stroking me lightly. I was in my dress, and it felt strange. I didn't like his persistence and his proximity. I moved my leg, and his hand fell from my knee. I locked eyes with him, plunging the store into complete silence.

“What could change your mind?” Patrick straightened up, holding his head very high.

“I'm not sure that there is something. I look at you, and I see a possible friend. Nothing more.”

“What if I kissed you?”

“What's the point?” I stood up and walked to one of the bookcases. I fixed a few books on the shelf. When I turned around, I realized that Patrick was blocking me. “Erm, you know I don't think that I like this intimacy.”

“Why?” He placed his hand on my cheek. Yes, he tried to be tender. But it was making me more and more uncomfortable. “Rebecca, you surely could understand just how much I am drawn to you.”

“I do, Patrick, and still…”

He leaned closer to me, and he placed his lips on mine without even a second glance. My hands curled into tight fists. Never in my life had I been kissed without permission. Never.

Yeah, I remember that day at the party when some guy that I just met tried to grope me, and Logan defended me. But since then, I haven't been in situations like this.

We heard the sound of the bell hanging over the entrance door. It made him step back from me. I didn't have the opportunity to see who it was, but I was very grateful to this person. I glared at Patrick. To my amusement, he was blushing. It looked like he was bluffing.

“I am sorry, Rebecca. I am sorry for insisting and for making you uncomfortable. It was a jerk move, and it’s something completely out of character for me. I… I guess I know where you stand now. And it’s a pity, but I respect that. Sorry again… I will go.”

“Uh huh…” I clenched my jaw so hard that it almost hurt. “Goodbye, Patrick.”

“Goodbye, Rebecca.”

Patrick turned around and hurriedly left the store. I stayed near this bookcase for a few moments, regaining my composure. I looked at my wrist and saw that it was already 7 pm. I needed to close the store and go home. At least now, he knew, and he wouldn't be a burden to me.

I took my leather jacket from the stool, turned off the laptop, and went to the exit. I was ready to open the door and turn off the lights on my way when I heard a light cough—a strangely familiar sound.

I gulped and slowly turned around. When I saw the person standing before me, my eyes widened a fraction, and my eyebrows shot up in surprise. What was he doing here? Who the hell told him where I was?!

“Well, I guess this guy was another victim of your charms. That look on his face… Damn, I almost felt pity for him.”

“What the fuck... How did you know where to find me?” I narrowed my eyes, hissing in a low voice.

“Kate always was very talkative. It wasn't that hard.”

Drew was standing in the middle of my mom's store, wearing black jeans and a simple white t-shirt with the label Levi's printed on it. He wasn't intimidated by my glare, nor surprised. It looked like he was expecting a reaction like that from me from the start.

“I need to close the store, so I would be very appreciative if you would get out of here. I was on my way home.”

“Feisty and defensive as always,” Drew smirked at me.

Then he shrugged his shoulders and went straight to the exit. When he passed by me, I caught his scent. The guy hadn’t even changed his perfume since the day I slept with him for the first time.

I fell in love with it and even asked what he was wearing. It was Homme Intense by Dior. Even the name suited him perfectly.

I turned off the lights, feeling more than just perplexed; I was destabilized by his sudden appearance before me. I blocked his and Logan’s numbers as soon as I got to the hotel room after my flight from New York. And I had been very cautious these days, not picking up calls from unknown numbers.

What was the reason for him to be here? To mock me that he was right all along? To ask me to be with him? No. It wasn’t either of those reasons. But then, why? Ugh! I had no desire to spend my time with him.

Drew was waiting for me outside, leaning against his car. I pursed my lips and walked past him. I heard him snort, which made me even angrier.

I quickened my pace, but he caught up with me in no time. He walked beside me, his hands hidden in his pockets, and he remained silent. I couldn't take it anymore! I stopped and folded my arms over my chest.

“What do you want?”

“I'll talk to you.”

“I'm not interested.”

I saw him roll his eyes. He glanced to the left, then to the right, and a little smile appeared on his lips.

“There's a coffee shop. Let's go there and talk.”

“Are you deaf? I told you, I'm not interested in anything you want to tell me.”

“Okay.”

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. It was so unlike him! To give up that easily? But okay, maybe I was able to convince him. I nodded at him and turned around.

I didn't have time to take even a few steps. Drew caught me in his arms, turned me around, and the next thing I knew, he tossed me over his shoulder. I yelped with surprise and tried to cover my butt. I was in a dress, remember?

“Put me down! Who do you think you are?! I said…” Without saying anything, he just slapped me on my butt cheeks.

“You chose it yourself.”

I heard as he unlocked the car, and within a few seconds, he put me inside. He was blocking my way to escape.

“Don’t make stupid decisions, babe. I will catch you and will put you back.”

“Yeah? What if I call the police? You are kidnapping me!”

“Try it, Becca.”

We stared at each other. I was furious, while Drew was the epitome of calmness. To be honest, I would have never called the police on him. But, really, what did he want?

“Fine! Whatever you wanted to tell me—I don’t give a damn! Just make it quick!”

“Of course.”

Drew closed the door, walked to his side, and soon enough, we drove off. I sat with my arms crossed, watching as he drove to a very particular and familiar place.