Red tulips (39)

It was already eight pm when I finish taking a shower.

I heard my phone ringing and my bad feeling made me immediately understand who was calling me...

My heart shattered.

> My voice was somehow too nervous.

> He was impatient.

>

I put on my bathrobe and went out in the balcony of my room.

I needed some fresh air.

Joe telling me about his surfing competion to which I did not pay the slightest attention.

I looked out and saw people setting up the beach, probably for tonight's party... a smile appeared on my lips.

> Joe asked me from the phone.

I had no idea what he was talking about but I answered yes, just in case.

> He laughed smugly.

>

How boring...

> He giggled with satisfaction.

I made a silent grimace.

The kind of party he liked.

The kind of party I didn't like.

> He was too confident about his words.

I let out a silent sigh: > I managed to tell him.

> He asked curiously.

Should I really have to tell him?

I took a breath: > I answered reluctantly.

> He laughed but I can tell he was serious.

A good girl? I do nothing but be a good girl all the time.

And yet he still has doubts about it.

Even though I didn't want to, I tried to reassured him about that.

After a while, we interrupted that call, to my pleasure.

I decided not to think about him anymore.

I don't want to ruin my night.

Tonight it's only me and hers.

That's all I can think about.

That's all I want.

I went back in my room to get dressed and to do my makeup.

I made my hair wavy, I put on mascara, blush and a pink and a silver glitter eyeshadow.

Something was still missing...

I applied the reddest lipstick I had.

I turned around and the dress I had bought with Bella was still on the bed...

I laid it on the closet.

I really can't tell the reason why I wanted so badly to wear that dress, yet I didn't put it on...

I chose another dress: a burgundy dress, sweetheart-neckline, short sleeve, it came down slowly and softly to my feet.

I put it on with some difficulty because the zipper was placed on the right side of the dress.

Bella's help would have been approached in that moment...

I looked at myself in the mirror.

I was a little embarrassed, but I liked myself and I felt good.

I felt good and happy as I haven't in a long time.

I was ready, Bella texted me that she was ready too.

I opened the door of my room.

I had a vision before my eyes that took my breath away.

Bella was smiling, walking gracefully towards me.

Her long red hair was slightly wavy, behind her shoulders, it was so shiny and softly.

On her lips she had the most fiery red lipstick, a perfect cat eye-liner, a purple and a shimmer golden eyeshadow, highlighter on her cheekbones.

She looked beautiful.

Then I lowered my eyes to her dress.

My heart stopped.

I can't believe she was wearing THAT dress, THE dress we bought together.

It looked like it was created just for her, just for skin.

Softly and transparent... covering and reveling the perfect shape of her body.

Was I dreaming all of this?

"Hey, beauty..." Bella greeted me with a smile.

I was still too stunned.

"It's like you are seeing a ghost..." She laughed, caressing my arms.

"On the contrary... I just saw you and..." I stammered.

"You are so hot." I blushed for saying it out loud.

Her cheeks turned rosy: "You're one to talk! You're very pretty yourself..." She affirmed as kept looking at me from top to bottom, smiling.

"Thank you..." I whispered.

Suddenly she was moving nervously around herself, until she pulled out a bouquet of flowers from her hand that I didn't even understand she was keeping hidden.

"My god..." I almost cried, my hand was trembling.

"Red tulips..." Bella announced, giving me the bouquet.

She step forward, slipping her arms around my waist: "These are as beautiful as you are in this moment."

I lowered the bouquet and threw myself on her arms, I whispered thank you like a hundred times in her ear.

I smelled her perfume on her neck and I felt like losing my senses.

I want to drown myself in a bottle of her perfume...

Bella leaned in, brushed my hair away from my face, and tucked a strand behind my ear.

"That's nothing, Ellie, you deserve more than this..." She whispered.

I don't know if she was right, but her words made me shiver.

She leaned in closer.

Soft skin, red lips, so kissable...

I want to taste her lips, now.

I think she understands that, since a second later we ended up kissing.

Each movement slow and deliberate, savoring the taste of our lips.

Her sigh was barely stirred when our tongues meet in that slow, intense way.

I can tell we missed each other from the way we kissed.

"Ehm... and where on earth did you find these? It's beautiful." I looked at the bouquet.

"Just a guy on glovo." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders as if everything was simple and obvious to her.

Her mind...

I smiled: "We have to take these to my room. I don't want them to get ruined or anything."

As I was looking for a free corner to place the bouquet, Bella leaned with her arms folded against the door with an indecisive, cryptic smile, not daring to take one more step to enter the room.

I wonder why.

I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and realized that maybe she was struggling because... that room was not only mine, but it also belonged to... Joe.

Even though he was not there at that moment.

Or maybe it was something else...

I swallowed hardly.

I quickly put down the tulips and run over her.

I took her hand and squeezed it tightly, seeking her gaze.

"You're mad at me, aren't you?" I asked her. My voice trembled involuntarily.

Bella immediately turned to me with a confused look: "Mad at you? Why would I be?"

"For me not wearing THE dress. The dress we bought together. You're wearing yours." I sighed hesitantly.

She froze in the middle of the hallway and looked straight into my eyes.

Hers flickered a little.

"Ellie, no, no. I'm not mad at you, sweetie. I was just comfortable with the idea of wearing it. Doesn't mean at all that you had to wear it too."

She squeezed my hand tighter: "Does that makes sense to you?"

I nodded: "It does, Bella, of course."

I bit my lips, shaking my head: "Sorry for thinking that, that's just my ridiculous mind..."

I started to walk again but she gently stopped me squeezing my wrist.

"You're mind is not ridiculous, Ellie." She affirmed.

"Are you okay now?"

I breathed a sigh of relief, smiling again: "I'm okay, Bella, one hundred percent. You always know how to calm me down."

She nodded happily as we started to walk again.

"I was joking before..." She whispered in my ear making my skin shivers.

I shook my head in confusion.

Bella giggled: "I wanted to get you something as beautiful as you are, but these flowers don't even get close." She said and stared carefully at me to see my reaction.

I was dying inside because no one had ever said these beautiful things to me...

"You really have to stop making me blush like this..." I warned her, not really knowing how to handle that situation.

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips, she just giggled in a teasing way.

"Why red tulips, anyway? Is there a meaning?" I asked innocently.

Bella became serious all of a sudden.

"Probably." She said like if it was an important matter.

"Then I'm going to do a research about it..."

I put my hand in my purse with the immediate intent to pick up my phone and do that research.

"Not now, Ellie, please." She smiled kindly, but her gaze was concerned.

That was strange... but I let it go, FOR NOW.

We took the elevator and walked toward the beach party.

There were at least, fifty people there, there was the DJ on the left, an open bar on the right, the sea in front us.

The mood is incredible.

Colorful lanterns hang from nearby palm trees, their flickering light adding the tropical vibe.

There was a big platform upon the sand, and everyone was dancing happily and wildly.

"These people know how to have a ball..."

Bella said happily as we stepped into the middle of the party.

"I couldn't ask for anything better than this..." I commented.

"This is gonna be the best night of ourlives, Ellie, I can feel that." She affirmed.

I smiled: "I had the same feeling..."

"Isn't that beautiful?" She muttered under her breath.

"It is. Hold me... I don't want to let you go tonight." I whispered as I rested my head on her collarbone.

She kissed my forehead: "Don't even think about it."

Our bodies move together, effortless and free, the rhythm of the music guiding us.

Bella is a little taller than me, so I leaned comfortably against her chest as she was holding me tightly.

"I've never felt this alive than when I am with you..." I confessed as I looked up to her gorgeous face.

She smiled: "I like seeing you happy."

Our hips brushing against each other as we were dancing to the rhythm of the music that was increasing.

Something uncontrollably sensual about that...

"You keep up so well..." I said, looking down to stare the sinuous up and down of her body.

I was sweating...

She raised an eyebrow:

"Keep up? I'm leading." She challenges with a wink, her hips brushing mine deliberately, sending a shiver through me.

That feeling again...

Makes me want to feel it more...

"If you say so..." I mumbled, laughing.

"Alright, Ellie, but don't say I didn't warn you!" She teased.

Her eyes flash with excitement as she raised both eyebrows.

Bad sign...

"Hmm, Bella... what are you up to now...?"

I asked, already intrigued to whatever joke she was planning.

She giggled.

One hand tighten around my waist, the other intertwined firmly with my hand,

she makes me spin... a fast one.

Our laughter filling the air.

She didn't drop me though, she held me tightly and made sure I was okay.

I recompose myself pretending to be offended: "Ask next time..."

"Regrets?" She whispered softly, her lips inches from mine.

"I don't think I've regretted anything with you yet." I laughed softly, my fingers trailing along her neck as we move.

"Yet..." She repeated that word with a cryptic smile.

"Well, I will make sure you never do..." She affirmed.

I thought she was joking but her tone of voice was sensual yet very serious.

"... As long as you let me." She finished, her voice barely audible.

I suddenly felt my heart race in a way I hadn't expected.

We hugged tightly again.

Maybe tonight, or maybe another time, but I knew we were both beginning to realize something neither of us could ignore.